17 Halloween Nail Ideas To Embrace Your Inner Villain

As the spookiest night of the year creeps closer, there’s no better way to embrace your dark side than with devilish nail designs inspired by iconic Halloween villains. This Hallow’s Eve, transform your clients' nails into wicked works of art and help them unleash their inner villain with dark, vampy hues and sinister nail art featuring witches, skulls, vampires, and werewolves. 

Whether looking to transform into an evil queen this Halloween or simply wanting to channel some femme fatale energy, villain nails are the ultimate addition to any goth-glam aesthetic. Ahead, browse 17 haunted Halloween manicure ideas by #ItTakesAPro Team Artist and nail pro Karina Andrade (@glossy.studios)—including spooky nail art classics, blood drip nails, and terrifying twists on trending manicures like aura nails and outline nails.  

Give your minimalist manicure an upgrade this Halloween with some eerie nail art. These simple Halloween nails feature black and white designs atop a neutral base (OPI Put It In Neutral), making them a sophisticated yet playful way to bring out your inner villain this spooky season.

Chrome nails are everywhere right now, and this Halloween, they’re getting a villainous twist. To create this purple chrome spiderweb look, start with long, almond-shaped nails and a dark metallic purple shade (like OPI Purple With A Purpose). Next, add spiderweb details to each nail using a silver chrome nail art paint, and finish with a shine-boosting top coat.

Inspired by our favorite comic book villains, these lime green stiletto nails scream mischief and mayhem. They’re perfect for anyone who wants to make a bold statement this Halloween but isn’t into nail decals or hand-painted nail art. For this ghoulish green look, you’ll need extra-long stiletto nails and a bright neon green nail polish (with a chrome finish, if preferred). 

Channel your inner sorceress with midnight blue almond-shaped nails accented by crescent moons and stars. This bewitching nail design gives off a magical, dark, and enchanting vibe that pairs well with any wicked witch costume or moody Halloween outfit. One of our favorite shades to create the look is Gelish Brrr-inging It On, a royal metallic blue that’s as magical as the Halloween night sky.

Calling all ghosts, ghouls, and goblins—these pumpkin-perfect stiletto nails have it all! Featuring long stiletto nails and a combination of “boo-tiful” nail designs, this look is for Halloween enthusiasts who want their nails to make a statement. Instantly spook-ify any Halloween outfit this October with eggnog- and pumpkin-colored nails, plus festive nail decals that include pumpkins, bones, spiderwebs, and ghosts. 

If you prefer cute Halloween nails that are only slightly sinister, try stained glass nail art. With rich, jewel-toned colors and an intricate mosaic pattern outlined in black, this trending nail design is meant to mimic the look of gothic cathedral windows—a Halloween aesthetic staple.

Vampire-inspired nails are the way to go if your inner villain wants to make a dramatic entrance with an air of dark sophistication. These coffin-shaped red nails are created using the aura technique, which has been trending all over social media lately. Aura nails feature a blurred orb of color in the center of each nail, which creates a gorgeous, hazy effect and an ethereal vibe. To finish, add some gold Halloween nail art to complete this goth glam look. 

Jet-black nails are a Halloween classic, but this venomous look takes it a step further with a silver aura effect and spiderweb nail art that’s ominous and oh-so-chic. To get this femme fatale-inspired look, you’ll need a glossy black nail polish (like Gelish Black Shadow or Sparitual Vegan Nail Color in Expansive), OPI Clean Slate to create the shadowy aura, and a silver nail art paint for the spiderwebs.

Nothing says Halloween supervillain quite like horror-themed blood drip nails. This eerie manicure is fairly simple to sink your teeth into at home, and can be customized to suit any vampy style. You can add a glossy top coat for a freshly “spilled” look or go fully matte for an edgier take on blood drip nails. Here, Karina opted for an ultra-trendy approach to these Halloween nails with a milky-white base and metallic red drips.

Give your French manicure a sinister makeover with black tips accentuated with silver and red nail art. This French manicure is ideal for anyone who wants to embrace the spooky season without going all-out with nail art. At first, these Halloween nails look like a classic black French mani, but up close, the subtle blood drips and silver accents add just the right amount of holiday horror. 

For a bone-chilling Halloween manicure that’s equal parts artistic and terrifying, try a black snake design that continues across all of your fingers. Use a neutral shade as your base to help the hand-painted nail art (or nail decal) really pop, and don’t forget a few blood drips to make the design extra-villainous.  

This look gives off a dark, sultry vibe that’s befitting of any Halloween villain. It’s inspired by the popular cat eye nail trend, which gets its name from the reflective, mirror-like quality of a cat’s eye. For this Halloween manicure, you’ll need long, round nails and a cat eye nail polish in a dark maroon shade. The end result should be luxurious and slightly shimmery with subtle diagonal metallic lines running across the center of each nail.  

Blood red stiletto nails are the epitome of villainous glam and make an excellent pick if you’re going for an evil queen aesthetic. This eye-catching look is all about vivid, glossy red shades (like OPI Coca-Cola Red) with pointed tips that look ready to strike.  

If you prefer a more celestial take on spooky season, try a moon-inspired nail design like this lunar eclipse manicure. This design features a misty blue aura encircled by dark, cosmic hues of deep blue and black, and subtle glitter details that shimmer like the night sky. The addition of a delicate silver outline (also known as an outline manicure) will leave everyone moonstruck this Halloween. 

Show off nails that are both witchy and minimalist with this hauntingly cool French manicure. Karina's serpent-inspired design was created on short, coffin-shaped nails, with classic white tips and creepy black nail art painted directly on top. These nails are sure to leave a fierce impression wherever you go this spooky season. 

Embody the spirit of Halloween with mix-and-match nails. Simply create medium, round-shaped nails and get creative with as many spooky designs as your villainous heart desires. You can try different fall-themed nail polish colors, such as Morgan Taylor Coming Up Roses, and experiment with different patterns and nail art designs to showcase all your favorite Halloween elements. 

For a subtle and modern villain vibe, try crimson tips. This vampy look adds a splash of deep red color to elegant, almond-shaped nails and a neutral base. The simplicity of this design makes it a great pick for anyone seeking a slightly sinister Halloween manicure that gives off effortless witchy vibes.  

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