Spooky season is in full swing, with much-anticipated Halloween festivities inspiring us to plan creative costumes, order a spooky drink or two, and update our manicures. This beloved holiday is full of classic, versatile motifs—from ghosts to spiderwebs to blood-red polish—and they’re especially fun when adding an after-dark edge to current nail trends.

As always, we’re here to help you find ample inspiration, and we’ve scoured Instagram for some of the most exciting offerings to try for all your upcoming parties (or just a touch of everyday joy). Ahead, peruse 39 Halloween nail ideas you’ll want to recreate this October.

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Black and White Halloween Nails

A black-and-white color palette is a stark and stylish choice for a spooky season. Add classic Halloween accents, like spiderwebs, spiders, ghosts, and cat eyes, to enhance the moody manicure.

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Witching Hour

A moody celestial manicure will always feel a bit witchy, which is ideal for a less-literal Halloween moment that still carries the appropriate spookiness. The swirled shades of blue on the base of this nail look feel all the more mystical when paired with bedazzled constellations.

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Tortoiseshell Ghosties

Upgrade your fall tortoiseshell manicure for Halloween with a few playfully chic ghosts. This design features them in the corners (similarly to the swirls of many abstract nail looks) for a result that balances whimsy with sophistication.

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Blood Bath Nails

@heygreatnails / Instagram

These spotty burgundy and black nails are meant to resemble gory pools of blood. To recreate the look, use sheer burgundy nail polish overlaid with sheer black polish.

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Holographic Ghosts

@brushedbyb_ / Instagram

Ghosts may be a Halloween manicure staple, but the holographic silver finish here offers a truly futuristic take on the classic. Paired with a glossy black base, it fits in with your moody autumnal looks while still feeling festive.

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Blood Drip Nails

@brushedbyb_ / Instagram

Dripping nail designs have remained a popular choice, and they’re one nail art idea that translates well to Halloween manicures. When done with ruby red polish, the cascading design takes on a bloody appeal ideal for the spooky season.

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Blood Red Nails

@lolo.nailedit / Instagram

Speaking of red polish, if you don’t have time for intricate Halloween nail art, opting for a simple blood-red mani will work just fine for the holiday. Just be sure to add a glossy top coat for a long-lasting look.

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Venusian Anatomy

@betina_goldstein / Instagram

Anatomical themes feel apt for Halloween, and this manicure by Betina Goldstein—inspired by the female form and a Dilara Findikoglu dress—is simply stunning. You can create a similar look by starting with a neutral base, then adding red, veiny accents with a fine line brush.

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Spooky and Squirmy

@betina_goldstein / Instagram

The idea of a worm manicure may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it does make for a stunningly unexpected result for Halloween. For best results, have a nail tech help you recreate this unsettling yet mesmerizing design.

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Blood-Splattered French

@lolo.nailedit / Instagram

Love the idea of a blood-inspired Halloween manicure? Transform a classic white French manicure with bright red splatter.

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I’m a Mouse, Duh

@overglowedit / Instagram

If your Halloween costume of choice is animal ears paired with a bodysuit, tights, and little else, a lingerie manicure may be exactly what you need this season. This one features a different design on each nail to keep things interesting and ever-so-chic.

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Bloody French Tips

@lolo.nailedit / Instagram

Give your French manicure an edgy twist by opting for red tips and a drippy accent. The end look is chic and spooky all at once.

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Crime Scene Nails

@brushedbyb_ / Instagram

Are you a fan of true crime docs? Embrace your passion on your fingertips this Halloween by opting for a crime scene-inspired manicure.

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Sparkly Blood Drip French

@disseynails / Instagram

For a luxe twist on a blood-inspired look, use tiny red gems instead of polish. The sparkly result feels Twilight vampire-approved, and alternating the design with simple white French tips makes it subdued enough for everyday.

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Freddy Krueger Nails

@brushedbyb_ / Instagram

Freddy Krueger fans will appreciate this olive and red Halloween mani. To achieve the striped look, use a fine-lining nail art brush and a dotting tool.

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Gothic Romance

@nailsby.hails / Instagram

If your Halloween mood this year aligns with Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball and the related dark romance trend, this one’s for you. Start with deep red French tips (the almond shape here is stunning), then add rhinestone cross accents on a few select nails for a storied touch.

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Ghostly French Tips

@disseynails / Instagram

How chic is this reimagined black-and-white French manicure? The tips of each nail feature spooky ghosts, giving the mani an unexpected twist.

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Halloween Doodles

@disseynails / Instagram

This cutesy Halloween doodle design is too precious to pass up. There are so many on-theme details to love, from ghosts to crescent moons to bats.

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Spooky Motifs

@melanated.mani / Instagram

You can never go wrong with classic Halloween motifs when crafting a spooky October manicure. Here, bats and webs elevate a black, orange, nude, and white skittle mani.

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Halloween Skittle Palette

@lolo.nailedit / Instagram

While on the topic of skittle manis, check out this vibrant Halloween nail art idea. The inclusion of royal purple and teal makes for a Scooby-Doo-inspired look. It’s also super easy to DIY: Simply paint on two coats of each color, touch up the edges, and finish with a top coat.

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Jet-Black Spiderwebs

@lolo.nailedit / Instagram

You can always spruce up a glossy jet-black manicure with bright white spiderweb designs. It adds a striking touch to an already-cool nail look.

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Halloween Pastels

@pop_polished / Instagram

This look proves that Halloween nails exist in every color palette and aesthetic. If high-contrast Halloween nail art isn’t your favorite, consider this pastel option.

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Nightmare Before Christmas Nails

@brushedbyb_ / Instagram

The Nightmare Before Christmas is a divisive film in that some consider it a Halloween classic, while others reserve it for the holidays. There’s no denying that the black, white, purple, yellow, and green designs from the film make for a pretty eye-catching Halloween manicure, though.

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Pumpkin Ember Aura Nails

@lolo.nailedit / Instagram

This orange and yellow aura manicure feels warm and cozy—it reminds us of happy jack-o-lanterns perched on the porch. It’s an easy Halloween nail idea to DIY, too.

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Pumpkin Jelly Confetti

@melanated.mani / Instagram

Jelly nail polish is always mesmerizing. While it’s a finish often reserved for summer, this sheer orange confetti mani is worth trying for Halloween.