20 Spellbinding Halloween Hairstyles for Long Hair

The best Halloween hairstyles for long hair let your hair do the costume work: Wednesday-style double plaits, witchy mermaid waves, devil horn buns or a teased monster-bride tower. Pick braids and buns for all-night hold, and loose waves when a witch hat does the talking.

Long hair is the most underrated Halloween costume accessory you own. With that much length to braid, twist, tease and coil, you can build devil horns, a monster-bride tower or Medusa’s snakes from your own hair, no wig or itchy headband required. Halloween hairstyles for long hair keep winning out over wigs for simple reasons: they photograph brilliantly, fit into a pocket-size kit of pins and elastics, and still look intentional if you skip the full outfit.

Below are 20 looks, from office-friendly spiderweb half-ups and Wednesday-style plaits to full-drama crimped manes and a slicked-back ghost bride. Each entry covers who it suits, the hair type it holds best on and one practical trick for making it last until the party’s over. Most are heatless or close to it, and several work as everyday hairstyles once the pumpkins are packed away.

1. Wednesday-Style Double Plaits

Nothing reads deadpan gothic faster than a razor-straight center part and two tight three-strand plaits that start just behind the ears. On long hair the braids hang past the collarbone, which gives the look its severe, schoolgirl-noir line. It tends to suit oval and heart-shaped faces and works on straight, wavy or curly hair of any density, since the braids hide texture. Smooth the part with a clean toothbrush and a pea-size amount of gel, then finish each end with a thin black ribbon instead of a visible elastic.

2. Hat-Ready Witchy Mermaid Waves

Big, loose S-waves that begin around the chin are designed to spill out from under a pointed hat brim, so the hat never flattens the whole look. Keeping the crown smooth lets the hat sit properly while the lengths do the drama. Width through the lengths can balance a long face, and the waves take especially well on thick, naturally wavy hair. For a heatless set, twist damp hair into two loose buns before bed and shake the waves out in the morning.

3. Spiderweb Half-Up

Clear or black elastics link small sections across the back of the crown into a spiderweb pattern, while the rest of your length hangs loose underneath. It’s the most wearable look here: pair it with a black sweater and it passes at the office yet still reads as festive. It flatters most face shapes because nothing changes around the face, and the web shows up crispest on straight, smooth hair. Map the web with a rat-tail comb, then add a tiny plastic spider clip at the center once the pattern is set.

4. Devil Horn Buns

Two small, tightly twisted buns pinned high near the front hairline and pinched into points make convincing devil horns with no headband required. Leaving the rest of your hair down keeps the look playful rather than costume-stiff. Height at the front of the crown tends to lengthen a round face, and the horns hold best on thick or textured hair with plenty of grip. Build each horn around a small cone of backcombed hair, wrap the twist around it, and lock the tip with a strong-hold hairspray.

5. Black Cat Ear Buns

Two small triangular buns set just behind the hairline give you ears that move with you and never slide around like a plastic headband. The lengths stay loose, so the look pairs as easily with a full cat costume as with jeans and winged liner. The added height tends to suit oval and round faces, and medium-to-thick hair forms the firmest ears; on fine hair, a little texture spray at the roots adds the grip it needs. Pinch each bun into a point before pinning, then cross two bobby pins in an X at the base of each ear.

6. Two-Tone Harlequin Pigtails

High pigtails with one side sprayed pink and the other blue give instant comic-book-villain energy, and long hair makes the color blocks look bold rather than patchy. Temporary color spray coats the surface and shampoos out, which makes this a low-commitment way to wear bright color for one night. Pale or bleached hair shows the pigment most vividly, but bleached, porous hair can hold a faint tint for a few washes, so strand-test first. Spray dry hair from about 15 cm (6 in) away and drape an old towel over your shoulders.

7. Bat-Wing Hair Bow

A bow sculpted from your own hair sits at the crown like a pair of folded bat wings, while the rest of your length falls straight down the back. It’s a gothic nod that doubles as a party look long after October. It needs long, straight to lightly wavy hair of at least medium thickness to make two generous loops, and it works on most face shapes, though a long face may look more balanced with the bow pinned lower at the back of the head. Form a loose loop in a high half-up ponytail, split it in two, and wrap the leftover tail over the center to make the knot.

