19 Goth Hair Dos to Wow Your Coven

After you put together a showstopping goth outfit, a gothic hairstyle is the ultimate finishing touch. Having a few goth hair dos to choose from will expand your palette of looks and complement all your black lace and velvet. Whether your vibe is dreamy and romantic or spiked up and edgy, this collection of easy hairstyles will unlock your next level of dark style.

Blue Waves

young woman with a blue bob haircut and glasses

This wavy blue bob is funky yet polished, perfect for work, school, and all your everyday hauntings. Try slicking it back with gel on goth club nights for an industrial-inspired look, and keep your waves happy with plenty of leave-in conditioner ($8).

Messy Updo

a woman with curly hair with her hair pinned up on the top of her head

A halo of tumbling curls will make you look like a heroine in a gothic novel. Get that fleeing across the misty moors look with a messy bun, or by pinning your hair up with bobby pins. A good curl cream ($16) will help keep your curls defined and nourished no matter what perils the plot throws your way.

Hair Extension Heaven

a woman with neon green hair extensions braided into her hair making a devil horns sign and sticking her tongue out

Want a bold streak of color without committing to a long-term relationship with bleach and hair dye? Then hair extensions ($7) are the answer. They’re a fun, inexpensive way to experiment with bright hair colors. You can clip them into your hair or add them to braids like the neon green ones pictured here. (Colorful hair extensions are also a must for a cybergoth hairstyle.)

Hair chalk ($9) is another option for adding a splash of temporary color for events like Pride and music festivals–but beware, it is extremely messy and liable to transfer to clothes. Just another reason to wear black!

Pastel Goth Paradise

a woman with curly pink hair and neon pink eyebrows with a blue choker

If you want to cause a sensation, try cotton candy pink locks. Cute and dainty with an undeniable edge, pale pink hair is the crowning glory of a pastel goth outfit. A jar of Manic Panic ($14) for touch-ups will keep your pink hair looking fresh and vibrant.

Tousled Waves

a woman in a black t-shirt with wavy hair standing in front of a flower bush

These windswept curls are perfect for a night flight with your favorite witches. Use curl enhancing mousse ($8) to define your natural waves, or add a bit of curl to straight hair with silicone Spoolies ($31) that won’t damage your hair like high-heat styling tools and traditional foam rollers can. Don’t forget to use a diffuser when you dry your hair to help those wild waves maintain their shape.

Loose Chignon Bun

A formal hairstyle that doesn’t skimp on elegance, a loose chignon will make you look like a dark priestess no matter how much of a rush you’re in. Just twist up a braid at the back of your head into a coil or zig zag and secure it in place with some bobby pins ($4).

A french twist is a classic spin on this look, effortlessly polished with a vintage vibe. First, gather up your hair like you would for a low ponytail and twist it up into a rope, lift it up and press it to the back of your head, and tuck the ends underneath, then pin it in place with bobby pins. Check out this tutorial to help you get the hang of this timeless updo.

Casual Chic

a woman with purple hair and sunglasses sitting in front of a concrete wall

Low-maintenance hairstyles are something we can all get behind. For those days when you don’t feel like an elaborate updo or teased-out roots, this carefree look can be achieved with a few spritzes of leave-in conditioner ($15) to tame frizz. As you can see, purple balayage adds a pop of vibrant color to an otherwise ordinary hairstyle.

Ribbons and Bows

a girl with half black half white hair and bangs with black bows in her hair wearing a gray hoodie

A black bow ($6) adds a cute touch to a goth outfit that is perfect for a gothic lolita hairstyle. Even if you don’t want to go all-out with a frilly mini skirt, you can still experiment with this adorable look by pinning a strand of hair on each side back with a satin bow hair clip.

Another fun way to wear bows is at the end of braided pigtails for a look that would make Wednesday Addams proud.

Short Easy Hairstyle

black and white photo of a woman with short tousled 80s hair

For a look that is almost as effortless to pull off as it is to achieve, just tousle your short wavy hair upside down with a styling product like TIGI Bedhead Manipulator ($12) and let nature take its course. Even if you just rolled out of bed–or arose from your coffin–you’ll be in trad goth heaven.

