Halloween nails 2025: our best nail art ideas

Halloween is just around the corner, and it's THE time of year to try a manicure that makes an impression. From ghost nails to hypnotic aura nails and clawed black cats, here are our best Halloween nail art ideas to create with a brush or, in seconds, with stickers.

Which colours should you choose for Halloween nails?

It's the big debate every year. Between fail-safe classics and more unexpected shades, what should you choose?

Black, orange and blood red: the essential colours

What would Halloween be without the classics?

🖤 Go for Licorice, an intense black polish with an ultra-glossy finish: a must-have for a gothic look and a dark manicure. For more inspiration featuring dark polish shades, read our dedicated article here.

💋 We're falling for Red Cherry, THE cherry-red polish that really pops.

🔥 We're loving the glowing orange manicure, as captivating as embers, created with Sunset polish.

Purple, white, green: spooky shades

For a mood that's more witchy than gothic, count on this winning trio for spooky season:

🦹 Fizz : a purple nail polish with magenta shimmer, as intoxicating as it is bewitching.

👻 Milky White: a delicately translucent milky-white polish, like a misty scene on your nails.

🧟 Poison : an eye-catching, elegant glittery fir-green polish with a hypnotic metallic effect.

Pink and glitter Halloween nails: a playful, girly option

Switch up the dark glam and break the rules with a pink, sparkling take on Halloween!

🍬Try the baby-pink shade of Milky Pink for sweet marshmallow-inspired nails.

💗 For a fluorescent look straight out of the 1990s, try Bloom, a neon-pink polish with blue undertones that turns heads.

✨ For a manicure that’s luminous and eerie, look no further than Nebula, a translucent white polish flecked with micro-glitter and holographic shimmer that’ll make your head spin.

Easy Halloween nail ideas to try

You don't have to be a pro with a brush to try Halloween nail art. You have two options: make it yourself or use stickers for a neat finish in no time.

Black & White ghosts: minimalist ghost nails

On a black Licorice base, use a nail art brush to paint a little white ghost with Snow polish, then add two round eyes with a dotting tool. In a rush? Manucurist Halloween stickers go on in seconds. Give your nails a glittery black base using Sparks and add little ghosts in the blink of an eye.

Painted on or ready to apply, these little ghosts look adorable on your Halloween nails. (@nenapleasenails, @m.o.n.a.j)

Cute cats: Halloween black cat nail art

Again using a Licorice base, paint almond-shaped eyes with a fine brush and yellow Mimosa polish, adding a black slit to create that unmistakable cat stare.

For a sticker version, Cat's eyes designs make an impression on a dark base, while cat silhouettes look lovely against Milky Pink.

Cat eyes, paws, silhouettes and faces: cat lovers will adore Manucurist's new Halloween stickers. (@irasnailroom, @look8thenails)

Spider nails: easy spiderweb nail art

On a nude Pale Rose base, use a fine brush and Licorice polish to draw 3 lines fanning out from the corner of the nail, then connect them with little arcs.

In a rush? You'll love the Spider stickers, with spiders big and small and spiderwebs. Apply them over a slightly pearlescent grey Tweed base for just the right amount of drama.

Dress your nails in delicate spiderwebs, as fine as lace. (@mani.minimalist, @look8thenails)

Blood drops: a little Halloween fright for your nails

Start with a nude Beige base and use a dotting tool to place a few drops of Dark Pansy polish. Gently drag them out with the tool for a dripping effect. And if you're not much of a nail artist, the Blood Drops stickers will save your Halloween manicure.

So-chic Blood Drops nail art for Halloween drama queens. (@whatwomenwear_madrid)

Understated, simple and chic Halloween nails

We know not everyone wants Mei Kawajiri-style maximalist designs for their Halloween manicure, so here are three more subtle nail art ideas.

French Poison: the Halloween French manicure

For French manicure fans, go for a bolder take. Start with Pale Rose as your base, paint the tips with Poison glittery green polish, then finish with a touch of Cactus biodegradable glitter. The result? A wickedly refined twist on a colourful French manicure!

Double mini French Witchy: French tips for witches

Here's the perfect nail art to complete a witch costume: on a Hortencia base, use the Mani Stamper to create a first French tip with pearlescent green Groove polish, then accent it with a line of dark-purple Queen of Night. The result: a mysterious, elegant two-tone tip.

French manicures with a twist for Halloween queens of the night. (@look8thenails, @irasnailroom)

Red and black ombré: a hypnotic gradient with a chic finish

This ombré nail art blends shades from deep velvet-nail red to liquorice black. Start with a base layer of Red Cherry on your nails. Add 3 stripes of Red Cherry, Dark Pansy and Licorice polish to a nail art sponge, then dab it onto each nail until the gradient is even. Gorgeous!

