Dexter Costume
Bring the boy genius to life with this classic cartoon look.
Dress up as Cartoon Network's favorite boy genius with this Dexter's Laboratory costume guide. Perfect for nostalgic 90s kids, this iconic look features a signature lab coat, purple gloves, and thick black glasses. Note that this guide is for the animated character Dexter, not the live-action character Dexter Morgan.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~20 min
- Budget
- $25–60
Try it on
See yourself as Dexter
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
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What you need for a Dexter costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Dexter costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
White lab coat
A short, button-up white lab coat with a high collar.
DIY: Use an oversized white button-down shirt with the collar popped.
Thick black glasses
Square, thick-rimmed black glasses with no lenses.
DIY: Pop the lenses out of cheap black plastic sunglasses.
Purple rubber gloves
Bright purple household dishwashing gloves that extend up the forearm.
Black pants
Standard straight-leg black trousers or jeans.
DIY: Use any plain black pants or leggings from your closet.
Black boots
Chunky black boots or high-top shoes.
DIY: Any solid black sneakers or boots will work.
Orange hair spray
Temporary bright orange hair color spray.
DIY: Wear a short, styled orange cosplay wig instead.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Dexter costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black pants and chunky black boots.
- 2
Slip on the white lab coat and button it completely to the top collar.
- 3
Pull on the bright purple rubber gloves, tucking the sleeves of the lab coat securely inside them.
- 4
Put on the thick-rimmed black square glasses.
- 5
Style your hair forward and upward into a sharp wedge shape using strong-hold gel, then spray it with temporary orange hair color.
Makeup & hair
Style your hair into a sharp, upward wedge shape using strong-hold gel and spray it with bright orange temporary hair color. Alternatively, use a short, styled orange cosplay wig.
Dexter for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Dee Dee in a pink tutu, pink ballet slippers, and blonde pigtails.
- group
- Add Dee Dee, Mandark in his blue-and-yellow outfit, and Mom and Dad in their classic 1950s attire.
- kids
- An adorable and easy costume for kids using a child-sized lab coat and purple dishwashing gloves.
- Plus size
- Look for a loose-fitting, comfortable lab coat with an adjustable waist or button-up front.
- pet
- Dress your pet dog or monkey as Monkey, Dexter's superhero pet, with a small red cape.
Tips
- Keep the lab coat buttoned all the way up to maintain Dexter's cartoon silhouette.
- Opt for textured purple dishwashing gloves rather than thin medical gloves for a more cartoon-accurate look.
- If using temporary orange hair spray, apply it outdoors to avoid staining indoor surfaces.
Dexter costume FAQ
- What kind of gloves does Dexter wear?
- Dexter wears bright purple rubber gloves, which can easily be replicated using standard purple household dishwashing gloves.
- How do I style Dexter's hair?
- Use strong-hold hair gel or wax to style your hair forward and upward into a wedge shape, then coat it with temporary orange hair color spray.
- Is this costume suitable for cold weather?
- Yes, you can easily wear warm layers, like a black long-sleeve shirt and thermal pants, underneath the lab coat and trousers.
Did you know? Dexter's Laboratory was the very first Cartoon Cartoon to be greenlit by Cartoon Network, debuting in 1996.