10 Halloween Hairstyles for Curly Hair to Try This Year

3. Vampire Slick-Back Curls

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Vampire slick-back curls are the sleekest curly Halloween option, because the contrast between smooth roots and wild ends does all the drama. Work a strong-hold gel through the top six inches of damp hair, comb it straight back, then let the lengths fall in their natural curl pattern. The gel is the mechanism: it locks the roots flat against the head while the ungelled ends keep their curl, so the style reads polished at the front and feral at the back. A deep side part and dark lipstick finish the vampire look.

You will need: strong-hold gel, a fine-tooth comb, one hair tie (optional). Works on medium to long curls. Total time: 15 minutes.

Styling tip: apply gel to soaking wet hair, not damp hair — wet hair lets the gel distribute evenly and dry smooth, while damp hair goes sticky and patchy. Do not scrunch the top section at all; scrunch only the ends so the curl pattern stays defined where it shows.

4. Pumpkin Space Buns

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Pumpkin space buns are the cutest curly Halloween style, because curls make the buns look twice as full as straight hair ever could. Part the hair down the middle, gather each side into a high ponytail, then twist and coil each ponytail into a bun and pin it. The coil is the mechanism: wrapping the curls around themselves traps air between the coils, so each bun looks plump and round instead of flat. Tie orange ribbon around each bun base and add a green leaf clip on top for the pumpkin stem.

You will need: 2 hair ties, 6 to 8 bobby pins, orange ribbon, 2 green leaf clips. Works on medium to long curls. Total time: 15 minutes.

Styling tip: build the buns on second-day hair so the curls grip each other — freshly washed curls slip out of pins. If your curls are short, leave the ends sticking out of the buns instead of tucking them; the loose ends read as pumpkin texture and the style holds better.

5. Ghostly White Curls

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Ghostly white curls are the ghost costume in hairstyle form, and they need no wig. Mist temporary white or silver color spray over your curls in light layers, letting each layer dry before the next, then scrunch gently to keep the curl pattern. The layering is the mechanism: thin coats sit on the surface of each curl without gluing curls together, while one heavy coat turns the hair into a stiff sheet that hides the texture. Pair it with a white or pale grey outfit and the costume is complete.

You will need: temporary white or silver hair color spray, an old towel for your shoulders. Works on all curl types; shows brightest on light to medium hair. Total time: 15 minutes.

Styling tip: spray from at least eight inches away and keep the can moving — holding it still leaves white spots and stiff patches. On dark curls, expect a ghostly grey rather than bright white, which reads just as well in photos. Wash the color out the same night and deep condition, because sprays can leave curls dry.

6. Mermaid Curls With Temporary Color

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Mermaid curls with temporary color are the fantasy option, and curls carry the color better than straight hair does. Define your curls as usual, then run hair chalk or temporary color wax in teal, purple, or green down the mid-lengths and ends, twisting each curl as you color it. The twisting is the mechanism: a twisted curl takes color on its outer surface only, so each ringlet shows a stripe of color against your natural base instead of one flat block. Clip a shell or starfish accessory at one side for the mermaid finish.

You will need: hair chalk or temporary color wax in one or two colors, one shell or starfish clip. Works on all curl types; shows brightest on light to medium hair. Total time: 20 minutes.

Styling tip: chalk works better than spray on curls, because you control exactly which curls get color and the chalk does not stiffen the whole head. Twist each curl around your finger after chalking to reset the ringlet. Color the ends, not the roots, so the regrowth line never shows.

7. Spiderweb Pineapple Updo

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The spiderweb pineapple updo is the best curly Halloween updo, because the pineapple is already the go-to way to pile curls on top of the head. Gather all your curls into a very high, loose ponytail at the crown and let the curls spill forward like a fountain, then lay a stretchy spiderweb hair net or a web-shaped clip over the base of the ponytail. The height is the mechanism: a high pineapple keeps the curls off your neck and face all night, and the web detail sits where everyone can see it. Add one plastic spider at the center of the web.

You will need: one loose scrunchie or spiral hair tie, one spiderweb hair net or web clip, one plastic spider. Works on medium to long curls. Total time: 10 minutes.

