Halloween isn’t just about costumes—it’s about crafting a fun, full-bodied look that captures the spirit of the season from head to toe. Be it a witch, princess, ghost or a vampire; a creative hairstyle can turn their costume sweet to spectacular. And for busy moms, the trick is finding styles that are not only cute, but also easy and practical for kids on the move.
In this guide, I’ve curated Halloween hairstyle inspirations based on real-life looks—styles that balance spooky, stylish, and simple. Whether in short hair simple solutions or in fancy curly hair designs, every category provides a close-up model of a styling idea that you can easily reproduce after minimum effort. Let’s get into it.
Glam Curls and Sparkle Parting
Nothing says Halloween glam like shiny waves paired with sparkle accents. The subject of this style is to have soft defined curly hair that is loosely brushed out in waves and made part with glitter because of that extra magic. A deep side part will assist in creating volume and a satin bow helps to complete the effect. This hairstyle works beautifully with princess, cat, or even ghost costumes—imagine a shimmering spirit with sparkles in her hair.
Styling tip: Use a glitter gel along the part to keep the sparkles in place, and curl the hair with a large-barrel iron for soft, bouncy waves. It’s a cute and simple way to add drama without much effort.
Twisted Topknots with Personal Flair
This look is both functional and fashion-forward, perfect for toddlers with short hair or fine textures. Thin curly layers are taped toward the crown with a black bow spelling out the name of the child in gold. It’s a custom touch that can be themed for Halloween—swap the name clip for a bat, ghost, or skeleton icon for a spooky transformation.
Styling tip: Use small rubber bands to keep sections secure and try edge gel for a sleek finish around the hairline. This is an easy and polished style, ideal for active little ones who don’t sit still for long.
Halloween-Ready Double Mohawk Braids
For a hairstyle that screams pumpkin patch ready, this playful double mohawk braid design hits all the right notes. Small pieces are dragged and tied into symmetrical braids that results in two whipped buns that have bright orange bows attached to them. It’s fun, practical, and offers just enough drama for a cat, pumpkin, or witch costume.
Styling tip: Use themed-colored elastics to match your child’s Halloween outfit. This look is especially great for short hair curly textures or mixed textures needing a secure hold for trick-or-treating.
Pearl-Tied Princess Puffs
This elegant updo is fit for a mini princess. In a curved pattern of puffed trim sweeping over the head are bound with crystal elastics and crowned with a creamy bow with pearls sewed into it. Perfect for elegant costumes—think royal witches, vampires, or skeleton queens—this hairstyle gives big visual impact while being surprisingly simple to create.
Styling tip: Part the hair with a tail comb and lightly spritz each section with water or styling spray before twisting. The pearl bow adds a luxurious finish, making it a great choice for photoshoots or school Halloween parades.
Unicorn Queen with Rainbow Power
Ready for full-on fantasy? A truly Halloweened hairstyle, this thick twisted hair is appropriate with flashing gold and black hair extensions and is even better when wearing it with a unicorn headband. It is sharp, brilliant, and very personality-rich, which makes it perfect when it comes to children dressing up as a cat, unicorn, witch or a bat. The multi-color extensions complement rainbow costumes and offer a strong hold for energetic play.
Styling tip: Use hair cuffs or colored beads to secure each twist for even more flair. The gold-tone streaks give a magical edge, and the structured twists ensure the hairstyle holds throughout the day.
Double Braids with Criss-Cross Precision
This braid-forward look offers an optical illusion that’s as clever as it is cute. The hair is decorated with two ponytails with bright hot pink bows and the pattern of the criss-cross braiding of the hair on the scalp helps to get the needed intricate effect and keep away the hair at the same time. This style is perfect for cat ears, ghost dresses, or even vampire costumes—giving off a structured, chic vibe.
Styling tip: Part the hair carefully for even braids and use a styling cream to keep flyaways in check. It’s a great short hair easy option for school-aged kids who want a sophisticated look without going full glam.
