How to Make Wolf Ears: Headband Version With Faux Fur
Here is how to make wolf ears: cut two tall, pointed ear shapes from stiff felt, glue faux fur to the front, add a paler inner patch, then pinch the base into a slight cup and hot glue the ears onto a plain headband. Leftover fur becomes a matching tail. It takes about 30 minutes and no sewing machine.
Got the ears planned but no idea what makes the rest of you look like a werewolf and not a husky? The Costume Rack matches your vibe and closet to a full werewolf build: Start my costume.
What you need for a wolf ears headband
Most wolf ear guides online are cat ears in grey. Wolf ears are taller, more pointed and sit wider apart. The materials reflect that.
For the ears
- Stiff felt, about 9 x 12 inches (grey, brown or black). Craft foam works too.
- Faux fur, roughly a quarter yard, or an old fuzzy scarf or hat
- A small piece of paler felt or fur for the inner ear (cream, light grey or pink)
- A plain headband, ideally close to your hair color
- Hot glue gun and fabric glue
- Sharp scissors and a marker
For the tail (optional)
- Another strip of faux fur, about 4 x 16 inches
- Cotton stuffing, or plastic grocery bags
- A safety pin or a belt loop clip
Paper or cardboard wolf ears instead?
If you want to know how to make wolf ears with paper or cardboard, use the same template and cut it from a cereal box. Glue fur, or even grey cotton balls, on top. Cardboard ears are stiffer but can crease if you hug people. Felt bends and springs back, which is why it is the default here.
Cutting the ear shape
Wolf ear shape is the difference between wolf and fox or cat.
- Draw the template. On paper, draw a tall triangle: about 3.5 inches wide at the base and 4.5 inches tall. Round the two bottom corners slightly and keep the top sharp.
- Curve the outer edge. Wolf ears bulge slightly on the outside edge. Bow that side out a little.
- Add a tab. Extend the base by half an inch. This tab wraps under the headband.
- Cut four felt pieces. Two fronts, two backs, so each ear is double thickness and stands up.
- Glue the pairs. Glue each front to its back, edges lined up.
| Ear feature | Wolf | Cat | Fox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | Tall | Short | Tall |
| Tip | Sharp | Sharp | Very sharp, often black |
| Width at base | Wide | Narrow | Medium |
| Spacing on head | Wide apart | Close | Medium |
Adding faux fur
This is what turns felt triangles into believable werewolf ears.
- Cut the fur from the back. Flip the fur over and cut the backing only, with small snips. Cutting from the front shears the hairs and leaves a bald edge.
- Cut slightly bigger. Leave a quarter inch extra all round.
- Glue it down. Spread fabric glue on the front of each felt ear and press the fur on.
- Fold the edges. Wrap the extra fur around the edges to the back and glue it.
- Add the inner ear. Cut a smaller teardrop from pale felt or fur and glue it in the lower center of the front.
- Brush. Use an old toothbrush to fluff the fur and free any hairs trapped in glue.
Color combos that look good
- Grey outer, cream inner: classic wolf
- Dark brown outer, tan inner: forest werewolf
- Black outer, grey inner: dramatic, pairs well with all-black clothes
- White outer, pale pink inner: arctic wolf
Mounting on the headband
- Mark the position. Put the headband on and mark two spots roughly above the outer edges of your eyes. Wolf ears sit wider than cat ears.
- Cup the base. Pinch each ear base slightly so it curves forward, like it is listening. Hold with a dab of hot glue.
- Wrap the tab. Fold the tab under the headband and hot glue it in place.
- Cover the join. Wrap a strip of fur around the headband between and around the ears so no plastic shows.
- Blend into your hair. Pull a few strands of your hair forward over the headband base.
How to make wolf ears and tail that match
A tail is what makes people say "werewolf" and not "wolf ears on a person". Here's how to make a wolf tail from the same fur.
- Fold the fur strip in half lengthwise, fur side in.
- Glue (or hand-stitch) along the long edge and the narrow end, leaving the top open.
- Turn it right side out through the open end.
- Stuff it loosely with stuffing or plastic bags. Keep the tip thinner.
- Fold the top closed, glue it, and push a big safety pin through it.
- Pin it to the back of your jeans or belt loop.
A wolf tail hangs straight down and fluffy, unlike a cat tail. Keep it thick, about 3 inches wide.
The ears and tail are the fun part. The hard part is deciding whether your flannel, torn jeans and hoodie actually add up to a werewolf, or if you need something else. The Costume Rack lists every werewolf piece, says where to find what you are missing, and shows a version from things you own. Start my costume
Finishing the werewolf look
Learning how to make a werewolf costume is mostly about texture and color. Think rough, earthy and a little torn.
The closet werewolf formula
- Top: Flannel shirt, worn open over a grey or brown tee
- Bottom: Old jeans, cut or frayed at the knees if you do not mind
- Layer: A faux fur vest or jacket if you own one
- Shoes: Boots or scuffed sneakers
- Extras: Fingerless gloves, a bit of fur glued to the gloves' back
Werewolf costume women and men
A werewolf costume for women can go softer, with a faux fur jacket, a dark skater skirt and boots. A werewolf costume for men leans on flannel and denim. Both work without makeup; if you want a face detail, a little eyeliner on the nose and brows is enough, but it is optional.
This is how to make a wolf costume for adults that still looks good in photos: ears plus tail plus one texture piece (flannel or fur).
Building a group? Put the werewolf next to an angel and a devil using our halo headband and paper devil horns guides. All three use a headband base.
Get your full werewolf build right now
You have learned how to make wolf ears and a tail; The Costume Rack fills in the rest. Answer a few questions about your vibe and your closet, and in about two minutes you get every werewolf piece, a "Find it" link for anything you need, a version from what you own and a no-makeup build.
FAQ
How do you make wolf ears on a headband without sewing?
Cut double-layer felt ears, glue faux fur to the front with fabric glue and hot glue the base tabs under a headband. Wrap a strip of fur around the headband to hide the join. No stitching is needed anywhere.
How do you make wolf ears out of cardboard?
Trace a tall, pointed triangle with a slightly curved outer edge onto a cereal box and cut two. Glue fur, felt or grey cotton balls on top, then glue them to a headband. Bend the base slightly forward so they look alert.
What is the difference between wolf ears and cat ears?
Wolf ears are taller, wider at the base and sit further apart on the head. Cat ears are shorter and close together. Getting the size and spacing right is what makes people read "wolf".
How do you make a werewolf costume without makeup?
Wear flannel, torn jeans and boots, then add faux fur ears, a fur tail and fur on the backs of fingerless gloves. Texture does the work that makeup would. The Costume Rack includes a no-makeup build for the werewolf if you want a checklist.
How do I make a wolf costume for adults cheaply?
Use clothes you already own for the base (flannel, jeans, a grey hoodie) and spend only on a quarter yard of faux fur and a headband. That one piece of fur covers the ears, the tail and glove trim.