Create a Little Mermaid Halloween Costume

A favorite Disney character of adults and children alike, Ariel is a popular choice for Halloween costumes. Creating a Little Mermaid Halloween costume is quite simple and can be done founding inexpensive items you find around the house or at a nearby thrift store.

Little Mermaid Halloween Costume: Hair
Aside from her flippers, the most noticeable aspect of Ariel's appearance is her long, red hair. When putting your Little Mermaid Halloween Costume together, you have a couple of options for what to do to recreate Ariel's signature locks.

Little Mermaid Costume Hair: Red Hairspray
First, if you already have long hair (and really, even if you don't), you can buy red hair spray and coat your hair, such as this kind of hairspray. The disadvantage to this is that the colored hair spray, though very temporary, has a tendency to make hair extremely stiff, which could get annoying.

Little Mermaid Costume Hair: Comb-In Color
Another option for turning your own hair red without dying it permanently is using a comb in color such as this one. The advantage to comb-in color is that it is generally not as stiff as colored hair spray. The disadvantage is that it takes longer to apply, and will require a number of color packets in order to color your entire head, which could get spendy.

Little Mermaid Costume Hair: Wig
Finally, the simplest, though more expensive option for recreating the Little Mermaid costume hair is with a wig. For adults, this red wig would perfectly match your Little Mermaid costume. For children, this red Little Mermaid costume wig will do the trick.

Little Mermaid Halloween Costume: Face
There is little you will need to do to recreate Ariel's face. Light makeup will be sufficient as far as your Little Mermaid costume makeup is concerned. Light pink lipgloss or lipstick as well as very subtle eye shadow and blush or bronze will go a long way with your Little Mermaid costume.

Little Mermaid Costume Face: Eyes
If you really want to go all out on your Little Mermaid costume, pay close attention to your eyes. First, some long fake eyelashes such as these would add a little pizzazz to your Little Mermaid costume. Also, a little extra addition to make your Little Mermaid costume really polished would be the addition of fake blue contact lenses.

Little Mermaid Halloween Costume: Body
The body is where your Little Mermaid costume will really take on true Ariel form. Fortunately, it is also relatively simple to recreate.

Little Mermaid Costume Body: The Top
Ariel is most recognized for her bikini top. But, you need not be stick thin or freeze your booty off to pull off this aspect of your Little Mermaid Costume. First, find a long sleeved nude-colored top. Next, scour the thrift stores or clearance racks for a solid-colored bikini top (purple or pink would be best, but anything will do, especially if it is sparkly). Place the bikini over the nude top and your Little Mermaid costume is almost done!

Little Mermaid Costume Body: The Bottom
Now, for the most important part of your Little Mermaid costume, the fins. You can do a few things to create the image of your Little Mermaid costume fins. First, if you can find a floor or ankle-length bias cut skirt such as this one with a flair at the bottom in aquamarine, green, or blue, that will work well. Or, purchase a long, straight knit skirt (again, in aquamarine, green or blue would be best), find a matching fabric, and create your own fins. This can be done by either placing the fins in the front of the skirt or hanging off the back, although be sure that your Little Mermaid costume fin doesn't drag on the ground or it'll get stepped on.

Little Mermaid Halloween Costume: The Finishing Touches
Once you have your Little Mermaid costume together, consider adding a few extra touches. Sequins and sparkles are great additions to your bikini top, skirt, and tail. Glitter hair spray, or simply just glitter would be a fun way to jazz up your Little Mermaid costume hair and makeup. A small tiara would also add a little something extra to your Little Mermaid costume. If you'd like to carry around props, you could grab a princess wand (though Ariel never used a wand, it's still a favorite among little girls), or even a plush Flounder like this one.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!