These Halloween Nail Ideas Are the Perfect Combo of Creepy and Cute

In our experience, there are two types of people in this world: Those who spend weeks planning their month-long Halloween festivities (complete with a big bash, plenty of horror movies, and several over-the-top costumes) and those who wait until the last-minute to decide what they'll wear—or if they'll even dress up. Regardless of where you fall, though, there's one accessory that both camps can get behind: A Halloween-inspired manicure.

That's because Halloween nail ideas range from seriously spirited to subtle and simple. Looking for the former? Take advantage of the virtually endless number of nail art ideas and choose a detailed design that incorporates classic motifs (like sparkly pumpkins, spider-webbed tips, cute little ghosts) or something super scary (such as oozing blood drips or a spooky, graveyard scene). Want something a bit more understated? In that case, focus on ideas that are all about nail color and pick something with a cool Halloween-themed palette (think: orange, black, purple, and green).

Best of all, no matter which way you go, you can easily DIY many of these nail ideas, especially with a little help from fall nail stickers and press-ons. And, as always, if you prefer the salon experience—whether that's because you like the longevity of dip powder, the durability of acrylics, or those extremely relaxing massage chairs—you can also show these to your manicurist for inspiration.

Ahead, we've rounded up Halloween nail ideas that are so good you might not even need a costume.