Halloween Costumes Perfect For Brunettes
Is it just us or does it seem like everyone is a brunette these days? It may seem that way because brown hair is actually the most common hair color in the world. According to Holleewood Hair, the world's population of brunettes falls somewhere between 75% and 84% and your likelihood of meeting someone with brown hair is greater than meeting someone with blonde hair or red hair.
Regardless of how common the hair color might be, having brown hair can be a huge benefit when it comes to choosing your Halloween costume because of how many iconic options you have. According to CNN, Halloween costumes have been around since the early 1900s when people dressed up using masks, sheets, and tape. The tradition continues today and one of the most exciting aspects of the spooky holiday is making sure you have the perfect costume lined up. Here are some of the best Halloween costumes a brunette might consider wearing.
Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz
Lions, and tigers, and ... brunettes, oh my! Actress Judy Garland played the role of Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" back in 1939. Throughout the film — during which a tornado sweeps Dorothy and her puppy up and carries them to the fictional land of Oz (via IMDb) — Garland wore her long brown hair in two braids, one on each side of her head. Any brunette who wants to recreate that mystical day in Oz, when Dorothy met witches, munchkins, and animals galore, can easily rock the simple hairstyle this Halloween. Tie a blue ribbon to the end of each braid as an extra special touch.
A dainty blue and white checkered dress paired with sparkling red heels will complete the look. Interestingly enough, the actual costume Garland wore for the movie went missing sometime in the '70s, according to Town & Country. But these days, it's easy to find a full Dorothy costume in stores.
Hermione Granger from Harry Potter
Hermione Granger is one of the most beloved characters from the "Harry Potter" book series and film franchise. She was one of Harry's best friends and showcased her intelligence countless times while at Hogwarts. According to Wizarding World, even though Hermione was considered the nerd of her social circle, she proved her bravery and loyalty to Harry every single time he needed backup or support.
Looking like Hermione for Halloween obviously starts with the hair. Described as full and bushy in the books, to really commit to the look you may have to curl and tease your hair a bit. The more unkempt it looks, the better. Those who have natural curls can let their hair air dry after a shower to let them get a little (or a lot) frizzy. Add a dark cloak and an iconic red and gold Gryffindor scarf to finish off the look.
Wonder Woman from DC Comics
When people think of female superheroes who've made an impact on society over the years, Wonder Woman may be one of the first to come to mind. A DC Comics character, she fights alongside Superman, Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg. Dressing up like Wonder Woman would be perfect for any fierce brunette in the world. Actress Gal Gadot brought the powerful role to life in the 2017 movie (via IMDb). With her gloriously dark brown hair, Gal was absolutely perfect for the part.
Wonder Woman's hair isn't always perfectly styled. (Would yours be if you were in battle every day?!) To recreate her look, you can simply leave your brown hair out and flowing. But if you want a more elaborate hairstyle, you can try to add braids draped over your forehead, as recommended by Princess Hairstyles. Add a gold headband or hairpiece with a red star to complete the look.
Princess Leia from Star Wars
There's a lot to be said about a heroic brunette like Princess Leia. She is considered a fearless and powerful leader from the "Star Wars" movie franchise who always fought for justice. Her familial connections to Padmé Amidala, Anakin Skywalker, and Luke Skywalker made her character arc even more intriguing and complex, according to StarWars.com. The actress who played Leia was the late Carrie Fisher who passed away in 2016.
Entertainment Weekly reported that the character's likability among viewers was at an all-time high in May 2022. Since so many "Star Wars" fans think of Leia as a force to be reckoned with, who wouldn't want to rock a costume in her honor? Brunettes who dress up like Leia for Halloween are totally winning because she's a fictional figure who's garnered endless respect over the years. And no Princess Leia costume is complete without her iconic space buns hairstyle.
Velma from Scooby Doo
Velma Dinkley is a lovable character from the "Scooby Doo" cartoon franchise. According to IMDb, Linda Cardellini played Velma in the 2002 live-action film. The actress wore her brunette hair in a bowl cut, added some glasses, and dominated the role. Other brunette actresses who took on the role of Velma in the past include Jane Silvia, Lauren Kennedy, Hayley Kiyoko, and Sarah Gilman (via Movieweb). As reported by IndieWire, a new HBO Max series "Velma," featuring the voice of Mindy Kaling as the title character, is also in the works, which means now is as good a time as any to dress up like her for Halloween.
Style your brunette hair into a stick-straight bob (or a faux bob for those with longer locks), have a thick pair of glasses on deck, and add an orange sweater with a red pleated skirt to recreate the classic Velma look. The Velma costume is one that can be more demure and innocent or can look edgier and sexier depending on your individual taste.
Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family
There's something totally and awesomely creepy about Wednesday Addams from "The Addams Family." She is a mischievous teenager who stirs up trouble all the time and truly doesn't mind spooking her enemies if the moment arises. According to Nerdist, the Addams family is one of the most iconic fictional families in pop culture history compared to the likes of the Bradys from "The Brady Bunch" and the Tanners from "Full House." One of the reasons the Addams family stands out as much as it does is because of Wednesday's presence.
Screen Rant reveals that Wednesday has been played by a handful of talented brunettes over the years, including Lisa Loring, Christina Ricci, Nicole Fugere, and most recently, Jenna Ortega. One thing these starlets have in common? They all rocked Wednesday's long dark hair look. Since Wednesday is a character who owns her creepiness, she's the perfect Halloween costume idea for a brunette looking to spook people.
Anna Delvey
Ever since Netflix dropped a dramatized series about the life and escapades of con artist Anna Delvey (also known as Anna Sorokin), her name started trending like crazy. People everywhere were talking about Anna and the crimes she was able to get away with for so long. According to The Cut, Delvey posed as a fake heiress and used the wealth of others throughout New York City to fund her luxurious lifestyle. Everything was working out for her flawlessly until it all came crashing down in 2017 when she was arrested for fraud.
Anna currently has 1 million followers on Instagram who are still keeping up with her today. What would it take to dress up like the ultra-fabulous trickster for Halloween? First, brunette hair is a must. In most pictures people recognize Anna in, she's rocking long brown hair around her face. Next, you'll probably need one of the outfits she infamously modeled in the courtroom during her legal proceedings. A black dress worn with a pair of thin-framed glasses would be ideal.
Rey from Star Wars
Rey is a phenomenally strong character from the "Star Wars" movie franchise. According to IMDb, actress Daisy Ridley brought the character to life. Although the character is newer to longtime fans of the iconic sci-fi films, her almost-instant popularity was no surprise. According to Charactour, she is relatable because she uses her generous spirit to remain both strong and scrappy.
Brunette Rey keeps her hair pretty simple in every scene she's in. In fact, the majority of the time she is on film, it's pulled up and out of her face. It makes sense that she keeps her hair controlled since she must always be ready to go to battle. Some of the other items a Halloween-ready brunette will need in order to pull off the perfect Rey costume are neutral-colored clothes that could fit a desert locale and a few helpful weapons to accessorize with.
Elastigirl from The Incredibles
Fans of "The Incredibles" movie franchise know Elastigirl — or Mrs. Incredible — well. She is a superhero and the matriarch of her family who does everything in her power to take care of her husband and three kids (via Writeups.org). Elastigirl is wildly recognized for having a very curvaceous figure and even though her skin is covered from head to toe, her skintight costume leaves little to the imagination.
Elastigirl's superpower is speed and flexibility, according to Charactour. And while you don't have to be as flexible as the superhero mom to dress up as her for Halloween, having brown hair (whether real or a wig) is a must. If someone were to wear an Elastigirl costume with blonde hair or red hair, it simply wouldn't have the same effect. In fact, a bunch of people would probably question who you were supposed to be.
