17 Pirate Hairstyles For Women That Feel Wild And Romantic

A pirate look lives or dies by the hair. The costume can be perfect, but if the hair sits flat and tidy, the whole thing reads as fancy dress rather than a character. The best pirate hairstyles for women have movement in them: windblown waves, braids that look slept in, a bandana that holds everything in place while the ends escape. This list gathers 17 wearable versions, from a full captain’s tricorn to a simple striped bandana, each one built around real hair rather than a wig that fights you all evening.

What Makes a Hairstyle Read as Pirate

Three things do the work. First, texture over polish: soft waves, light frizz at the crown and ends that curl in different directions all suit a life at sea better than a sleek blow-dry. Second, a clear anchor: a tricorn hat, a bandana or a braid gives the eye one pirate cue, and the rest of the hair can stay natural. Third, a touch of metal or colour: gold hoops, beads threaded through a braid, a red ribbon or a skull charm all signal the theme without needing a full costume. Keep one anchor strong and the rest simple, and the look holds together from the first photo to the last dance.

The Long Black Waves With a Blunt Fringe and a Pink Feather

Long black waves with a straight, blunt fringe make a striking base for a pirate look, and a black tricorn with a single pink feather finishes it. The fringe gives the face structure, while the waves fall loose over the shoulders and keep the whole thing soft. The pink feather is the one playful note, and it works because everything else stays dark and plain. A white ruffled blouse adds the period feel without competing with the hair.

Woman with long black wavy hair and a blunt fringe wearing a black tricorn hat with a pink feather and a white ruffled blouse

Image credit: @bcharlottedcosplay

The Loose Red Waves Under a Feathered Tricorn

Copper-red waves and a feathered tricorn are the classic pirate pairing, and they work because the warm hair and the dark hat balance each other. The waves here are loose and brushed out rather than tightly curled, which keeps the look relaxed and a little wild. Gold chains at the neck and a red sleeve echo the warmth of the hair, so the whole outfit feels pulled from the same palette. Keep the parting soft and slightly off-centre so the hair falls naturally around the hat brim.

Woman with long loose red wavy hair wearing a black tricorn hat with a red feather, sitting outdoors

Image credit: @notoriousnonina

The Soft Reddish Waves With a Brown Tricorn

A brown tricorn feels gentler than a black one, and it suits softer reddish hair beautifully. The waves here fall past the shoulders with very little styling, which is exactly the point: a pirate who spends her days on deck would not have a perfect curl pattern. The blue dress and white blouse keep the colours calm, and a sword at the hip does the storytelling. This is one of the easiest looks on the list, because the hat carries the theme and the hair just needs to be loose.

Woman with long soft reddish wavy hair wearing a brown tricorn hat and a blue and white pirate dress, holding a sword

Image credit: @loveoceanangel12345

The Sleek Straight Hair With a Red-and-Black Bandana

Not every pirate look needs a hat. A red-and-black striped bandana tied high on the head gives the same signal in a much simpler way, and sleek straight hair shows it off best. The straight lengths fall flat and glossy on both sides of the face, which makes the bold stripes of the bandana stand out even more. Heavy eye makeup and red lipstick complete the mood. Pin the bandana at the back with two crossed grips so it stays put while the hair moves freely.

Woman with long sleek straight dark hair wearing a red and black striped bandana and a white off-the-shoulder blouse

Image credit: @b_lacorbiere

The Long Auburn Hair With a Leather Tricorn

Long auburn hair, worn straight and parted in the middle, looks made for a leather tricorn. The hat sits low and slightly tilted, and the hair frames the face in two smooth panels that catch the light. A red lace top and a pirate bar full of barrels behind her set the scene, but the hair itself does most of the work. This is a good choice if you want the look to feel grown-up rather than costume-shop: the straight lengths keep it polished, and the hat keeps it pirate.

Woman with long straight auburn hair wearing a brown leather tricorn hat and a red lace top in a pirate-themed bar

Image credit: @nicoleemilyyy_

The Long Black Braids With Gold Hoops

Braids are the most practical pirate hairstyle of all, and they look the part too. Long black braids fall past the shoulders here, with gold hoop earrings catching the light beside them. A tricorn with gold trim and a white feather sits on top, and the braids keep the hair tidy under it instead of bunching up at the neck. Braids hold their shape for hours, which is why they suit a long night out better than loose waves. Add a bead or two at the ends if you want the extra detail.

Woman with long black braids and gold hoop earrings wearing a black tricorn hat with gold trim and a white feather

Image credit: @njadaka22

The Blonde Curls With Skull Earrings

Blonde curls give a pirate look a lighter, more romantic feel, especially when they are soft and brushed out rather than tight ringlets. Here the curls fall around the face in loose waves, with a brown tricorn and a red band underneath. Skull earrings and a heavy silver necklace add the pirate detail without weighing the hair down. A wide-tooth comb run through the curls once they cool gives exactly this soft, lived-in shape.

