Splitting the Ghouls Among Your Friends
Monster High works so well as a group costume because every character owns a colour. The trick is using that on purpose. When I help a group plan, I start with the hair, since the wig is the most expensive piece and the one people recognise first.
- Start with the original core: Frankie, Draculaura, Clawdeen, Cleo, Lagoona and Ghoulia. Even people who barely know the dolls tend to recognise this set when it stands together.
- Let each person take the character whose hair colour they already have, or are happy to wear. Someone with dark hair can do Cleo or Draculaura with clip-in streaks instead of a full wig.
- Watch for colour clashes. Clawdeen, Spectra, Twyla and Elissabat are all purple, and two of them side by side blur into one in photos. Split them up or pick only one.
- Agree roughly on shoe height. The dolls wear platforms, but one person in towering boots next to four in sneakers looks uneven in group shots.
- Share one small element: the same skull-and-bow pin, matching school notebooks or a coordinated bag. It ties the group together without anyone matching outfits.
For a pair, I like contrast more than matching: Frankie with Draculaura, or Cleo with Deuce. For bigger groups, add the guys or the later characters once the core is covered.
1. Draculaura Costume With Pink Vampire Dress
Draculaura is sweet pink layered over classic vampire black, and getting that balance right is the whole job. Start with a fitted pink top and a black skirt trimmed in lace or tulle, then add patterned tights, pink platform boots and a short black cape with a high collar. Her long black wig with bold pink streaks carries the character, worn in high pigtails or sleek and straight. I'd paint the tiny heart under one eye last, after powder, so it stays crisp. Soft pink shadow, winged liner and small fangs finish the face, and a bat-shaped purse is the prop. Keep the cape short and the boots comfortable if you'll be on your feet all evening.
2. Frankie Stein Costume With Plaid Dress
Frankie's look is school uniform with electric punk details, which makes it one of the easiest to build from separates. Wear a black-and-blue plaid dress, or a white collared shirt with a plaid skirt and a fitted vest. A striped or polka-dot tie, a studded belt and black leggings with stitch patterns add the edge. Platform sneakers or lace-up ankle boots keep it practical. Her black-and-white hair is the real signal: a two-tone wig, or white clip-in extensions in dark hair. A light mint wash on the face suggests her colouring without body paint. Draw a few clean stitch lines at the cheek and neck in cosmetic eyeliner, and add lightning-bolt earrings and safety-pin jewellery.
3. Clawdeen Wolf Costume With Purple Faux Fur
Clawdeen is purple, animal print and a lot of confidence. Begin with a purple mini dress, or a purple top tucked into a black skirt, then layer a cropped faux-fur jacket and a gold belt at the waist. Patterned tights and purple platform boots keep the colour running head to toe. The ears are where her costume usually fails, because a headband sitting on top of a big wavy wig slides backward. I pin the ears through the wig into the cap underneath. Bronze shadow, sharp liner and glossy lips do the face, and costume claws, hoops and a crescent-shaped bag finish her. A faux-fur collar is the cooler choice if a full jacket is too warm indoors.
4. Cleo De Nile Costume With Gold Wrap Dress
Cleo's royal look runs on metallic gold and rich turquoise. Choose a fitted turquoise dress with gold trim, or a blue top with a gold skirt. Wrap soft metallic fabric around one arm and one leg to reference her mummy wraps; a stretch lamé or knit holds its spiral far better than ribbon, which slips down by the second hour. Add gold sandals or block-heel ankle boots, stacked bracelets and a jeweled belt. A long black wig with blunt bangs and a few gold strands, dramatic blue shadow and extended black liner set her face. Keep the jewellery to one finish of gold so she looks regal rather than overloaded.
5. Lagoona Blue Costume With Ocean Dress
Lagoona is sporty and sunny, so her costume should look easy to move in. Start with a blue or turquoise dress with sheer sleeves, shimmery fabric or a scale print, and add pink through a belt, cropped jacket or leggings. Blue platform sandals or lace-up sneakers suit her better than heels. A long blonde wig with blue streaks in loose waves is her hair. Small scale shapes near the temples, drawn with cosmetic makeup through a piece of fishnet, give a neat texture in seconds. Fin-shaped ear pieces, a shell necklace and a fish-shaped bag explain the theme. Bring a lightweight jacket if you'll be outdoors in this bright, thin outfit.
