How to Make a Medusa Halloween Costume

Fashion a snake covered head piece to perfect your Medusa costume.

Medusa is sometimes portrayed as a monstrous woman with the lower body of a serpent and other times as a beautiful woman, but one feature is universal. Medusa always is pictured with a head full of live snakes in place of hair. While you can add your own artistic spin to clothing worn with your Medusa costume, you must create the snake hairpiece in order to be recognized as this frightening creature.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic headband
• Plastic snakes
• 20 gauge craft wire
• Scissors
• Long gown

Instructions

1. Purchase a plastic headband that is at least one-inch thick at the top of the headband. Try to find a headband that matches your natural hair color or the color you plan to dye your hair while wearing the Medusa costume.

2. Purchase plastic snakes to decorate the headband. You may be able to find a package of plastic snakes at a dollar store or toy store.

3. Cut two six-inch lengths of 20-gauge craft wire with scissors.

4. Arrange the middle of one of the snakes on top of the headband. Keep in mind how the snake will be arranged when the headband is in your hair when placing it.

5. Place one of the lengths of wire underneath the headband and bring the ends of the wire up and over the headband and the snake. Twist the ends together on top of the snake to firmly secure the snake to the headband.

6. Repeat step five with the second length of wire to form an X with the two pieces of wire on the underside of the headband. This will prevent the snake from moving around or coming loose from the headband.

7. Continue to attach snakes to the headband until you are satisfied with the headpiece of your Medusa costume. Try the headband on after every two to three snakes to ensure that it is not too heavy.

8. Wear a long gown with your Medusa headpiece to complete the costume.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have long hair, style your hair into several long braids. Lay a rubber snake on top of each braid with the head of the snake facing the ground. Secure the snake along the braid using several clear elastic hair bands.

Resources

• Joann: Craft Wire