Nosferatu Costume
Embrace the classic, chilling silhouette of cinema's original vampire count.
Count Orlok from the classic silent film Nosferatu is one of the most terrifying and iconic figures in horror history. Perfect for classic horror fans, this costume relies on a stark, elongated silhouette, pale makeup, and grotesque features. The look consists of a long, dark Victorian coat, a bald head, pointed ears, and spindly, claw-like fingers.
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Time
- ~90 min
- Budget
- $60–150
Try it on
See yourself as Nosferatu
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Nosferatu costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Nosferatu costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Long black or charcoal Victorian coat
A double-breasted wool or heavy fabric trench coat or frock coat with a high, stiff collar.
DIY: Use a long black trench coat and pin the collar up so it stands stiffly against the neck.
Dark grey or black trousers
Simple, slim-fit dress pants or trousers in a dark, muted tone.
DIY: Any dark, tight-fitting black jeans or slacks will work.
Black leather boots
Simple, dark leather boots or high-top dress shoes.
DIY: Any plain black dress shoes or boots you already own.
Bald cap
A latex or glatzan bald cap to hide your hair and create Orlok's signature hairless head.
Pointed prosthetic ears
Latex or silicone pointed ear tips that fit over your natural ears to mimic Orlok's bat-like features.
Long prosthetic fingernails
Elongated, spindly, claw-like fake nails or finger extensions.
DIY: Cut thin strips of plastic or cardstock, paint them a dirty yellow-grey, and glue them to your nails.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Nosferatu costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the dark trousers and black leather boots.
- 2
Secure your natural hair flat against your head using hair gel or a wig cap, then apply the latex bald cap according to package instructions, blending the edges with liquid latex.
- 3
Apply the pointed prosthetic ear tips using spirit gum, blending the seams with liquid latex or makeup.
- 4
Apply pale, deathly makeup to your face, bald cap, and ears, adding dark shadows around the eyes and drawing thin, pointed eyebrows.
- 5
Put on the high-collared Victorian frock coat, buttoning it completely to the top to create a rigid, elongated silhouette.
- 6
Attach the long, claw-like prosthetic fingernails to your fingers using skin-safe adhesive.
- 7
Hunch your shoulders slightly and keep your fingers splayed to complete the eerie, classic posture.
Makeup & hair
Use pale white or light grey greasepaint over your entire face, bald cap, and neck. Use dark purple and grey eyeshadow deep around the eye sockets and under the eyes, draw thin, high-arched black eyebrows, and paint two sharp, prominent front incisor teeth instead of standard canine fangs.
Nosferatu for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair Count Orlok with Ellen Hutter wearing a flowing, high-collared white Victorian nightgown.
- group
- Create a classic horror movie group with Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, and the Mummy.
- kids
- A simplified version with a black trench coat, pale face paint, and a bald cap.
- Plus size
- A loose-fitting black duster coat or cape provides a similar dramatic, dark silhouette.
- pet
- A small dog wearing a black velvet cape with a stiff, stand-up collar.
Tips
- Keep your shoulders hunched and your neck extended forward when posing for photos to capture the iconic silhouette.
- The bald cap and prosthetics can get warm; apply them in a cool room and carry extra spirit gum for touch-ups.
- Since the long fingernails make it hard to use your hands, apply them last after you are fully dressed and have used the restroom.
Nosferatu costume FAQ
- How do I make my teeth look like Nosferatu?
- Unlike modern vampires with long canine fangs, Count Orlok has two sharp, rat-like front incisors. Use specialized dental plastic or custom-fit front fangs to get this specific look.
- What kind of coat does Nosferatu wear?
- He wears a long, double-breasted, high-collared Victorian frock coat or duster in a dark charcoal, dark brown, or black heavy wool fabric.
- Is a bald cap necessary for this costume?
- Yes, Count Orlok's completely bald, domed head is one of his most defining features. A well-blended latex bald cap is essential for an authentic look.
Did you know? The 1922 film Nosferatu was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, which led to a lawsuit by Stoker's estate that ordered all copies of the film to be destroyed; luckily, a few prints survived.