The Best Halloween Nail Looks for 2020

Let’s face it, 2020 might not be your best Halloween costume year. In light of safe social distancing guidelines (which you should follow!) trick or treating is cancelled, Halloween parties are going virtual, and that perfect group costume idea will have to wait until next year. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still get in the spirit.

We rounded up some of the best Halloween nail art ideas on Instagram that are easy enough to DYI at home. Happy (at home) haunting.

1. Glitter Devil Tips

For a devilish take on a French manicure, use sparkly red polish to give your tips a little fear factor.

Credit: @paintbyjaz

2. Swirly Ghosts

Unlike some nail art inspo that requires scarily good precision, these cute ghosts are all about asymmetry. Paint some swirly white blobs, add two black eyes and voila.

Credit: @nailartbysig

3. Sparkly Spiderwebs

Spiderweb nails for Halloween are about as expected as spiked cider but this version with sparkly silver polish feels especially elevated. Plus if you mess up, it will be less noticeable than black webs.

Credit: @betina_goldstein

4. Classic Halloween Candy

It doesn’t get more classic than candy corn. The best part? You really only need to pull off one nail to make this mani festive.

Credit: @kristinsnails

5. Wonder Woman Shimmer

Even if you can’t bring out your Wonder Woman costume this year, gold sparkly stars can still make you feel heroic this Halloween.

Credit: @stephstonenails

6. All Hallows’ Eve Moon

There’s always something a bit spooky about a full moon. Pick up some moon phases nail decals for your own bewitchingly good take.

Credit: @sohotrightnail

7. Blood Drip Tips

There is nothing spookier than subtlety. Teeny strokes of red polish on nude nails make a huge impact. The simplicity! The horror!

Credit: @betina_goldstein

8. Bitty Bats

For another witchy take on a French mani, high-gloss black polish is perfect for painting delicate bats.

Credit: @beautybygraceeva

9. Pumpkin Spice

It doesn’t get any easier (or on-trend for Instagram) than a monochrome pumpkin spice gradient. Paint each nail a different shade of orange for a simple and festive fall look.

Credit: @wild_oleander

10. Creepy Cat Eyes

Here’s looking at you. The asymmetry of these glowing cat eyes feels extra chic and easy to pull off.

Credit: @betina_goldstein

11. Cat’s Meow

If you want to get really fancy, paint on a full-on black cat, throw on a witch’s hat and poof! You’ve got a spellbindingly good Zoom costume.

Credit: @thehangedit

12. Tentacle Tips

Something about the simple use of undulating black lines of nail polish feels particularly serpentine—like Ursula the sea witch in a mani.

Credit: @ladyfancynails 

13. Black on Black

For an update on the classic goth nail, use a matte black polish as the base and then add dots of a high gloss topcoat to add a little dimension.

Credit: @hannahroxit

14. Slime Time

Update the classic black mani with some neon green drips of slime for a monstrously easy Halloween look.

Credit: @nailtalk_sammy

15. Vampy Talons

The classic red manicure gets a vampy update with these razor-sharp edges.

Credit: @nailartbyqueenie

16. Pink and Witchy

Maybe you’re just not a black and orange person—pink can be perfectly spooky too. This witchy nail art is delightfully bubbly (without all the toil and trouble).

Credit: @chezpaintsnails

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