8. Medusa Snake Braids

Eight to twelve thin braids, each with a length of bendable craft wire woven in, can be twisted into writhing serpent shapes around your head for a Greek-myth look that stops conversations. Gold snake cuffs and a green shimmer eyeshadow finish it. Thick, textured or curly hair grips the wire most securely, and long hair gives each snake enough length to coil. Tie each braid off with a clear elastic and fold the sharp wire ends back into the braid so they can’t scratch.

9. Vampire Countess Rolled Chignon

A sleek center part, front sections rolled back along each temple and a low coiled chignon at the nape give you the buttoned-up menace of a Victorian vampire countess, ideal with a lace collar and berry lipstick. Unlike the loose looks on this list, everything is pinned, so it survives capes, coats and crowded rooms, and it works on any texture, with medium-to-thick hair making the fullest chignon. Smooth sides and a low bun tend to suit oval and heart-shaped faces; on a long face, ease a little softness out at the temples to add width. Twist each front section away from your face as you pin it, wind the ponytail into a coil secured with U-shaped pins, and finish with a jet-black hair comb.

10. Monster Bride Tower with Lightning Streaks

A towering backcombed updo with a white lightning streak at each temple is the most recognizable horror hairstyle there is, and long hair gives you enough length to build real height without a hairpiece. Height tends to lengthen a round face; on a long face, keep the tower a little lower and fuller at the sides. Thick hair builds height fastest, while fine hair benefits from a foam bun donut hidden inside. Paint the streaks with white temporary spray or hair chalk after the tower is pinned, so the color lands only where you want it.

11. Viking Shieldmaiden Braids

Tight flat braids along both sides of the head fake the look of a shaved undercut, while a thick raised braid down the center flows into your loose lengths. It’s fierce, on-theme and practical enough to dance in all night. The strong vertical line tends to suit oval and round faces, and the look works on every texture from fine and straight to coily. Braid the sides on second-day hair or after a spritz of texture spray so the small braids stay tight, then thread in a few silver hair rings for a Norse finish.

12. Woodland Fairy Crown Braid

A Dutch braid wrapped around the head like a halo, with tiny dried flowers and ivy tucked into the plaits, works for a fairy or forest-witch costume and is pretty enough for a family pumpkin-carving party. Gently tugging the loops outward after pinning, known as pancaking, makes the braid look fuller and more romantic. Because it lifts volume to the crown, it tends to suit oval and round faces, and it’s easiest on medium-thick hair that reaches at least mid-back. Thread flower stems through the braid instead of pinning them on top, so nothing drops out as you move.

13. Egyptian Queen Sleek Center Part

Glass-straight hair with a sharp center part and blunt ends, finished with slim gold cuffs threaded onto a few micro-braids, channels a pharaoh queen with minimal effort. The severity is the point, so pair it with a bold graphic cat-eye. Oval and heart-shaped faces usually wear the center part most easily; on a long face, a gold headband across the forehead breaks up the vertical line. Smooth damp hair with a paddle brush as you blow-dry, run a flat iron over dry sections, and finish with a drop of shine serum on the ends.

14. Cinnamon-Roll Side Buns

Two flat, coiled buns pinned over the ears are the definitive sci-fi-princess look, and long hair is what makes them big enough to read from across the room. Center-part the hair, braid each side, then coil each braid into a snail-shell spiral against the head. The width at the sides tends to flatter long and oval faces, and braided coils hold their shape even on slippery, straight hair. Use U-shaped pins pushed in toward the center of each coil; they carry the weight better than bobby pins.

15. Crimped ’80s Rocker Mane

Crimped from root to tip and teased at the crown, long hair turns into a full rocker mane for an ’80s glam-metal costume, a prom zombie or a wild-child witch. The zig-zag texture multiplies the apparent volume of fine, straight hair, which is where this look really shines. Width through the sides can balance a long face, and it’s a bold, playful statement at any age. If you don’t own a crimper, braid damp hair into 15 to 20 tiny braids before bed and unravel them in the morning for the same zig-zag.

16. Ghost Bride Wet-Look Veil

Hair combed straight back from the face in a glossy wet-look finish, with the lengths hanging in heavy, piecey ribbons, suggests a bride who has just surfaced from the lake, and a tattered tulle veil completes the story. It’s eerie rather than gory, so it works at a party with mixed ages, and it suits straight, wavy and curly hair alike, since the gel clumps any texture into sleek sections. Pulling everything off the face puts the focus on bone structure; to soften it, leave two wet-look pieces loose at the temples. Rake a strong-hold gel through towel-dried hair, comb it back, let it air-dry untouched, and slide the veil comb into a small braid hidden under the crown so it has something to grip.

