Scary Homemade Halloween Costume Ideas for Adults

There are lots of homemade scary costumes for Halloween that are easy and cheap to make. You only have to use your creativity and ingenuity to come up with a killer scary costume that will win costume contests and scare the life out of your friends at Halloween parties. The trick to keeping these Halloween costume cheap and easy is to look for materials in thrift shops, online comparison shopping sites, Halloween costume shops and to find clever shortcuts for putting the scary Halloween costume together. For best results, get started shopping well in advance of Halloween, especially if you will be buying materials for your scary Halloween costume online.

Scary Halloween Costume Idea for Adults: Zombie

To start creating a scary zombie Halloween costume, go through your closet to find some cheap, old clothes you no longer plan to wear. If you can't find any, look at your local thrift store for some cheap clothes. Cut and rip the clothes up, rub them with dirt on the outside, soak them in hot tea or coffee, smear them with red acrylic paint, then dab on some paints in fungus-like colors of green and brown.

Buy some liquid latex at your local Halloween costume shop (make sure you're not allergic to latex first). Gently dab a light layer of the latex over the skin on your face. You can do your hands as well when your face is done. Allow the latex to dry, then apply an additional coat if you like. Allow the latex to wrinkle and peel it off in a few spots. Then apply any makeup you like in rotting colors like green, brown and black. Also consider making a few zombie wounds in red.

Scary Halloween Costume Idea for Adults: Headless Horseman

Get a used white shirt and black coat that are much too large for you. If you're an average height, a big and tall shirt and jacket should do fine. Get a simple black cape, preferably with a stiff collar. Build the headless horseman's shoulders and neck out of cardboard, wetting the cardboard down to bend it into the right shape. Use duct tape to hold the shoulder assembly together. When the cardboard is dry, mix some wallpaper paste and tear strips of newspaper to make the neck out of paper mache. Paint the neck with a flesh-colored acrylic paint, then when that is dry, apply some blood-red paint to the top surface where the neck appears to have been severed.

Put shoulder assembly on your own shoulders, and make sure your head shows through. If not, cut the cardboard down until there's enough room for your head. Put on the oversized shirt and coat, and allow your head to be outside the clothing. Wear black pants and shoes. Put your hands through the sleeves of the shirt and coat; cut holes in them if the sleeves are too high. Hold your real head in your hands as if it were detached from your body.

Scary Halloween Costume Idea for Adults: Joker from The Dark Knight

Get a dark gray button down shirt. Then find a green vest and a dark purple jacket and pants. If you can't find purple pants, wear black. Consider adapting a women's purple jacket if you can't find a men's version. Add a dark gray tie and black shoes to complete the clothing portion of the Dark Knight Joker Halloween costume. Get some green hair spray or dye for your hair. Also get some makeup in colors of white, red, black and brown from your local Halloween costume store. Apply a base of white makeup, then apply the other colors so that the pattern matches the makeup of the Joker in the movie, The Dark Knight. Read this Joker makeup tutorial for a detailed description of how to apply the makeup so it looks authentic.

Scary Halloween Costume Idea for Adults: Grim Reaper

Buy a cheap, full-length black hooded robe. Then buy a cheap plastic scythe prop from your local Halloween costume shop or online. If you get a scythe that requires some assembly, you may get a better one for a lower price. Get some white and black makeup while you're shopping. Apply a white base of makeup to your entire face. Then when that is dry, apply black makeup around your eyes and nose to mimic the appearance of a skull. Paint dark lines around your mouth to look like teeth and a the spaces between the upper and lower jaw. Work in some black shading over the brow and the hollows of your cheeks. Use a makeup brush or sponge to achieve fine, sharp lines and gradual shading with the makeup.

Scary Halloween Costume Idea for Adults: Jason from Friday the 13th

Get a cheap hockey mask from your local Halloween costume shop or buy it online. A costume hockey mask will probably be much cheaper than a real mask. For added effect, stain or paint the mask tan or light brown. Get some plain black pants, a black sweatshirt and bulky black shoes. Get a cheap brown cloth jacket and soil, stain and rip it until it looks very shabby. Get a cheap plastic machete while you're at the costume shop. Alternatively, you could make this costume even scarier by wielding a plastic prop chainsaw or axe. Apply some red acrylic craft paint to the cutting edge of your weapon of choice.

These tips should help you put together a heart-stopping scary Halloween costume this holiday season. To find more great Halloween costume ideas that will make you the life of the party, read Sexy Halloween Costumes You Can Make Yourself, Hot Adult Halloween Costumes You Can Make Yourself and Top Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas.