15 Spooky and Cute Halloween Hairstyles for Kids at School

School mornings move fast, and Halloween week makes them even busier. Halloween hairstyles for kids are a simple way to add some holiday spirit before the bus comes. Your child gets a festive look, and you don’t need a full costume.

Some schools limit masks or costumes during class. A fun hairstyle lets kids join the season without any trouble. Many of these looks can also last through recess and lunch.

This list has 15 ideas to pick from. A few are sweet and cute, with bows, buns, and soft braids. Others lean spooky, with spider webs, bats, and witchy touches.

You will find quick, easy styles that take just a few minutes. Some need more time, so try those on a weekend first. Many use simple things you likely have at home, like hair ties, bobby pins, and a comb.

1. Spiderweb Pigtail Braids With Orange Bows

Two tiny spiders sit right in the middle of their own webs. Each web is made from thin sections of hair held with small black elastics. Below the webs, the hair flows into two neat braids tied with bright orange bows.

To make it, part the hair down the middle. On each side, pull small strands out from a center point, like spokes on a wheel. Join nearby strands with mini elastics to form the web lines. Then braid the rest and tie it off.

It takes patience. Still, it holds well, since the elastics keep every piece in place through class and recess. The braids also stay off your child’s face.

Short on time? Make just one web on one side. You can also skip the spider accessories for a less spooky look.

2. Space Buns Topped With Mini Witch Hats

Tall buns are a smart pick for a school day. They keep hair up and away from your child’s face during class, lunch, and play. Add tiny witch hats, and the whole thing turns into a sweet Halloween look.

In the photo, two high buns sit on each side of a center part. A small black hat rests on top of each one. The hats have a sparkly purple band with an orange-gold square buckle. A few loose strands frame the face for a soft finish.

Start by parting the hair down the middle. Pull each side into a high ponytail. Twist the hair and wrap it into a bun, then pin it in place. Attach the mini hats with clips or bobby pins so they stay put.

No witch hats? Small black or orange bows work too.

3. Half-Up Top Knots With Bat Wing Accents  

Only the top section of hair goes up here. Gather two small parts near the front, one on each side of a center part. Tie each into a ponytail, then loop or twist it into a small, loose knot. Clip a bat bow over each knot.

The bows are black, with pointy bat wings poking out from the sides. Their shiny, textured finish stands out against the dark hair. Below the knots, the rest of the hair falls in soft waves.

Want it a bit cuter? Swap in purple or orange bows instead.

Busy school mornings call for styles like this one. It comes together fast, and most of the hair stays down, so it feels comfy all day. The knots also keep front pieces out of your child’s eyes during class.

4. Braid-Wrapped Pumpkin Buns With Green Stems

Round and smooth, each bun is shaped like a little pumpkin. A braid wraps around the base, with thin orange and black striped ribbon woven through it. A fuzzy green stem pokes out of the top. You can also spot a light green ribbon peeking out between the two buns.

Not a fan of stripes? Plain orange ribbon gives the same pumpkin feel.

For school, buns are hard to beat. They sit high and snug, so hair stays neat from the first bell to pickup.

Start with a center part and two high ponytails. Braid a small section from each one, adding ribbon as you go. Twist the rest into a bun and pin it. Wrap the braid around the base, tuck the end, and add the green stem.

5. Googly Eye Bubble Ponytails in Black and Orange

Braided styles can often last for days with care. That means less work on busy school mornings during Halloween week. You do the styling once, and your child can stay festive for several days.

In the photo, small braids run back from a center part and frame the face. Two high ponytails sit on top, each with an orange bow and a round black piece with googly eyes. Bright orange strands are mixed into the long ponytails. Black bands split them into puffy bubble sections.

Prefer a softer color? Purple or lime green also fits the season.

Braid the front sections first, then gather the rest into two high ponytails. Blend in colored braiding hair if you like. Add bands down each ponytail, spacing them out evenly. Gently pull each section to puff it up.