17. Scarecrow Pigtail Braids

Low, loose pigtail braids with tufts of raffia poking out at the ends give a cute scarecrow look that suits kids’ events and grown-up parties alike. Pulling a few pieces free around the face adds a windblown, straw-stuffed charm. Low braids put width at jaw level, which tends to suit heart-shaped and long faces, and they work on any texture from straight to coily. Tie a small bundle of raffia into each elastic before securing the braid, so the straw looks like it’s growing out of your hair.

18. Pirate Queen Cord-Wrapped Ponytail

A knotted bandana, a few thin beaded braids at the front and a low ponytail wrapped in leather cord read instantly as pirate queen, and the wrapped tail stays neat through swordfights and sea shanties. It’s one of the lowest-effort looks here and suits any texture, though wavy or curly lengths give the ponytail the most rugged movement. The bandana adds width at the temples, which can balance a long face. Wrap cord over an elastic at the nape and again every 5 cm (2 in) down the tail, then slide gold beads onto the front braids before knotting the scarf at the back.

19. Zombie Teased Tangle

Backcombed at the roots and roughed up with dry shampoo and a little texture paste, the undead tangle is the rare look where frizz and flyaways help. It suits any face shape, age or texture, which makes it an easy anchor for a group costume. Tease only the top and mid-lengths and leave the ends alone, since long ends knot tightly and are the most fragile part of the hair. Afterward, saturate the knots with conditioner and detangle with a wide-tooth comb from the ends upward to limit breakage.

20. Ice Queen Glitter Side Braid

A loose Dutch side braid pulled wide and dusted with silver glitter spray gives a frosty snow-queen look that reads as elegant rather than character costume. Pancaking the braid makes it look nearly twice as thick, a real gift for fine or thinning hair. A side braid draws the eye on a diagonal and can soften a round or square face, and it’s flattering at any age, including over 40. Braid slightly off-center behind one ear, then gently tug the outer loops from the bottom up to widen it.

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The strongest Halloween hair for long lengths works with what you already have: braids and buns for all-night hold, loose waves when a witch hat does the talking, and temporary color or glitter for drama that rinses out. Anchor every accessory to a braid or twist rather than loose hair, and build your look on second-day hair, which has more grip than freshly washed lengths.

One heat note for the whole list: if you use a flat iron, curling iron or crimper, apply a heat protectant and work on completely dry hair only, keeping the iron around 150C/300F for fine or bleached hair and 180-200C/355-390F for coarse hair. Blow-drying damp hair calls for the protectant too.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the easiest Halloween hairstyles for long hair?

Double braids, high pigtails and small twisted buns are the easiest, because they need only elastics and bobby pins and take about 15 minutes or less. Wednesday-style plaits, cat-ear buns and devil horn buns all start from simple braids or twists, and none of them requires a hot tool.

How do I make a Halloween hairstyle last all night?

Start with second-day hair or a texture spray so the style has grip, and choose braids or buns over loose curls, since structured styles hold their shape longer. Secure buns with bobby pins crossed in an X or with U-shaped pins, and finish with a strong-hold hairspray. Anchor hats, veils and clips to a braid or twist rather than loose hair.

Will temporary hair color spray wash out of long hair?

Temporary color sprays and hair chalks coat the outside of the hair and usually shampoo out in one or two washes. On bleached, very light or porous hair, bright shades like blue, green and pink can leave a faint tint for several washes, so test a hidden strand first. Apply to dry hair and let it set before touching it.

Which Halloween hairstyles suit long, fine hair?

Pancaked braids, crimped texture and backcombed styles are the most forgiving, because they add the visual volume fine hair lacks. A fairy crown braid or ice-queen side braid looks nearly twice as thick once you gently tug the loops outward. Prep with texture spray or dry shampoo at the roots so buns and horns have enough grip to stay put.

Should I choose a Halloween hairstyle based on my face shape?

It can help, but treat face-shape advice as a stylist's starting point, not a rule. Many stylists use height at the crown, like high buns or a beehive tower, to lengthen a round face, and side volume, like waves or side buns, to add width to a long face. Oval faces can wear almost all of these looks.