Holiday nails can get a bad rep — search “Halloween nails” on Pinterest and you’ll see why. But wade through the endless pages of black and orange styles and you’ll eventually come across a far more chic offering.
From understated glow-in-the-dark to ultra-maximalist 3D cured masterpieces, the non-tacky seasonal manicure possibilities are endless.
So scare some compliments out of your friends this Halloween with these five spine-chilling nail trends.
Spookily subverted French tips
The French tip has been a timeless silhouette since its inception in 1975. Originally created so that the style would go with any outfit, nail artists have long supplanted the look with subtle yet chic design changes.
This October, get ghosted with My Townhouse’s poltergeist French tip offering, which contorts the classic shape into a bedsheet ghost. Or co-opt the white tip with two fang-like triangles at either side of the nail.
You can also experiment with different colours and shapes, like the gory blood drip french tip. “[I’m] loving blood splattered nails,” says London-based nail artist Ella Burgess (@ellavivii), “but for anyone that’ll want to change their nails as soon as Halloween’s over you can never go wrong with a classic red or black French tip,” she adds. For your DIY job try Essie’s sultry “Fishnet Stocking” shade (www.essie.co.uk; £7.99) or Christian Louboutin beauty’s vampy Noirs nail colour in kohl (christianlouboutin.com; £45).
Go glow-in-the-dark nails
TikTokers can’t get enough of glow-in-the-dark nails — and for good reason. “Glow in the dark nails have been around for a while but Halloween is the best time for them, they are fun for events and parties, and are a great conversation starter,” continues Burgess.
To best achieve the look at home, be sure to apply three layers of luminous nail polish glue — preferably from HR Nails Supply (hrnailssupply.uk; £6) — ensuring to dry each layer under the UV light for a minute at a time. Or head to the experts for more adventurous incorporations of glow-in-the-dark gel in your nail art.
“You can hide little messages or paint details on a design that are only visible in the dark. A couple of years back I painted one of Amber Carr’s blue demon babes and made the eyes glow-in-the-dark yellow which gave it a great effect,” says Natasha Blake, founder of Peckham-based salon Fuego Nails.
The cinephile’s choice
Among the popular seasonal activities is watching spooktacular Halloween films. Up the creep ante with this horrifically lifelike Chuckie set, or go for a family friendly creation such as these Mortia and Wednesday from the The Addams Family set.
Recreating this manicure yourself requires a trip to a specialist artist with epic hand painting skills. Or if you don’t have time (or money) to get it done professionally, there are more abstract ways to pay homage to Halloween characters. “I’m a sucker for The Shining carpet pattern,” says Aimee White, the nail artist behind @spellboundxnails, who has built an Instagram following of 48.8k for her designs.
Bewitching nails
Witchy nails have put a spell on us thanks to their otherworldly aesthetic. “My favourite way to create this look is with detailed black line work on top of an ombre of smoky base. Pinterest is perfect for finding inspiration for this,” says White.
It’s not just the designs to consider. “A perfect way to express sorcery is through elongated talons,” says Blake. “Stiletto is the best shape for this,” she adds, before nodding to her pointed Bruja nails creation, which comprise a red-into-black fade with a 3D dagger charm and red jewels.
3D terror
Make your nails pop with off-the-wall 3D styles. Use gel builder, gems, rhinestones and miscellaneous Halloween adornments to instantly freak out your nails, like Fuego Nails’ outlandish Addams Family set.
“You can get as experimental as possible. With my latest Addams Family I created a little bottle with liquid inside with acetate,” says Blake of the manicure, which features dagger charms and red gemstones. True skill is required to recreate the realistic quality of these eyeballs, so if you’re serious about your scare factor, take this idea to your nail tech to try.
