44 Totally Creepy and Kooky Halloween Nail Art Ideas
The best ideas for your next-level Halloween nails.
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Halloween is about going all out. From elaborate decorations to awesome Halloween costumes to fun face makeup and wild hairstyles, there's no shortage of ways to show your spooky spirit on October 31.
When you're sorting out your Halloween 2020 look, don't forget about your nails. Giving your fingernails the ultimate Halloween treatment will add more life to your outfit, ensure that you stand out from the rest of the costumed crowd and show off just how frighteningly creative you are.
Looking for some creepy and kooky Halloween nail art inspiration? We've got you covered. This list has something for everyone and every costume (and some ideas so ghoulish that they would make Morticia Addams jealous).
There's much more you can do with your nails for Halloween than paint them orange and black. From subtle-metallic colors that bring the spooky holiday spirit, to adorable nail ghosts, to detailed and scary spiderweb art, this collection of Halloween nails will get you so inspired that you may even feel the need to try a few different styles throughout the season. (Go for it!)
Are you ready to give your hands a Halloween-chic look this year? Check out all the best Halloween nail designs we could find, crafted by our favorite artists, bloggers and nail polish brands — including neon nails, skull nails, graveyard nails, cobweb nails (perfect for your witch costume), twists on French manicures and so much more.
Jack-O-Lantern Accent
Talk about an accent nail that will stand out. Bring an all-black mani to the next level with a bright orange pumpkin on your ring finger.
Matte Black Coffin Nails
If you aren't one to shy away from edgy looks, a pointy, glossy french tip on coffin-shaped black matte nails looks so cool — and it's totally unexpected.
Delicate Webs
Thin, dainty spiderwebs dancing all over your nails are perfect when paired with a witch, warlock or wizard costume.
Orange Foil
Matte black nails are already cool, but add a golden orange foil that resembles a flame, and they're absolutely striking.
Bad Apple
Channel Snow White with these apple-inspired accent nails. Keep the rest of the nails dark and mysterious with deep red glitter.
Cartoon Monsters
Playful cartoon ghosts and beasts add the perfect amount of spunk to your fingertips. Keep the base neutral so the designs steal the show.
Serpentine Tips
Whether you're a Slytherin or just a snake charmer, bring serpents to the tips of your fingers with these chic, coiling tips.
Black Widow Nails
Creepy crawlers look more cute than creepy with this this fun, funky nail look. Add metallics for extra edge.
Retro Chevron Nails
Go chevron with a brown base and candy corn colors: red, orange and yellow.
Nails in Stitches
Frankenstein fans who dig negative space nails will love this minimalist French manicure.
Creepy Face Accents
Keep most of your nails simple with a French manicure outlined with a stitch, and pick a couple of accent nails to add a creepy mummy or skull.
Dripping Blood
Give a matte black mani an even edgier twist with these blood dripping, seasonally-appropriate details, achieved with just two colors — just make sure to give your nails plenty of time to dry.
Poisons and Andtidotes
Ace potions class with these matte tips featuring bottled witch's brews. These will look just right with a gnarled broom and bubbling cauldron.
Bloody Ombré
Give your black polish a creepy-cool upgrade with a dark red to black ombré — it's a subtle nod to Halloween without being too over the top.
Moon Cycles
These stunning designs will make anyone want to howl at the moon — each nail showcases a different moon cycle, from crescent to full. These may look tricky, but you can try them at home with a sponge stamp and a steady hand.
Delicate Ghosts
Orange is always a seasonally appropriate color — but it's made even more holiday-ready with a ghostly twist. To get small, detailed ghost doodles, try nail stickers.
Alternating Halloween Accents
Alternate between pumpkin-orange and deep black, but add fun twists by stenciling in little ghosts and spiderwebs.
Blood Splattered Cobwebs
Combine two of Halloween's creepiest motifs — spiderwebs and splattered blood — with these ultra creepy nails.
Neon Art
Make sure your nails are the star of the show with tons of neon nail art. For the most enchanting effect, make each nail different.
Creepy French Tips
This season's biggest nail trend might be the modern French manicure, which takes the classic and puts a fun spin on it, like with this fun cobweb mani.
Blake Bakkila has been writing about everything from pop culture to lifestyle products for more than eight years. Her work has appeared on GoodHousekeeping.com, WhattoExpect.com, Health.com, and in the print and digital versions of Real Simple and People.
Katie Berohn is the Beauty Assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day and Prevention magazines, all part of the Hearst Lifestyle Group. She graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, with a major in journalism and minor in technology, arts, and media, and earned her Master’s Degree at NYU’s Graduate Program of Magazine Journalism. In addition, Katie has held editorial internships at Denver Life Magazine, Yoga Journal, and Cosmopolitan, a digital editorial internship at New York Magazine’s The Cut, a social good fellowship at Mashable, and has freelanced for HelloGiggles. When she’s not obsessing over the latest skincare launch or continuing her endless search for the perfect shade of red nail polish, Katie can be found in a hot yoga class, trying everything on the menu at New York’s newest restaurant, or hanging out at a trendy wine bar with her friends.
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