It’s that time of year when channeling your inner Stevie Nicks – and, in turn, making contact with your wizarding side – seems like the natural thing to do. So why not take a look at it, starting with your fingertips, where a swipe of the right monochrome nail polish (Blood Red! Deep Green! Midnight Black!) Can transform your look into an enchanting effect.
“October is my favorite month … everyone has officially stopped thinking about summer and are ready for the fall / winter nail transition,” says manicurist Betina Goldstein, adding that she “is still looking [her] favorite scary movies for color inspiration. In the moodboard, Goldstein counts cult Halloween movies like Death becomes her and Hocus pocus (the Sanderson sisters have a penchant for extra long, curved pointed talons), among his favorites for drawing. She also names iconic femme fatale characters like Uma Thurman’s Mia Wallace in pulp Fiction, which featured Chanel’s iconic vampy hue Rouge Noir on screen.
But the Witchcore aesthetic, as TikTok likes to call it, means different things to different people. “Although I’ve seen Stevie Nicks perform live a few times and am obsessed with Halloween, I’m more of a witch Glinda the Good Witch,†manicurist Miss Pop says with a laugh. “So for me, Halloween is a good excuse to be extra — extra dark or extra bright or extra daring. And it even amazes me how nails can be an integral part of finishing a [a look]. “Here, the two nail artists tell us about a quartet of black magic-worthy nail color shades to consider if you feel like evoking your brooding and mystical side this Halloween.
Dark and deep red
A shade that Goldstein calls “Mia Wallace” red, this deep dark red was popularized in large part by Chanel’s best-selling Rouge Noir (also known as Vamp), which Thurman wore as Wallace in Pulp Fiction. “It’s a classic with character and sophistication,†says Goldstein. “It’s intense like a Malbec wine with the perfect combination of red and purple hues.”
Wicked green
“Olive green is a shade that looks so much like fall and has some monster vibes,†says Miss Pop. “It’s a unique choice, but not too odd for everyday.” It’s also portable in the real world, especially in the fall. “It will pair so well with all the seasonal shades in your wardrobe like brown, navy and wine,†she adds.
Death becomes her Red
It should be recognized that Stevie Nicks has always been a queen with crimson nails. Choosing a fierce mermaid red, Goldstein has a weakness for a bright, poppy hue, which she sees as synonymous with Goldie Hawn’s character, Helen Sharp in Death becomes her. “It’s dynamic and provocative,†says Goldstein. “It has a candy apple red saturation with an orange undertone.”
Midnight Black
“Deep black is so chic, especially if you have dark hair,†says Miss Pop, who loves matte and high-shine finishes. “Black is arguably the only shade that looks fresher when flaking off.”
