13 Halloween Hairstyles That Are Cute, Easy and a Little Bit Spooky

Halloween is the one night your hair gets to be part of the costume. The right hairstyle can turn a plain black dress into a witch look, or make a last-minute costume look totally planned.

You don’t need a wig or a stylist for any of these. Most take under 20 minutes and use things you already have, like bobby pins, hair ties, and a few cheap clips.

Below you’ll find costume looks (vampire, witch, mermaid, fairy and more), plus easy options for short hair, curly hair, and the office. Each idea comes with what you need and simple steps.

Collage of four women with Halloween hairstyles including vampire waves, a witch braided crown, mermaid streaks and cat ear space buns

Grab your clips and your favorite costume, because these Halloween hairstyles are wickedly fun to try.

1. Vampire Glam Waves

Woman with long deep wine red vampire glam waves and a deep side part in a candlelit room

Vampire hair is old Hollywood glam with a dark twist. It’s the easiest way to make a black dress look like a full costume.

What you need:

  • 1.25-inch curling iron
  • Heat protectant
  • Wine red temporary color spray (optional)
  • Bobby pins

How to do it:

  1. Make a deep side part.
  2. Curl medium sections away from your face.
  3. Brush the curls out gently into big, smooth waves.
  4. Pin the waves over one shoulder and mist with hairspray.
💡 Pro Tip: Spray the wine red color on dry hair from about 8 inches away. It washes out in one shampoo.

2. Witchy Braided Crown with Mini Hat

Woman with a braided crown hairstyle and a mini black witch hat in a pumpkin patch

A braided crown with a mini hat gives you a modern witch look without wearing a big hat all night.

What you need:

  • Mini witch hat clip or headband
  • Bobby pins
  • Small clear elastics

How to do it:

  1. Split your hair into two sections.
  2. Dutch braid each side from the nape upward.
  3. Wrap both braids around your head and pin them flat.
  4. Clip the mini hat slightly off-center and pull out a few face-framing strands.
💡 Pro Tip: Gently pull the braid edges wider before pinning. It makes the crown look thicker.

3. Spider Web Half-Up Braid

Woman with long black hair in a half-up spider web braid pattern with small spider clips

The spider web braid looks complicated, but it’s just thin braids joined together. It always gets compliments.

What you need:

  • Small clear elastics
  • Rat-tail comb
  • Mini black spider clips
  • Hairspray

How to do it:

  1. Take the top half of your hair and tie a small ponytail at the crown.
  2. Split the ponytail into 5 or 6 thin sections and braid each one outward.
  3. Connect neighboring braids with tiny elastics to form the web lines.
  4. Add spider clips across the web and spray to hold.
💡 Pro Tip: Ask a friend to help with the back. A second pair of hands makes this much faster.

4. Cat Ear Space Buns

Woman with shoulder-length brown hair styled into two cat ear space buns at home

Cat ear buns are the perfect lazy costume hair. Add eyeliner whiskers and you’re done.

What you need:

  • 2 hair ties
  • Bobby pins
  • Eyeliner for whiskers

How to do it:

  1. Make two high pigtails on top of your head.
  2. Twist each pigtail into a bun.
  3. Pinch the top of each bun into a triangle shape.
  4. Pin firmly so the points hold all night.
💡 Pro Tip: Mist the buns with hairspray before you pinch them. The shape stays sharp much longer.

5. Fairy Floral Updo with Glitter

Woman with a loose fairy updo woven with tiny flowers and gold glitter in an autumn forest

Fairy hair should look soft and a little undone. It also works for forest elf and woodland costumes.

What you need:

  • Small dried or fake flowers
  • Bobby pins
  • Gold cosmetic glitter
  • Hairspray

How to do it:

  1. Twist loose sections of hair and pin them at the back of your head.
  2. Leave a few soft pieces out around your face.
  3. Tuck small flowers into the twists.
  4. Spray your part and hairline, then press on gold glitter.
💡 Pro Tip: Use cosmetic glitter, not craft glitter. It’s safe near your eyes and easier to wash out.

6. Mermaid Waves with Teal Streaks and Pearls

Woman with long mermaid waves with teal streaks and pearl pins in blue lighting

Mermaid hair is one of the prettiest Halloween hairstyles, and it works with almost any outfit.

What you need:

  • Curling wand or braids for waves
  • Teal or turquoise temporary color spray
  • Pearl bobby pins
  • Texture spray

How to do it:

  1. Create loose beachy waves.
  2. Spray a few sections with teal color.
  3. Scatter pearl pins through your hair.
  4. Finish with texture spray for volume.
💡 Pro Tip: Short on time? Braid damp hair the night before and take the braids out in the morning for easy waves.

7. Pirate Bandana Braids

Woman with loose pirate braids, gold beads and a red bandana on a foggy dock

Pirate hair is supposed to be messy, so it’s very forgiving. Don’t aim for perfect.

