89 Elegant and Spooky Halloween Nails Ideas for 2024

The holidays are about so much more than just your hair and makeup and Halloween nails are just as important as your costume. Getting a mani and pedi is a ritual, a time for catching up with friends and taking care of yourself. A woman’s fingernails say a lot about her and her personal style. From a classic French tip to the deepest black or a fiery shade of red, it’s fun to swap colors, patterns and designs as the season (or your mood) changes. The same goes for nail length. Whether you stick with a classy almond, short and square or long cat claw as your canvas, it’s another layer of your self-expression.

Some women walk into the nail salon and decide on the spot what looks good, while others take screenshot after screenshot and painstakingly plan their next manicure. Others bravely attempt nail designs at home. Once you’ve got the hang of shaping, buffing and priming, you can save time and money by doing your nails at home with tips from Good Housekeeping. A Halloween costume idea is a whole other issue that says a lot about you, but even without a costume in check, your Halloween nails make you appear festive. 

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• Short Halloween Nail Ideas
• Acrylic Halloween Nail Ideas
• Halloween Nails for Kids
• Classy Halloween Nails

Short Halloween Nail Ideas

1. Purple Ombré 

You don’t always have to include designs in your Halloween nails for it to feel festive. Create ombré shades of purple to black for a witchy feeling. You can always alternate colors on every other nail like green and purple that fade to black.

2. Shiny Ghosts

Show off your short nails with this Halloween nail idea. Paint the base an iridescent white (though any color works). You can choose whether you want a ghost on every nail or just a few, but a tiny, friendly ghost painted in matte white is super festive. 

3. Romantic Halloween Collage

Not all Halloween nails need to be spooky and scary. Add a hint of romance with a cute little design that’s different on each nail. Two tiny ghosts holding hands, a skeleton making a heart with his hands and a little orange heart are some great starting ideas. A cheery pumpkin would go perfectly as well.

4. Green Slime

While the typical Halloween colors are orange and black, green has a festive feel too if you pick the right shade. Ask for a cat-eye manicure in a shade of green that looks like slime. Your nail tech will use a magnet over special nail polish to create the illusion of texture. You can also just get chrome dip on top of a deep shade of green if your salon doesn’t offer that. 

5. Orange Bats

This simplistic Halloween nail look for short nails is perfection. Paint your nails orange and add teeny tiny bats fluttering across your fingernails. You can customize this to your preferences by choosing a different nail base color if you like.

6. Faux Stitching

Those fake wound pieces are always popular, especially for last-minute costumes. Using that as inspiration, stick with a soft nude base color and add teeny tiny red lines with a few silver flecks to look like wounds. This short Halloween nail idea isn’t gruesome, promise!

7. Slime and Stripes

Channel Beetlejuice vibes with these cute short Halloween nails. Matte black, alongside some white nails with thin black pinstripes and a black with slime-green bubbles, sets a spooky mood. 

8. Matte Black and Bats

Go dark and classic with this short Halloween nail idea. Paint your nails matte black, then add black bats with shiny black paint for a subtle contrast. 

9. Pink and Black Webs

A lot of these short Halloween nails can be done in a variety of colorways, like this pink backdrop with black or silver spiderwebs. 

10. Little Black Cats

Simple but adorable, these short Halloween nails are wholesome and pretty easy. Pick any soft color for the base, like pale pink or orange. After that dries, have your nail tech paint on a little black cat head on a few nails. You could also do the whole outline of a black cat if you like.

11. Bat Cutout

Instead of having the bat be black like many of the other short Halloween nail designs, choose a bold color like purple, orange, red or bright green. Use a black overlay and leave the shape of the bat to shine through in your bold color selection.

12. Floating Eyeballs

While abstract from a distance, a closer look at these short Halloween nails reveals eyeballs. The backdrop can be nude, or a soft center of pink that bleeds out into nude. Little white dots with green, blue or purple irises depict eyeballs.

13. Black and White Checkerboard

Even though black and white are always in style, there’s something about this design that works for a short Halloween nail. A simple black and white checkerboard on some or all of your nails feels oddly fitting. 

