19 Halloween Nail Designs That Are Spookily Stylish and Easy to DIY at Home!
By Anna Traver,
23 days ago
It's easy to look festive for the spooky holiday no matter if you're wearing a costume or not by creating Halloween nails. With so many design options to choose from like spider webs to ghosts, bats and mummies — there's sure to be one that will help you get you into the Halloween spirit. Best of all, you can whip up the nail art of your choice at home for pennies. Keep scrolling to see the dazzling designs that will "dress up" your fingertips and the simple steps it takes to achieve them.
What Halloween nail design is your favorite?
19 DIY Halloween nail designs
1. Black cat Halloween nails
We all know the mascot of Halloween is a black cat. This black cat Halloween nail design is perfect if you want to stick to neutral; the black and white color way will go with just about any outfit.
Get the look:
Paint the pinky and thumb nails with two coats of black polish, like Essie Nail Polish in Licorice . On the remaining nails, paint on a coat of clear base polish.
On the ring fingernails, use a black nail art polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Ch-Art-Coal , to paint on thick, crescent-shaped tips on the top of nails for the French tip.
On the middle nails, use the black striping polish to draw a half oval on the top of nail and fill in to create the cat's head. Then, draw two triangles for the ears.
Use a white nail art polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray , to paint on the eyes and nose of the cat, then black striping polish to create a dot inside of the each eye. Use the white striping polish again to then paint on "stars" and tiny dots on the rest of the nail.
Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the pointer nails, but draw the cat on the lower corner of the nail.
After letting all nails dry, seal all nails with top coat.
2. Bloody chic Halloween nails
Want some festive French tips for Halloween? Look no further than this easy-to-recreate mani. The red hue is very trendy for fall, and the dripping "blood" design will put you in the spooky spirit.
On the ring and pinky fingernails, use the red striping polish to create a "dripping blood" design by painting thin lines with small circles on the ends.
Seal all nails with top coat.
3. Pretty in pink Halloween nails
If you're a pink nail fan through and through, don't worry, you don't have to give it up to still be festive — and this design proves it!
On the middle fingernails, use a white nail art polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray , to paint on a ghost, starting at the tip of the nail and stopping a little before the bottom of the nail on the left side. Fill in, and draw a narrow oval on the side of the ghost for the arm. Then, use a black nail art polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Ch-Art-Coal , to paint the eyes and mouth of the ghost, and the light pink polish to create "blush" on the cheeks of the ghost.
Repeat step 2 on the ring fingernails, but on the right side of the nails and starting at the bottom of the nail. Let dry.
Seal all nails with top coat.
4. Ghosts, pumpkins and cobwebs, oh my!
Can't decide on just one spooky nail design? Don't fret — this Halloween manicure has a little bit of everything, but is still simple enough to not look overwhelming with too many elements.
On the pointer fingernail, use a black nail art polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Ch-Art-Coal , to create a spiderweb in the bottom corner of the nail; Draw four thin stripes all starting from the same corner point, stopping about halfway up the nail. Then, connect each stripe with three curved stripes.
On the middle fingernail, use a white nail art polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray , to paint on a small ghost from the upper corner of the nail. Create a small oval shape and fill in, then connect it with a tail. Use the black striping polish to draw eyes and a mouth.
On the ring fingernail, use the black nail art polish to create a thin crescent shape on the bottom half of the nail to create a "moon." Then, use a gold striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Brushstroke of Brilliance , to paint three "stars" surrounding the moon.
On the pinky fingernail, use an orange nail art polish, like LeChat Nail Art Lacquer in Hot Orange , to paint a pumpkin on the upper half of the nail. Use the black striping polish to create accent lines in the pumpkin, and the gold nail art polish to create the stem.
Seal all nails with top coat.
5. Glittery orange pumpkin Halloween nails
Add a little sparkle to your day by incorporating it into your Halloween mani! This nail look is so fun for spooky season, and is easy to DIY.
On the middle fingernail, use a nail art brush, like Kiara Sky Nail Art Brush , and the orange polish to create three pumpkins. Paint on four thick, curved stripes close to each other to create the pumpkin shape. Paint the stem with the nail art brush and a green polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Pricele$$ .
Seal all nails with top coat.
6. Halloween French tips
French tips never go out of style, and you can make them festive for just about any season — including Halloween.
Professional nail artist Sigourney Nunez created this gorgeous, purple, gel Halloween nail design, and shared the exact step-by-steps to DIY this gel mani.
Finish with a glossy layer of gel top coat on all nails and cure.
8. Sparkly spiderwebs
“The bold red polish highlights the pretty shape of your nails,” says celebrity manicurist Miss Pop . “And the shimmery spider web creates a classic Halloween scene!”
Dip a toothpick into clear top coat and use it to place 3 small nail art rhinestones, like Beadsland Rhinestones , on each web. Seal all nails with top coat.