Classic Halloween Pigtails with Skull Bows
This iconic Halloween look combines two classic braided pigtails with long flowing ends, cinched at the base with oversized orange and black bows featuring spooky skull charms. It is all the fun that anybody likes about seasonal roots: adorable, sentimental, and instantly familiar. These easy braids are ideal for school Halloween parties or trick-or-treating, offering all-day hold with minimal fuss.
Styling tip: Match the bows to a skeleton, pumpkin, or even vampire outfit for full thematic effect. This style also works beautifully for children with medium to long hair, giving room for personalization with Halloween-themed accessories.
Glitter Crown and Mini Puffs
This style sparkles—literally! They are made by tiny parts twisted into mini puff ponytails and brushed with dramatic pink and gold glitter, which makes the edge of the hair appear as a sparkling crown. Topped with a purple printed ribbon, this hairstyle brings together Halloween glam with playroom practicality.
Perfect for short hair or kids who don’t love elaborate styling, this look is simple, light, and full of personality. Great for witch, cat, or ghost costumes, especially when you want something stylish and easy ghost-themed.
Styling tip: Use eco-safe glitter hair gel to secure the sparkle in place. Add temporary hair color spray for even more wow factor.
Webbed Pony Lattice
This geometric lattice design is eye-catching and imaginative—a great way to play up the idea of a spider web or magical net. Thin hair strands are gathered and criss-crossed using vivid purple elastics, creating a diamond pattern that leads into a side bun, topped with a floral black scrunchie and silver skeleton hand clip.
This hairstyle is perfect for moms who love precision styles that are still playful. It pairs well with witch or spooky looks and has strong visual impact for classroom parades or Halloween portraits.
Styling tip: Use a rattail comb for perfect parting and spritz each section with water or leave-in conditioner to keep strands smooth and manageable.
The Ultimate Spider Ponytail
If you’re going for bold this Halloween, this high ponytail is pure fun with a spooky twist. The hair is gathered together in a central pony tail with several strands radiating out at the end of each of which is a bunch of beads, arranged like the legs of a spider. At the center: a large, glittery spider clip with googly eyes, turning your little one’s head into a Halloween spectacle.
This is the perfect hairstyle for kids dressing as a spider, witch, or any creepy-crawly character. It’s also a conversation starter that looks harder than it is to execute.
Styling tip: Use sectioning clips while braiding each “leg” to keep things neat. The central pony acts as the anchor for the entire style—make sure it’s tightly secured with a strong band.
Braided Bat Girl Style
Sleek, center-parted braids transform into tightly wound buns, each topped with glossy, winged bat clips for that instant Halloween transformation. This style is bold, neat and ideal to girls seeking something minimal but themed. It’s especially well-suited for short hair easy styling or girls who like a tidy look.
Pair it with a black dress and some glitter makeup, and you’ve got a full bat-inspired costume with very little effort. The appeal of this look is its simplicity—moms can do it before school or a Halloween event without needing pro skills.
Styling tip: Keep the part razor-straight and slick down flyaways with edge gel or light hairspray. The bat clips do all the heavy lifting visually.
Flying Bat Buns with Character
Playful, imaginative, and downright adorable, this style elevates the basic space bun into Halloween territory. Buns are tied closely on the head as those wearers add big bat wings and toothy sweeties that are made up of mesh and glitter. It’s a cute, fun hairstyle that suits characters like witches, bats, or even a spooky superhero.
It’s ideal for kids who love accessories, and moms who want a no-braid option that still feels festive and on-theme. A great match for short hair curly or straight textures alike.
Styling tip: Wrap the bun with mesh ribbon before pinning on the bat wings for extra volume. This adds a whimsical flair and keeps the accessories anchored.
Twisted Witch Horn with Streak
Simple yet packed with Halloween energy, this style uses clean diagonal parting to form a soft twist down the side, leading into a striking witch hat clip in orange and black felt. An electric blue stripe adds an edge that works well with any creepy or witch costume. It’s a go-to look for moms wanting something that feels festive but still sleek.
Styling tip: This works great on short hair too—just attach the mini hat clip to a half-up pony or bun for an easy witch vibe that doesn’t require full-length styling.
