The most iconic hairstyles to recreate this Halloween (without damaging your hair)

Written by Nicole Petty on October 8, 2026

Halloween is the ultimate excuse to go all out with your look, and nothing transforms a costume faster than an iconic, head-turning hairstyle. From Morticia Addams’ dramatic, glass-like lengths to Elvira’s gravity-defying volume, the right hair takes your character from recognisable to unforgettable.

However, these high-impact looks often come at a cost to your hair's health. Between heavy-hold hairsprays, backcombing, heat styling, and tight braids, Halloween hair looks can easily lead to breakage, scalp tension, and stubborn tangles the next morning, but you don’t have to damage your hair for a killer look.

Below, we’ve rounded up the ultimate Halloween hairstyle inspiration for some of pop culture's most iconic characters, along with step-by-step styling tips to recreate them safely at home, plus the essential November 1st aftercare routine to keep your locks thriving long after the party is over.

Extreme length and glass finishes

You can’t really go wrong with long hair worn straight and down with a glossy finish, Halloween or not! This hair is perfect for a range of costumes, specifically Morticia Addams with her iconic long, straight, dark hair! Alternatively, if you want to go as a pop culture icon, it can also work for Cher’s iconic hair.

How to achieve sleek glass hair

Add length if needed: Opt for extremely long extensions, like 24-inch clip-ins, to gain the dramatic length. If you’ve already got long hair, this step isn’t necessary.
Wash for maximum smoothness: Just shampoo the roots, and use a rich conditioner on the lengths. Don’t towel dry the hair roughly, as this can cause frizz. Instead, gently squeeze out water with a T-shirt or a microfibre towel.
Protect the hair: Apply heat protectant and a small amount of smoothing or anti-frizz cream or serum. Be careful not to use too much so the hair still has some movement.
Blow-dry the hair straight: Using a paddle brush or a large round brush, dry the hair whilst directing it downwards. Ideally, the hair should be 80 to 90% straight from blow-drying. Finish off with a cold blast to seal the cuticle.
Straighten the hair in small sections: Try not to go over the same section multiple times; it’s better to go over each section slowly in one controlled pass. The goal is to achieve perfectly smooth roots and straight ends that are slightly tucked or pointed under, rather than bouncy ends.
Lock in the shine: Rub 1-2 drops of smoothing hair oil or serum between your palms and smooth over the mid-lengths and ends. Avoid the roots and using too much product, or your hair will look greasy rather than glossy.
Style it: Finish the styling depending on what iconic character you’re emulating. For both Cher and Morticia, a centre part is key! Use a comb to perfectly part the hair in the centre.

This style works best on hair that is naturally quite long and dense (although extensions can be added to achieve this), with a relatively blunt cut and few layers.

Gravity-defying up-dos and extreme volume

These intense updos can feel intimidating, but they can transform your look and make it instantly recognisable for Halloween, especially if you’re inspired by the Bride of Frankenstein or the iconic Elvira. The best way to achieve this style is to build structure, then disguise it with smooth hair.

How to build extreme height and volume

Start with day-old hair: Freshly washed hair is too soft; texture and natural grip are key for this kind of look.
Prep your wash cycle: When you wash your hair, one to two days before styling, use conditioner sparingly, avoiding the roots. If you have fine hair, apply a volumising mousse before drying.
Blow-dry upward: To create volume, blow-dry the hair upwards, rather than down like you would to create the straight look. Focus especially on the crown, sides, front and back of the head.
Set with velcro rollers: Whilst the hair is still warm, add velcro rollers to the crown to create volume. Let the hair cool completely before removing.
Add grip: After removing the rollers, apply a texturising product or dry shampoo to the roots to enhance volume and add ‘grip’ to the hair.
Backcomb and pad: Carefully backcomb underneath the hair to build the desired height. You could also add hair padding, a lightweight tool such as a mesh sponge, under the hair for extra volume.
Smooth and seal: Smooth the outer layer over the structure by gently going over it with a soft brush, secure with hairpins and apply a generous amount of hairspray. Avoid brushing once completing these steps.

For Elvira’s look, aim for a large teased crown paired with sleek, pin-straight lengths hanging down past the shoulders, and frame the face with straight bangs. For the Bride of Frankenstein, aim for extreme height at the crown, sharp lifted sides, and overall a tall, structured silhouette.

Witchy waves and effortless texture

Long, touchable locks are a perfect style for recreating iconic Halloween witchy characters. Most notably, Sarah Sanderson from Hocus Pocus wears her hair in wild, voluminous waves, and Practical Magic’s Gillian Owens opts for a softer, 90s-inspired look. Though Gillian’s style is slightly more understated than Sarah's, both looks require signature long lengths, making hair extensions a secret weapon for achieving either look.

How to style soft, textured waves

Start with prep: Apply a heat protectant and a lightweight volumising mousse to damp natural hair before drying. If your hair lacks length or thickness, add clip-in extensions before styling so you can curl them right alongside your natural hair for a seamless blend.
Create the wave: Using a curling wand or large-barrel iron, wrap 1 to 2-inch sections away from your face. Leave the ends out slightly for a relaxed, modern finish rather than a tight ringlet.
Break up the pattern: Once the hair has cooled completely, flip your head upside down and thoroughly shake out the roots with your fingers to integrate the extensions and boost natural movement.
For Sarah Sanderson's look, focus on volume: Lean into full-bodied, waist-length texture. Add extra extension tracks near the crown for maximum density, then spritz a sea salt or dry texturising spray liberally through the mid-lengths to ends, gently scrunching upward to build a wild wave.
For Gillian Owen’s look, focus on soft movement: Keep the finish sleek, long, and relaxed. Gently brush through the waves with a wide-tooth comb or paddle brush to smooth the texture into fluid, cascading lengths.
Set and seal: Finish both looks with a flexible-hold hairspray so the long waves stay light and touchable all night without stiffening.

