Edward Scissorhands Costume
Craft a hauntingly beautiful, gothic masterpiece with scissor hands and leather straps.
Edward Scissorhands is a beloved Tim Burton character known for his gentle soul and sharp, scissor-tipped hands. This costume is a popular choice for Halloween and cosplay due to its striking gothic aesthetic, combining dark leather textures with pale, scarred makeup. The look consists of a strapped black bodysuit, wild messy hair, and his signature metallic scissor gloves.
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Time
- ~120 min
- Budget
- $40–150
Try it on
See yourself as Edward Scissorhands
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 Edward Scissorhands costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Edward Scissorhands costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Black turtleneck and pants
A tight-fitting, solid black base layer to mimic his sleek bodysuit.
DIY: Use any tight black long-sleeve shirt and black jeans.
Faux leather belts
Multiple black belts with silver buckles to wrap around the torso, arms, and legs.
DIY: Cut strips of black felt or vinyl and glue silver cardboard buckles to them.
Scissor gloves
Black gloves with long, silver-painted foam or plastic blades attached to the fingers.
DIY: Glue silver-painted foam board blades to cheap black knit gloves.
Messy black wig
A wild, heavily teased, and hairsprayed black synthetic wig.
DIY: Tease your own hair with a comb and heavy-hold hairspray if it is long and dark enough.
Rigid collodion
A clear liquid scar material that puckers the skin as it dries to create realistic scars.
DIY: Draw scars using a pink lip liner and cover with a thin layer of liquid latex.
Pale face makeup
White or extremely pale cream foundation paired with dark purple and brown eyeshadows.
DIY: Mix a tiny bit of white face paint into your regular light foundation.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Edward Scissorhands costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the tight black turtleneck and matching black pants to create a solid dark base.
- 2
Wrap multiple black faux leather belts around your chest, waist, and limbs, securing them with silver buckles.
- 3
Apply rigid collodion to your face to create indented, realistic-looking scars, letting it dry completely.
- 4
Use pale foundation to cover your face and neck, then blend dark purple and brown eyeshadow around your eyes and lips.
- 5
Put on the messy black wig, teasing it with hairspray to achieve a wild, windblown look.
- 6
Carefully slide on the scissor gloves last to avoid damaging your makeup or costume.
Makeup & hair
Apply a pale foundation base, then use dark purple and brown eyeshadow around the eyes and lips to look hollow and gaunt. Use rigid collodion for realistic scars, and style a messy black wig with heavy teasing and hairspray.
Edward Scissorhands for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair with Kim Boggs in her classic white off-the-shoulder dress.
- group
- Create a Tim Burton group with Beetlejuice, Lydia Deetz, and Sally.
- kids
- Use soft felt or silver cardboard for the scissor blades to keep it safe and lightweight.
- Plus size
- Opt for a stretchy black bodysuit or black scrubs as a base, layering adjustable belts over it.
- pet
- A black pet sweater adorned with soft felt 'scissors' on the front paws.
More ways people search for this costume
The most-searched variations of “Edward Scissorhands costume”, and how this look adapts to each.
Edward scissorhands costume couple
- Pair with Kim Boggs in her classic white off-the-shoulder dress.
Tips
- Wear a straw or use a cup with a lid, as the scissor gloves make it impossible to hold regular drinks.
- Have a friend help you put on the scissor gloves last, and make sure you can easily slip them off when needed.
- Use lightweight foam board or plastic rulers painted silver for the blades to keep your hands from getting fatigued.
- Set your pale makeup with a translucent powder to prevent smudging throughout the night.
Edward Scissorhands costume FAQ
- How do you make the scissor hands safely?
- Cut blade shapes out of lightweight foam board or heavy cardboard, paint them silver, and hot glue them to a pair of black gloves.
- What is the best way to do the facial scars?
- Apply rigid collodion directly to the skin; as it dries, it puckers the skin to create realistic, indented scars.
- Can you eat or drink while wearing this costume?
- It is highly recommended to use a straw for drinks and have a friend assist you, or design the gloves so they can be easily slipped off.
Did you know? The iconic costume was designed by Colleen Atwood, who used a mix of leather, vinyl, and even a sofa fabric to create Edward's complex bodysuit.