Braided Cat Ears with Glitter Part
This one’s for the little wild ones! Two raised braids pretend to be a pair of obnoxious cat ears adorned with some sprinkles of glitter as the part. This is not only creative and cute but it is also easy to have an on-theme without having to buy a headband or rose costume accessories. It’s the ultimate choice for a cat or kitten Halloween look.
Styling tip: Add black eyeliner whiskers and a nose, and you’ve got a full transformation with zero hassle. It’s one of those short hair easy options that holds up well all day.
The Easy Ghost Tulle Topper
Nothing says “adorable” like a handmade ghost topper made from soft tulle. This puff bun is ideal on short haired babies or toddlers and it is topped off with a googly eyed bow that looks like a ghost, an appropriate hairstyle for a playgroup or school photos. The entire look is easy ghost perfection—lightweight, soft, and no fuss.
Styling tip: Tulle accessories are easy to make with a bit of elastic and a hot glue gun. Keep hair slicked back to really let the topper shine.
Zigzag Braid Magic with Halloween Bow
This style uses a zigzag braid design paired with festive glitter and a pumpkin-print bow to create an enchanting, Halloween-ready look. The color-coded elastics (purple, green, and blue) give dimension to the braided pattern, creating a visual rhythm that looks like candy on hair.
Styling tip: This one suits all lengths, but it especially flatters curly hair once styled into a low ponytail or side puff. Add confetti glitter along the parts to up the fun factor.
Sectioned Ponytail with Monster Green Bow
Sleek sectioning and a vibrant neon green bow make this a go-to for Halloween minimalists. The ponytail has been created by looping up taut strands in bands of Halloween-orange color to emit a candy-cane-like or a wrapping-mummy look. It’s simple, structured, and chic—an easy solution that even dads can pull off.
Styling tip: Try matching this with a skeleton or bat T-shirt dress to tie the full costume together. This style holds well during trick-or-treating and is gentle on sensitive scalps.
Skeleton Hands Glam
For older girls or moms looking to wow with minimal effort, this slicked-back style featuring metallic skeleton hand clips is pure Halloween drama. Parted cleanly down the center and accented with black bows, this look is both edgy and elegant—perfect for little ones channeling a vampire, witch, or glam-ghost aesthetic.
Styling tip: Finish with a little shine serum to keep the hair polished and let the clips take center stage. A fun, spooky, and surprisingly easy style.
Ghost Bow Braided Crown
This festive braid pattern is both structured and cute, perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Mini braids are used to weave small pieces around the crown which are collected and tied off with an exaggerated glitter bow with a smiling ghost. It’s light-hearted, easy, and ideal for little ones who want to dress up without feeling overwhelmed by a full costume.
Styling tip: Use clear or white elastics for a seamless look. The oversized bow does all the work—just pair it with a ghost tee or dress for instant Halloween charm.
Braided Halo with Spider Accents
A traditional braided crown gets a spooky update thanks to mini spider clips tucked into the folds of the hair. This appearance is chic, sophisticated and just fit a witch or a vampire outfit. With its symmetrical styling and clean center part, this option is a hit with moms who love timeless looks with a Halloween twist.
Styling tip: Keep the braid flat and secure with discreet pins. Add fake cobwebs or glitter spray for an extra-creepy finish.
Googly-Eyed Spider Bun
What could be more fun than turning a top bun into a spider? With purple pipe cleaners as legs, and giant pink googly eyes as a bug-on-the-head, this style is an adorable one. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for Halloween parties and school spirit days.
Styling tip: Secure the bun tightly with a donut ring or sock bun, then wrap the pipe cleaners around the base. This fun look works on all hair lengths, including short hair easy styles.
Twisted Beads with Berry Red Magic
These gorgeous twists are both protective and festive. Carefully arranged in neat rows with neat parting, every twist is finally finished with a burst of red and silver beads. This style is not specifically Halloween-oriented, however, a skeleton or vampire costume goes hand in hand with this style due to the depth of the colors and the structure. Plus, it holds up beautifully through long nights of trick-or-treating.