Tension braids

Braided hair is a slightly lower-maintenance style, but can still work for a few different character styles, particularly Wednesday Addams and Lara Croft.

Wednesday wears two braids on either side of her head, with the modern Netflix version of the character pairing this style with bangs, and other versions having no fringe but a noticeable widow's peak. Lara Croft has an iconic singular plaited ponytail, often starting as a French braid or high ponytail and accompanied by face-framing pieces. The braid is often pulled to the side, placed over one shoulder.

How to master damage-free tension braids

Prep for grip and texture: To start, the hair should be clean, damp hair or day-old hair. Apply a light leave-in conditioner or styling cream throughout to hydrate the hair strands, smooth down flyaways, and prevent breakage while braiding.
Detangle thoroughly: For a super-sleek finish, brush through the hair thoroughly with a detangling brush, ensuring there are no knots before you begin. Pulling braids through tangles can cause the hair to snap and create split ends.

Add length: Both of these characters' styles have quite a bit of length, so extensions are your best friend here if your natural hair isn’t quite there yet.

For Wednesday Addams: Section your hair into two halves down the centre part. Clip 20- to 24-inch clip-in hair extensions horizontally on each side, placing them low towards the nape so the clips stay hidden. Braid your natural hair together with the extensions so it blends seamlessly into one thick, long plait.
For Lara Croft: Opt for a wrap-around clip-in ponytail extension. Gather your natural hair into a tight ponytail, securing it with a strong hair elastic. Slide the built-in comb of the clip-in ponytail directly behind your elastic band, wrap the Velcro strap around the base to secure it, and wrap a small side section of hair around to cover the attachment.

Prep the front: Use a fine-tooth comb to part the hair accordingly. For Wednesday, create a sharp, clean centre part all the way down to the nape of your neck and leave bangs out (if channelling the Netflix iteration). For Lara Croft, leave out two soft, face-framing pieces around the cheekbones and pull the rest back into your ponytail.
Braid carefully: Keep your hands close to the scalp as you cross the sections over, maintaining a firm, even grip, instead of pulling hard away from the head. Pulling too tightly at the roots can cause tension breakage, scalp soreness, and unwanted bumps.
Position accordingly: For Wednesday's look, position the braids behind the ears and neatly falling over the front of the shoulders. For Lara Croft, braid the extension ponytail smoothly all the way to the ends (or start with a French braid). Pull the finished braid forward over one shoulder.
Secure the braids: Use small, clear or hair-matching hair elastics or bobbles. Avoid using standard household rubber bands, as these snag and snap your hair when removing them at the end of the night. Finish with a light spritz of hairspray to help prevent flyaways in the braids.

Avoid your hair having a fright after Halloween

Halloween hairstyles can take a toll on your locks. Heavy hairsprays, styling gels, temporary colour sprays, backcombing, and tight elastics can leave hair tangled, dry, and prone to breakage if not removed properly. Here is how to safely reset and restore your hair the morning after without causing damage:

Gently undo accessories and elastics: Avoid yanking or pulling elastics or accessories out of your hair, especially if they are coated in dried hairspray. Snip disposable elastics with a small pair of nail scissors to prevent snapping the ends. If you used clip-in extensions, unclip them gently from the bottom up before detangling your natural hair.
Detangle before you wash: Brushing through backcombed or heavily hairsprayed hair while it is wet is a recipe for extreme breakage. Instead, apply a generous amount of hair oil, leave-in conditioner, or lightweight serum to dry hair. Then, using your fingers, gently tease apart knots, working from the ends up to the roots. Follow with a wide-tooth comb or a flexible detangling brush once the heavy tangles are loosened.
Clarify to break down product buildup: Heavy gels, hairsprays, and temporary colour sprays leave a layer of buildup that standard shampoos struggle to melt away. Start your shower routine with a clarifying shampoo to deep-clean the scalp and dissolve stubborn styling products. Focus the product on your scalp and roots, letting the lather rinse down through the lengths.
Restore moisture with a deep conditioning mask: Clarifying and heavy styling products strip moisture from the hair. After using a clarifying shampoo, swap your regular conditioner for a rich, hydrating mask or deep conditioning treatment. Apply it from the mid-lengths to the ends and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes (or longer if your hair feels particularly dry) before rinsing with cool water to seal the cuticle and lock in shine.
Give your hair a heat-free rest day: After a night of heavy heat-styling, backcombing, or tight braids, give your hair a break. Skip the straighteners and hair dryers the day after, squeeze out excess moisture with a microfiber towel, apply a hydrating leave-in serum, and let your hair air-dry naturally.

With these hair inspos and post-party hair recovery plan, you're ready to tackle Halloween! By prioritising smart prep, gentle technique, and a dedicated rest day on November 1st, you won’t compromise the health of your natural locks. Pick your favourite character, gather your essentials, and enjoy a damage-free Halloween!