Every year my teenage son and I plan his DIY Halloween costume. He has little sisters, so he usually accompanies them while trick-or-treating, but he always secretly loves dressing up. From pirates to superheroes, he enjoyed costumes as a child and still gets excited about one big outfit each year. Last year he wore a Three-Headed Ghost costume, which I’m sharing here.
We document our costume-making process carefully, and I post the tutorial here the following year so others can try it before Halloween. In past years he’s dressed as Gandalf the White — complete with a shower curtain rod staff and a custom-made hat — and as Pennywise the clown, which became something of a legend in our small town. This post contains affiliate links.
When he wore the Pennywise costume, kids on our street were genuinely spooked and didn’t realize it was him until much later. Costumes like that stick with people, and that’s part of the fun.
How to make a Three-Headed Ghost Costume
This costume is surprisingly easy and works well as a last-minute idea you can assemble the day before Halloween.
Supplies
- White flat sheet (queen or full size)
- Two styrofoam heads
- 1″ x 12″ wooden dowel rods
- Black Sharpie
- White face makeup
- Black eyeshadow
- Black eyeliner
- Black lipstick
- Cheap makeup brushes
- Plastic manacle chain
Directions
How to make Creepy Styrofoam Heads
Use a black Sharpie to sketch facial features on the styrofoam heads, then blend black eyeshadow to add depth and a creepy, shadowed look. Keep the design simple—dark eyes, hollow cheeks, and a crooked mouth read well from a distance.
Hot-glue a wooden dowel into the base of each styrofoam head so they can be held or positioned easily. The dowels make the heads lightweight and portable.
How to make the Ghost
Drape the large white sheet over your child and trim any excess so the sheet isn’t too long. Keep the trimmed pieces for later steps.
Mark where the face opening should go with a pencil, then cut a circular hole large enough for your child’s face to see and breathe comfortably.
With your child holding their hands up, determine where to position the two styrofoam heads. Place them so they sit naturally above your child’s shoulders or slightly to the side, mirroring the height and angle of your child’s head. If the child prefers not to hold the dowels, arranging the heads higher will help them “float” instead of drooping upside down.
Cut an upside-down T-shaped slit in each section of the sheet where a head will sit, so the styrofoam head can wear the sheet like a hood and remain stable.
Use strips from the trimmed sheet to wrap around the base of each styrofoam head and tie them in place. Secure those strips with hot glue to keep the heads attached to the sheet. Make sure the glue is applied on the inside so it won’t be visible from the outside.
How to make a Ghost Face
Paint your child’s face white using face-safe makeup. Add black eyeshadow around the eye sockets and along the cheek hollows to create a sunken, eerie appearance. Use black eyeliner to define the eyes and draw any additional details—crosses, stitched lips, or smudged lines—to suit the look. Finish with black lipstick or a drawn X across the mouth for extra creepiness.
No advanced makeup skills are required—block in white, darken around the eyes and cheeks with black shadow, and have fun experimenting with shapes using eyeliner.
Putting the 3-Headed Ghost together
Place the sheet over your child and adjust the face opening so it sits comfortably. If the hood shifts, secure it with a small strip tied behind the neck or a couple of safety pins inside the sheet to hold the hood in place.
Use the plastic manacle chain as a decorative necklace or collar around the top of the sheet to add a spooky, finished detail. This helps tie the look together and gives the costume a little extra character.
With the makeup done and the heads secured, the Three-Headed Ghost is ready to hit the sidewalk and collect candy.
More Halloween Costume Ideas
If you want more DIY inspiration, try these other homemade costume ideas: a headless woman, a last-minute hot air balloon box costume, an easy Pennywise clown outfit, a crazy cat lady character, or a Medusa snake headband tutorial. These projects range from quick and simple to a bit more elaborate, so there’s something for every skill level.