14. Ghoulish Galaxies

Opt for a cool shade of blue-ish purple as the base for this short Halloween nail design. Have your nail tech add festive designs with black paint to complete the look. 

15. Frankenstein Tips

This short Halloween nail is quick and easy, leaving you with mostly nude nails and a pop of color. Shiny green French tips along with a black stitch line on a few nails is reminiscent of Frankenstein. 

16. Ghoulish Shades of Green

Incorporate green into your short Halloween nails with a combination of deep, dark green and a few lighter green nails with some added details. For the light green nails, have your nail artist add some hints of darker green to create a marble-like appearance or that of oil-slicked water. 

17. Cherry Skulls

Instead of the usual black and white skeleton or skull, go for bright red tiny skulls on each finger for a fun short Halloween nail design.

18. Snake Skin

Choose any colors you like for this fun short Halloween nail design. A stencil is the easiest way to add snakeskin texture to your nails, in shades of red and white, black and silver or anything you like. 

19. Hocus Pocus Book

You’re probably going to be the only one with these fantastic short Halloween nails. A deep shade of chocolate brown, like old leather, with plenty of texture on each nail looks like the stitching and evil eye on the Hocus Pocus book.

20. Black and White Stripes

Beetlejuice shines through this simple short Halloween nail look of vertical black and white stripes. You can always add an accent nail for more festive fun. 

21. Tiger Stripes

While not a classic symbol of fall, tiger stripe nails can still be tons of fun. Whether on an orange or nude background, tiger stripes are a simple addition to short Halloween nails. 

22. Drippy

Any color of your liking can be added to the tips of nude nails in a drippy style for an easy short Halloween nail. 

23. Eyeball

After getting a classic French set, have your nail artist add an ultra-realistic eyeball to a few nails. This somewhat creepy Halloween nail idea is sure to stir up conversation. 

24. Orange and Black Marble

Your nail artist will know exactly how to get that signature marbling effect for this black and orange short Halloween nail design. 

25. Tangerine and Gold

Don’t take Halloween colors so literally, instead opt for more muted shades to get the same effect. Bright and bubbly tangerine looks beautiful next to shiny gold for these short Halloween nails.

Acrylic Halloween Nail Ideas

26. Orange Tips with Creepy Crawlies

The longer your nails, the more room you have for Halloween nail ideas like this one. For the base, paint a soft nude with bright orange tips. Once that dries, your nail artist can add spiders and webs, black cat shadows or slithering snakes on each nail. 

27. Ghostly Pups

Having acrylic tips gives you a larger surface area to work with for this adorable Halloween nail design. Dogs draped in white sheets like ghosts are the perfect mix of cute and festive. Plus, you can have your nail artist draw your own pup.

28. Scream for Ice Cream

Ice cream might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you’re planning acrylic Halloween nail ideas, but it should be. After painting your nails a shade of neon green that darkens into black on the tip, have your nail tech add a few spooky-themed cones on top. 

A ghost-shaped frozen treat like the ones you got from the ice cream truck as a kid. Or how about turning a scoop of orange ice cream into a miniature Jack O’Lantern?

29. Blood Droplets

All you need is one (or two) out of ten nails for this festive Halloween nail idea. Paint the majority of your nails deep, dark red, then paint one or two nude. Add droplets of that same blood-red hue to look like dripping or droplets of blood.

30. Cosmic Creamsicle 

For a slightly more abstract but equally eerie acrylic Halloween nail design, set the base as orange and cream. Add slippery black snakes, a giant evil eye and crescent moons with tiny stars to bring this design to life.

31. Mummies

Mummies don’t have to be spooky with this cute acrylic Halloween nail design. Paint your nails black then have your nail tech add a few mummies peeking out or dancing around. 

32. Ghost French

Keep it subtle this year with this adorable Halloween nail look. Like a classic French tip, but the white tip is made a bit thicker and extends farther up one side of the nail. Add a tiny black dot or two for eyes so every nail tip looks like a friendly ghost.

