Halloween is the perfect time to embrace your dark side — with a touch of glam. Whether you’re channeling a mysterious vampire, a witchy queen, or a glamorous villain, the right hairstyle can elevate your entire costume.
Gothic hairstyles are all about drama, structure, and texture, while glam adds polish and sparkle. From sleek updos to voluminous curls, glitter accents, and dark romantic braids, these 15 Halloween hairstyles strike the perfect balance between eerie and elegant, ensuring your look is both spine-chilling and stunning.
Get ready to slay the spooky season in style.
1. Sleek Vampire Hair
Sleek vampire hair is the definition of refined darkness—sharp, glossy, and undeniably dramatic. This look typically features a perfectly straight style paired with a razor-clean middle part, giving it that signature gothic elegance seen in classic vampire lore.
The shine adds a supernatural, almost immortal quality, making the hair appear polished and powerful under any lighting. This hairstyle works beautifully for characters like vampires, evil queens, gothic villains, or mysterious enchantresses.
Whether worn long and cascading or sleek and shoulder-length, it frames the face with striking precision, amplifying dark makeup and bold costume elements. Its simplicity is its strength—it’s easy to create, timeless in its appeal, and instantly transforms any outfit into a haunting statement.
Why you must try: It’s timeless, striking, and easy to achieve. The sleekness amplifies the mysterious vibe.
Style tips: Use a flat iron for bone-straight hair, apply shine serum, and finish with a setting spray. Pair with a bold red lip and dark eyeshadow for a dramatic finish.
2. Gothic Braided Crown
A gothic braided crown blends regality with darkness, creating the perfect hairstyle for ethereal yet powerful characters. The braid wraps around the head like a halo, giving a queenly silhouette infused with gothic edge. Adding black ribbons, dark florals, or metallic accents enhances the mystical aura and elevates the overall look.
This hairstyle is ideal for witches, medieval queens, dark goddesses, or elegant vampires, offering both sophistication and intensity.
The structure of the braids adds texture and intricacy, while the dark embellishments contribute to a haunting charm. Whether paired with flowing gowns or elaborate costumes, the gothic braided crown transforms you into a creature of myth and shadow.
Why you must try: It blends softness with power, making your costume look instantly elevated.
Style tips: Create two braids, wrap them over your head like a crown, and secure with pins. Add black roses, pearls, or spider clips for a spooky-chic effect.
3. Voluminous Victorian Updo
The voluminous Victorian updo is a dramatic, old-world hairstyle that brings elegance, romance, and theatrical flair to any gothic costume. Its structured height and soft curls mimic the luxurious styles worn by aristocrats of the Victorian era.
Teasing the hair provides the needed volume, while pinned curls create a sculpted, hauntingly beautiful silhouette. This hairstyle is perfect for ghost brides, gothic royals, steampunk characters, or vintage-inspired villains.
With added accessories—like lace veils, pearls, or dark brooches—it becomes even more striking. It’s a style that captures the essence of haunting beauty and timeless sophistication.
Why you must try: It’s theatrical, timeless, and instantly gives your look historical drama.
Style tips: Tease the crown for volume, curl sections loosely, and pin into a soft chignon. Add lace, veils, or pearls for a haunting finish.
4. Dark Mermaid Waves
Dark mermaid waves blend softness and mystery, creating a flowing, ethereal look with a gothic twist. These loose, cascading waves have a deep, shimmering tone—like midnight waters under the moonlight.
The movement in the hair gives a sultry, hypnotic quality that suits gothic mermaids, sea witches, dark enchantresses, or fantasy queens.
Whether styled with dark seashell accessories, metallic clips, or subtle glitter highlights, the waves evoke a sense of underwater magic infused with shadow and depth. It’s romantic, haunting, and effortlessly captivating.
Why you must try: It’s glamorous, mysterious, and works with many costume themes.
Style tips: Use a large barrel curler, brush out waves gently, and apply shine spray. Add hair chains, shells, or silver pins to accentuate the gothic glamour.
5. High Ponytail with Gothic Accessories
A sleek high ponytail becomes instantly powerful when paired with gothic accessories. The lifted height creates a fierce, commanding silhouette, while the smooth finish adds a modern, intimidating edge.
Decorating the ponytail with black ribbons, chains, bat clips, or metal rings transforms the hairstyle from simple to show-stopping.
