There’s one day every year when you can be whoever you want. You can braid your hair in a high-pony to embody a fearless Lara Croft or pop on a ginger wig (unless you are a natural) topped with a purple headband the Daphne Blake way. We are talking about Halloween, of course, a time to channel your inner alter ego – no questions asked. For beauty buffs, no costume is complete without a set of spooky nails. But rest assured, Halloween nails needn't be reduced to glitter and ghosts. In fact, our favourites this year are classy at heart and can be carried beyond 31st October.
‘The key to keeping Halloween nails chic rather than costume-like is to swap loud, full-coverage nail art for elevated details,’ says Daisy Kalnina, founder and CEO of The GelBottle Inc. ‘Choose a signature accent nail or opt for micro-art, like a fine-line spiderweb.’ Indeed, the less noise, the better.
Picking the right polish is an equally important decision when it comes to keeping your mani chic. ‘If you want a palette that feels more transitional to take you into November, opt for vampy rich tones, like deep oxbloods, black cherry, molten chocolate, and smoky plum are the ultimate dark neutrals,’ says Kalnina. ‘I love Manhattan, Manor and Purple Knight from The GelBottle, £18 each, to bring instant gothic glamour while remaining effortlessly chic.’
Don’t sleep on different polish finishes either, as they manage zhuzh things up while still keeping a mani looking elevated. ‘We’re also seeing texture and metallic finishes play a key role for Halloween this year, with magnetic velvet gels providing a mesmerising, plush shimmer that feels moody and expensive,’ adds Kalnina. Colour-wise opt for warm amber, burnt rust, or deep browns to ground the palette in rich autumnal luxury.
Need further inspo? Scroll through our curated list of chic Halloween nails ahead of your next salon appointment. ‘Tis the season for warm pumpkin spiced lattes in hand, cosy gourmand candles burning in the air, and the chicest-looking mani of the year. Screenshots at the ready...
The best chic Halloween nails
Velvet nails
The runway can be the most inspiring of places to look for nail ideas and the Simone Rocha SS27 show during LFW was no exception. Created by manicurist Ama Quashie, models made their way down the catwalk with velvet nails in deep shades of navy blue, burgundy and black. The chic manicure oozed autumnal glamour that you can easily recreate for your Halloween costume. Pick your velvet.
Image credit: @amaquashie
Candy nails
Is it really Halloween without a round of trick-or-treating? Pick your favourite candy and let it inspire your next manicure. Celebrity manicurist Iram Shelton went for humbugs in the example below and we couldn't be more obsessed.
Image credit: @iramshelton
Merlot nails
Manicurist and The GelBottle Inc's brand ambassador, Bryony Howell, describes the look as, ‘a deep, rich red tone inspired by Merlot wine'. With a velvety-looking texture and rich, decadent colour, the burgundy-leaning shade works beautifully for the spooky season.
Image credit: @harrietwestmoreland
Pumpkin spiced nails
Just like the very hue of the hero vegetable of the season, this manicure features a deep orange-brown metallic nail polish for a finish that could twinkle in the dark.
Image credit: @matejanova
Translucent tips
These sheer black tips add a gothic touch, while keeping the look chic-looking all at once.
Image credit: @chummy.nails
Bambi nails
This elevated Bambi nails lookwith deep French tips and a touch of speckled spots on each nail, works perfectly for Halloween nails.
Image credit: @houseoforangebali
Witchy red nails
Glass red cat eye nails put an elegant spooky spin on the classic cherry red. The look was created using TGB's hard BIAB in the shade Dolly, £21, as a base and a coat of Classified, £18, an intense berry-purple gel, to add depth, before topping it with Countdown, £25, a shimmering silver magnetic polish. To create freestyle swirls, use a dual-ended magnetic tool and hover over the final layer before sealing the look with Glass Red, £18, a translucent crimson shade that delivers a high-shine, glass-like result.
Image credit: @mariapapakleanthous
Maria Papakleanthous is Grazia’s beauty assistant. Originally from Cyprus, she moved to London to chase her dream of working in magazine journalism. At Grazia, Maria writes about the newest beauty launches, wellness trends and everything designed to help you look and feel your best self. Follow her on Instagram @mariapapakleanthous
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