68 Halloween Nail Art Designs That Go Beyond Your Basic Black Mani

The spookiest holiday of the year is coming up around the corner. While I'm searching for the most creative Halloween costume and thinking of which sweet candies to serve at the big bash, I'm trick and treatin' myself to some easy Halloween nail art to really get in the spirit. Whether you want to go extra spooky or super chic, I gathered the best designs to try this October.

You can borrow inspo from classic scary movies like Scream and The Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as go-to seasonal snacks like candy corn and caramel apples. Or, you can spice up your basic black manicure with some cat eyes or spider webs. I even threw a few minimalist looks into the mix. So get ready to book an appointment at your nearest nail salon or do some DIY with these 68 Halloween nail art designs.

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A little texture can go a long way. All you need to start are a few simple tools: some mesh, a toothbrush and a polish. (Here’s a tutorial to guide you.)

Have all eyes on you...literally. After swiping on black polish as a base color, try your hand at painting on yellow cat eyes using a small brush. Here’s a tutorial for some inspo.

Take a break from your classic white for a freaky surprise instead. You can use a dotting tool or a striping brush to create uneven lines and achieve the dripping effect.

While the thought of a spider crawling on your skin might be your worst nightmare, sporting the creature as Halloween nail art is just spooky enough. Use the dotting tool to create the body of the spider and a thin brush to create eight legs.

Speaking of spiders, you can also weave a web on your nails with this negative space design. Use a brush to create five diagonal lines before connecting them with small, curved dashes. (Tip: If you want to make your lines more uniform, you can always use some nail tape.

Here's a fang-tastic design to go with your vampire costume. Apply a red base coat before going over half of your nail with black polish. Don’t worry about the lines being straight—that's part of the fun.

Not all Halloween nail art has to be spiders, black cats and pumpkins. Take an abstract approach to the spooky holiday. There’s no right way to do this look just let the brush do the work by creating small strokes with each color.

Want a bold look but drawing is out of the question? Bedazzle your nails with a few jewels. Apply a base coat of your choice before dotting nail glue where you want to place your gem. (Tip: Make the dots of glue smaller than the size of each gem to avoid messing up your design.) Then, use tweezers to place the jewels onto your nails and press down gently before moving on to the next finger.

Here's a sweet take on a classic French mani. To create the look, apply a clear base over your nails and let it dry before using white, orange and yellow polish on the tips.

If Disney Halloween movies (or the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party) gets you in the holiday spirit, this design is for you. While it certainly requires a bit more skill than other designs, I have no doubt you can master it with a steady hand.

While these miniature designs are handpainted, I think stickers work just as well. Just peel the stickers off the sheet and place them wherever you want before setting them into place with a top coat.

No magic is needed to design these prints. From the moon to the crystal ball, use a striping brush to draw a witch’s necessities to the best of your abilities.

It’s not Halloween without the “Pumpkin King,” so let each nail highlight a character from the Disney movie. Whether it’s Jack Skellington, Sally or Zero, this design can be recreated using a thin brush to get all the details.

Introducing the true symbol of the holiday: pumpkins. Start with a base coat before painting on a half heart shape to create the pumpkin. Then, using a darker shade of polish and a thin brush, draw on the lines. (BTW, you can also try this technique as a French tip. Here’s a tutorial.)

Here's a boo-tiful design that’s not at all scary to do. Use a thin brush to create white curvy shapes before adding two black dots for the eyes.

No bad luck here. Draw out the furry feline, but keep the focus on the base of your nails for a twist on the half-moon look. Option to add some cat eyes to bring the design to life.

Whether you attempt a freehand drawing (here’s an easy tutorial) or rely on stickers, this look is sure to make your nails a hot talking point.

Keep a close eye on this Halloween nail art. Apply a light base color before using a stripping brush to draw the eyes and drops of blood. Don't forget to leave a few nails painted in a bold red shade to create contrast (and really make the eyes pop).

For the true party animals out there, show off your stripes at your next Halloween event. First, use a base color and once it dries, use another shade to etch on tapered lines across each nail (making sure to leave space for an animalistic print effect).

OK, so you don’t want to break away from your go-to black mani. I get it. But how about throwing just one statement nail into the mix?

Play with lines and shapes for a simple yet chic design. Nail tape offers clean, straight guidelines for each nail.

Let your nails do all the talking. If hand lettering isn’t your thing, try some stickers or stencils instead.

