Samara Morgan Costume
Seven days. Recreate the iconic, terrifying well-dwelling ghost from The Ring.
Samara Morgan is the vengeful, waterlogged ghost from the horror classic The Ring. A popular choice for Halloween and horror conventions, this costume is instantly recognizable by its simple yet deeply unsettling aesthetic. The look consists of a dirty, water-damaged white nightgown, long black hair covering the face, and pale, decayed skin.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $25–70
Try it on
See yourself as Samara Morgan
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.
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What you need for a Samara Morgan costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Samara Morgan costume — one box instead of 4 pieces.
Dingy white nightgown or shift dress
A simple, long-sleeved white or off-white cotton nightgown that reaches past the knees.
DIY: Use an oversized plain white long-sleeve t-shirt or a thrifted white dress.
Long black wig
A straight, 30-inch black wig with no bangs, styled to drape forward over the face.
Fabric dye or paint
Dark brown, gray, and green acrylic paint or fabric dye to simulate well water, mud, and rot.
DIY: Soak the dress in strong black tea or coffee, and rub real dirt or charcoal onto the hem.
Pale face paint and gray eyeshadow
Water-activated white and gray makeup to create a dead, waterlogged complexion.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Samara Morgan costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Prepare the dress by distressing it. Dilute brown and green acrylic paint or tea in water, and splash or sponge it onto the dress, focusing heavily on the hem, cuffs, and collar to look like well mud.
- 2
Use scissors to lightly fray the hemline and sleeve cuffs of the nightgown for a tattered, worn-out appearance.
- 3
Apply pale white or light gray face paint to your face, neck, hands, and arms to create a cold, lifeless skin tone.
- 4
Smudge dark gray or black eyeshadow around your eyes and under your fingernails to look dirty and decayed.
- 5
Put on the distressed nightgown.
- 6
Place the long black wig on your head, parting it down the middle so the hair falls completely forward, obscuring your face while still allowing you to see through the strands.
Makeup & hair
Apply pale, bluish-grey face paint to all exposed skin. Use dark grey eyeshadow around the eyes and smudge black cream makeup under the fingernails to look like dirt. Dampen the long black wig with a little water or leave-in conditioner to give it a wet, stringy texture.
Samara Morgan for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as the cursed videotape or a static-filled retro television set.
- group
- Have friends dress as other classic J-horror ghosts like Kayako from The Grudge.
- kids
- Use a smaller white nightgown and a shorter black wig, keeping the makeup light and smudge-free for comfort.
- Plus size
- An oversized white cotton tunic or kaftan works perfectly as a comfortable, screen-accurate base.
Tips
- Make sure the wig hair is thin enough in the front so you can safely see where you are walking.
- If attending an outdoor event, wear flesh-colored leggings and a thermal shirt under the thin nightgown to stay warm.
- Carry a VHS tape or a cardboard cutout of a retro TV screen as a fun, thematic prop.
Samara Morgan costume FAQ
- How do I make the dress look dirty?
- You can soak the dress in a tub of strong black tea or coffee, then spray it with diluted black and green acrylic paint to mimic well water and mold.
- Can I see through the wig?
- Yes, if you thin out the front strands of the wig or lightly hairspray them so they stay parted just enough for your eyes to peek through while remaining hidden to others.
- What shoes should I wear?
- Samara is barefoot, but for safety, wear flesh-toned flats, simple nude sandals, or dirty white canvas slip-ons.
Did you know? In the 2002 film, Samara was played by Daveigh Chase, who also voiced the adorable Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch in the exact same year.