33. Purple Sparkles

A bold and festive shade of purple makes a fun Halloween nail, and the light to dark ombré plus chrome top or sparkles make it even better. This design works on short nails too, but longer acrylics offer more room for the soft to dark purple ombré effect. 

34. Black Widow

You don’t have to have an actual black widow painted on your nail (unless you want to). Long, sharp nails are perfect for this minimalistic Halloween nail design. Black nails, shiny or matte, are always in style. Add a shiny silver spider web on one or two nails per hand and call it a day.

35. Orange Aura

Showcase the beautiful Fall colors with this acrylic Halloween nail design. Set the base of your nails as a soft, subtle nude. You’ll want to select a few different shades of orange and red and have your nail tech create balls of color in the center of each nail. As it extends out towards the perimeter of your nails, it gets softer, sort of like an ombré effect. 

36. Vampire Nails

Black and red are a powerful and sometimes spooky color combo that works perfectly in this vampire-inspired acrylic Halloween nail look. Obsidian nails in a matte finish with a bright red tip of trickling blood will definitely make a statement. 

37. Bone Nails

A skeleton one-piece is a classic last-minute Halloween costume, and it works on your nails too. Long nails are essential to this Halloween nail design which features an all-black base with a white bone painted on each finger.

38. Eerie Oozes

This acrylic Halloween nail idea is a work of art. While the majority of the nail is a soft shade of nude or white, the tips feature a dripping design that is an ombré of purple, orange, green and blue. Add a few tiny spiders and a chrome dust top to complete the look. 

39. Shimmery Colors of the Season

There’s nothing wrong with abstract acrylic Halloween nails. Use an ultra-sparkly silver base with bright orange blobs. Touches of black like a star or a bat are fun, too.

40. Bloody Tips

These acrylic Halloween nails look a whole lot chicer than they sound. Instead of the typical blood drips or droplets, have your nail tech go abstract and add large blobs of shiny, chrome-dipped red on top of a nude backdrop.

41. Pumpkin Tips

Turn the tips of your French manicure into colorful pumpkin tops with this cute acrylic Halloween nail look. Nude nails are the perfect canvas for red, orange or green pumpkin tips.

42. Green and Black Flames

You can do black flames on a green backdrop, or green flames on a black backdrop for this acrylic Halloween design. 

43. Neon and Chrome

Purple and green are a funky pairing for this acrylic Halloween nail look. Paint your nails moody purple, with a chrome dip finish, before adding festive designs in a shade of neon green. 

44. Jason Nails

One of the creepiest movies to watch this time of year, let Jason inspire your acrylic Halloween nails. Nude nails with splatters of red to look like blood pair perfectly with an accent nail featuring his classic white mask.

45. Green Hello Kitty

Everyone’s favorite little cat is the cutest accessory to these acrylic Halloween nails. Starting with white nails, your nail tech can make Hello Kitty green and part ghost for a festive twist. Her signature bow helps to identify her.

46. Rick and Morty

Though there’s nothing strictly Halloween about the show, there is something fitting for the season with the outer space, creepy crawly and sometimes spooky plot lines of Rick and Morty. Have your nail tech create a montage across your hands for a colorful and eye-catching acrylic Halloween nail look.

47. Scream Nails

Everyone recognizes that classic open-mouthed ghost or ghoul face and it goes perfectly with an acrylic Halloween nail set.

Halloween Nails for Kids

48. Black Cats

This adorable Halloween nail design for kids is fairly simple; you might even be able to do it at home with the right tools. Paint your child’s nails black (or orange) and using a small paint pen or brush, add a little cat face on some of the nails. Eyes, a cute button nose and the outline of ears on top bring it all together. 

49. Bunch of Pumpkins

A handful of Jack O’Lanterns makes for fun and festive Halloween nails for kids. Paint her nails orange then add in different pumpkin faces on each finger. 

