Halloween is one of the most creative and exciting holidays of the year. Conceptualising a costume—including hair, makeup and nails—allows you to briefly escape the responsibilities of everyday life. Although most people see Halloween as a time to become someone else, whoever one decides to dress as tells a great deal about their personality. Here are some of our favourite Halloween Queens to inspire you.

Chanel Oberlin

One of the latest characters to take residence in the Halloween Hall of Fame is the ultra-glam and (blank) Scream Queens character, Chanel Oberlin. Chanel—or more commonly known as Chanel no.1—is known for her sleek, pristinely styled hair and iconic pink and fluffy ensembles, as she is for her brutal comebacks and no-nonsense approach with her peers. Chanel always opts for extremely sleek and classic hairstyles; whether it’s worn down, pinned back, or in a ponytail, there’s always one thing each style has in common: long cascading curls. To achieve Chanel’s signature curls, we recommend using a curling wand/tong with a larger barrel, like the GHD Curve – Soft Curl Tong. The pink-obsessed character always has a flawless dewy complexion finished with a champagne coloured shimmering eye. For this, we recommend the Editor Palette – Aspen by Ciate London.

Harley Quinn

Since the debut of Suicide Squad in 2016, Harley Quinn has been a constant staple each spooky season. With the release of Birds of Prey earlier this year and a totally reinvented & more modern take on the character, Harley’s look has never been more fun to recreate. To achieve an eyeshadow look inspired by Harleys dual-coloured pigtails, you’ll need the brightest blue and hottest pink in your collection. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol 2 gives a dreamy result. Getting the opportunity to give some love to the more neglected shades in your palette is a huge plus for this creation. Liquid liner is essential to imitate her facial tattoos and a raspberry-red lipstick is essential. We simply adore Ruby Woo by Mac.

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The Wicked Witch of The West

‘I’ll get you, and your little dog too!”, is a line we all know and love; however, the green-faced icon is dropping in popularity as time goes by. The Wicked Witch is easily recognised and surprisingly easy to replicate, with a lot of room to put your own personalisation into the look. The 1939 representation of the character was made infamous while wearing a monochromatic green face. This look is easy to obtain with a green base, and with so many advances in makeup and techniques, you can really elevate this look to the next level. Contouring, highlighting, and beating your face will give this look and entirely new dimension and allow you to have some room to personalise the look.

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Storm

Although Storm isn’t necessarily linked directly with Halloween, the X-Men diva is a cinematic icon to women and gay guys—everywhere. It also gives a good second life to any pre-loved Catwoman costumes one might have lying around. Storm’s look is all about her ice-white hair, her piercing cheekbones and her frosted lightning bolts stemming from her eyes. Achieving these ice-coloured forks of lightening is super easy using NYX Profession Eyeshadow Base in White, and a fine makeup brush for precision when sketching the thread-like forks. Lip colour is optional—as Storm has had multiple looks throughout the years—but red or black seem to be the most commonly worn colours. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Pitch Black is the perfect shade of black and has an incredible texture.

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The Sanderson Sisters

The Hocus Pocus trio is a perfect choice for some Halloween inspiration. Whether you’re going solo or with your two best pals, the Sanderson Sisters are undoubtedly a staple of Halloween. With a red-head, a blonde and a brunette, you’re almost guaranteed to be able to go wig-free for these looks. The Sisters are easily recognised by their trademark hairstyles and multi-coloured cloaks. This costume allows you to take all the nostalgia from you ‘trick or treat’ days and to reinvent the nostalgic look. These looks are a combination of over-lined eyes, smoky eyeshadow, severely blushed cheeks and ruby coloured lipstick. Glossier’s Cloud Paint is the perfect cream blush to capture this flushed look. Simply build the product until you achieve the intensity you desire. Any eyeliner you have lying around will work perfectly to achieve that ’90s ‘smudged’ look that’s required.

Halloween may be a little different this year, and there is still a great deal of uncertainty when attempting to predict what’s around the corner. Having a night to escape and enjoy dressing up—while taking on the persona of a personal icon—is a great way to be creative and express yourself. Get inspired, be creative and have a jolly Halloween.

Words by Luke Nolan

Graphics by Frances Scott

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