So many things go into dressing up like a zombie for Halloween — there’s the scary Halloween masks, the unruly hair and most importantly, the costume makeup. But that doesn’t mean making your own zombie costume has to be complicated.
Dressing up as a zombie is super easy and can be a lot of fun when you get creative with it, because with zombie costumes, there’s no right or wrong. Below you’ll find zombie-themed homemade costume ideas you can recreate at the very last minute for children and adults. Also included are famous zombie characters you can emulate from your favorite TV shows (like The Walking Dead).
DIY Classic Zombie Costume
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This YouTuber shows how she made a complete zombie outfit in under seven minutes. She breaks down her process, explaining how a craft knife and some food coloring can go a long way in creating a horrifying ensemble. Some comments also suggested using tea bags to stain your t-shirt, which is pretty smart (just know that the stains likely won’t come out).
DIY Zombie Costume Makeup
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If you’re just starting with face paint and character makeup, you can purchase costume makeup kits that include the supplementary items and instructions you need to create basic costume makeup looks, complete with skin prosthetics, hair color and brushes.
You can also attempt painting your own face with bright colors, the way this creator did here. It does take some skill and a lot of patience, but the results will be so worth it.
What You’ll Need for Zombie Costume Makeup
DIY Zombie Costume for Girls
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For kids, you want the costume and makeup light and not to scary. For girls, any clothing that’s dark, faded and patterned will work. Bonus: You can make this a fun activity for you and your daughter to do together by tie-dyeing a white dress or shirt.
For her hair, tease it up and make it as unruly as you’d like.
What You’ll Need for a Girl’s Zombie Costume
DIY Zombie Costume for Boys
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Boys can also go the tie-dye route, or they can wear pajamas they might already have in their closet. Use white or green face paint to cover their entire face, plus gray and red marks for a more zombie effect. Just make sure to not get paint too close to the eyes, face, or mouth.
What You’ll Need for a Boy’s Zombie Costume
DIY Zombie Costume for Teens
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Older kids can start experimenting with more intricate makeup and hair dye, if desired. Many temporary hair colors rinse out within just a few washes and won’t cause as much damage as more permanent dyes. For the costume, tatter and stain a worn dress with food coloring or fabric dye. Fun accessory ideas include a faded rose hair clip, a rag doll, and maybe some fake fangs.
What You’ll Need for a Teen’s Zombie Costume
DIY Zombie Costume for Couples
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Dressing up as a zombie with your significant other can be fun too, and if you add a baby doll to the mix, you can arrive to the party as a zombie family!
Skull dresses and shirts are an easy way to dress up if you already have a face mask or makeup in play. You can also opt for zombie t-shirts that look realistically horrifying, or fabric dye clothing you no longer care about.
What You’ll Need for a Woman’s Zombie Costume
What You’ll Need for a Man’s Zombie Costume
DIY Disney’s Zombies Costume
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The characters in the Disney hit movie Zombies are great sources to draw inspiration from when recreating zombie costumes for kids. Here, actress Kylee Russell wears a faded denim jacket, key earrings, and green hair dye. Check Disney’s Youtube for the full tutorial.
What You’ll Need for Disney’s “Zombies” Costume
DIY The Walking Dead Zombie Costume
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We love this rendition of the show’s very own Carl Grimes, who can be emulated by both men and women. All you need is a black and white flannel, a dark cowboy’s hat and some bandage wrap. The tricky part is detailing the eye, but you can buy wound kits to make the process easier.
What You’ll Need for “The Walking Dead” Zombie Costume
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