Hair Bow Costumes

Pick the Bow Shape First

Every look on this page turns on the bow, so choose the shape before you shop for anything else. A pom-pom tie reads as a cheerleader, an oversized flat clip reads as a cartoon kid, and a ribbon or headband bow reads as a storybook heroine.

Size is the second decision. A giant neon clip is the whole point of a pop-star look, while a small ribbon bow only works when the rest of the outfit is quiet, so match the bow to the character art rather than to whatever is on sale.

Clip Bows on Real Hair and on Wigs

The same clip behaves differently on your own hair and on a wig. A large flat clip sits against real hair with a little backcomb underneath, while a smooth wig fiber lets it slide, so pin the clip through a small section or back it with a hidden bobby pin.

Milly wears yellow hair bow clips with an orange beret and a badge sash, so the clips have to sit high enough to read under the hat. If your character wears a hat as well, place the bow at the temple and tip the hat back.

Ribbon Bows on Costume Wigs

Wig listings in these guides come with the bow already styled into the photo, so check whether you are buying a wig, a hat or a separate ribbon. Wendy Darling sets a sky blue hair bow on a brown wig over a blue night gown, so the ribbon has to be tied at the crown to sit where the character art puts it.

A loose ribbon slides on shiny fiber, so tie it over a small elastic or a hidden barrette and trim the tails to a length you have checked in a mirror before the party.

Cheer and Schoolgirl Bow Looks

Cheer looks put a bow to each side of the head, and the tie has to survive a night of movement. Taylor Swift’s cheer kit pairs pom-poms with a bow on a blonde ponytail wig, so an alligator clip backed with a bobby pin holds better than a tied ribbon.

For a school uniform build, keep the bow and the outfit in one palette. A black bow with a pleated mini skirt, or a purple braided bow with a jumper and a pearl necklace, reads as uniform rather than as a bright accessory that wandered into the costume.

Bows for Group Themes and Puns

The bow is one of the cheapest ways to hold a group theme together, because one bulk pack of clips covers everyone. A squad can share a white cheer bow and split on the uniform colors, while a set of Fireside Girls changes the sash and the beret instead.

The pun builds lean on the bow for the joke. Alice in Chains sets a black bow on a blue dress and a pinafore beside a chunky gold chain, so the costume reads from one line of description.

Jon Snow White runs the same trick in the other direction, adding a red bow to a princess dress and a black fur cloak, and once those two pieces are on the rest of the kit can stay plain.