6. Ghoulia Yelps Costume With Red Glasses
Ghoulia is the comfortable one in the group, built from everyday pieces. Wear a striped long-sleeve shirt under a red graphic tank, with fitted blue pants or a denim skirt and black-and-white sneakers. Her long blue wig, red cat-eye glasses and dotted headband are what people recognise. I'd buy the glasses first, since everything else can be improvised. Pale gray makeup, cool blue shadow and neat stitch marks at the jaw give the zombie side. Carry a stack of schoolbooks or a retro comic, and add red earrings and a studded belt. None of it is expensive or hard to wear for a full night.
7. Abbey Bominable Costume With Faux Fur Dress
Abbey is icy colours and plush textures. Choose a fitted blue, lavender or white dress with a bit of sparkle, then add a cropped white faux-fur vest, patterned leggings and tall white boots with fluffy cuffs. Her long white wig with pastel streaks is the focal point. White synthetic wigs show every tangle and every speck of makeup, so I keep this one in a hairnet until the last minute. Glittery silver shadow, frosted highlighter and cool pink lipstick suit her, with small fangs and crystal earrings. Iridescent fabric or adhesive gems can lift a thrifted dress. In a hot room, keep the fur to the collar and boot cuffs only.
8. Spectra Vondergeist Costume With Purple Sheer Dress
Spectra's ghostly style is elegant rather than frightening. Begin with a layered purple dress with sheer sleeves, floating chiffon or an uneven hem, then add a silver chain belt and matching chain jewellery for her signature chains. Purple ankle boots or metallic flats keep it wearable. A long violet wig in soft waves is the strongest feature. Lavender shadow, pearly highlighter and a dark berry lip give the airy ghost face. Carry a translucent purse or a toy microphone as a nod to her reporting. Chiffon hems catch under shoes, so I hem the front panel a little shorter than the back.
9. Toralei Stripe Costume With Orange Cat Details
Toralei is punk fashion with bold orange cat features. Wear an orange-and-black striped top with black pants, a pleated skirt or shorts over opaque tights, then a cropped moto jacket and black lace-up boots. Her orange bob wig with dark stripes is the distinctive piece. Striping a plain orange wig with a black fabric marker works, but go lightly, because heavy marker leaves the fibres stiff. Copper shadow, sharp winged liner and a small painted nose with whisker dots do the face. Add a striped tail short enough not to step on, fingerless gloves, a choker and an orange crossbody bag.
10. Twyla Costume With Purple Spiderweb Dress
Twyla is a quiet costume, all soft purple with a few shadow details. Choose a lavender blouse with a layered black-and-purple skirt, or a dress printed with delicate webs, plus striped tights and low purple ankle boots. A mint-and-purple wig in loose waves gives her pastel hair. Smoky lavender eyes and a pale pink lip are enough. If you want her shadow markings, draw soft gray swirls on the arms with a skin-safe cosmetic pencil and dust them with powder so they don't smear on your sleeves. A key-shaped necklace and a satchel finish her. She's the right pick for anyone in the group who doesn't want heavy makeup or big accessories.
11. Venus McFlytrap Costume With Green Vine Outfit
Venus is bright, punky and full of texture. Start with a pink-and-green mini dress, or a green top with a vine-print skirt, then add black fishnet tights, a cropped vest and pink platform boots. Her long pink wig with one side braided or pinned flat gives the dramatic asymmetry; I braid that side tightly against the head and pin it before the wig goes on. Green shadow and painted leaf shapes near the eyes carry the botanical theme. Wrap artificial vines around a belt or wrist cuff instead of sewing them across the outfit, and keep them off the floor. Leaf earrings and a small green bag finish it.
12. Rochelle Goyle Costume With Gray Stone Dress
Rochelle mixes soft Parisian fashion with stone-coloured monster details. Wear a gray fitted dress with black-and-white stripes, with pink through a belt, scarf or cropped jacket. Patterned tights and gray ankle boots complete the base. A long pink-and-blue wig with straight bangs or loose curls is her hair. Soft gray makeup with a few fine lines suggests polished stone. The wings are the essential gargoyle detail, and I'd always make them from craft foam rather than anything rigid, because hard wings catch on every doorframe and every person you pass. Pointed ear pieces and a small sketchbook finish her.
13. Catty Noir Costume With Pink Performance Dress
Catty Noir is a pop star, so she wants deep black, vivid pink and plenty of sparkle. Pick a fitted black dress with a pink skirt, layered tulle or glittered stars. Pink platform heels or sturdy ankle boots, depending on how long you'll stand. Black cat ears and a long hot-pink wig in a high ponytail are the identity. Shimmery pink shadow, winged liner and a small painted cat nose do the face, and a toy microphone is the prop. Use fabric that already has glitter woven or printed in. Loose glitter travels onto every sofa, car seat and friend you hug, and you'll still be finding it in December.