6. Skeleton Spine Ponytail With Spiral Wrap

Pull all the hair back into a smooth ponytail near the crown. Take a thin strand and wrap it around the ponytail, working your way down. Keep the wraps close together so they form a ridged line, then tie off the end.

That long wrapped tail becomes the spine of a tiny skeleton. A small toy skull sits at the top. Its arms stretch out to each side, and bony feet peek out at the very bottom. The result is silly and spooky.

Since everything is pulled back, hair stays out of the way during class and recess. Pin the toy pieces in place so they don’t slide off.

Too creepy for a little one? Try a small toy spider or bat at the top instead.

7. Loose Waves With White Streaks and Ghost Clips

Not every Halloween style needs braids or buns. Some school days call for something simple, and loose hair is about as easy as it gets. Your child can still feel festive without a long morning routine.

Long, soft waves fall past the shoulders here. Bright white streaks run through the brown hair near the face. Two little white ghost clips with black faces hold the front pieces back, one on each side.

To get a similar result, add waves with your usual curling method or braid damp hair overnight. For the white streaks, try temporary hair color or clip-in pieces. Finish with a pair of ghost clips.

Shorter hair works too. Skip the waves and just add the streaks and clips.

8. Candy Corn Colored Braids With a Braided Headband 

Bright orange and yellow strands twist together in every braid. One braid crosses the top of the head like a headband. More hang down on both sides, ending in long, loose tails of color. The front of the natural brown hair is swept up and back.

The bold shades likely come from colored braiding hair. Section the hair, then add a piece of orange and a piece of yellow to each part. Braid them in with the natural hair and tie off each end. Bring one braid over the top and pin it in place.

Want true candy corn colors? Work in a few white strands too.

Braids like these keep hair tidy from morning drop-off to the last bell. They are also a fun choice for a class party or a fall festival day at school.

9. Sectioned Pigtails With Skull Bows and Skeleton Charms

High pigtails are a solid pick for school. They keep hair off the neck and face, and the bands help hold everything in place through gym and recess.

Start with a center part and two high ponytails. Add a hair tie every inch or two down each one. Gently pull the hair between the ties so each section puffs out. Then attach a small bow at the base of each pigtail.

The details make it fun. Black bows with white skull centers sit at the top. White bands split each pigtail into round sections, and a tiny skeleton charm rests on each one.

Charms not handy? White bands and skull bows still carry the theme. For a softer feel, try orange bands instead.

10. Frankenstein Monster Stitch Part With Bolt Ponytails

Silver stitches run straight down the center part, just like on Frankenstein’s monster. Each ponytail sits high on the head, with a green hair tie that has a black zigzag line around it. A silver bolt shape pokes out just below. The ends fall in loose waves.

Kids get a spooky, easy-to-spot theme without a mask or face paint. Since the hair is pulled up, it also stays neat during class.

Short on time? Skip the waves and keep the ends straight.

Make a clean center part first. Pull each side into a high ponytail and wrap it with a green hair tie. Clip a bolt piece under each one. For the stitches, connect tiny strands from both sides of the part with thin silver elastics.

11. High Purple Spider Bun With Fuzzy Legs

Craft supplies can turn a simple bun into a big spider. Pull the hair into a high ponytail at the top of the head. Twist it into a round bun and pin it well. Slide a purple scrunchie around the base, then tuck bendy purple legs, like pipe cleaners, under each side.

No purple on hand? Black or orange legs work just as well.

In the photo, six googly eyes stare out from the front of the bun. Fuzzy legs bend down on both sides, so the whole thing looks like it could crawl away.

For school, a high bun keeps hair out of your child’s face all day. It also holds up well during recess and gym.

12. Twisted Tentacle Pigtails With Eyeball Ties

Green and purple tentacles curl down from two high pigtails. Each one has little round suction cups along its edge. Purple and lime green strands twist through the brown hair, and a big cartoon eyeball with tiny lashes sits at the base of each pigtail. Silly and creepy at once.

Part the hair down the middle and make two high ponytails. Split each one into two sections. Twist each section with colored strands and a tentacle-shaped piece, then secure the ends. Finish with an eyeball accessory on top.

