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13 Halloween Nail Designs That Are Spookily Stylish and Easy to DIY at Home!

Serve up some spooky flair with a Halloween mani

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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.

The 13 best DIY Halloween nails

1. Sparkly spiderwebs

Red nails with black spiderweb design and rhinestones.
Robert Milazzo

“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!” 

Get the look:

  1. Apply two coats of shimmery red polish, like Morgan Taylor Nail Lacquer in Best Dressed (Buy from Amazon, $9.50) to all nails; let dry completely.
  2. Using a black nail art pen, like Nails.INC Mani Marker Nail Art Pen in Mascara Black (Buy from Amazon, $5), draw a diagonal web on both the index and ring fingernails; let dry.
  3. Dip a toothpick into clear top coat and use it to place 3 small nail art rhinestones, find them in a set like KISS USA Nail Art Rhinestones (Buy from KISS USA, $9), on each web. Seal all nails with top coat.

2. Playful polka dots + ghosts Halloween nails

Nails painted with Halloween designs: ghosts and white, black, purple and orange polka dots
Amber Gray

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.

Get the look:

  1. Paint two coats of an orange polish, like Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Sun Kissed (Buy from Amazon, $2.97), on the pointer and pinky nails. On the rest of nails, apply two coats of purple polish, like China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Stop Beachfrontin’ (Buy from Walmart, $7.25); let dry completely.
  2.  Dip various-sized dotting tools, find them in a set like Cina Nail Creations Dotting Marbleizing Tool Kit (Buy from Sally Beauty, $11.99), into purple polish, white polish, like Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in White On (Buy from Amazon, $2.97), and black polish, like China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Liquid Leather (Buy from Ulta, $8.50), and create multiple dots on nails; let dry.
  3. 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.

3. Whimsical witch hat

Halloween nails painted with witch hat designs and green rhinestones
Amber Gray

There’s no witchcraft needed to create this fun manicure. Even better? “The vertical peak of the witch’s hat pulls the eyes upward,” says celebrity manicurist Patricia Yankee. And drawing the eyes upward visually slims wider hands.

Get the look:

  1. Paint two coats of metallic silver nail polish, like Sephora Collection Color Hit Mini Nail Polish in Engagement Ring (Buy from Sephora, $5), on all nails; let dry completely.
  2. On four two accent nails per hand, make the peaked witch hat using black striper polish, like LeChat Cm Striping Nail Art Polish in Black (Buy from Walmart, $6.99), by drawing a horizontal line along the free edge and a large triangle above it; let dry.
  3. With a toothpick and dots of clear nail polish, add a row of lime green rhinestones, like LolliBeads Resin Crystal Round Nail Art (Buy from Amazon, $6.99) along the brim of the hat.
  4. 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. 

4. Chic bat Halloween nails

Halloween nails painted with lavender nail polish and bat designs
Robert Milazzo

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.

Get the look:

  1. Paint two coats of a lavender polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in Heather Hustle (Buy from Amazon, $5.24), on all nails; let dry completely.
  2. Use a black striper polish, like LeChat Cm Striping Nail Art Polish in Black (Buy from Walmart, $6.99), to draw the outline of a bat on two accent nails per hand. Fill in with the black polish; let dry.
  3. Swipe a metallic gold striper polish, like China Glaze Stripe Rite Brush in Stroke of Luck (Buy from Walmart, $6.25), 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.

5. Shimmery neutral pumpkins and leaves

Gold pumpkin and leaves design on nails
Christina Radcliffe/Getty

A neutral Halloween nail design is a great choice if you’re not getting into costume and it will pair nicely with any outfit. Plus, creating the design with a glittery gold polish adds a touch of sophisticated sparkle.

Get the look:

  1. Paint two coats of a nude polish, like Nina Ultra Pro Nail Laquer in Tea Party (Buy from Sally Beauty, $2.99), on all nails; let dry completely.
  2. On the ring and pointer fingernails of each hand, use a glittery gold striper polish, like China Glaze Stripe Rite Brush in Stroke of Luck (Buy from Walmart, $6.25), to draw a curved, diagonal “branch.” Then, create 3-4 small leaves coming off the branch. And on the middle nail, use the gold striper polish to create a small pumpkin with a stump in the middle of the nail; let dry.
  3. On the nails with the leaves, use a brown nail polish, like Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in Central Bark (Buy from Amazon, $3.99), and a striping brush, like Winstonia 5 pcs Nail Art Brushes Set (Buy from Amazon, $7.95), to draw a thin line over the gold branch. And on the middle fingernails, paint 4 curved lines on the pumpkin, outline the stump and draw a small curly line for the stem; let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.

6. Striking googly eyes Halloween nails

Halloween nails painted black with multi-colored googly eyes
Christina Radcliffe/Getty

Make a fun statement with this googly eye design that looks extra spooky when created on a black backdrop.

Get the look:

  1. Paint two coats of black polish, like Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in Black Out (Buy from Walmart, $3.28), on all nails; let dry completely.
  2. Use a dotting tool, like Cina Nail Creations Dotting Marbleizing Tool Kit (Buy from Sally Beauty, $11.99), and white nail polish, like Sephora Collection Color Hit Mini Nail Polish in Under the Covers (Buy from Sephora, $5), to create three to four pairs of small dots on each nail; let dry. Then, create smaller pairs of dots with the whites of each pair of eyes using the dotting tool along with red polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in That’s a Blazing (Buy from Walmart, $5.98), yellow polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish in My Ca-Banana (Buy from Walmart, $6.98), purple polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color in Va Va Violet (Buy from Amazon, $9.98), green polish, like Revlon Super Lustrous Nail Enamel in Posh (Buy from Walmart, $4.48), and blue polish, like L.A. COLORS Color Craze Nail Polish in Aquatic (Buy from Walmart, $0.98).
  3. 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 (Buy from Amazon, $1.29).

