Curly hair is a costume you cannot fake as well as you can wear it. A lot of great characters are defined by their curls, and this is the shortcut if yours are the real thing.
These 11 curly-haired characters range from Brave and Grease to Doctor Who and Ghostbusters. Each pick lists the key pieces, and the button under it opens the full guide with a shopping list. Also try costumes for women with short hair or costumes for women with glasses.
11 iconic costume ideas for women with curly hair
1. Princess Merida
A long emerald-green gown, with a bow and arrow. Big auburn curls are the whole personality.
What you will need:
- Medieval princess dress, curly auburn wig, bow and arrow set
2. Little Orphan Annie
A frayed pink plaid dress with a green apron, a red knit cardigan and brown leather shoes. Curly red hair is the signature.
What you will need:
- Pink plaid shirt dress, green apron, red cardigan, green socks, leather shoes
3. Bellatrix Lestrange
A black gothic dress with a corset, mid-calf boots and fingerless gloves. Wild, long black curls and a wand are the finish.
What you will need:
- Black gothic dress, black corset, mid-calf boots, black curly wig, wand
4. Miss Frizzle
A space-themed dress, red heels and spaceship earrings, with a green lizard toy. Curly orange hair makes it Ms. Frizzle.
What you will need:
- Space-themed dress, red heels, spaceship earrings, curly orange wig, lizard toy
5. Carrie Bradshaw
A pink tank top with a tulle skirt and open-toe pumps, with a clutch. Big curly blond hair sets the New York look.
What you will need:
- Pink tank top, tulle skirt, open-toe pumps, clutch, curly wig
6. Baby Houseman
A peach tank top, denim shorts and white sneakers with a brown belt. Wear the curls and do not put Baby in a corner.
What you will need:
- Peach tank top, denim shorts, brown belt, white sneakers, brown curly wig
7. River Song
A white leather jacket, brown leggings and knee-high boots with a brown belt. Big golden curls make the time-traveling archaeologist.
What you will need:
- White leather jacket, brown leggings, brown knee-high boots, brown waist belt
8. Phoebe Spengler
A gray button-down and gray overalls, red high-top sneakers and round glasses, with your own Proton Pack. A short curly wig completes it.
What you will need:
- Gray button-down, gray overalls, red high-top sneakers, round glasses, curly wig, Proton Pack
9. Sandy Olsson
A black off-shoulder top, a leather jacket and black leggings with red heels. Big permed curls are the finish for the Grease finale.
What you will need:
- Black off-shoulder top, black leather jacket, black leggings, red high heels
10. Celia Facilier
A colorful blazer and matching pants over a white shirt with a colorful neckline, topped with a hat. Big curly hair makes the look.
What you will need:
- Colorful blazer, matching pants, white shirt, top hat, green ribbon
11. Jane Fonda Workout
High-waist gray-purple leggings, an 80s one-piece and blue leg warmers with a skinny belt. A big permed head of curls says 80s.
What you will need:
- High-waisted leggings, 80s one-piece, blue leg warmers, skinny belt, headband
Let the curls lead
Curls make these characters recognizable before you say a word. Browse the full list below for more curly-hair costume ideas.