14. Operetta Costume With Rockabilly Dress
Operetta is vintage rockabilly with musical details. Begin with a fitted red-and-black dress printed with musical notes, piano keys or polka dots, then a cropped jacket, a wide belt and black pumps or saddle shoes. A bright red wig set in rolled bangs and a high ponytail is the hardest part; I pin the roll around a small foam roller the night before so it holds its shape. Cat-eye liner, red lipstick and a music-note design near one eye give her face. A thin eye mask is fine for photos but shouldn't block your view while walking. A guitar-shaped purse and red hoops finish her.
15. Howleen Wolf Costume With Orange Hoodie
Howleen is the casual werewolf, a good pick for school-friendly events. Wear an orange hoodie or vest over a black top, with a purple skirt or shorts over opaque leggings, high-top sneakers and a colourful belt. A short orange curly wig gives her signature shape. Curly synthetic wigs flatten in a backpack, so carry hers on a balled-up scarf and fluff it with your fingers, never a brush. Wolf ears on a matching headband, warm brown shading around the eyes, a small painted nose and a few whisker dots do the rest. Hoops, bracelets and a short removable tail finish it. Most of it comes from a thrift shop or an athletic drawer.
16. C.A. Cupid Costume With Pink Winged Dress
C.A. Cupid pairs delicate pink with a bit of monster-school edge. Choose a pale pink dress with a structured black bodice or harness-style trim, then patterned tights and pink or black platform shoes. A white-and-pink wig in short curls gives the doll-like hair. Rosy shadow, graphic black liner and small hearts on the cheeks do the face. Her skeletal wings are the main feature; foam and fabric keep them light enough to wear all night, while card wings bend after an hour of mingling. Add a heart headband, black gloves and a heart-shaped purse. A love-letter prop in place of the bow and arrow keeps her family-friendly.
17. Robecca Steam Costume With Blue Steampunk Dress
Robecca is rich blue, copper and steam-age texture. Wear a fitted blue dress with a flared skirt, a brown corset-style belt and metallic leggings, with copper or brown lace-up boots. A long navy wig topped with decorative goggles is her hair. Bronze shadow and thin painted lines suggest mechanical panels. For the gears and cuffs, I'd skip real metal, which drags on fabric and gets cold against skin. Foam gears painted with metallic craft paint look the same from a few feet away and let you dance, sit and walk in comfort. A small clockwork-style bag finishes her.
18. Honey Swamp Costume With Green Bayou Dress
Honey Swamp has a vintage silhouette in bayou colours. Choose a green fit-and-flare dress with a textured or scale-like print, with purple through the belt, necklace, gloves or shoes, and green platform sandals or low ankle boots. Her voluminous teal wig in rounded curls is the statement, and it's warm, so pick breathable fabrics for the dress. Green shadow, defined liner and a glossy purple lip do the face. A small camera is the right prop for her, and it gives your hands something natural to do in photos. Floral clips and vine earrings add detail.
19. Viperine Gorgon Costume With Pink Snake Hair
Viperine is the makeup artist of the group, so her costume carries pink snakes and beauty-kit accessories. Start with a black-and-pink dress with a scale pattern, or a snakeskin-print skirt, then a fitted vest and tall pink boots. A pink wig with lightweight rubber snakes makes the defining hairstyle. I clip each snake in rather than gluing it, because glue melts synthetic fibres and the snakes can then never come out. Dramatic magenta shadow and graphic liner suit her, with pink-tinted glasses, a makeup-brush belt and a small cosmetic case. A few well-placed snakes look better and feel lighter than covering every strand.
20. Elissabat Costume With Purple Vampire Gown
Elissabat is a movie-star vampire, dramatic but still easy to wear. Choose a dark purple dress with black lace panels, puffed sleeves or a layered skirt, with opaque tights and black platform ankle boots. A long black wig with deep purple streaks, styled sleek around the face, is the key piece. Plum shadow, black winged liner and a dark berry lip, plus small fangs, give the vampire face. A high collar and bat earrings finish her, with a tiny film clapper as the prop. Real velvet is heavy and warm under lights, so I'd choose a stretch velvet-look knit for a long night.
