20 Adorable Halloween Hairstyles for Kids to Try
There’s a special kind of chaos that happens on October 31st around 5 PM. The costume is half on, one shoe is missing, the candy bucket is already being used as a drum — and you still need to do something with her hair. Every parent knows this moment. The good news? Halloween hair doesn’t need to be complicated to be magical. Some of the cutest spooky-season looks take less time than finding that missing shoe.
The secret is thinking in costumes, not hairstyles. A pair of braids becomes witchy with black and purple ribbons. Two buns become bat wings with felt cutouts. A simple ponytail turns into a pumpkin with an orange scrunchie and a green clip. Below are 20 Halloween hairstyles for kids that all share three rules: no heat, nothing painful, and everything survives trick-or-treating. Most take 15 minutes or less — because little ones won’t sit still for longer, and honestly, neither will you on Halloween night.
Quick answer: The best Halloween hairstyles for kids are simple bases dressed up with accessories: double braids with ribbons for witches, space buns with felt wings for bats, bubble braids with spider clips, and pumpkin buns with orange scrunchies. All 20 styles below are no-heat, take 15 minutes or less, and use soft, kid-safe accessories.
1. Witchy Double Braids
Two classic braids, one spellbook of accessories. Part her hair down the middle and make two neat three-strand braids, then tie the ends with black and purple ribbons — or tiny bell charms if you have them. A witch hat sits perfectly on top of this style without sliding around.
Who it suits: Girls with medium to long hair who want the classic witch look. Works on straight, wavy, and curly textures.
Styling tip: Braid slightly damp hair with a pea-sized amount of leave-in conditioner — the braids stay neater for hours and won’t frizz under a hat.
2. Pumpkin Puff Pigtails
The happiest Halloween hairstyle there is. Gather her hair into two high pigtails, then gently pull at the sections to puff them out into round pumpkin shapes. An orange scrunchie at each base and a green clip at the top as the “stem” finishes the look.
Who it suits: Toddlers and younger kids — it’s cute, comfortable, and stays put during serious candy collection.
Styling tip: Tease the pigtails lightly from underneath rather than backcombing the top — you get the volume without the tangles later.
3. Bat-Wing Space Buns
Two buns at the temples plus bat wings equals instant costume. Twist her hair into two high space buns, then tuck foam or felt bat wings (cut from craft foam in 5 minutes) behind each bun. Dark purple or black ribbons tie it together.
Who it suits: Kids going as bats, vampires, or anything gothic-cute. Great for medium-length hair that won’t stay in a single bun.
Styling tip: Use mini claw clips instead of bobby pins to attach the wings — they grip better on little heads and don’t poke.
4. Spiderweb Crown Braid
The showstopper for kids who love being the center of attention. Braid a crown (halo) braid around her head — or cheat with a flower crown over a side braid — then weave white or silver ribbon through in a zigzag to mimic web strands. Finish with a few spider clips or a light mist of glitter spray.
Who it suits: Girls with long hair and the patience for a 15-minute style. Perfect for spider-queen and dark-fairy costumes.
Styling tip: Do the braid the night before and cover with a satin bonnet — it sets overnight, and the ribbon webbing goes in fresh in the morning in under 5 minutes.
5. Candy-Corn Ribbon Ponytail
A high ponytail dressed in Halloween’s most iconic colors. Pull her hair into a high, bouncy ponytail, then weave orange, yellow, and white ribbons through the base — candy-corn order, obviously. Let the ribbon ends hang loose with the ponytail.
Who it suits: Every age and almost every costume — it’s festive without committing to a character.
Styling tip: Curl the ribbon ends around a pencil for a few seconds to give them bounce that matches the ponytail’s movement.
6. Little Vampire Sleek-Back
For the tiny Dracula who means business. Brush her hair back sleek and smooth, secure into a low ponytail or bun, and add a black bow or a vampire-teeth clip at the base. A center part with gelled-down sides looks extra sharp.
Who it suits: Kids with straight or wavy hair going as vampires, witches, or elegant dark characters.
Styling tip: A toothbrush sprayed with hairspray is the perfect tool for taming flyaways on little heads — precise and gentle.
7. Ghostly Bubble Braid
Spooky and surprisingly easy. Make a high ponytail, then add clear elastics every two inches down the length, puffing each section out into “bubbles.” Weave in white ribbon or clip on tiny ghost charms for the haunted effect.
Who it suits: Girls with long hair — the longer the ponytail, the more dramatic the bubbles. Great ghost or ghoul costumes.
Styling tip: Match the elastics to her hair color so they disappear, and the bubbles look like they’re floating on their own.
8. Black-Cat Braided Pigtails
Sleek, shiny, and ready to prowl. Two tight braided pigtails, smoothed down with a little gel, plus cat-ear headband on top. Add a black bow at the end of each braid for the full feline effect.
Who it suits: The classic cat costume — works for toddlers through tweens and suits every hair texture.
Styling tip: Braid the pigtails while she’s wearing the cat-ear headband so you can position everything to sit comfortably together.
9. Fairy-Twist Half-Up
For the magical creatures who sparkle instead of spook. Take two front sections, twist them back, and pin them into a half-up style. Weave in glittery clips, tiny stars, or pastel ribbons — and a little hair glitter on the twists if she’s old enough to love it.
Who it suits: Fairies, princesses, and unicorns. Lovely on wavy and curly hair where the twists have natural texture.
Styling tip: Twist away from the face on both sides so the style frames her features instead of covering them in photos.
10. Scarecrow Bow Pigtails
Straight from the pumpkin patch. Two low pigtails tied with big gingham or orange bows, with a few face-framing pieces pulled loose for that straw-like effect. A plaid shirt completes the scarecrow instantly.
Who it suits: Younger kids and anyone who wants cute over creepy. The loosest, most comfortable style on this list.
Styling tip: Use fabric bows, not plastic clips — they’re lighter and won’t dig in when she leans back in the car between houses.
11. Mini Witch-Hat Top Knot
One bun, one hat, done. Twist her hair into a high top knot, then perch a mini witch hat (the headband kind) right on top of it — the bun actually helps the hat stay put. Add a purple ribbon around the base of the bun.
Who it suits: Short on time but big on witch energy. Works even on shorter hair that can’t quite make pigtails.
Styling tip: If the hat headband slips, loop a small clear elastic from the hat to the bun — invisible and rock solid.
12. Zombie Messy Side Braid
Perfectly imperfect is the whole point here. Sweep her hair to one side and make a loose, deliberately messy braid — pull out face-framing pieces, leave the end a little undone. A few streaks of temporary green or grey hair chalk sell the zombie story.
Who it suits: Zombie, ghost, and “creepy doll” costumes. Forgiving on every hair type, including fine hair that won’t hold neat styles.
Styling tip: Hair chalk works best on slightly damp hair — the color grips better and washes out easier later.
13. Princess-Leia Double Buns
A galaxy-famous look that doubles as adorable Halloween hair. Part her hair down the middle and twist each side into a neat bun positioned over the ears — the iconic Leia placement. No accessories needed; the shape is the costume.
Who it suits: Star Wars fans of all ages. The classic placement is over the ears on medium to long hair — but mini versions work beautifully on toddlers too.
Styling tip: Braid each section before wrapping it into a bun — braided Leia buns hold their shape twice as long as twisted ones.
14. Mermaid Flower Braids
Under-the-sea magic for Halloween night. Make two loose braids and tie them together at the back with a flower clip — like a mermaid gathering shells. Weave blue and green ribbons through each braid, and add a few shell or starfish clips near the crown.
Who it suits: Mermaid, siren, and sea-witch costumes. Gorgeous on long hair; the twin braids show off length beautifully.
Styling tip: Braid loosely and gently pull the edges out (pancaking) as you go — wide, textured braids read “mermaid,” while tight ones just read “school day.”
15. Skeleton-Chic Dutch Braids
Edgy enough for the cool kids. Two Dutch braids (inside-out French braids) running from the hairline to the nape — the raised texture reads almost like a spine or bone structure. Tie with black elastics and add tiny skull charms.
Who it suits: Skeleton costumes, but also little rockers and anyone who wants Halloween hair with attitude. Great for thick hair.
Styling tip: Dutch braids stay crisp all night if you braid on day-old hair with a little dry shampoo at the roots for grip.
16. Pumpkin-Spice Messy Bun
The cozy Halloween look. Gather her hair into a high, deliberately undone bun — texture is your friend here. Wrap an orange scrunchie around the base and stick a green felt leaf or clip at the top. Cinnamon-roll vibes, zero effort.
Who it suits: Kids who hate sitting still — this takes 3 minutes and looks intentionally effortless. Works on all textures.
Styling tip: A sock bun form (cut the toe off an old sock) gives thin hair the fullness this style needs in under a minute.
17. Mad Scientist Wild Curls
For the little genius with big ideas (and bigger hair). Work with her natural curls — fluff them out wide with your fingers, no brushing — and add lightning-bolt clips or tiny star charms. A pair of oversized glasses sells the whole experiment.
