15 Halloween Hairstyles for Girls

The step diagram shows a high bun with thin elastic threads radiating outward from the centre and connected by curved arcs, forming a web across the bun's surface. This is the standout Halloween hairstyle and it looks considerably more complicated than it is. Start with a firm high bun, secured with an elastic and pinned around the edge. Then take a length of thin black elastic cord or several small black hair elastics linked together. Anchor one end at the centre of the bun with a pin, run it outward to the edge, and pin. Repeat five or six times around the bun like the spokes of a wheel. Then connect the spokes with shorter lengths, pinning at each spoke and letting each connecting piece sag slightly toward the centre — the sag is what makes it read as a web rather than a wheel. Work outward in rings, each ring wider than the last. A small plastic spider clipped to one edge finishes it. Around ten minutes, and it holds through an evening because everything is pinned rather than tied.

The step diagram shows a three-strand braid with a burnt orange ribbon incorporated as part of one strand, running the full length. Weaving ribbon into a braid is the fastest route to a Halloween hairstyle and it takes no more time than an ordinary braid. Tie the ribbon to the elastic at the base of a ponytail, or pin it at the top of the section before you start. Then treat the ribbon as part of one of the three strands and braid normally. The ribbon appears and disappears along the length, which looks deliberate and considerably more interesting than ribbon simply tied at the end. Choose a grosgrain ribbon rather than satin, which slips out. Burnt orange rather than bright, so the style still works for the school day before Halloween.

The step diagram shows a centre part with two high buns positioned to sit like ears, each secured and pinned, with a small amount of hair left loose around the base. This is the simplest costume-adjacent hairstyle there is and it works because placement does all of it — buns positioned high and slightly forward read as ears without any accessory at all. Part down the centre, gather each side into a high ponytail placed further forward than usual, twist and coil each into a bun, and pin around the outside pushing inward. Leaving a little hair loose at the base softens the shape. Add black hair elastics or small black bows if you want it more explicit. Converts straight into ordinary space buns by repositioning them slightly lower.

The step diagram shows two parallel braids down the back of the head with a black ribbon laced between them in a criss-cross pattern, like the back of a corset. This is the most striking style here and it takes around eight minutes. Work two braids down the back of the head, spaced about two inches apart and running parallel. Then take a long black ribbon and lace it between them, passing it under one loop of the left braid, across, and under a loop of the right, alternating down the length. Secure at the bottom with a bow. The ribbon should be pulled snug enough to hold its shape but not tight enough to pull the braids together. Grosgrain again rather than satin.

The step diagram shows the top half of the hair gathered into a bun at the crown, with three small spider clips positioned around the base and one on the loose length below. Clip-based styles are the fastest Halloween option and the most easily undone if she changes her mind. Gather the top section from ear level upward and secure into a bun using the half-pull loop method — pull the hair only halfway through the elastic on the final pass and tuck the end under. Then position small plastic spider clips around the bun and one lower down. Placement matters more than quantity: three or four clips scattered irregularly reads as deliberate, while a dozen reads as cluttered.

The step diagram shows a centre part with two low braids, one with orange ribbon woven through and one with black. Using two different ribbon colors rather than matching them is what makes this look intentional rather than accidental. Part down the centre, secure each side into a low ponytail behind the ear, and braid each with a ribbon incorporated into one strand — orange on one side, black on the other. Finish both with a small bow. Low rather than high placement means she can lean her head back comfortably in a car seat, which matters on an evening that involves driving between houses.

The step diagram shows a single long side braid worked loosely, then pulled apart along its length to create a deliberately undone, textured effect. This suits a witch costume better than any neat style, and the technique is the opposite of everything else here — you want it imperfect. Braid a plain three-strand side braid loosely rather than tightly, then work along its length gently pulling the outer edges of each crossing outward. That pancaking technique widens and softens the braid. Do not overdo it; three or four passes is enough before it starts to fall apart. Secure at the end and let a few strands escape around the face on purpose.

