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How to Dress like a Boy for Halloween

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter.

Halloween is the perfect time for us to be whoever we want to be. Whether we admit it or not, we usually try to find a costume that allows us to wear the least amount of clothing possible. But there are times when a girl should ditch that mentality and decide to transform into something out of the ordinary. If you have the opportunity to attend a Halloween party this year where dressing funny is acceptable over dressing skimpy, keep reading!

Becoming a boy for Halloween is a definite way to make a statement. When you walk into the party, you might not even be recognized. It is the best feeling when someone says, “How did you do that?” or “This is the best thing that I have ever seen!” Trust me, it has happened to me before and I loved every minute of it. There are a few, simple steps to concealing your girlish features and transforming in to a full-blown man. My inspiration was Russell Brand, but you can choose any celebrity or just any guy in general. Follow these tips and you will be the talk of the town this Halloween.

Products needed: skin color foundation, very dark brown foundation, black/brown pencil eyeliner, black liquid eyeliner, stippling brush (long bristled brush where the bristles are hard and pointy. If you cannot find one, buy a regular brush, slightly wet it so it is pointy, and overly spray with hairspray and let dry until hard).
Note: If you are copying a certain man, take these directions but apply it to the coloring and look of the certain person.

1. Start off by evenly applying a matte, skin-color foundation. You can buff with a bronzer if you would like, but it also needs to be matte with no sparkles.

2. The beard will be the most important part of your look, so you should concentrate on that the most. Mix the dark foundation and black liquid liner on your hand. There should be enough in order to apply it on your face. Take the stippling brush and lightly press it onto the blend. Lightly dab the brush onto your face; this should create small dots on your skin. When doing this, darken the dots where the sideburns should be and the edges of your face and chin. Lighten the dots when going toward your cheek area and mouth. Lightly dot on your upper lip to give a stubbly mustache look.

3. Once the beard is done, let it dry while you work on your eyebrows. Take the eyeliner pencil and color in your eyebrows in order that they are no longer arched. Make them thicker and more defined. Do not draw heavily; make light, short strokes so they look natural.

4. Depending on what type of boy you would like to be, the hair will vary. As Russell Brand, I teased my hair to get the “ratty” look. I took hair oil and gel and applied at my roots and bangs, to give off a dirty appearance like Russell’s. If the boy has short hair, you can go all out and get a wig or just tie up your hair in a slick bun and wear a baseball cap.

5. Outfit tips: There are many different styles you can choose from. There is always the “baggy sweats and t-shirt” combo, the “clean cut” suit, or in my case, the “crazy, slightly girly” look. Just look at pictures of a guy you know, or copy an outfit from a certain celeb for more ideas. This step is the easiest and most fun in order to fully get into character.

Following these quick and easy tips will give you a bold yet very inexpensive Halloween costume. You can use the cheapest makeup on the market and most of the clothes can be found in your own closet or borrowed from a friend.