7. Festive pumpkins and bows

Orange and black Jack o' Lantern Halloween nails
Christina Radcliffe/Getty

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.

Get the look:

  1. On the middle fingernail of each hand, paint two coats of an orange polish, like Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Sun Kissed (Buy from Amazon, $2.97); let dry completely. On the remaining nails, paint two coats of a nude polish, like Nina Ultra Pro Nail Laquer in Tea Party (Buy from Sally Beauty, $2.99); let dry.
  2. On the orange nails, use a black striper polish, like LeChat Cm Striping Nail Art Polish in Black (Buy from Walmart, $6.99), 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.
  3. 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 (Buy from Amazon, $1.29).

8. Pretty patchwork

Halloween nails made of orange, green and purple in a patchwork design
Christina Radcliffe/Getty

This Frankenstein-inspired patchwork design couldn’t be easier to create and adds playful and colorful pizzazz to fingertips.

Get the look:

  1. Paint three diagonal blocks of color on each nail using purple polish, like Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Color in Va Va Violet (Buy from Amazon, $9.98), lime green polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Summer Monday-Fridays (Buy from Amazon, $9.19), and orange polish, like OPI Nail Lacquer in Silicon Valley Girl (Buy from Amazon, $11.24); let dry completely.
  2. Using a black striper polish, like LeChat Cm Striping Nail Art Polish in Black (Buy from Walmart, $6.99), 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.

9. Modern Halloween nails

Orange and grey minimalist Halloween nail design
Dariia Chernenko/Getty

For a modern and minimalist manicure, which are trending this year, try this subtle Halloweenesque 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 2023.)

Get the look:

  1. On the ring fingernail of each hand, paint two coats of an orange polish, like Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Sun Kissed (Buy from Amazon, $2.97). On the thumb nail of each hand, paint two coats of a grey polish, like Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Nail Color in Grey-Dreaming (Buy from Walmart, $5.19). And on the remaining nails, paint two coats of sheer, milky white polish, like Aieenjor Nail Polish in Milk-White (Buy from Amazon, $6.99). Let all nails dry completely.
  2. On the middle fingernails, use a black striper polish, like LeChat Cm Striping Nail Art Polish in Black (Buy from Walmart, $6.99), to create a thin, zig-zag line vertically down the center of the nails.
  3. On the pinky nail of each hand, use a dotting tool, like Cina Nail Creations Dotting Marbleizing Tool Kit (Buy from Sally Beauty, $11.99), and black polish to create a small dot on the bottom middle of the nail; let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.

10. Simple black and orange color block

Black and orange color block Halloween nail designs
Dariia Chernenko/Getty

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.

  1. Apply two coats of an orange polish, like essie Nail Polish in To DIY For (Buy from Amazon, $8.60), on all nails; let dry.
  2. Using a black nail polish, like Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in Black Out (Buy from Walmart, $3.28), 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.

11. Spooky ghosts and mummies Halloween nails

This design from @nailsbyliana_ on Instagram combines two classic Halloween costumes: ghouls and mummies into one playful manicure.

Get the look:

  1. Paint two coats of a sheer nude polish, like Cirque Colors nail polish in Organza (Buy from Cirque Colors, $12.50), on all nails; let dry completely.
  2. On the pointer and pinky fingernails on each hand, use a white striper polish, like FingerPaints Striping Polish in Hip Hip Hue-Ray (Buy from Sally Beauty, $3.49) 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 LeChat Cm Striping Nail Art Polish in Black (Buy from Walmart, $6.99), 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.
  3. 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.

12. 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.)

Get the look:

  1. Apply two coats of a sheer light pink polish, like Sally Hansen Color Therapy in Sheer Nirvana (Buy from Rite Aid, $8.29), to all nails; let dry.
  2. Use an orange striper polish, like Sally Hansen I Heart Nail Art Striper in Orange (Buy from Walmart, $5.97), to create a scallop design along the free edge of two nails per hand. Repeat on remaining nails with a black striper polish, like LeChat Cm Striping Nail Art Polish in Black (Buy from Walmart, $6.99); let dry.
  3. 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 (Buy from Sally Beauty, $3.49), on the black nail tips; let dry. Seal nails with top coat.

13. 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. Plus, the gradient optically stretches short nails so they appear longer. (Click through to see more Halloween nail designs.)

Get the look:

  1. Paint two coats of an orange polish, like Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Sun Kissed (Buy from Amazon, $2.97), on all nails; let dry completely.
  2. Take a makeup sponge and paint three stripes of polish: orange, a darker orange, like OPI Nail Polish in It’s a Piazza Cake (Buy from Amazon, $11.49), and black, like Wet n Wild Wild Shine Nail Polish in Black Crème (Buy from Amazon, $1.69). Then, press onto nail to stamp on the ombre design. Repeat on all nails; let dry. Seal all nails with top coat.

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For more DIY nail designs, click through these stories:

12 Red Nail Designs: Easy Ways To Add Even More Flair To This Classic Nail Color At Home

14 Natural, Classy Short Acrylic Nails That Prove You Don’t Have To Have Long Nails To Make a Gorgeous Statement

Celebrity Manicurist: Why Jelly Nails Are Perfect For Women Over 50 — and How to Get the Look At Home

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