50. Alternating Festive Colors

Having fun Halloween nails for kids doesn’t have to involve intricate designs. Sometimes just sticking to seasonal colors is enough. Alternate orange, neon green, dark purple and black for a quick and festive manicure. 

51. Slime Green

A few coats of slime green is a fun and easy kids Halloween nail idea. Plus, it’s not too spooky or over the top. 

52. Stick-On Decals

Keep it simple for your kids Halloween nails with a pack of store-bought decals. Everything from pumpkins to ghosts, evil eyes and witch's hats are easy to press onto any nail base of their choice. 

53. Candy Corn

Candy corn is a polarizing subject, but one thing is for sure: it’s an obvious symbol of Fall. Turn your kids Halloween nails into a sweet Fall treat by using orange, white and yellow nail polish. 

54. Boo!

Using any colors of your child’s liking, spell out “Boo!” on their three middle fingers. This fun and easy Halloween nail design for kids comes together in just minutes. 

55. Metallic 

Paint your kids Halloween nails in the shiniest silver or gold nail polish you can find. Something about metallics works for all seasons. You can always add a French tip design using a black line.

56. Little Black Bugs

This kids’ Halloween nail idea is just the right amount of creepy and crawly. Paint their nails a shade of bright green, then add the outlines of teeny tiny black bags. 

57. Pink Spiderwebs

This bright Halloween nail design isn’t just for kids. Add an accent nail of light and hot pink spiderwebs for instant joy.

58. Glow in the Dark

Turn even the most basic nails into fun Halloween nails for kids with glow-in-the-dark polish. They can choose any color for the base, and pumpkins, ghosts or even just smileys are extra cute under the black light.

59. Patch Work

With a thin paintbrush and some black or white paint, you can add festive stitches to any nail color. This makes for an easy and fun Halloween nail design for kids.

60. Ghostbusters

While young kids might not remember the classic Ghostbusters movie, the friendly ghostie faces make for cute Halloween nails for kids.

61. Teeny Tiny Eyeballs

Have some fun making these kid Halloween nails with your child. No need to paint the base of the nail, just add a circular eyeball right in the center. Don’t forget to add a colorful iris and little red lines to make it more realistic. Skip the eyelids for this Halloween craft idea. 

62. Neon Backdrop

Neon is just as much a staple of Halloween as orange and black. For fun and easy kids Halloween nails, paint them a variety of neon shades, then add a black accent of your choice like a spider, bat or cobweb.

63. Two Tone Purple

Mix and match fun festive designs using a bold, shiny purple and a soft, pastel lavender for cute kids Halloween nails.

64. See Into the Future

Channel the psychic with her crystal ball with these multi-colored kids Halloween nails. Stick to shades of purple and soft blue as you mix them for an ombré finish. Add some sparkles, stars or a chrome dust finish for extra pizzazz.

65. Teal and Sea Moss

Mix up the perfect blue-ish green hue to top with chrome dust for shiny, mermaid-inspired kids Halloween nails. 

66. Sequined Tips

It doesn’t get any simpler than this kids' Halloween nail look that can be done at home. On nude or plain nails, simply add a French tip of just gold glitter. You can of course do this over colored polish, if you prefer. 

Classy Halloween Nails

67. Spiders

This minimalistic Halloween nail idea is so simple you could do it yourself. Stick to a nude nail base and add a spider to each hand. You don’t need one on every nail, and there are some nice decals at Walgreens or Target to take the skill out of it. A little spider web never hurt either. 

68. Red WineTips

French-tip Halloween nails get a moody spin by swapping the typical white tip for a blood-red wine. This works for Thanksgiving nails too since it’s just a pop of Fall color. 

69. Brown French Tips

Another Fall variation of Halloween nails, these brown French tips are the epitome of classy. A warm hue of chocolate brown looks stunning next to a soft nude. Get a little extra fancy by adding chrome dip on top for a shimmery effect.

70. Soft & Mystical

Halloween nails don’t all have to be bold shades of black, orange or green. These soft pinky nude nails get a festive twist with tiny gold accents like twinkling stars and a crescent moon. 

