Halloween hairstyles with bows are the fastest costume shortcut in your drawer. One oversized ribbon turns a plain black dress into an actual costume.
On Halloween, bows work harder than any other accessory. The same bow reads as doll, vampire, witch, or cat depending on the color and the hair underneath it.
Here are seven Halloween hairstyles with bows, each built around a different costume idea, with the exact bow to buy or make.
The Statement Black Bow Ponytail
This is the vampire coquette look. A sleek high ponytail finished with a giant black satin bow, all polish and drama.
Smooth your hair back tight with gel or pomade, secure it high, then wrap a small section of hair around the elastic to hide it. Clip the oversized bow right over the base so it sits like a crown.
Go big on the bow. A small bow gets lost in a ponytail, but an oversized one reads from across the party. If you wear bow looks past October, our red bow hairstyles collection has softer everyday versions.
Wednesday Twin Braids with Mini Bows
Two tight braids, two tiny black velvet bows. Instantly Wednesday Addams, and probably the easiest costume on this list.
Part your hair dead center and braid both sides as tight and flat as you can. Tie a small black bow at the end of each braid, right over the elastic.
The bows should be small and matte. Shiny or oversized bows break the Wednesday spell. This one works on every hair length past the shoulders. It is one of the simplest Halloween hairstyles with bows for last-minute costumes.
Creepy Doll Curls with a Blood-Red Bow
Big blonde curls with a huge blood-red bow on top is the classic creepy doll. Sweet from far away, unsettling up close.
Curl everything in big sections and brush through for softness, then pull the top half back and clip the oversized red bow where the two sides meet. Let the rest fall loose.
The red has to be deep, not pink. Blood red sells the doll horror, pink just looks cute. This pairs perfectly with the looks in our blonde hair Halloween costumes guide.
Cat-Eye Sleek Hair with a Bow Headband
A black cat costume lives or dies on the ears, but a wide bow headband does the same job with better hair. Sleek straight hair, big bow sitting right on top.
Straighten your hair smooth and tuck it behind your ears. Place the bow headband about an inch behind your hairline so the bow stands tall.
Velvet or satin both work, but wired ribbon holds the bow shape best all night. Add a sharp cat-eye and whisker dots and the costume is done.
Spooky Bubble Braid with Bow Elastics
A high bubble ponytail dotted with tiny black bows at every elastic. Playful, spooky, and very now.
Pull your hair into a high ponytail, then add elastics every few inches down the length. Gently tug each section to puff it out, then clip a mini black bow over every elastic.
Keep the bows small and identical. Five matching mini bows look intentional, five random ones look messy. Our bubble braid hairstyles tutorial breaks down the puffing technique if you are new to it.
Witchy Low Bun with a Velvet Bow
A low bun wrapped in deep purple velvet is the elegant witch. Less costume shop, more dark fairy tale.
Gather your hair into a low bun at the nape, then tie or clip a large purple velvet bow around its base so the tails drape down. Loose face-framing pieces keep it soft.
Purple is the move here, not black. Black on black hair disappears, but deep purple glows against dark hair. For the full dark aesthetic, pair it with the styling in our witch hairstyles collection.
Bunny Pigtails with Oversized Cream Bows
Two high pigtails with huge cream satin bows is the cute bunny costume that never misses. Simple, photogenic, and comfortable all night.
Part down the middle and secure two high ponytails, one on each side. Clip an oversized cream bow at the base of each pony so they sit like ears.
Cream beats white here. White bows can look bridal, but cream reads soft and costume-like. Curl the pigtail ends for extra bounce. Among Halloween hairstyles with bows, this cute bunny look photographs best.
Pick your costume first, then match the bow to it. The right color does half the storytelling for you. And if you cannot find the perfect bow, this step-by-step bow tutorial shows how to make one from ribbon in minutes. For more spooky-season ideas beyond these Halloween hairstyles with bows, our Halloween hairstyles roundup covers the rest.