21. Scarah Screams Costume With Green Mod Dress
Scarah is the group's quick costume, because her look depends on shape and colour rather than props. Wear a bright green mod dress, straight or slightly flared, with black tights and knee-high black boots for the sixties line. A long black wig with blunt bangs is her hair. A light green wash on the face, mint shadow and strong black liner do the rest, with a neutral lip or soft green gloss. Green on skin goes patchy over dry areas, so I put moisturiser on first and let it sink in. A small black handbag and round earrings finish her, and she's easy to wear in a crowded room.
22. Amanita Nightshade Costume With Flower Dress
Amanita is bold and naturally dramatic, a plant monster in purple and green. Choose a fitted purple dress with green leaf panels, or a purple top over a green petal-shaped skirt, then vine-pattern tights and purple platform shoes. A tall purple-and-green wig decorated with fabric petals makes her flower shape. Emerald shadow, a violet lip and small leaf designs at the temples carry the theme. I'd never use live plants: they wilt within hours, drop sap on fabric and can irritate skin. Artificial petals on hair clips and removable cuffs come apart cleanly, so the pieces can be reused after Halloween.
23. Gigi Grant Costume With Blue Genie Outfit
Gigi is jewel tones and flowing fabric. Wear a blue fitted top with a lightweight patterned vest and harem-style pants, a gold waist sash and pointed flats. A long pink-and-orange wig in a high ponytail gives the fantasy finish. Blue and gold shadow with winged liner do the face. Add a headpiece, gold cuffs and a lantern-shaped purse that opens easily. Have the pant hems taken up so they clear the floor; harem pants that drag get stepped on at the heel and tear. Keep the gold to one finish, and avoid mixing bright yellow gold with bronze and silver.
24. River Styxx Costume With Pastel Hooded Dress
River Styxx is a playful pastel ghost. Start with a black dress with a blue, purple and pink layered skirt, then a cropped pastel cape or a sleeveless hooded vest. Striped tights and black platform boots anchor the colour. A long rainbow wig in soft waves sits under the hood. Hoods push wig bangs into your eyes, so I pin the front of the hood to the wig cap at both temples. Lavender shadow and pearly highlighter give the supernatural glow. A small lantern or translucent bag is a safe prop, and a cape that stays well clear of the ground keeps her easy to wear.
25. Vandala Doubloons Costume With Pirate Ghost Dress
Vandala is part pirate, part floating ghost. Wear a teal asymmetrical dress over striped leggings, with a purple sash at the waist and brown fold-over-cuff ankle boots. A long aqua wig under a small decorative tricorn hat is her head. Pale blue makeup, smoky purple shadow and glossy lips give the ghost side. A hook-shaped bag handle references her design without looking like a real prop, and gold hoops, chains and a treasure-map purse finish her. Cut the hem uneven but keep the longest point above the ankle. A ragged hem that touches the floor gets stepped on within the first hour.
26. Bonita Femur Costume With Moth Wings
Bonita is a moth-and-skeleton hybrid in soft colours. Begin with a black fitted top and a layered pink-and-yellow skirt, printed leggings with clean bone lines and black ankle boots. A long pink wig with dark roots or contrast streaks is her hair, with pale makeup, rosy shadow and fine black lines around the eyes. The moth wings make her, and they need to be narrower than your shoulders indoors. I make them from soft fabric over a light wire edge, which keeps their shape but folds if someone brushes past. Fuzzy antennae and a bone-print clutch finish her.
27. Avea Trotter Costume With Equestrian Outfit
Avea is a centaur, and nobody wants to wear a full horse body to a party, so I'd adapt her into an equestrian look. Choose a blue fitted top with a purple cropped jacket and a black high-low skirt, plus opaque leggings and sturdy knee-high boots. A long blue wig with purple streaks and pointed ear pieces does the monster styling, with violet shadow and a plum lip. A removable tail, fingerless gloves and horseshoe jewellery add the horse details, and a structured riding-style hat replaces a complicated headpiece. You keep her colours and can still sit, walk and dance all night.
28. Sirena Von Boo Costume With Mermaid Ghost Dress
Sirena is a mermaid with a translucent ghost finish. Wear a fitted aqua dress that flares below the knee, or a shimmery top with a layered turquoise maxi skirt, with silver flats or low hidden heels. A long lavender-and-blue wig in soft waves gives the underwater feel. Iridescent shadow, pearly highlight and glossy lilac lips do the face. Add fin earrings, a shell necklace and a sheer cape falling behind the shoulders. A true fishtail hem stops you climbing stairs, so I'd choose a stretchy skirt that gives the same shape but lets you take a full step.