The twists can help keep hair from tangling during the school day. Your child also gets a fun way to join in the holiday without a full costume.

Want something gentler? Skip the eyeballs and keep just the bright twists.

13. Button-Eye Doll Face Updo With a Witch Hat

Hair piled up high stays out of the way during class, lunch, and art time. A few curls left down at the neck keep it soft and comfy.

From the back, a little face seems to stare at you. Two big black buttons with purple X stitches look like doll eyes. Purple stitch marks curve under each one. Up top, a messy curly bun holds a small black witch hat with a pumpkin on it, plus a black and purple bow.

Too creepy? Leave off the buttons and keep the hat and bow.

To make it, gather most of the hair into a high, loose bun and pin it. Let a few curls hang at the nape. Pin the hat and bow onto the bun. Clip or pin the buttons lower down, then add the stitch lines with thin purple yarn.

14. Glittery Part Twin Knots With Purple and Green Streaks

Start with a center part and gather just the top section of hair. Braid a thin piece on one side, then twist each half into a small knot. Tie one with a purple ribbon and the other with a green hair tie. Add sparkle along the part with hair-safe glitter or tiny gems.

Most of the hair stays down, so the morning goes fast. The knots keep front pieces off your child’s face during class.

Bright green and purple streaks run through the long, wavy hair, one color on each side. Clip-in pieces or temporary color can create them. Tiny sparkles dot the scalp near the part. Witchy, but sweet.

Glitter not allowed at school? Leave it off and let the streaks and ribbon carry the theme.

15. Braided Cat Ears on Long Wavy Hair

Pointy little ears made from braids sit on top of the head. Each one bends into a triangle shape and is tied with a dark band. The rest of the hair hangs down in soft waves. Whisker face paint adds a cute final touch, though it’s optional.

Short on time? Skip the face paint and let the braided ears do the work.

Part the hair down the middle and take a small section on each side near the front. Braid each one. Bend the braid into an ear-shaped loop and tie the end back at the base. To help the ears stand up, some people braid in a thin pipe cleaner.

The ears are small and light, so they stay comfy at a desk all day. They’re also more cute than scary, which suits younger kids well.

Adapting Halloween Hairstyles for Short, Curly, or Thick Hair 

Not every child has long, straight hair like the kids in the photos. Most of these Halloween hairstyles for kids can still work with a few simple changes.

Short Hair

Short hair can’t always hold a bun or a long braid, so focus on the top and front. Mini buns or small knots often work on chin-length hair if you use tiny elastics. Clips do a lot of the work here. Ghost clips, bat bows, or a mini witch hat can turn a plain cut into a Halloween look in seconds.

A glittery part or a stitched-looking part also works well, since each one only needs a clean line. For very short cuts, try a headband with a spooky accessory attached, or add a few colored streaks with temporary color.

Curly Hair

Curls already have shape and volume, which helps with styles like the spider bun or witch hat buns. Style the hair while it’s damp or freshly moisturized so it’s easier to handle and less likely to frizz. Fingers and wide-tooth combs usually cause less breakage than a fine brush.

Skip styles that need smooth, sleek sections, like the tightly wrapped skeleton ponytail. Instead, go for puffs, high buns, and loose high ponytails with accessories pinned on top. Braids and twists, like the tentacle pigtails, also hold well on curly hair and may last more than a day.

Thick Hair

Thick hair holds shapes nicely but can feel heavy. Split big ponytails into two or more sections so they sit lighter on the scalp. Stronger elastics and larger bobby pins help keep buns secure through recess.

For bubble pigtails, space the bands a little wider so each section has room to puff. Large buns may need a few extra pins crossed in an X shape for better grip.

A Note on Comfort

Whatever the hair type, make sure nothing pulls too tight. If your child says a style hurts, loosen it right away. Some kids have sensitive skin, so test glitter or temporary color on a small area first. Also check your school’s rules on hair color and glitter before the big day.