71. Plain and Shiny

This classy Halloween nail design is simple but festive and looks great all throughout the Fall and Winter. Choose a dark hue like charcoal grey or even navy blue then add chrome dust on top for a little extra sparkle. 

72. Marble Mummies

You can still rock classy Halloween nails with a touch of fun with this marble mummy design. Choose a soft base color, like a mauve or pastel purple, then create a marble effect with white or soft grey paint. After that dries, add decals or little dots for tiny mummy eyes. 

73. Glazed Donut: Fall Edition

Pick a gorgeous shade of orangey-pinky red and apply chrome dip for a beautiful gloss finish for these classy Halloween nails. 

74. Shades of Brown

A solid nail color is always classy and in style, perfect for Halloween nails. Choose a shade of warm chocolate brown or a deep sienna for a Fall-themed mani that isn’t too bold.

75. Plain Orange

Go for classy Halloween nails by selecting a shade of orange that suits you best. Consider adding a matte finish for a little extra fun.

76. Frankenstein Green

A solid coat of shiny green that’s not quite neon can make for a classy Halloween nail look. Pick a color that reminds you of Frankenstein and rock it all over your nails.

77. Copper and Mint

Take a more muted approach to Fall colors with copper and mint nails. Whether you put both colors on the same nail or opt for an accent nail, this classy Halloween nail look is subtle and beautiful. Gold foil elevates the whole thing.

78. Pumpkin Spice

Instead of bright, true orange, pick out a softer shade with notes of brown. Go all over with your pumpkin spice paint for classy Halloween nails, and maybe add a chrome dip for extra fun. 

79. Nothing But Navy

If solid black nails aren’t your thing, an ultra-dark navy has the same moody effect. These dark, rich polish colors are perfect for classy Halloween nails. 

80. Ombré Red

Choose a subtle shift from cherry red to wine red for a classy Halloween nail look. 

81. Crimson and Chrome

A bold red nail is always in style, and a little chrome dust on top makes for a classy Halloween nail. 

82. Martini Mani

Classy Halloween nails don’t have to be all French tips or solid colors. This adorable design is perfect for Fall through winter and looks even better on short nails. Paint your nails olive green and add a deep red dot to resemble an olive.

83. Foggy White

Fog and fog machines are classic decorations this time of year, so channel that with this classy Halloween nail look of foggy grayish-white polish. 

84. Inverted Moon

Have a little fun with this slightly abstract but classy Halloween nail. Leave a half moon of negative space at the base of your nail then paint the rest orange. Add a dot of copper polish or a sequin at the top of the dome to look sort of like a pumpkin.

85. Silver Star

Keep it simple and neutral with this delicate and classy Halloween nail design. Nude or soft white nails each get adorned with a single silver star. 

86. Autumn Leaves

Stay away from spooky vibes with this classy Halloween nail look. On wine-red nails, have your nail artist add gold flakes or paint on softly falling leaves for a festive Autumn design. 

87. Red Outlines

Start by painting your nails a bright, berry shade of red. After that dries, go over the top, leaving an outline of the brighter color, with a deep burgundy in the middle. This classy Halloween nail look is subtle but festive. 

88.  Maroon and Gold

Add a subtle hint of gold to your classy Halloween nails by painting a shimmering half-moon at the base of your nail. This pairs beautifully with a deep maroon. 

89. Smoke and Mirrors

A metallic silver nail base gets a subtle, spooky finish with a hint of dark grey or navy “smoke”. This classy Halloween nail design takes on an almost marble-like finish. 

There’s a lot of planning to do with Halloween around the corner, from costumes to home decor. Fall errands are the best, whether you’re running to the store for your favorite festive Halloween snacks or planning your couple's look for a Halloween date idea. 

A lot of these Halloween nail ideas can be done at home with the right tools, but some of the more detailed looks might require a true nail artist. If you’re going to try at home on yourself, friends or your kids, think of it like Halloween painting ideas and have several brushes, paint colors and a comfortable setup. 

For even more fun Halloween ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!