Halloween Costume With Curly Hair: 12 Ideas That Use Your Curls
The best Halloween costume with curly hair uses your curls as the main feature: a witch with wild curls under a pointed hat, a fairy with glitter in her ringlets, a party clown with big volume, a werewolf with a shaggy mane, or an angel with a halo sitting on top of your curls. No wig needed, and your natural texture makes the costume look more alive than any bag-costume hairpiece.
If you want a costume that works with your curls instead of hiding them, The Costume Rack builds one from your vibe and closet. Start my costume
Why curls are a costume asset
Most costume photos show straight wigs, so it's easy to think curly hair is a problem. It's the opposite.
- Volume is a shape. Big curls give a costume a silhouette that reads from across a room.
- Texture looks wild or magical. Perfect for witches, fairies and werewolves.
- You skip the wig. No hot, itchy wig cap, and no flattening your curls for hours.
- Curls hold accessories. Pins, flowers, horns and ears grip better in textured hair.
This goes for loose waves, tight coils, locs and dreads too.
Spooky ideas for a Halloween costume with curly hair
These are Halloween costumes for people with curly hair who want spooky.
1. Witch
Wild curls under a pointed hat, a black dress or cape, boots. Let the curls spill out from under the brim. Add a few small plastic spiders pinned into your hair.
2. Werewolf
Flannel, ripped jeans, fur cuffs and ears pinned directly into your curls. Your hair becomes the mane. Fluff it out for extra volume. See our werewolf costume from scratch for every piece.
3. Vampire
Dark clothes, a high collar or cape, and curls swept to one side. A dark red lip finishes it.
4. Zombie
Ripped old clothes and slightly messy curls. Tease a few strands, and you're done.
5. Veiled ghost
A white dress, a sheer white scarf draped over your curls like a veil, and pale makeup or none.
Glam and cute costumes with curls
6. Fairy
Glitter or small flowers tucked into your curls, wings and a pastel dress. Curls make a fairy look like she stepped out of a storybook.
7. Angel
A halo on a headband sitting on your curls, a white outfit and wings. The curls frame the halo.
8. Devil
Small red horns pinned into your curls so they peek out. A red outfit finishes it. Horns sit more naturally in curly hair than on flat hair.
9. Black cat
Cat ears pinned into your curls, all-black outfit, tail. Curly texture around the ears reads as fluffy fur.
Funny costumes with curls
10. Party clown
Big volume is the whole point. Fluff your curls up and out, add a colorful striped top, suspenders and a red nose. Colorful temporary hair spray on the ends is optional.
11. Pumpkin
Orange outfit and a small green stem clipped into the top of your curls. Your round curly silhouette is the pumpkin.
12. Pirate
A bandana tied over your curls with the curls falling out behind, a striped top and boots. Curls under a bandana look wind-swept.
By hair type
| Hair | Great costumes | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Loose curls or waves | Fairy, witch, angel | Scrunch for more definition |
| Tight curls or coils | Clown, werewolf, black cat | Use volume as the silhouette |
| Locs or dreads | Pirate, witch, werewolf | Wrap with a bandana or tie with ribbons |
| Red curls | Witch, pirate, fairy | Let the color lead |
| Blonde curls | Angel, fairy | Add a halo or glitter |
| Bangs or a bob | Black cat, vampire | Ears and a sharp lip |
A Halloween costume with red hair almost always means a witch or pirate, and a Halloween costume with long blonde hair is a natural fit for an angel or fairy.
Protecting curls from hats and wigs
How to wear a hat with curly hair
- Put your hat on after styling, so your curls sit around it rather than under it.
- Choose hats with a wide opening (witch hats, cowboy hats) over tight beanies.
- Pin hats in place with bobby pins through the brim into your curls.
- Take the hat off between photos to let your curls breathe.
How to protect curls under a wig
If a costume needs a wig, pineapple or braid your curls first, then use a satin or silk scarf or cap under the wig cap to reduce friction. Take the wig off as soon as you can and refresh your curls with a little water and your usual product.
Glitter and color
- Choose glitter made for hair or skin, and keep it on the ends if you worry about washout.
- Temporary color sprays can dry curly hair out, so add conditioner the next wash.
Guessing which costumes suit your hair (and which will fight it all night) is the part that makes most people give up and buy a wig. The Costume Rack takes your vibe and your closet and gives you a costume with every piece listed plus a no-makeup build, so you can pick one that lets your curls lead. Start my costume
Group ideas
- The coven: a group of witches, each with a different curl pattern, all under pointed hats.
- Heaven and the other side: angels and devils, halos and horns in curls.
- Werewolf pack: everyone's hair as the mane.
- The fairy court: glitter, flowers and wings.
- Monster mash: vampire, werewolf, zombie, mummy and bat.
Share The Costume Rack's group link so your friends claim their costumes in one place and nobody doubles up. Wear glasses too? Check Halloween costumes for people with glasses. Have a beard as well as curls? See Halloween costume with a beard.
A curl-friendly costume in two minutes
Tell The Costume Rack your vibe and what's in your closet, and in about two minutes you'll get one of sixteen costumes, every piece listed, a version from what you own and a no-makeup build. It's the easiest way to land on a Halloween costume with curly hair that shows off your curls.
FAQ
What is a good Halloween costume with curly hair?
A witch, fairy, party clown, werewolf or angel, because each one uses your curls as part of the look. You skip the wig and let your natural volume do the work. Add a hat, halo, horns or ears pinned into your curls.
What are Halloween costumes for people with curly hair that don't need a wig?
A witch with curls under a hat, a black cat with ears pinned in, a devil with horns in your curls, a werewolf with your hair as the mane, or a clown with extra volume. All of them look better with real curls than with a wig.
What Halloween costume goes with red hair?
A witch and a pirate are the classic picks, and a red-haired fairy or werewolf looks great too. Let your red hair be the main color and keep the outfit darker so it stands out.
What is a good Halloween costume with locs or dreads?
A pirate with a bandana over your locs, a witch with your locs falling from under a pointed hat, or a werewolf with your hair as the mane. You can also tie ribbons or small charms into your locs for extra detail.
How do you protect curly hair under a Halloween wig?
Braid or pineapple your curls, then cover them with a satin scarf or cap before the wig cap. That reduces friction and frizz. Take the wig off as soon as you're done and refresh your curls with water and product.