The step diagram shows two high buns with the loose ends of each left out and fanned into a pointed shape resembling small wings. This is a small variation on space buns that changes the whole read. Gather each side into a high ponytail, twist and coil into a bun, but leave the last two inches of hair out rather than tucking them under. Then fan the loose ends outward and pin them into a rough point on each side. A little texture spray or a light mist of water helps the fanned ends hold their shape. Removing the pins converts it back to ordinary space buns in seconds.

The step diagram shows a single braid with one section colored bright orange using a temporary color spray applied before braiding. Temporary color is the quickest dramatic change available and the one that needs the most caution. Always test on a small hidden section a day ahead — some sprays stain light or porous hair, and the last thing you want is a discovery on Halloween morning. Apply the color to one section of hair while it is held flat and separated from the rest, let it dry fully, then braid so the colored section appears at intervals along the length. Choose a spray labelled as washing out in one shampoo, and wash it out the same night rather than leaving it in overnight.

The step diagram shows a braid worked around the perimeter of the head like a headband, with three small bat clips pinned along it at irregular intervals. The crown braid is the most secure style available, which makes it the right base for an evening that involves wind and running. Work a Dutch braid from one temple around the front hairline and along the opposite side, gathering hair from below as you go, then finish as a plain braid, tuck the tail under, and pin. Add the bat clips along the braid at uneven spacing. Remove the clips and it becomes a perfectly ordinary school style for the rest of the week.

The step diagram shows a rounded high bun with a burnt orange ribbon wrapped around its base and a small green ribbon loop pinned at the top like a stem. This is the sweetest option here and works well for younger children who want something themed but not spooky. Build a firm high bun and pin it. Wrap orange ribbon around the base two or three times and secure. Then take a short piece of green ribbon, fold it into a small loop, and pin it upright at the very top of the bun. The stem is the whole joke and it is what makes the shape read as a pumpkin rather than just a bun with a ribbon.

The step diagram shows a centre part with a Dutch braid down each side, each finished with a black grosgrain bow. This is the practical Halloween hairstyle — the braids hold through a full evening of running, and the ribbon does the seasonal work. Part down the centre and work a Dutch braid down each side, crossing outer strands under the middle and adding hair as you go. Finish each with an elastic and tie a black bow over it. This is the style to choose for a school parade day, since it survives a full school day beforehand and the bows can come off if the class party ends before pickup.

The step diagram shows a loose high bun with a small piece of black netting draped over it and pinned at three points. Netting is an underused shortcut — a small offcut of black tulle or fine mesh creates a cobweb effect instantly, with none of the work of threading elastic. Build a deliberately loose, textured bun and pin it. Cut a piece of black netting slightly larger than the bun, drape it over, and pin at three or four points around the edge, tucking the excess underneath. The irregularity of the drape is what makes it look like a web rather than a hat. Removes in seconds.

The step diagram shows a small braid worked from one temple, taken across the top of the head, and pinned behind the opposite ear, with a thin orange ribbon woven through it. This is the subtlest style here and a good option for a school with a stricter policy on costumes. Take a small section at one temple, braid it plainly with a thin orange ribbon incorporated into one strand, then lift it across the top of the head and pin behind the opposite ear with two crossed pins. The rest of the hair stays down. Pulling the ribbon out afterward leaves an ordinary braided headband.

The step diagram shows two low Dutch braids worked tightly against the scalp and secured at the nape, sitting flat enough to fit under a hood. This is the style for the thirty-first itself, and it is designed around the actual conditions of the evening — dark, cold, windy, and long. Two low Dutch braids sit flat against the head, which means a coat hood goes over them without pushing them out of shape, and nothing is loose to blow across her face or catch on a costume. Work each braid low and close to the scalp, finishing at the nape rather than continuing down the back, so nothing hangs where a hood or a bag strap would catch it. Add a small ribbon if you want the theme, but the practical version needs nothing.