What you need:

  • Bandana
  • Gold hair beads or cuffs
  • Colored embroidery thread
  • Texture spray

How to do it:

  1. Tie the bandana across your head.
  2. Add 3 to 5 thin, loose braids throughout your hair.
  3. Slide gold beads onto the braid ends.
  4. Wrap one or two braids with thread and tousle everything.
💡 Pro Tip: Curly and wavy hair works perfectly here. Just scrunch in some texture spray.

8. Deer Half-Up with Antler Headband

Woman with soft brown half-up waves and a small antler headband in an autumn forest

Deer is one of the sweetest costumes, and the hair keeps it soft and simple.

What you need:

  • Curling iron
  • Small antler headband
  • Bobby pins
  • White face paint or eyeliner for freckles

How to do it:

  1. Curl your hair into soft waves.
  2. Pull the top half back and pin it.
  3. Slide on the antler headband.
  4. Dot white freckles across your nose and cheeks.
💡 Pro Tip: Pick a headband with small antlers. They’re comfortable for hours and look more polished.

9. Easy Low Bun with Bat Clips

Woman with a sleek low bun decorated with small black bat hair clips

This is the five-minute option. It’s festive, polished, and comfortable all day.

What you need:

  • Hair tie
  • Bobby pins
  • 3 to 4 small black bat clips

How to do it:

  1. Brush your hair back into a low ponytail.
  2. Twist it into a bun and pin it.
  3. Smooth flyaways with a little gel or spray.
  4. Line up the bat clips just above the bun.
💡 Pro Tip: Swap the bat clips for spiders, pumpkins, or ghosts to match your costume.

10. Cute Bubble Pigtails with Orange and Black Bands

Woman with two bubble pigtails tied with orange and black hair ties

Bubble pigtails with orange and black bands are cute and instantly festive. They hold up well for a long night out.

What you need:

  • 10 to 14 small elastics in orange and black
  • Comb

How to do it:

  1. Part your hair down the middle and make two low pigtails.
  2. Add an elastic every 2 inches down each pigtail, switching colors.
  3. Gently pull each section out to create the bubbles.
  4. Smooth the top with a little gel.
💡 Pro Tip: Use elastics the same size so the bubbles look even.

11. Short Hair Witchy Pixie with Purple Glitter

Woman with a short textured black pixie cut with purple glitter along the part

Short hair can absolutely join the fun. This look gives you an edgy, witchy vibe with no updo needed.

What you need:

  • Strong styling paste
  • Purple glitter gel
  • Hairspray

How to do it:

  1. Rub paste between your palms and work it through dry hair.
  2. Pinch the ends into spiky, piecey texture.
  3. Press purple glitter gel along your part.
  4. Set everything with hairspray.
💡 Pro Tip: Have a bob instead? Do a deep side part with glitter and add a few small spider clips.

12. Curly Hair with Ghostly Silver Streaks

Woman with voluminous curly hair with silver streaks and small white ghost clips

Curly hair already has amazing volume, so let it be the star of the look.

What you need:

  • Silver temporary color spray
  • Small white ghost clips
  • Curl cream

How to do it:

  1. Start with dry, defined curls.
  2. Spray silver on a few curls from a distance.
  3. Add the ghost clips here and there.
  4. Avoid touching the curls afterward to prevent frizz.
💡 Pro Tip: Cover your face and clothes with a towel while spraying. Color sprays can travel.

13. Work-Friendly Low Twist with Skeleton Claw Clip

Woman with a sleek low twist hairstyle held by a white skeleton hand claw clip at the office

Want a little Halloween at the office without a full costume? This looks professional from the front and fun from the back.

What you need:

  • Skeleton hand claw clip
  • Comb
  • Light hairspray

How to do it:

  1. Brush your hair smooth and gather it at the back.
  2. Twist it upward into a vertical French twist.
  3. Clip it in place with the skeleton claw.
  4. Smooth any bumps with a little hairspray.
💡 Pro Tip: This works best on medium to long hair. On shorter hair, use the clip on a half-up twist instead.

Final Thoughts

Halloween hair is your chance to have fun and try something you’d never wear on a normal day. Here are a few quick tips before you start:

  • Do a test run a day or two before, especially for braids.
  • Use temporary color sprays on dry hair and protect your clothes with a towel.
  • Pick cosmetic glitter, not craft glitter.
  • Finish with strong hairspray so your style lasts all night.

Whether you go full vampire glam, keep it cute with cat ear buns, or sneak a skeleton clip into your work look, there’s an easy Halloween hairstyle here for you. Save this list so it’s ready when costume day comes around.

Sophia Rose
Sophia Rose

Hi, I am Sophia. I created Hairopal because I know what it feels like to struggle with your hair and not find the right answers. I spent years researching, testing, and learning until I found what truly works. Now I share everything I know right here on this blog. My goal is simple. I want every woman who visits Hairopal to leave feeling more confident and more informed about her hair.

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