This look is perfect for gothic warriors, stylish witches, modern vampires, or dark fantasy characters who want elegance with attitude. It’s bold, clean, and incredibly versatile.
Why you must try: It elongates the face and adds a modern gothic edge.
Style tips: Tie hair tightly into a high pony, wrap a strand around the elastic, and accessorize with dark or metallic accents for a bold look.
6. Braided Devil Horns
Braided devil horns are a standout gothic-glam hairstyle that makes an unforgettable impression. By twisting and shaping the braids into horn-like structures, you create a dramatic and symbolic look perfect for demon-inspired costumes.
The style blends creativity with a dark, playful edge, making it ideal for devils, fallen angels, imps, or daring gothic characters.
You can enhance the effect by wrapping the horns with red or black thread, beads, or metallic accents. It’s fierce, theatrical, and perfect for anyone wanting a bold Halloween statement.
Why you must try: It’s edgy, eye-catching, and adds height and drama.
Style tips: Part hair in the middle, braid two sections, twist into horns, and secure with pins and hairspray. Add red glitter for extra glam.
7. Gothic Half-Up Bouffant
The gothic half-up bouffant channels vintage glam with a dark twist. The teased crown adds height and drama, while the flowing lower half keeps the look soft and romantic.
This hairstyle evokes old Hollywood meets gothic enchantress—dramatic, elegant, and full of allure. It pairs beautifully with dark gowns, velvet dresses, lace details, and bold makeup.
Perfect for witches, vampires, dark fairies, or haunted beauties, the style offers the best of both worlds: volume and softness, structure and movement.
Why you must try: It adds volume and sophistication without overcomplicating the look.
Style tips: Tease the crown, smooth the top, pin back, and add black lace or jeweled pins for a haunting finish.
8. Witchy Braid with Black Accessories
A witchy braid adorned with black accessories creates a powerful and enchanting statement. Whether it’s a long classic braid, fishtail braid, or loose boho plait, adding black ribbons, chains, flowers, or charms instantly enhances the mystical atmosphere.
This look suits witches, forest sorceresses, gothic priestesses, or any dark magical character. The decorations add depth, texture, and symbolic meaning—making the hairstyle feel like part of the character’s story or spellwork.
It’s both elegant and eerie, balancing beauty with witchy intensity.
Why you must try: It’s simple to execute but looks intricate and costume-ready.
Style tips: Create a classic or fishtail braid, weave in black ribbon or chains, and secure with a dramatic hair tie at the end.
9. Gothic Space Buns
Gothic space buns bring playful energy with an edgy twist. While the two-bun style is fun and youthful, adding gothic elements—dark clips, mini veils, feathers, or metallic rings—creates a striking contrast.
This makes the hairstyle perfect for witches, aliens, villains, cyber goth characters, or alternative fantasy looks.
The buns add structure and personality, while the accessories add depth and attitude. It’s cute, fierce, and unmistakably Halloween-ready.
Why you must try: They’re easy to style, versatile, and add a youthful twist to spooky glam looks.
Style tips: Part hair down the middle, create two high buns, tease slightly for volume, and add veils, bats, or glitter for effect.
10. Spiderweb Ponytail
A spiderweb ponytail transforms a simple style into a gothic masterpiece. The sleek base ponytail offers a clean, polished foundation, while the web-like strings, hair wraps, or decorative web clips give it a supernatural twist.
The design mimics delicate yet eerie spiderweb patterns, creating a visually stunning effect. Perfect for spider queens, dark fairies, gothic witches, or hauntingly elegant characters, this hairstyle blends beauty with creepiness in the most enchanting way.
It’s bold, artistic, and ideal for anyone wanting a unique gothic look.
Why you must try: It’s unique and instantly Halloween-ready.
Style tips: Slick your hair into a ponytail, use black string or elastic to weave a “web” pattern, and finish with spider clips or beads.
11. Black Rose Bun
The Black Rose Bun is the perfect blend of romance, darkness, and elegance—an easy yet impactful hairstyle that instantly elevates any gothic or Halloween-inspired look. This style features a sleek or slightly tousled low bun positioned at the nape of the neck, creating a graceful silhouette that feels both timeless and haunting.
What truly transforms it is the addition of black roses, whether they’re real preserved blooms, fabric flowers, or dramatic gothic accessories. The roses add depth, contrast, and a touch of Victorian drama, making the hairstyle ideal for vampire queens, gothic brides, cursed princesses, or dark fairytale characters.