Styling tip: use a scrunchie, not a tight elastic — a tight band flattens the curls at the base and pulls the pineapple down. Gather the hair with your fingers, not a brush, so the curl pattern stays intact. Tilt your head forward to gather, then stand up and let the curls fall where they want.

8. Skeleton Curls With White Streaks

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Skeleton curls with white streaks are the boldest curly Halloween style, because the contrast does the whole job. On dark curls, run white hair chalk down three or four individual curls from root to tip, leaving the rest of the hair untouched. The isolation is the mechanism: a few pale curls against dark hair read as bones from across the room, while coloring the whole head would just look like a dye job. Pair it with skeleton face paint and a black outfit and the costume is done.

You will need: white hair chalk or temporary color wax, a tail comb for sectioning. Works best on dark curls; on light curls, use black chalk instead. Total time: 15 minutes.

Styling tip: pick curls that frame the face and one at the crown — those are the streaks people see first. Twist each chalked curl after coloring to keep it separate from its neighbors, or the white transfers onto the dark curls around it. Seal with a light mist of hairspray so the chalk does not rub onto your costume.

9. Cat-Ear Curly Puffs

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Cat-ear curly puffs are the easiest Halloween style for coily and tight-curly hair, because the puffs are the costume. Part the hair down the middle, gather each side into a high puff, and slip on a cat-ear headband behind the puffs. The part is the mechanism: a clean center part makes two symmetrical puffs, and symmetry is what makes the style read as a cat instead of two random buns. Add a drawn-on nose and whiskers and the costume is complete in under 15 minutes.

You will need: 2 hair ties or elastic bands, one cat-ear headband, edge control (optional). Works best on coily and tight-curly hair. Total time: 10 to 15 minutes. For more kid-friendly ideas, see our Halloween hairstyles for kids roundup.

Styling tip: moisturize and stretch the hair lightly before puffing — dry, shrunken hair makes small puffs that sit flat, while moisturized hair puffs bigger and rounder. Smooth the edges with a little edge control on a toothbrush for a clean hairline, and keep the puffs high on the head so the ears sit behind them.

10. Zombie Tousled Curls

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Zombie tousled curls are the lowest-effort Halloween style on this list, because messiness is the point. Backcomb the roots at the crown with a fine-tooth comb, shake the curls out with your fingers, and mist matte texture spray through the lengths. The backcombing is the mechanism: teasing the roots creates a tangled, slept-in base that holds its shape for hours, while the untouched ends keep enough curl to look like hair instead of a wig. Add grey-green temporary color at the roots and torn clothes for the zombie finish.

You will need: a fine-tooth comb, matte texture spray, grey or green temporary color (optional). Works on all curl types. Total time: 10 minutes.

Styling tip: backcomb only the under-layers at the crown, not the top layer — the smooth top layer hides the teasing and the style looks tousled instead of matted. Do not brush the style out at the end of the night; detangle in the shower with conditioner and a wide-tooth comb, because dry-brushing curls breaks them and causes frizz. See our Halloween hairstyles for short hair roundup if your curls are too short to backcomb.

Narrowing Down Your Perfect Halloween Hairstyles for Curly Hair

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Start from your curl type, not the photo. Loose waves and soft curls: witchy volume curls or mermaid curls, because both styles need the movement your hair already has. Springy curls: Medusa snake curls, vampire slick-back curls, or the spiderweb pineapple updo, because those styles use the curl's bounce as structure. Tight curls and coils: cat-ear curly puffs, because puffs are the most comfortable and secure style for coily hair and they take the least time.

Then match the costume. Witch or enchantress: witchy volume curls. Mythical creature: Medusa snake curls or mermaid curls. Vampire or ghost: vampire slick-back curls or ghostly white curls. Skeleton: skeleton curls with white streaks. Cute costume or kids: pumpkin space buns or cat-ear curly puffs. No costume at all, just a party: zombie tousled curls, because messiness is the whole point and it takes ten minutes.

Whatever you pick, style on second-day hair, seal the style before you leave, and pack two bobby pins for repairs. The rule that makes every one of these work: let the curls do the volume, let one accessory carry the theme, and never brush dry curls.

More seasonal looks in Occasion Hair.