Let’s brew something up: your Halloween costume isn’t just the clothes you wear. It’s an entire vibe, a character you embody for a night, and your hair is the most powerful ingredient in that potion. And when you’re ready to cast a spell, a transformative hairstyle is the ultimate magic wand.
Especially now, as the veil thins and the spooky season descends, there’s no better time to conjure a look that feels enchanting, powerful, and uniquely witchy. Enter the short-haired sorceress. No extensions needed—your pixie, bob, or lob is the perfect canvas for some serious hocus pocus.
Why a Hairstyle is Your Most Powerful Spell
Creating a Halloween look is more than just throwing on a pointy hat. It’s about a total transformation.
A great hairstyle signals your witchy archetype instantly—are you a gnarled forest crone, a sleek modern enchantress, or a bubbly good witch? It can be an instant confidence boost, turning a simple black dress into a full-blown, head-turning costume.
Practically? It’s often easier and more impactful than complex makeup or an expensive outfit. It’s character creation, no cauldron required.
Summoning Your Supplies: What You’ll Need
Before you start chanting, gather your core magical components. Most of these easy styles rely on a few key items you likely already own.
Think about your arsenal: a teasing comb for wicked volume, strong-hold hairspray to defy gravity, bobby pins to secure your sorcery, and maybe some temporary color spray (think silver, green, or black) for a touch of otherworldly glam.
Most importantly, what’s the vibe you’re chasing? Eerie and ancient, chic and sinister, or playful and magical?
Cast Your Curls: 10 Bewitching Styles for Short Hair
We’ve curated the ultimate grimoire of witchy hairstyles for short hair. Each one offers a distinct energy, ready to align with your Halloween persona.
Let these looks inspire your transformation. Find your familiar, screenshot your favorite spell, and get ready to bring your supernatural vision to life.
Classic Coven Icons
These looks are the cornerstones of witchery. They are instantly recognizable, easy to achieve, and packed with powerful, spooky energy.
1. The Classic Coven Bob
- Visual Vibes: You just flew in from Salem. This is the quintessential witch look—a little messy, a little powerful, and ready to gather with the coven.
- Best For: Chin-length bobs or lobs. Perfect for someone wanting a timeless witch look without much fuss.
- How to Cast the Spell (DIY Steps): Create a slightly off-center part. Use a teasing comb to add volume at the roots, especially at the crown. Smooth the top layer slightly, but leave the texture underneath. Finish with a blast of strong-hold hairspray.
- Magic Essentials: Teasing comb, strong-hold hairspray.
2. The Silver Sorceress Streaks
- Visual Vibes: Ancient wisdom meets midnight magic. Streaks of silver or white give the illusion of age, power, and moonlit enchantment. It’s dramatic, striking, and incredibly easy.
- Best For: Any short haircut, especially on dark hair for high contrast. Ideal for an elegant, formidable witch.
- How to Cast the Spell (DIY Steps): Part your hair as desired. Take 1-2 inch sections of hair, focusing on the pieces framing your face. Hold the can of temporary silver or white hairspray about 6 inches away and spray evenly down the section. Let it dry completely.
- Magic Essentials: Temporary silver or white hair color spray, a towel to protect your clothes.
3. The Wicked Web Pixie
- Visual Vibes: You’ve been lurking in haunted attics. This look is creepy, crawly, and guaranteed to make an impact with minimal effort.
- Best For: Pixie cuts or very short bobs. Perfect for someone who loves a spooky, creature-feature detail.
- How to Cast the Spell (DIY Steps): Style your hair as you normally would, perhaps with a bit of texturizing paste for hold. Gently stretch out a small piece of fake spiderweb material and drape it over one side of your hair, securing the edges with hidden bobby pins. Place one or two small plastic spiders onto the web.
- Magic Essentials: Fake spiderweb material, small plastic spiders, bobby pins.
Modern & Edgy Enchantresses
These styles blend classic witchy elements with a contemporary, fierce edge. They’re for the sorceress who shops online and hexes via text.
4. The Midnight Veil
- Visual Vibes: Sleek, mysterious, and dangerously chic. This look is less about messy magic and more about sharp, sinister glamour. She’s the C.E.O. of her coven.
- Best For: Bobs of any length (blunt, A-line, or Italian). Works best on straight or straightened hair.
- How to Cast the Spell (DIY Steps): Create a deep, dramatic side part. On the heavy side of the part, comb the hair smoothly across your forehead, covering one eye slightly. Use a gel or strong-hold pomade to slick it down and keep it in place. Keep the rest of the hair sleek and sharp.
- Magic Essentials: Fine-tooth comb, strong-hold gel or pomade, hairspray.
5. The Spiky Punk Rock Witch
- Visual Vibes: Anarchy in the coven. This witch listens to The Misfits and her potions are probably flammable. It’s rebellious, edgy, and full of attitude.