9. Playful polka dots + ghosts Halloween nails
One of the easiest DIY nail designs you can master? Colorful polka dots! And creating a mix-and-match manicure by pairing dots with ghoulish accents up the Halloween fun.
On the purple nails, draw the silhouette of a ghost along the tip of the nail using the white polish; fill in and let dry. Then, dip a medium-sized dotting tool into black polish and use to create the eyes for each ghost, then outline the mouth of each ghost and fill in; let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.
10. Whimsical witch hat
There's no witchcraft needed to create this fun manicure.
On two accent nails per hand, make the peaked witch hat with a black nail art polish like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Ch-Art-Coal , by drawing a horizontal line along the free edge and a large triangle above it; let dry.
On the nails without the witch hat. Use the toothpick and top coat to place a row of the green rhinestones along the free edge of nails to create bejeweled French tips. Seal all nails with top coat.
11. Chic bat Halloween nails
Take nails to gorgeous new heights with this soaring bats and gilded French tips design. “The classic French tip instantly elongates your nail, and the gold and lavender color scheme gives it a regal touch!” says Miss Pop.
Swipe a metallic gold striper polish, like China Glaze Stripe Rite Brush in Stroke of Luck , across the tips of each bat-free nail, then use it to dot eyes on each bat; let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.
12. Striking googly eyes Halloween nails
Make a fun statement with this googly eye design that looks extra spooky when created on a black backdrop.
Once the colorful "irises" are dry, add pairs of smaller dots for the pupils with the dotting tool and black polish; let dry. Seal all nails with a matte top coat, like Wet n Wild Nail Polish in Wild Shine .
13. Festive pumpkins and bows
A Jack-o'-Lantern design is a classic Halloween nails look and is incredibly easy to create. What's more, bow-accented French tips give the look some feminine flair.
On the orange nails, use a black striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Ch-Art-Coal , and draw two oval eyes toward the bottom of the nail. Then, draw two smaller ovals underneath for the nostrils. Next, draw a thin, curved line for the mouth and short, stitch-like vertical lines going along the curved line; let dry.
On the nude nails, use the orange polish to create thick French tips; let dry. Under each orange tip, use the black striper polish to draw a thin stripe. Then, paint two small triangles with the points facing each other to create the bows; let dry. Seal all nails with a matte top coat, like Wet n Wild Nail Polish in Wild Shine .
14. Pretty patchwork
This Frankenstein-inspired patchwork design couldn't be easier to create and adds playful and colorful pizzazz to fingertips.
Using a black striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Ch-Art-Coal , draw thin stripes to outline where each color meets. Then, paint on three to four short vertical lines along each stripe to create "stitches;" let dry.
Seal all nails with top coat.
15. Modern Halloween nails
For a modern and minimalist manicure, which are trending this year, try this subtle Halloween-esque manicure that's equally as stunning as more intricate designs. Bonus: It works well for short nails since you don't need a wide or long nail bed for the simple nail art. (Click through to see more trendy nail designs of 2023 .)
On the pinky nail of each hand, use a dotting tool, like Cina Nail Creations Dotting Marbleizing Tool Kit , and black polish to create a small dot on the bottom middle of the nail; let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.
16. Simple black and orange color block
This black and orange Halloween nails look is perfect for beginners! That's because it doesn't require any special tools, and it doesn't have to be perfect either.
Using a black nail polish, like Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in Black Out , create curved blocks of black from the tip of the nail, gradually getting thicker with each nail; let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.
17. Spooky ghosts and mummies Halloween nails
This design from @nailsbyliana_ on Instagram combines two classic Halloween costumes, ghouls and mummies, into one playful manicure.
On the pointer and pinky fingernails on each hand, use a white striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray to paint on ghost silhouettes. On the ring fingernail, create a mummy design by painting thin criss-crossing and diagonal stripes using the white striping polish; let dry. Next, use a black striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Ch-Art-Coal , to add small dots for the eyes of the mummy on the ring fingernails and the ghosts on the pointer and pinky fingernails; let dry.
On the middle fingernails, create "stitches" on opposite top and bottom corners of the nail with the white striper polish by drawing a curved horizontal stripe and three smaller, vertical stripes going along it; let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.
18. Eye-catching starry French tips
A Halloween twist on a French manicure like the above look by @RiceKittyNails on Instagram makes nails a gorgeous focal point. (Click through to see more French tip nail designs .)
Use the black striper polish on the orange nail tips to create various tiny pointed star shapes and dots; repeat using a white striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray , on the black nail tips; let dry. Seal nails with top coat.
19. Bold orange and black ombre
An eye-catching black and orange ombre design like the above by @KelliMarissa on YouTube stuns on all nail lengths, especially short nails since no "art" or drawing is involved. (Click through to see more Halloween nail designs .)
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