CLAWS FOR alarm
Nail spooky season with Scratch’s roundup of ghostly nail art guides & spine-chilling step-by-steps
Though 31 October marks Halloween, the entire month tends to be filled with a sense of spooky anticipation. Every year, nail artists around the world create awe-inspiring artistic designs, bringing everything from cinematic horror scenes to classic characters to life on tiny canvases.
We’ve rounded up terrific looks by nail pros recognised in the 2026 Scratch Stars Awards and Season 2 of the North America’s Star Nail Artist contest. Want to recreate them? Simply scan each QR code for a step-by-step breakdown of the products and techniques used.
Monster mix ‘n’ match
GET THE LOOK
Scratch Stars Mixed Media Nail Artist of the Year finalist 2026, Sue Rangeley, is a nail tech & educator from West Yorkshire who believes nail art should be ‘fun, expressive and full of personality’. She shares a spook-tacular design packed with classic Halloween iconography, created using moulding gel, cat eye gel polishes, blooming gel, chrome powder and more. Follow Sue:
@blackdiamondacademy_yorkshire
Scan for steps to craft your own monster mani.
Kirsty Meakin Cat Eye Gel Polishes in Lilac Lady & Satin Sheets £14.99 inc VAT each www.kirstymeakin.com
Ghosts galore
Tina Li is a Northamptonshire-based nail tech with over 20 years’ industry experience, and was a Scratch Stars Mixed Media Nail Artist of the Year finalist 2026. The pro has created a layered ghost look to celebrate her ‘favourite season’.
Scan for a step-by-step Follow Tina: @nailtechtina guide to creating this ghost design with depth.
Cat eye carving
Thrilling 3D
Justyna Pryke is a Leeds-based nail artist & educator who scooped the title of Scratch Stars Ultimate Gel Tech after securing wins in the category in 2015, 2025 and 2026. Bringing classic
Halloween symbols to life, she shares a thrilling 10-step tutorial for showstopping 3D nails, using hard gel, sculpting gel and
L&P acrylic powder. Follow Justyna:
@justynapryke_ap.nailschool
Scan to discover how to recreate this haunting handiwork.
GET THE LOOK
Moyra UK Flower Builder & Art Hard Gel in 02 (Soft Pink with Pink Flowers) from £7.80 inc VAT www.moyra.uk
Sussex nail technician & educator, Maya Juranova, has been in the industry for over 15 years and specialises in structured salon nails and troubleshooting. The
Scratch Stars Gel Tech of the Year finalist 2026 reveals how to create a pumpkin nail style
that’s perfect for spooky season, using cat eye gel polish. Follow Maya:
@letsnailitacademy
Ready to carve your own pumpkin nail art? Scan for the steps.
Cobwebs & chrome
Erika Beck is a Russian manicure specialist based in Bedford, and was a Scratch Stars Gel Tech of the Year finalist 2026. Boasting over 10 years’ nail industry experience, she unveils a step-by-step guide to creating glimmering ghost nail art, using silver gel paint to make the character pop. Follow Erika:
@erika_beck_nails
You are five steps away from boo-tiful nails… Scan to view the nail art guide.
Blooming boo-tiful
Award-winning nail artist & educator, Alice Nali, is the owner of London-based nail salon and academy, Aly Nails. The Scratch Stars Mixed Media Artist of the Year 2025 and 2026 shares a simple, four-step blooming gel ghost tutorial, perfect for anyone seeking a Halloween nail style that whispers instead of screams. Follow Alice: @alynails.salonandacademy
Looking for simplicity this spooky season? Scan for the subtle step-by-step.
Bewitching Beetlejuice
North America’s Star Nail Artist (NASNA) Season 2 – Top 3 contestant, Yuliia Kovalchuk, is a New York-based nail artist, competition judge & educator. She’s helping pros nail spooky season styling with a
Beetlejuice-inspired French tip tutorial, channelling the energy of the ghost with the most.
Follow Yuliia: @kovanailsart
GET THE LOOK
Ready for some main character energy? Scan to master the nail look.
Glitterbels Unbelievabel Gel Paints in Black & Glorious Green £9.95 inc VAT each www.glitterbels.com
Eerie eyeballs
Faranak Shafie – professionally known as Faran, is the founder of Manchester-based beauty studio, The Glow
Nail & Beauty. A Scratch
Stars Gel Tech of the Year finalist 2026, Faran shares a gory eyeball design that is frightfully fabulous for Halloween. Follow Faranak: @theglownailbeauty
Eyeing up this eerie nail style? Scan for the step-by-step.
Ominous ombré
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Scratch Stars Gel Tech of the Year finalist 2026, Clare Hanson, is a natural nail specialist & founder of beauty studio, Revera Leeds. She adds sparkle to spooky season with a cat eye pumpkin nail tutorial – as showcased on the index finger of this mesmerising mix ‘n’ match manicure.
Follow Clare: @clarehanson_reveraleeds
Scan to create your own captivating cat eye claws.
HD Professional Nail Systems Colour It! HYBRID Gel Polish in Spiced Pumpkin £12.49 + VAT & Cat Eye Gel Polish in Tiger Teal £10.49 + VAT www.hazeldixonnails.com
Cat eye cauldron
Sabre van Dijk is the nail pro behind Bad Gal Sabz, a Brighton-based business known for bold, playful nail art. The Scratch Stars
Mixed Media Nail Artist of the Year finalist 2026 offers a guide to creating cauldron nail art that is bewitchingly beautiful, using cat eye gel polishes, glitter flakes and chrome powder to create a magically reflective finish. Follow Sabre: @badgalsabz
Scan to conjure up the nail tutorial.