10 Hairstyle Ideas From Iconic Horror Films

Love a good hair-raiser? Why not make this year’s Halloween costume all about your locks? Check out these horrific hairstyle ideas that are sure to turn heads.

By: All Things Beauty

October 7, 2023

Read Time: 4 Minutes

There’s no shortage of Halloween costume inspirations from classic horror films. And if you’re only half as invested in dressing creepy, you could even just get hairstyle ideas from their main characters. Check out this list of hair-centric looks that are sure to turn heads (not 360, hopefully) this season.

Mia Farrow in a telephone booth from Rosemary’s Baby.

Style your short hair into a cute pixie cut like Mia Farrow’s in Rosemary’s Baby. (Source: IMDB)

Ah, Rosemary. Mia Farrow’s iconic pixie cut steals the spotlight in this movie adaptation of a 1967 novel by Ira Levin. You don’t have to be waifish to pull it off, either. Most hairstylists and skilled enough to tailor this hairstyle to any face shape or hair texture. If you’re looking for hairstyle ideas for short hair, consider getting this cut for a fresh new look. Not keen on getting a drastic chop? Throw on a straw blonde wig and you’re good to go.

A woman with a chin-length bob holding an axe from the film Misery.

Part your chin-length bob from the side and clip it with an old-school hair pin to get Annie Wilkes’ look. (Source: IMDB)

hairpinKathy Bates’ performance as bipolar fan girl Annie Wilkes is as iconic as they come – and so is her conservative, goody-two-shoes hairstyle. In the 1990 film, Bates wears her impeccably styled hair in a deep side part, held in place with a simple hair clip. It’s easy enough to recreate on your own (just use lots of rollers)! Finish off the look with an outfit that screams lumberjack-chic-meets-cottage-core.

Woman with long hair covering her face from The Ring.

Got long, black hair? Comb it forward to cover your face to get the look! (Source: IMDB)

The Ring gave viewers some traumatic imagery to chew on, including Sadako/Samara (depending on which version you watched) crawling out of a CRT TV. In the scene, the vengeful spirit rocks one of the easiest Halloween hairstyle ideas: long black hair. You can achieve the look by clipping hair extensions toward the front of your face or simply combing your real hair forward. Straighten it with a flat iron and grunge it up with some mousse.

Woman with short hair and dark lipstick from The Craft.

Channel ‘90s style with this look from Nancy Downs in The Craft. (Source: IMDB)

Fairuza Balk’s Nancy Downs is one of the most loved characters in the horror genre. She also nails the goth witch aesthetic best, and it all starts with a good head of hair. The base is a short bob with bangs, but when tousled and styled, it’s giving Robert Smith circa 1980s. Simply tease the roots to get more volume and set with hairspray. Finally, give it that greasy finish with a bit of moldable wax.

Sad woman wearing a flower crown in the mountains from Midsommar.

An exaggerated flower crown works best for this ensemble from Midsommar. (Source: IMDB)

The flower crown aesthetic gets a dark twist when Florence Pugh wears it in Midsommar, a movie about a couple traveling to celebrate the summer solstice only to fall prey to a pagan cult. Of all the hairstyle ideas, this has the most creative potential. You can make a colorful, tropical headdress, or a gothic one with dark orchids and moss.

Children with white hair and glowing eyes from Village of the Damned.

Looking for group hairstyle ideas? Come as the children from Village of the Damned! (Source: IMDB)

Do you own a silvery-white wig with bangs? Style it like the children’s hairstyles in Village of the Damned. Make sure the wig is silky (not frizzy), by straightening it with a flat iron. Curl the ends inward with the same tool. Do the same for the bangs. As for your outfit, throw on a white turtleneck and any gray dress or vest. Creepy contact lenses are a bonus!

A child sitting on a chair with her hands on her lap from Orphan.

Accessorize with ribbons like Esther from Orphan. (Source: IMDB)

Black ribbons will never go out of style – just look at the runways and your favorite K-Pop idol’s Instagram. For Halloween, you can wear them as sinister accessories just like Orphan’s Esther, who wrapped them around kiddie pigtails and used them as ‘90s-esque chokers.

Woman with red hair from the film Suspiria.

Go red or go home like Dakota Johnson in Suspiria. (Source: IMDB)

Dakota Johnson is always hair goals, but in the 2018 remake of Suspiria, her red, Marcia Brady-like locks (sans her iconic bangs!) take center stage. It’s super easy to recreate with a long, one-length red wig or your natural hair colored in a warm brown or reddish tone. Blow-dry the hair but don’t make it too sleek and part it in the middle. Make a single, low braid and swing it over to one side. Finish the look with a gray sweatshirt and you’re Halloween-ready!

Got time and resources? Go all out with Pennywise’s ‘do from It. (Source: IMDB)

Want next-level hairstyle ideas? Try doing a full cosplay of characters from beloved horror movies, like It. Becoming Pennywise, for example, requires wearing a bald cap to raise your hairline to unnatural proportions, or simply wearing a wig for a hair-centric look. Style it with a matte wax for a textured hold. Don’t forget to pile on your makeup to complete the look.

Woman with long hair extensions from the movie Exte.

You’ll never look at hair extensions the same way again. (Source: IMDB)

The horror of hair extensions is never ending in Japanese film Exte, where they cause more than just breakage and split ends. Since it’s a hair horror movie, it serves many amazingly terrifying looks, one of which is that of a woman seemingly pinned to the ceiling by her weave.

Like these hairstyle ideas? Before recreating them, prep with Sunsilk Smooth & Manageable Shampoo, which has five flower essences that make the hair smoother and easier to style. Finish with TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum to polish your look or mess it up with hairspray and wax. Of course, it’s a good idea to watch the films before deciding on your look – which of these speak to your soul?