29. Wydowna Spider Costume With Red Web Dress
Wydowna's whole trick is the extra arms. Choose a fitted red dress with black web patterns, then attach three pairs of soft fabric sleeves along the side seams. I stuff them only lightly and tack each lower one to the next, so they hang together instead of flapping into your plate at the snack table. Black tights and red ankle boots finish the base. A long red-and-black wig with straight bangs is her hair. Crimson shadow, sharp liner and small eye shapes drawn above the brows replace prosthetics. A web choker and spider earrings finish the look while keeping it family-friendly.
30. Iris Clops Costume With Green School Outfit
Iris Clops is bright and easy, built from school-inspired pieces. Wear a green printed dress, or a green sweater with a purple pleated skirt, plus striped knee socks and purple loafers or lace-up shoes. A short green wig with side-swept bangs is her hair. You can paint one large stylised eye across closed lids for photos, but take it off or keep it small for walking; round glasses are the easier everyday version. A purple backpack and a monster-eye purse finish her. Keep the prints simple so the green and the eye stay the focus.
31. Catrine DeMew Costume With Paris Artist Dress
Catrine is the Paris artist, so her costume should look polished and a little bohemian. Start with a purple or lavender dress with a fitted bodice and flared skirt, black tights and purple ankle boots. A long white wig with pink and purple streaks and small white cat ears gives her head. Lavender shadow, winged liner and a painted cat nose do the face. A sketchbook, clean brushes and a purple beret make the artist side clear. Leave the wet paint at home. Coloured pencils in a small crossbody bag say the same thing and won't spill on a borrowed sofa.
32. Mouscedes King Costume With Gold Party Dress
Mouscedes is metallic gold, bright pink and royal accessories. Choose a gold fit-and-flare dress with a textured skirt or a cheese-style cutout pattern over an opaque lining, then pink tights and gold ankle boots. A long pink wig with rounded mouse ears and a tiny gold crown makes the head. I pin the crown slightly forward of the ears so the two don't fight for the same spot. Gold shadow and pink blush suit her, with a thin removable tail and stacked bracelets. Fully line any cutouts so she stays suitable for family events and school parties.
33. Elle Eedee Costume With Silver Robot Dress
Elle Eedee is a robot DJ, sleek and electronic. Wear a silver mini dress over black leggings, or a metallic top with a structured skirt, plus blue platform sneakers or silver ankle boots. A long blue wig with straight bangs gives her vivid synthetic hair. Silver shadow, blue graphic liner and small circuit lines near the temples do the face. A light-up belt is fun, but tuck the battery pack into a pocket where you can reach the switch, and pick LEDs that stay cool. Silver headphones or a toy mixing-console purse are the prop. Reflective trim gives a similar shine with no electronics at all.
34. Luna Mothews Costume With Yellow Moth Dress
Luna Mothews is a stage singer with theatrical moth details, all bold yellow, black and blue. Choose a yellow-and-black dress with a fitted top and a layered skirt, blue tights and black platform shoes. A short blue wig, or blue hair set into a smooth vintage shape, is her hair. Golden shadow, dramatic black liner and a bright red or berry lip suit a performer. Soft antennae and fabric moth wings with yellow spots carry the theme. I attach the wings so they stand upright from the shoulder blades; that way the pattern shows in photos without the wings spreading into narrow hallways.
35. Astranova Costume With Purple Space Dress
Astranova is for anyone in the group who loves galaxy colours and metal. Wear a purple fitted dress with holographic panels or a structured metallic skirt, silver leggings and purple platform boots. A long blue-and-purple wig styled smooth gives the futuristic shape. Violet shadow, silver highlighter and tiny stars at the temples do the face. Iridescent fabric catches the light better than loose glitter and makes no mess. The geometric headpiece should be light and fixed with hidden combs at the front and back, because a headpiece held only at the front tips backward the first time you laugh.
36. Kala Mer’ri Costume With Colorful Sea Dress
Kala Mer'ri is the kraken, so her costume is saturated colour and swirling sea patterns. Choose a purple fitted dress with turquoise and orange panels and layer an uneven ruffled skirt over it, with opaque teal tights and purple ankle boots. A long multicoloured wig with blue, pink and orange strands is her hair. Aqua shadow, purple liner and a few suction-cup dots painted on the forearms with cosmetic makeup carry the theme. The tentacles are best as short fabric shapes hanging from the belt; a full lower-body piece looks great standing still and trips you on the first step.