Black or burgundy Halloween nails

Love timeless shades but want a twist? Metallic effects are your best bet. Here are 2 ideas:

• Black Aura nails: on a Licorice base, create an aura effect by blending Licorice and silver Disco polish on a nail art sponge for an enigmatic manicure.
• Shiny Purple nails: give a deep burgundy polish like Prune a boost with a layer of Silver glitter Top Coat for a silver-chrome effect that's very shiny baby.

Try red, black or burgundy polish in ombré, aura or glitter nail art to charm the creatures of the night. (@m.o.n.a.j, @look8thenails)

Halloween nail art trends to try this season

Magnetic Green Baby Boomer

On a Milky Pink base, shade the tip of your nail with a touch of pearlescent green Groove polish applied with a nail art sponge. Isn't this baby boomer nail art divine?

Mini French Pink & Glitter

For a manicure inspired by Harley Quinn and the world of comics, pair a sparkling white Nebula base with neon-pink Bloom mini French tips created with the Mani Stamper. Striking and impossible to pigeonhole!

Make Halloween sparkle with plenty of glitter and chrome effects. (@m.o.n.a.j, @nenapleasenails)

Mix & match Spooky design

Why settle for one design when you can have them all? With our sticker sheets, bring pumpkins, bats, haunted houses and devil horns to your nails. Apply them over a black, white or nude base for a custom mix-and-match look.

How do you create a Halloween manicure that works?

Here are our tips to give your Halloween manicure the best chance of success:

Prep your nails before application

Great nail art starts with careful nail prep in four steps:

• File your nails into your desired shape (square, round or almond) with a natural nail file.
• Apply a few drops of cuticle softener to soften your cuticles, then gently push them back with a cuticle pusher for a clean, neat nail outline.
• Next, lightly buff the surface with a prep file to remove any roughness and open the keratin layers, helping the polish adhere better.
• Finally, degrease your nails with a nail cleanser or gentle remover so they're completely clean before application.

Choose the right polish

Before you reach for your brushes and stickers, it's essential to decide which type of polish you'll use and choose the one that suits you best.

👉 Classic nail polishes such as Green™ nail polishes are easy to apply without any special equipment, air-dry and are easy to touch up if you smudge or make a mistake. Ideal if you’re just starting out.

👉 Experienced nail artists can opt for gel polish, such as Green Flash™, which cures under an LED/UV lamp and offers long-lasting wear.

Use the right tools

To nail your Halloween designs, your best allies are:

• A dotting tool for perfect polka-dot nails and designs like hearts or blood drops.
• A nail art brush and a liner brush for designs that call for precision.
• A glitter brush to apply glitter delicately.
• A corrector pen to clean up polish on your cuticles, especially when creating sponge gradients.
• A Mani Stamper for ultra-precise French tips in seconds.
• A nail art sponge to create smooth gradients, thanks to its ultra-fine foam that blends colours evenly.

Make your Halloween nail art last longer

For magic right down to your fingertips, the best advice is to follow every step of your chosen routine.

👉 If you choose a Green™ polish, apply a thin layer of Green™ Vitamin-Enriched Base Coat before the colour. Once you've finished your nail art, seal your manicure with a layer of Sunshine Top Coat or a Green™ Top Coat with a matte or glitter finish. Let each layer dry thoroughly in the air (around 1 to 2 minutes per layer) to stop the colours from smudging or mixing and the polish from wrinkling.

👉 If you choose a Green Flash™ polish, apply a thin layer of Green Flash™ Vitamin-Enriched Base Coat before the colour. Once your nail art is finished, seal it with a layer of Green Flash™ Top Coat (up to 12 days' wear) or Xtrem Flash™ (up to 21 days' wear). To avoid mishaps, cure each layer under a lamp for the required time before applying the next.

FAQ

What nail polish colour should you choose for Halloween?

It all comes down to your preferences, but black, orange and red are the classics. For a "witchy" look, try purple or green. A white polish always comes in handy for ghosts or mummies. And fluorescent pink polish makes for a playful, unexpected alternative.

What are the best Halloween nail ideas?

Ghosts, black cats, spiderwebs and blood drops are Halloween icons. For a more on-trend look, try aura nails, a fresh take on baby boomer nails or a reverse French manicure, or mix and match spooky stickers.

How do you create easy Halloween nails?

The quickest method is to apply a black, white or neutral polish as a base, then use tweezers to place Halloween-themed stickers on your nails. Seal the manicure with a layer of suitable top coat.

What nail looks should you try in October?

Beyond the Halloween classics, October is a chance to try deep autumnal shades like burgundy, plum or chocolate brown. Soft, enveloping milky shades, nudes and latte tones are popular, as are rich, vibrant colours such as teal, fuchsia and buttercup yellow. For nail art, glazed finishes and animal prints are always a good choice.