These Are the 8 Best Halloween Nail Colors to Try

These manicures are so on-theme.

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The season of spooky fashion (aka Halloween) crept up on us lightning fast. Now is the perfect time to start prepping your costume, which we've actually already started doing for you. We've spotlighted some great It girl–approved costumes, found modest dress-up ideas perfect for the office, and even looked to the internet for some costume trends that will be big.

We do recognize that Halloween costumes might not be everyone's cup of tea, but that doesn't mean you can't be festive in some other way. Cool makeup is one option for adding a bit of spook to your routine without having to take a major fashion plunge, as is painting your nails with one of the below Halloween nail colors. Think blood red, slime green, and classic orange, plus a few more that can look just as spine-chilling as a skeleton costume. All of these are low-commitment ways to celebrate All Hallows Eve.

Ahead, see eight Halloween-appropriate polishes we'll be swiping on our nails when we're just not in the mood to piece together a costume.

1. Rouge Red

You can't go wrong with red nail polish. It's classic but also spooky, especially when paired with an all-black look. Vampire vibes, anyone?

Red nails

(Image credit: @themaniclub)

2. Blackest Black

Black nail polishes ooze grunge, which is why it's perfect for the spooky season, but best of all, it pairs well with everything.

Black Chanel nail polish

(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

3. Slime Green

Slime green is still reigning supreme in the fashion and beauty worlds, and that's exactly why you should consider sporting the hue on your nails come Halloween. Plus, it's perfect for a Frankenstein-inspired nail design.

Lime green nails

(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

4. Burnt Orange

Sorry to state the obvious, but orange nail polish is about as essential to Halloween (and fall) as candy corn.

Orange nails

(Image credit: @imarnimails)

5. Royal Purple

Royal purple is elegant, but when paired with a lacy black dress or a slime-green top, it becomes a tad bit more terrifying in the best way possible, of course.

Royal purple nails

(Image credit: @imarninails)

6. Electric Blue

Blue polish can be bright and bold or dark and sinister, depending on your preferred shade. It also pairs well with everything.

Blue nails

(Image credit: @themaniclub)

7. Metallic Shades

When in doubt, metallic it out. The shiny lacquer is great for a disco-inspired costume or maybe even a space-themed one.

Sparkly nails

(Image credit: @THEMANICLUB)

8. Duochrome Shades

Duochrome polish is so versatile that it goes with any outfit, but it's especially great for Halloween. The trick of the light makes for a spooky surprise.

Sparkly Halloween nails

(Image credit: @betina_goldstein)

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Eva Thomas
Eva Thomas
Contributor

Eva Thomas is a senior editor at InStyle, with nearly 10 years of experience as a fashion journalist. She has worked in fast-paced newsrooms, covering everything from the latest fashion trends to notable beauty launches. When she's not experimenting with bold fashion trends, trying on clothes for her Nordstrom fitting room series, sharing style hacks, or testing new skin care devices, she’s busy tracking down the best celebrity looks, interviewing trend and beauty experts, or texting her mom about her favorite new products. Eva’s conversational writing style makes her a go-to for fun, informative advice—think of her as your in-the-know BFF who’s always ready to share her expertise on all things fashion, beauty, and celebrity.