Gloss shouldn’t have all the fun. Grab a matte top coat and apply it over a color of your choice to leave a satin finish that’s not pure shine.

Say his name three times, and you might find “Beetlejuice” written across your nails. Use his signature colors—white, black and green—to create the swirls, splats and spider designs inspired by the hit '80s movie and the anticipated sequel.

Create a gradient effect using white and black polish for a haunting look. Apply white polish as a base, before reaching for a sponge to dab the black polish on in layers. Make sure to let the first layer dry completely before repeating the step until you reach the tips. Here’s a tutorial to perfect the design.

A bone-fied look indeed. After applying a black base coat, use a thin brush to create small, curved rectangles, with enough space between them to really bring the skeletal feel to life.

Good ‘ol nail tape (or some steady handiwork) can easily achieve this mummy look.

Trick the eye into seeing a never-ending snake slither its way across your hands. A striping brush can make the dips and curves look like they’re all connected.

Swap the carving tools for a brush and some polish instead. Apply an orange base coat before drawing two, evenly spaced vertical lines on each nail. The fun part? Sketching the pumpkin’s face to match your mood.

Channel your inner Wednesday Addams with this design that's inspired by her iconic outfit. Add a few spider webs to bring the look together.

Forget the classic French and opt for black tips instead. Go even further and add a touch of black at the base. (Tip: Use nail templates to create the half-crescent shape.)

Because who says hearts should only be red? Outline the shape of each heart using a brush or some tape before filling them in with black polish.

I've talked a lot about what to put on your nails, but what about their shape? Coffin nails can be worn all year long, but the spookiest night of the year is a great time to dress them in all-black. First, cut the sides of your tips before filing them at an angle, while keeping the top straight (or slightly pointed depending on your preference). Here’s a quick tutorial to master the nail shape.

There’s nothing in the rulebook that says you can’t display all of your favorite things about Halloween on your nails at once. Use any of the ideas above to create a festive mix that showcases why it's the best holiday of the year.

The holiday really peaks at nighttime (you know when the ghosts, ghouls and witches come out to play). First, coat your nails with a striking black polish before showing off your art skills with some clouds, stars and, of course, the moon.

Hey, you can make a creature of your own...right on your nails. It only takes two steps to bring your monster to life. Apply a green base before grabbing a striping brush to create stitches (aka short horizontal lines with vertical lines striking through them).

Tortoise nails will always be a popular trend, so how about rocking them with a Halloween twist? First, apply a base coat before grabbing all of your go-to autumn colors (like orange, brown and yellow). Next, grab a nail brush and your first color and begin dabbing spots all over your nail. Continue that same technique using a second color (and a third and so on). Go crazy with the different hues for the spooky season (and of course, here's a tutorial to guide you).

Leaving room for negative space completely elevates a regular black mani. Honestly, there's no right or wrong way to do it either, just let your hand guide you to all the spots you want. Soon, you'll be left with a chic, minimal style that's perfectly suited for any spooky shindig.

There'll be no scaring the birds with this scarecrow-inspired nail art. Grab an orange polish and paint it only on your tips. Next, grab a black polish and outline your nails, before completing the look with some vertical dashes for that "patchy" effect.

Get the best of both worlds with this statement style. All you'll need is a black polish, a white polish and a nail art tool to create the curves. You can also upgrade the Yin and Yang look with a few sparkles.

There's the classic French and there's this adorable ghostly edition. Feel free to swirl the brush outside the lines to create the small creature. And it wouldn't be complete without two eyes (using your handy dotting tool) and a mouth (so they can whisper 'boo' to anyone walking by you).

Dressing up as one of our favorite Disney villains never get old. And if you don't have a full costume ready, this black-and-white mani gives off major Cruella vibes. Just get some nail tape, so the two striking shades shine through—much like her iconic 'do.

October truly caters to our sweet tooth. While candy is top tier, I also love a warm beverage for the spooky season, and this Starbucks-inspired look can be enjoyed long after the holiday ends. Recreate this marbled style with a nail art brush and multiple hues of brown polish. If you need a visual or more fun marbled looks to try, here's a helpful tutorial.

Whether you call it the crocodile or alligator style, this design is timeless and it continues to be a popular pick for Halloween. The animal print packs a statement and works with any color you choose (though black is my favorite shade to show off the textured effect).

A cat costume is a foolproof choice, so why not try adding a feline-inspired nail design to complete your look? Apply an orange base coat to your nails and use a thin brush to create wavy black lines.

