If there’s an occasion beyond fashion month that our favourite personalities are sure to dress up for, it’s Halloween. A celebration of all things grim, ghastly and supernatural, the holiday is practically catnip for celebrity bigwigs armed with boundless budgets as well as professional glam squads. See: Heidi Klum—the undisputed queen of dress-up—who has already teased her prosthetics-laden costume on Instagram. For the rest of us normies, we suggest an attainable and much more approachable alternative. That is, talons embellished with all manner of bats, cats, and hair-raising imagery; essentially, the best Halloween nails to try that range from 3D adornments to hyper-realistic figurines.
Unlike more conventional holidays that are associated with specific motifs (i.e. Christmas), there is a little more room to play when it comes to Halloween. Sure, you can go down the traditional route with a blood and gore aesthetic, or you can branch out into something a little more playful that is no less thematic. Consider sleek black and orange designs, pumpkins and even spider webs. For those who prefer something a little more adventurous and intricate, classic horror movie references in the vein of Scream and Coraline are great options too.
Without further ado, spy our full edit of best Halloween nails to try this 2025.
1 / 9
Ghouls galore
Minimalistic nail art fans who are still looking to make a statement can opt for this design that encompasses distinctive wisps and swirls that resemble a spectral-like figure.
2 / 9
All the great classics
Movie buffs are sure to recognise this homage to dark fantasy horror film, Coraline. The spider webs, black cats, and of course, buttons—which are a distinct reference to the button-eyed doppelgänger villains in the film—are a dead giveaway.
3 / 9
Dead woman walking
This zombified set from prolific Korean nail artist, Park Eunkyung, is certainly a sight to behold. Gleaming cybertronic details on alternate talons make for a modern and fascinating touch.
4 / 9
Creepy crawlies
While spiders are more of a conventional choice, there is something deeply disturbing—and on-theme—about these hyper-realistic beetles. It could also work as a fun homage to yet another timeless horror flick: Beetlejuice.
5 / 9
Time to terminate
Put a spin on blood-tipped claws by including all manner of embellishments, from grotesque to intricate.
6 / 9
Of patchwork and pumpkins
Who doesn’t love a jack-o’-lantern? For added dimension, pair it with visually-intriguing patterns in complementing colours.
7 / 9
Make it cutesy
Sweet, but with just a hint of spooky. If that’s how you like your Halloween festivities to go, look to this nail set which manages to tread that fine balance.
8 / 9
Radioactive
Nothing screams Halloween quite like some glow-in-the-dark inclusions. Throw in a sinister skeleton silhouette for some more added drama.
9 / 9
Clowning around
In case you missed it, the prequel to everyone’s favourite killer clown movie duology, It, is coming to HBO come 26 October. Talk about a timely premiere, indeed. Celebrate its arrival—and Halloween, naturally—with this fitting manicure.