37. Nefera De Nile Costume With Blue Royal Dress
Nefera is Cleo's older sister, so her look is more mature and more regal. Wear a fitted cobalt dress with a high neck and gold wrap details, with sheer black tights and gold heels or ankle boots. A long blue wig with black streaks is the essential piece. Rich blue shadow, precise black liner and gold highlight give her face. The jewellery is where she gets heavy, so I make the collar necklace and cuffs from painted foam or hollow plastic. A wide collar in real metal pulls on the neck all night, and foam looks the same in photos.
38. Deuce Gorgon Costume With Green Snake Hair
Deuce is casual streetwear with unmistakable snake hair. Wear a black sleeveless jacket over a red or green graphic shirt, dark pants and high-top sneakers. A short green wig with several soft rubber snakes is the costume. Fix each snake on its own with a clip or a few stitches through the wig base, which spreads the weight and stops the whole thing sliding. His green sunglasses can sit up on the forehead so your eyes show in photos. Subtle green shading at the temples, a scale-print cuff, a studded belt and a messenger bag finish him.
39. Clawd Wolf Costume With Varsity Jacket
Clawd is the sporty werewolf, comfortable enough for a full evening. Wear a purple or red varsity jacket over a graphic T-shirt, with dark jeans and high-tops. A short brown wig, matching wolf ears and drawn sideburns establish him. I draw the sideburns with a brown brow pencil in short upward flicks, which looks like hair instead of a stripe. Warm contour at the cheekbones and a little brown shading near the nose finish the face, with costume fangs and a removable tail. A school pennant or a football-shaped bag beats real sports gear in a crowd.
40. Heath Burns Costume With Flame Hair
Heath turns a plain school outfit into a fire monster. Wear a red jacket over a yellow shirt, with black or charcoal pants and red sneakers. His signature hair is an orange wig fading to yellow at the tips. You can fade a plain orange wig yourself by dabbing the ends with yellow acrylic paint thinned with water, then letting it dry fully before brushing. Orange shadow, gold highlight and small flame shapes near one temple do the face. Layered felt flames attached to the wig give a safe flame shape; skip real flames and fragile light effects. He rounds out any group of classmates well, because his colours sit apart from everyone else's.
Bright Synthetic Wigs Through a Long Night
Nearly every costume here leans on a bright wig, and most party wigs are inexpensive synthetic fibre. They look great out of the bag and tired by ten o'clock unless you treat them a little carefully.
- Wear a wig cap and pin the wig to it at the temples and the nape. A wig held only by its own elastic slides back every time you turn your head.
- Brush with a wide-tooth comb, starting at the ends and working up. Brushing from the root pulls the fibres out and makes the wig shed.
- The nape tangles first, because the collar rubs it all night. A light mist of fabric softener diluted in water before you leave calms that friction.
- Keep standard synthetic wigs away from curling irons and straighteners, which melt the fibre in seconds. If you want to restyle with heat, buy one labelled heat-resistant.
- Streaks are easier as clip-in pieces than as a second colour dyed in. Clip them under the top layer so the clips don't show.
Afterward, rinse the wig in cool water with a little shampoo, let it drip dry on a head form or an upturned bottle, and it'll be ready for next year.
Mint, Gray and Blue Skin Without a Ruined Collar
Frankie, Ghoulia, Lagoona and Scarah all have coloured skin. I'm a stylist, not a special-effects artist, so my approach is everyday makeup used sensibly rather than full body paint.
- Patch-test the colour on the inside of your wrist the day before. Blues and greens can tint pale skin for a while, so test removal too.
- Moisturise first and let it sink in. Coloured makeup grabs onto dry patches and goes blotchy.
- Apply thin layers with a damp sponge, pressing rather than wiping, and stop at the jawline. A coloured turtleneck, gloves and tights handle the neck and hands much better than paint.
- Set everything with translucent powder, then press a second layer over the edges where a collar or hairline will touch.
- Take it off with an oil-based cleanser or balm before washing, so you aren't scrubbing at the skin.
Get the Hair Right and the Ghoul Follows
Every Monster High character comes down to a colour palette, a hairstyle, a little makeup and one or two accessories. You don't need a store-bought replica. A thrifted dress, comfortable shoes, the right wig and a handmade prop say the character just as clearly, and they let you control the fit and the budget. Keep wings, tails and headpieces light so the costume lasts the night, and use skin-safe cosmetics and secure fastenings. A main ghoul, a ghostly classmate or one of the mansters all work alone, and they work even better when your friends dress as the rest of the school.
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