- Best For: Pixie cuts, bixies, or very short, layered bobs.
- How to Cast the Spell (DIY Steps): Work a generous amount of hair gel, wax, or pomade through your dry hair. Use your fingertips to pull small sections of hair upwards and outwards, creating sharp, defined spikes. Mess it up until you achieve the desired level of punk perfection.
- Magic Essentials: Strong-hold gel, wax, or pomade.
6. The Crimson Curse Lob
- Visual Vibes: Blood magic and dark romance. This look adds a sinister yet beautiful pop of color that hints at forbidden spells and vampiric tendencies.
- Best For: Lobs or collarbone-length bobs where the ends are visible.
- How to Cast the Spell (DIY Steps): Protect your shoulders with a towel. Shake a can of temporary red hair spray well. Lightly spray just the very tips of your hair, creating a “dip-dyed” effect. Let it dry completely before touching.
- Magic Essentials: Temporary red hair color spray, a towel.
Enchanted & Ethereal Beings
These looks are for the green witches, the sea witches, and the whimsical potion-makers. They feel organic, magical, and a little bit wild.
7. The Double-Horned Devilish ‘Do
- Visual Vibes: Cute, but maybe a little cursed. This style is playful and devilish, suggesting a mischievous witch who loves to cause a bit of trouble.
- Best For: Bobs or lobs long enough to gather on top.
- How to Cast the Spell (DIY Steps): Part your hair down the middle. On each side of the part, gather a small section of hair from the top-front. Twist each section tightly until it coils into a tiny bun, or “horn.” Secure each horn tightly against your head with bobby pins.
- Magic Essentials: Small elastics, bobby pins.
8. The Gnarled Forest Witch
- Visual Vibes: You grew from the earth itself. This is a messy, textured, and organic style for the witch who talks to trees and collects ingredients from the forest floor.
- Best For: Wavy or curly bobs and shags.
- How to Cast the Spell (DIY Steps): Use a texturizing spray or sea salt spray to make your hair messy and “piecey.” Braid a few tiny, random sections of hair and secure with small, clear elastics. For the final touch, weave a small, clean twig or a few leaves into your hair, securing with a bobby pin.
- Magic Essentials: Texturizing spray, small elastics, (optional) clean twigs or leaves.
9. The Serpent Braids
- Visual Vibes: Subtle, slithering, and secretive. This look is for the potion master or snake charmer, adding a delicate but distinctly witchy detail that frames the face.
- Best For: Any short haircut with enough length in the front to braid (even a long pixie).
- How to Cast the Spell (DIY Steps): Create a center or side part. Take a very small, thin section of hair from right beside the part on each side. Create a tight, tiny three-strand braid on each side. Braid all the way down and secure with a small, clear elastic. Let them hang to frame your face.
- Magic Essentials: Small, clear elastics.
10. The Bewitched Flip
- Visual Vibes: Mid-century magic with a twitch of the nose. This is a nod to the classic TV witches—sweet, charming, and perfectly coiffed.
- Best For: A chin-length bob, especially with bangs.
- How to Cast the Spell (DIY Steps): Use a flat iron or a round brush and blow dryer. As you reach the ends of your hair, flick your wrist outwards to create a perky, flipped-out style. Do the same for your bangs if you have them. A light mist of hairspray keeps the flip in place.
- Magic Essentials: Flat iron or round brush, blow dryer, light-hold hairspray.
Accessorize Your Alchemy: Adding the Final Touches
The right accessory can elevate your hairstyle from simple to spellbinding.
- The Pointy Hat Problem: Don’t let a hat hide your work! Style your hair first, then perch the hat back on your head so your styled bangs and front pieces frame your face.
- Clip-In Magic: Don’t underestimate the power of a well-placed clip. Think celestial stars, moon clips, or even a spooky silver spider.
- Ribbons & Wraps: A simple black or velvet ribbon tied around your double horns or woven into a braid adds a touch of gothic elegance.
The Morning After: Banishing the Bewitchment
Your magical night is over, but the glitter and hairspray remain. To cleanse your locks without a curse, start by gently brushing out any teasing or tangles from the ends up. Use a clarifying shampoo to break down product buildup and color spray. Follow with a deep conditioner to restore moisture and thank your hair for its magical service.
Your Grand Transformation Awaits
This isn’t just about styling your hair for Halloween. It’s about unlocking the character within and realizing you have all the tools for a complete transformation right at your fingertips.
Whether you gravitate toward spooky webs, sleek villainy, or earthy textures, this guide is your spellbook. Use it to brew up a look that’s uniquely you.
Ready to make some magic? The mirror is waiting. Embrace the enchantment, turn some heads, and have a wicked good time.