Who it suits: Mad scientist, witch, and crazy-hair-day costumes. Made for curly and coily textures — the wilder, the better.
Styling tip: Fluff curls when hair is completely dry; touching wet curls creates frizz, but finger-fluffing dry curls creates glorious volume.
18. Morticia Sleek Braid
Wednesday’s mother knows a thing or two about drama. One long, severe French braid running straight down the back — sleek, dark, and impossibly elegant. The key is keeping it tight and flat against the head, with not a flyaway in sight.
Who it suits: Morticia, witch, and vampire costumes — or any kid who wants to look mysterious. Best on long, straight or wavy hair.
Styling tip: A center part drawn with the tail of a comb — not fingers — is what makes this look sharp instead of sloppy. Smooth the hairline with a little gel for that trademark Morticia sleekness.
19. Enchanted Forest Waves
For the woodland fairy who wandered into spooky season. Soft, loose waves (braid damp hair overnight — no heat) with small leaf or flower clips scattered through. A few strands of orange ribbon woven in tie it to Halloween.
Who it suits: Fairy, elf, and nature-spirit costumes. Beautiful on medium to long hair with natural wave or curl.
Styling tip: Overnight braids on 80%-dry hair give the best waves — fully wet hair won’t dry by morning, fully dry hair won’t hold the wave.
20. Trick-or-Treat Bow Ponytail
The simplest style here, and sometimes the best. A high ponytail — smooth or bouncy, your call — finished with the biggest Halloween bow you can find. Orange, black, purple, or patterned: the bow does all the talking.
Who it suits: Literally every kid, every costume, every hair type. The last-minute lifesaver when it’s 5 PM on October 31st.
Styling tip: Tie the bow around the ponytail elastic itself rather than clipping it on top — it won’t migrate during trick-or-treating.
5 Practical Tips for Halloween Hair Night
- Do a trial run. Pick the style 2–3 days before Halloween and do it once. You’ll find the fiddly bits (that crown braid takes practice) while there’s still time to simplify.
- Prep with the right base. Day-old hair holds styles better than freshly washed hair. If you must wash, add dry shampoo or texturizing spray at the roots for grip.
- Keep it comfortable. Nothing too tight, no sharp clips, no heavy pieces. If she’s fidgeting with it during the trial run, she’ll rip it out by house number three.
- Pack a repair kit. Throw 3–4 extra elastics, two bobby pins, and a mini brush in your candy-bucket bag. Five-second fixes beat a style falling apart mid-route.
- Go gentle with color. Temporary sprays and chalks wash out easiest from conditioned hair — run a little leave-in conditioner through before applying color, and use clarifying shampoo (twice) to remove it after.
FAQ
How do I remove temporary Halloween hair color from my child’s hair?
Brush through dry hair first to loosen the product, then wash with clarifying shampoo — twice if needed. For stubborn color wax, massage coconut oil through the hair before shampooing to break it down. Always follow with a deep conditioner, since temporary colors and clarifying shampoo can be drying.
What are the easiest Halloween hairstyles for toddlers?
Stick to pigtails, single ponytails, or simple buns with themed accessories — big bows, pumpkin clips, or cat ears do the heavy lifting. Avoid anything that takes more than 10 minutes or pulls tightly; toddlers won’t tolerate it, and comfort matters more than complexity at that age.
Can these styles work on short hair?
Absolutely. The Mini Witch-Hat Top Knot, Trick-or-Treat Bow Ponytail, and Zombie Messy Side Braid all adapt to shorter lengths — use mini clips, headbands with attached characters, and temporary color spray to carry the theme when there’s less hair to style. Accessories matter more than length.
Are temporary hair colors safe for kids?
Look for products labeled non-toxic and made for kids — hair chalk, wash-out sprays, and color waxes from reputable brands are the safest bets. Do a small patch test on the inner arm first, avoid the eye area, and skip them entirely on broken or irritated scalps.
How early should we start hair on Halloween night?
Start 45–60 minutes before you need to leave. That gives you 15 minutes for the style, buffer for the inevitable “I changed my mind about the costume” moment, and time for photos before the sugar rush begins.
The Real Magic
Here’s the thing nobody tells you about Halloween hair: your kid won’t remember whether the braids were perfectly even. She’ll remember sitting in front of the mirror while you did her hair, both of you laughing, the house smelling like autumn. So pick the style that makes her eyes light up, keep it comfortable, and don’t stress the details.
If you try one of these, save it to your Halloween board on Pinterest — and if you loved the braided looks, you’ll find 14 more everyday (non-spooky) ideas in our cute braided hairstyles for kids guide. Happy haunting! 🎃
