Dressing up your nails takes on a completely different meaning in October. With Halloween [1] coming up, it's time to shift your Pinterest boards to include dark and moody hues.
Celebrities have already begun getting into the spirit of the holiday with their recent manicures. Khloé Kardashian [2] revealed extralong nails painted with a dark yet glossy hue that emitted what she called "Vamp Vibes," and Heidi Klum's candy apple red manicure [3] was created with a nail polish colour [4] that might remind you of the treats (and tricks) that come with Halloween.
To find the most popular — and even unexpected — nail colours for the spooky season, we tapped celebrity nail artist Elle [5] (who has created looks for Blake Lively [6], Jennifer Lopez [7], and Jessica Chastain) to weigh in. Check out her picks, ahead.
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Rich Metallics and Duo-Chromes
"Rich metallic purples and duo-chrome blues and greens create an unexpected look," Elle said.
She named the LeChat Dare to Wear Metallux Nail Polish in Hypnotic [8] ($12) polish as one of her favourites for its blue to green shift.
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Rich Metallics and Duo-Chromes
INLP Nail Polish in Birefringence [9] ($13)
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Rich Metallics and Duo-Chromes
Sinful Colours Professional Nail Polish Enamel in Let Me Go [10] ($6)
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Rich Metallics and Duo-Chromes
OPI Nail Polish in Purple Purpose [11] ($11)
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Rich Metallics and Duo-Chromes
NARS Nail Polish in Purple Rain [12] ($20)
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Pumpkin Orange
You can't go wrong with a pumpkin hue for Halloween [13] month. Elle loves the LeChat's Perfect Match Mood polish in Pumpkin Spice [14] (which is available only in salons) for this look. "It transitions from pumpkin orange to a faint caramel shade depending on your body temp [and glows] like a jack-o-lantern or the eyes of a black cat."
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Pumpkin Orange
Essie Summer Trend Nail Polish Collection in Soles On Fire [15] ($9)
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Pumpkin Orange
China Glaze Nail Polish in Papaya Punch [16] ($7)
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Mustard
Elle named mustard yellow nail polish — like the Cirque Colours Crème Nail Polish in Urbanized [17] ($13) — as another warm option to try during the weeks leading up to Halloween [18].
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Vampy Hues
Dark colours are a Fall staple, but we can see pairing Kardashian's vampy look with any of our Halloween [19] costume options this year. Get the look using the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Colour in Go Garnet [20] ($4), or one of the following nail polishes.
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Vampy Hues
O.P.I Nail Lacquer in Lincoln Park After Dark [21] ($9)
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Vampy Hues
Essie Nail Polish in Wicked [22] ($9)
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Candy Apple Red
Heidi Klum [23]'s candy apple red manicure is both sweet for Halloween [24] and a trend that one expert foresees sticking around through the entire Fall season.
"Red, burgundy, berry — these deep shades are emblematic of Fall and represent a sophisticated twist on quintessential bright red nail polish while still being feminine and classic," Nail expert and brand owner Jin Soon Choi previously told POPSUGAR. "They are timeless colours that cross from classic to modern and feminine to bold — making them perfect for all Autumn occasions."
Recreate the nail look using the Butter London Come to Bed Red [25] ($15) or one of the below options.
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Candy Apple Red
Olive & June Nail Polish in SC [26] ($8)
Best Halloween Nail Polish: Candy Apple Red
Essie Nail Polish in A-List [27] ($9)