It looks like your basic black manicure is getting an upgrade with some pearly white accents to start spooky season on a more glamourous note. 

Sure, it’s one of the creepiest animated flicks ever, but you have to admit this design is pretty cool. Enter an alternate world and decorate each nail inspired by Coraline (using a thin brush for the finer details). 

Whether you’re a Gryffindor or a Slytherin, fans will enjoy this HP-themed manicure for the season. While you can try your hand at painting on the designs yourself, I also found a cute nail stamp to deck your nails with a magical touch.

Black and white polish keep this floral design in season. Grab your dotting tool to anchor the center of each flower before using a thin brush to create petals along your tips. 

Into the ombré effect (see: number 25) and classic Halloween colors? Blend the two together and you’ll get this delightfully thematic design.

To recreate this iconic design, apply a matte black base before adding red drops to the tips. Oh, and don’t forget to add the signature white mask on your ring fingers using a striping brush. 

It’ll be unexpected (and super cool) to add a pop of color to your black manicure. Consider electric neon colors to bring your Halloween drawings to life—just in time for the party. 

If you're rocking a scary costume this year, consider adding this gory manicure to your ensemble. Once you apply a base coat, use a striping brush to etch on a few bloody cuts that will surely give people a fright (and also lowkey impress them with your design skills).

The micro French manicure is in and October is the perfect time to dive into the trend. Grab some nail tape and lay it right at the tips of your nails before painting in the area with your black polish.

Also known as the reverse French manicure, this style puts a modern twist to the classic design. You're more than welcome to freehand the tips or you can always pick up some nail tape to guide you.

Although I recommended some bloody eyeballs (see: number 18), I also adore this simpler eyes design for when you're looking to tone things down. The negative space, French tips and drawn out eyes give major artsy vibes.

This 3D manicure can take your dark red polish to the next level. To get the look, apply a coat of nail polish and let it dry before laying some polygel over your nails for the dimensional effect. Have fun creating different swirls and shapes that will really bring your design to life. If you need a bit more guidance, we have you covered with this helpful guide.

While black polish is always the star of the show this season, a purple hue can be just as bewitching. If you're sporting a classic witch costume on October 31st, add this shimmery polish to a few of your nails for a nice contrast. 

Aura nails are making a comeback this season and I'm not mad about it. According to this tutorial, you should apply a base coat before using a sponge to lightly dab a second shade on. When your nails are somewhat dry, go in with another color and focus it on the center of your nails to get the glowy effect.

This French manicure celebrates one of the scariest creatures during spooky season: bats. Try freehand drawing or grab a few mini stickers to decorate the tip of your nails.

This Halloween nail art is both super cute and very spooky for the season. Once you apply a bubblegum pink polish as your base, try your hand at drawing the adorable (but also terrifying) designs on each finger, from a crying heart eye to a bloody kitchen knife.

Sure, you could draw regular bones on your nails—or you can go for a bedazzled version instead. Thankfully, Pamper Nails has made it easier to do this without having to painstakingly place individual gems with a tweezer. Just pop on these press-ons and prepare to dazzle all night.

Newsflash: Butterflies aren't justfor spring. This majestic insect can absolutely turn into a simple Halloween design that's fitting for spooky season. Just use a striping brush and draw black wings on your pointer and ring finger.

IMO nothing is more terrifying than circus clowns—which is why I chose this design to represent Halloween nail art. Grab some purple and white nail polish to paint on your base color. Then, using a nail art brush, draw swirls, stars and clown faces on your middle finger.

I can't be the only one who gets excited for the seasonal Pillsbury cookies, right? Well, this delicious manicure pays homage to the nostalgic treat. Grab your striping brush and go to town drawing the iconic ghost, black cat and pumpkin cookies.

A great way to make your Halloween nail art stand out? Make it 3D. This design works best with gel polish, so you can create the pumpkins before pouring a light coat of clear acrylic powder over them. Cure the designs under a UV lamp before gently brushing away any excess powder.

Coquette nails are trending this season, so there's no better time to add some bows to your regular French manicure. Just make them black to match the Halloween aesthetic. 

This creepy crawler is a simple Halloween design you can recreate at home. First, apply black nail polish as a base color, before adding a drop of neon green in the middle. (See #59 for more guidance on aura nails.) Next, using a nail art brush, create a curved line down the center. To finish, draw three thin strokes on both sides of the line to complete the caterpillar's body.