Styling tip: Add themed barrettes like mini pumpkins, bats, or ghosts to quickly shift this into Halloween mode.
Pastel Braids and Beads with Butterfly Clips
This look brings a splash of color to Halloween. The twists have been embellished with a pastel bead and a butterflyclip sewn with bright thread, which makes everything look like a carnival and completely suited to rainbow witches, fairies or candy-like characters. This protective style not only looks beautiful but also lasts well beyond Halloween.
Styling tip: This is a great base for elaborate costumes. Add glitter hairspray or mini cat ears for even more character.
Regal Princess Curls with Braid Crown
Last but not least, this soft and elegant style is perfect for any princess, fairy, or even a royal vampire. The curly hair is hanging loosely at the back and the crown is surrounded with waterfall braids then completed with a pearl ornament. It’s timeless, photogenic, and undeniably magical.
Styling tip: Use a large barrel curling wand for defined, smooth curls. A sparkly tiara or wand completes this enchanting Halloween moment.
Rainbow Twist Pigtails with Spiral Cornrows
A masterpiece of pattern and color, this style features symmetrical braids that spiral from the crown into vibrant pigtails of rainbow twists ending in voluminous curls. It is all Halloween energy, the contrast of the well-groomed cornrows and the riot of coloured ends that is in the Halloween spirit. Think witch, unicorn, or candy-themed costumes that need just a bit more flair.
Styling tip: Wrap a few glow-in-the-dark threads into the braids for an extra spooky touch when trick-or-treating after sunset. This also works well as a fun, high-impact look even without a full costume.
Double Dutch with Classic Curls and Bows
This style is as sweet as Halloween candy. Two traditional Dutch braids are followed by the soft ponytails made of loose curly hair covered with clean white bows to give a final elegant touch. Ideal for princess or vintage-themed costumes, it’s a timeless look that fits beautifully with frilly dresses or costume gowns.
Styling tip: Add a little glitter hairspray at the roots or a tiny crown clip for that extra fairy-tale finish. This style also works well on short hair curly textures.
Heart Crown and Red Ribbon Drama
A style fit for a dark vampire queen or enchanted princess, this look begins with a centered braid that leads into a heart-shaped crown updo. Red ribbon detail throughout the hair adds drama, especially paired with waves and light sparkle along the part.
Styling tip: Use a firm-hold gel for sharp parting and lasting structure. This is a great option for curly hair or soft waves, and it looks striking with bold makeup or red Halloween capes.
Bantu Buns with Heart Accent
Bantu-inspired buns align diagonally along the scalp, cleanly parted and secured with pink elastics, while a braided heart accent adds a charming centerpiece. It is a great appearance of cat, bat, or even alien type of costumes. Edgy and youthful with a fun twist.
Styling tip: Add glitter to the heart braid and swap out elastics for themed ones (think pumpkin or skull-printed bands). Great for short hair easy execution with maximum impact.
Double Heart Space Buns with Glitter Part
Here’s a crowd favorite: heart-shaped braids turned into buns, tied off with bows and paired with a glittery parted crown. This whimsical style is perfect for sweet and spooky characters alike—imagine a glitter ghost or candy-colored witch.
Styling tip: Choose pastel or Halloween-toned elastics to shift the vibe. The glitter parting helps make the hairstyle pop in any costume scenario.
Elegant Bun with Lace Bow
This style is all grace—an elegant high bun with a lace and satin bow. Great at more formal Halloween functions, princess pageants, or more subtle costume ideas such as ballerinas, or enchanted royalty. It’s a clean, refined style that works especially well for church festivals or evening Halloween dinners.
Styling tip: Pair with a pearl necklace or tiara clip. This look is simple, timeless, and always photogenic.
Halloween is the one time of year when hair becomes a canvas for creativity. You need an easy glitter part or easy ghost buns or spooky spider webs: these ideas carry something every mom and every little one may need. Best of all, many of these styles work well for both short hair and longer textures—so no one gets left out of the fun!
Have a favorite from the list? Or a go-to style of your own? Share your ideas in the comments—because the more magical, the better.