Catwoman from DC Comics
Comic book lovers have mixed opinions when it comes to an antihero like Catwoman. Some people love her and know that she is simply misunderstood with a good heart at the core. Other people totally hate her and think she's the worst with terrible intentions. Regardless of what you think of Catwoman, most people can agree that dressing up like her for Halloween would be a total win.
According to People, some of the noteworthy and famous brunettes to play the role of Catwoman include Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether, Eartha Kitt, Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway, and Zoë Kravitz. When you think of Catwoman and her black latex costume, you typically associate her with brunette hair, although she's certainly been played by blonde actresses, such as Michelle Pfeiffer, on film in the past.
Catwoman naturally embraces her sexuality and feminine energy (via Geeks). Take a cue from her book and exude your own confidence by dressing as her for Halloween.
Disney's Princess Belle
Princess Belle is one of the most enchanting Disney princesses in the entire lineup. She's the leading lady in "Beauty and the Beast" and is a fantastic costume choice for all the lovely brunettes in the world. According to Disney.com, Belle is the type of character who is courageous, kind, and beautiful. Dressing up like her for Halloween means dressing up like someone who does her best not to judge books by their covers.
Having brown hair is simply the starting point if you want to pull off this incredible Disney costume. You'll also need a yellow ball gown, yellow gloves, and a long-stemmed red rose. Styling your hair into a half-up, half-down 'do with curled ends will really sell the look.
Recently, Billboard revealed award-winning singer-songwriter H.E.R. has been cast to play the role of Belle in an upcoming ABC special. And yes, she's a brunette.
Arya Stark from Game of Thrones
Anyone who's seen episodes of HBO's "Game of Thrones" knows Arya Stark well. She is the youngest daughter born into the Stark family and was destined to use her sword to protect herself no matter what. With her short brown hair, she is one rad option for brunettes to choose from when it comes to Halloween costumes. Redheads can dress up like older sister Sansa Stark and blondes can dress up like Daenerys Targaryen, but brunettes are entitled to take on a character like Arya.
Charactour describes Arya as being an independent force with intelligence, strength, and toughness. If you're a brunette who's fiercely independent, this is a costume that will most assuredly resonate with you. Maisie Williams is the rockstar actress who played Arya for eight seasons of "Game of Thrones," according to IMDb. After the show ended, Williams started dying her hair in several different colors, but she will always be remembered fondly as brown-haired Arya.
Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games
If you've ever seen "The Hunger Games" movie franchise, then you're probably very familiar with the character of Katniss Everdeen, who was played by actress Jennifer Lawrence (via IMDb). A natural blonde, Lawrence dyed her hair brown to play the character and did an impressive job with the role.
Dressing up as a strong character like Katniss for Halloween is a whole entire vibe! In the franchise, Katniss was willing to step up to the plate to protect her sister from death, which means she's got a fire burning within her. According to Litcharts, the character is also resourceful, fiery, and compassionate. If you have ever felt the need to go out of your way to protect yourself or a loved one, you would easily be able to channel the energy of Katness.
Dressing up like Katniss for Halloween requires an all-black outfit, gloves, and, of course, a bow and arrow accessory. Add the brunette hair, and you have the perfect Hunger Games costume.
Mary Poppins
There's something adorably sweet about dressing up like Mary Poppins for Halloween. According to Britannica, the character was first introduced to the world in 1934 when an author named P.L. Travers wrote a children's book series with her fictional name as the title. Depth Insights describes her as representing magic you might discover in regular, everyday moments.
If you have brown hair and you're going for a super G-rated Halloween look, dressing up like Mary Poppins might be your best bet. Especially if you enjoy spending time with little ones because you have unlimited patience and a super soft heart, this costume would suit you well.
To pull off the perfect Mary Poppins costume, you'll want to tuck your brown hair underneath a trendy little top hat to start. From there, you can continue accessorizing with a cane, an old-fashioned black dress with a white collared shirt, and a pair of sensible heels. Don't forget an umbrella.