Paired with lace, velvet, or rich jewel-toned costumes, the Black Rose Bun becomes a storytelling piece—soft yet powerful, delicate yet mysterious.
Why you must try: It’s simple yet statement-making, ideal for gothic brides or villains.
Style tips: Form a sleek low bun, secure black rose accessories around it, and add pearl pins or dark lace for an elevated finish.
12. Glitter Skull Braids
Glitter Skull Braids combine edgy gothic style with festival-worthy shimmer, resulting in a bold, eye-catching hairstyle that shines under any lighting. This look involves braiding the hair—whether in tight cornrows, box braids, or thick statement plaits—and weaving in tiny skull charms that dangle, peek through, or sit at the braid intersections.
Adding dark glitter along the braid lines or roots amplifies the dramatic effect, catching the light with every movement. Perfect for gothic fairies, spooky festival goers, dark sorceresses, or punk-inspired costumes, this hairstyle blends glam and grit.
It transforms your hair into a mesmerizing accessory of its own—haunting, sparkly, and beautifully rebellious.
Why you must try: It’s detailed, modern, and perfect for standing out at Halloween parties.
Style tips: Do two Dutch braids, sprinkle dark glitter at the roots, and weave in skull clips or metallic accessories.
13. Gothic Pixie Glam
The Gothic Pixie Glam look proves that short hair can be just as dramatic and enchanting as long locks. Whether styled sleek and sharp or sculpted into sultry finger waves, this hairstyle radiates confidence and gothic beauty.
A well-defined pixie cut paired with dark, bold makeup—think smoky eyes, sharp eyeliner, deep burgundy or black lips—creates an unforgettable aesthetic. The polished finish and architectural lines of the hair bring a modern, high-fashion edge to classic gothic themes.
Perfect for elegant vampires, dark angels, mysterious villains, or anyone embracing chic gothic minimalism, this style delivers maximum impact with minimal effort. It’s striking, sophisticated, and unapologetically bold.
Why you must try: It’s sleek, chic, and works with minimal accessories.
Style tips: Use gel to slick or shape hair, add a black headband or jeweled clips, and pair with bold eye makeup.
14. Dark Mohawk Updo
The Dark Mohawk Updo is the ultimate fusion of punk attitude and gothic elegance. This dramatic hairstyle involves teasing the center section of the hair to build height and texture, then pinning the sides tightly back to create a faux-hawk silhouette.
The result is fierce, sculptural, and perfect for characters who command attention—like gothic warriors, post-apocalyptic queens, or demonic punk icons. Adding accessories like spikes, chains, dark feathers, or metallic clips makes the look even more striking.
The balance between rough texture and polished structure creates a hairstyle that feels both rebellious and regal, ready for any Halloween or theatrical transformation.
Why you must try: It’s fierce, modern, and adds height and drama.
Style tips: Slick sides with gel, tease the top sections upward, and finish with metallic pins or black spray for boldness.
15. Gothic Veiled Ponytail
The Gothic Veiled Ponytail captures the essence of mystery and drama with minimal effort. This style features a sleek or voluminous ponytail—either high, mid, or low—paired with a black veil or net that drapes elegantly over the face, sides, or cascading hair.
The veil instantly adds an air of gothic romance, evoking imagery of haunted brides, shadowy enchantresses, or aristocratic ghosts. Whether lace, mesh, or tulle, the veil softens the hairstyle while infusing it with chilling allure. Pair it with dark jewelry, smoky makeup, or Victorian-inspired clothing to heighten the effect.
It’s a hauntingly beautiful style that transforms even a simple ponytail into a mysterious, unforgettable statement.
Why you must try: It’s simple but gives your costume theatrical elegance.
Style tips: Tie your hair into a sleek ponytail, secure a veil clip over the base, and pair with statement earrings for a glam finish.
Conclusion
Gothic and glam hairstyles are the ultimate way to bring drama, elegance, and a hint of darkness to your Halloween look.
From sleek vampire hair to romantic braided crowns and bold devil horns, each style can completely transform your costume. Whether you prefer intricate braids, voluminous updos, or sleek modern ponytails, these 15 ideas blend spooky allure with sophisticated beauty.
Pair them with the right accessories and makeup to fully embody your Halloween character—and get ready to slay every spooky soirée this season.