Spindly Braids & Bangs

a young woman with braids on her forehead with her hair up wearing an ornate crystal necklace

These braids create a spectral look that would be perfect for a witchy gothic aesthetic. For a similar look inspired by the famous Lydia Deetz hairstyle from Beetlejuice, separate your bangs into chunks and use hair gel ($10) or styling wax to twist them into spikes. Wear your hair up to emphasize your spiky bangs/braids.

Straight to Hell

woman with straight balayage hair looking up with her wrist to her forehead

You’ll probably need a straightener ($22) to achieve this level of poker-straight perfection, but the effect is so worth it. An argan oil product like Pura D’Or Argan Oil Heat Shield ($15) will tame frizz and flyaways and keep your hair looking sleek and shiny. A curtain of super straight hair is oh-so-eerie, so give this look a try if you have natural curls or waves and you want to change up your look.

Flipped Bob

woman with a black bob and black lipstick wearing a black choker and silver necklaces

This y2k throwback is so cute and perky you’ll want to wear it for years to come. To get the flipped ends effect, use a straightener on your bobbed hair and twist it upward when you reach the ends, holding for a few seconds to make it stay. Finish with high-hold hairspray ($12) to keep your flip firmly in place.

Bewitching Backcombing

black and white photo of a woman with teased up dark hair with a scarf around her head and dark eyeliner

If you love the 80s trad goth aesthetic, you’ll need to master the arcane art of backcombing. First, curl or style your hair as usual, then flip your hair upside-down and spray with hairspray, grab individual sections, and use a teasing brush ($8) or comb to push back the hair toward the roots to create volume. Get the hang of this technique, and your hair will easily become a cloud of darkness. Check out this tutorial to learn how, and visit our guide to 80s goth hairstyles for women for more inspiration.

Edgy Undercut

woman posing in a leather jacket with long curly hair and one side of her head shaved

If you want to keep your hair long while still projecting a gothic aura, an undercut could be the answer. Whether you shave a single section on the side or the whole bottom half of your hair, you’ll need some clippers ($40) to keep your look maintained. Undercuts are great because you can choose whether or not to show off the shaved section based on how you style your hair.

Ethereal Accessories

woman posing outside in a city with a crown of pearls and long red hair

For an instant way to refresh your look, accessories like headpieces with pearls or black crystals ($13) and flower crowns will give you a dark cottagecore, witchy, or fairycore aesthetic. If you’re attending a music festival, gothic meetup, or your local Renaissance Faire, these beautiful hair accessories will make you feel like a queen of the night.

High Pigtails

A cute goth hairstyle is just a couple of hair ties ($4) away! Divide your hair into two vertical sections and pull it up into two even pigtails, or create two small pigtails with the majority of your hair worn down for a half-up half-down look. Don’t forget to leave some tendrils in the front for a killer 90s throwback.

Space Buns

For an alternate take on a goth updo, twist up your pigtails and pin them in place to create fun space buns. A bit of spray gel ($14) will keep your hair looking sleek and prevent flyaways. You can also add some goth hair clips like these ones with cute pink skulls ($7) for a touch of whimsy.

Asymmetrical Haircut

woman with short black hair with one side shaved and one side teased up wearing a black leather jacket with the collar flipped up

Nothing says gothic chic like an asymmetrical haircut, such as this short black haircut with plenty of attitude. For added drama, tease up the longer side with hairspray for even more contrast. This is the perfect gender neutral haircut for a trad goth aesthetic. It can be sleek and modern or totally 80s, depending on how you style it.

Sea Witch Waves

woman with wavy pink hair and black lipstick

Just because you’re goth, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a little fun in the sun now and then. Get these beachtastic waves with a matte look by adding some texturizing sea salt spray ($10) to straight or wavy hair and twisting the strands or wrapping them around your fingers. (You can also put wet hair in braids before you go to bed for beautiful waves the next day.)

These super wearable, easy goth hairstyles will help you refresh your look and create new styles to complement every outfit in your closet. Injecting some variety into your repertoire of go-to goth hair dos will elevate your style and add some fabulousness to your dark and gloomy aesthetic. From casual everyday looks to formal occasions, use these hair ideas to unleash your dark imagination.

For even more examples of how to do goth hair, check out our list of bright hair color ideas for goths.