Woman with blonde wavy curls wearing a brown tricorn hat with a red band, skull earrings and a silver necklace

Image credit: @conneycandy

The Side-Swept Waves With a Navy-and-Gold Tricorn

A navy tricorn with gold trim is a quieter choice than black, and it pairs beautifully with side-swept waves. The hair is brushed over one shoulder in loose, glossy waves, which leaves the face open and shows off the hat from the side. Gold and black brocade at the neckline picks up the trim of the hat, so the whole look feels considered rather than thrown together. This is the version to choose if you want the pirate look to feel elegant rather than rough around the edges.

Woman with long wavy brown hair swept over one shoulder wearing a navy tricorn hat with gold trim on a ship deck

Image credit: @danicoleflor89

The Wild Brown Waves With a Ribboned Tricorn

Some pirate hairstyles are about volume, and this one is all about it. Long brown waves, full and a little wild, spill from under a tricorn trimmed with blue and red ribbons. The waves have natural texture rather than a set curl, which suits the outdoor, stone-wall setting and the green corset below. A little texturising spray scrunched into damp hair gives this kind of wave without any heat at all, and the ribbons on the hat add the colour the hair does not need to provide.

Woman with long wild brown wavy hair wearing a tricorn hat with blue and red ribbons and a green corset, standing in a stone archway

Image credit: @rew_cosplay

The Fiery Red Waves With a Wide-Brim Hat

A wide-brim hat changes the shape of the whole look, and fiery red waves make it dramatic. The hair here is a vivid red with dark roots, worn loose and wavy past the shoulders, and the hat brim frames the face like a picture. A burgundy shirt and black coat keep the colours deep and warm. If your hair is naturally dark, a temporary red rinse gives this depth of colour for one night without a permanent change, and the wide brim hides the roots anyway.

Woman with long fiery red wavy hair wearing a wide-brim black hat and a burgundy shirt, leaning against a tree

Image credit: @ravenphule

The Burgundy Hair With a Beaded Braid

Burgundy hair with a single beaded braid is one of the most detailed looks on this list, and it works because the braid is the only decoration the hair needs. The long lengths are a deep red-purple, worn loose, while one thin braid threaded with silver beads runs down the front. A huge tricorn with a silver wolf pin sits above it all. The beaded braid is the detail people notice first, so keep the rest of the hair simple and let it do the talking.

Woman with long burgundy hair and a thin beaded braid wearing a large black tricorn hat with a silver wolf pin

Image credit: @shehatter

The Two-Tone Hair With a Skull Bandana

Two-tone hair gives a pirate look instant character. Here, long black waves fall on one side and a blonde rope braid on the other, with a burgundy streak running through the front, all under a red bandana printed with a skull and crossbones. The contrast between the dark waves and the pale braid is what makes it work, and the bandana ties the two sides together. A clip-in braid in a lighter shade is the easiest way to try this without colouring your own hair.

Woman with two-tone black and blonde hair in waves and a rope braid wearing a red skull and crossbones bandana

Image credit: @leratv

The Dark Curls With a Feathered Captain’s Hat

Dark curls and an ornate captain’s hat make the most theatrical pairing on this list. The curls are long and full, falling over one shoulder, while the hat carries a red feather, a small skull, a gold starfish and pearl chains. The red off-the-shoulder top echoes the feather. With a hat this detailed, the hair should stay soft and unstructured so the two do not compete. Let the curls do their own thing and keep the parting wherever it falls naturally.

Woman with long dark curly hair wearing an ornate black tricorn hat with a red feather, skull and gold ornaments

Image credit: @akaythompson_

The Red Waves With a Teal Ribbon by the Sea

Red waves, a teal ribbon and the sea behind you is a combination that photographs beautifully. The hair is a rich copper-red, worn in loose waves over one shoulder, and the tricorn is trimmed with a teal ribbon and a dark feather. A lavender blouse and green corset add colour without clashing, because the ribbon and the corset share the same deep green. Sea air adds natural texture to wavy hair, so if you are near the coast, let the wind do the styling and just tidy the parting before photos.

Woman with long red wavy hair wearing a tricorn hat with a teal ribbon, sitting on a rock by the sea

Image credit: @rew_cosplay

The Bright Red Hair With a Bandana Under the Hat

Wearing a bandana under a tricorn is a small trick that makes the whole look feel layered and deliberate. The red bandana sits low across the forehead, the brown leather hat sits on top of it, and bright red hair falls loose on both sides. A chainmail necklace adds the final pirate note. This is a useful version if your hat tends to slip, because the bandana gives it grip and stops it sliding back over the evening.

Woman with long bright red hair wearing a red bandana under a brown leather tricorn hat and a chainmail necklace

Image credit: @alice_amsel_

The Centre-Parted Straight Hair With a Black Tricorn

A centre parting and long straight hair is the simplest base of all, and it looks striking under a plain black tricorn. The hair falls in two even panels past the shoulders, with no curl or wave to distract from the hat. A black corset and white blouse keep the outfit classic. A smoothing serum on the lengths keeps the panels sleek and stops flyaways catching on the hat brim, which is the one practical worry with this look.

Woman with long straight reddish-brown hair with a centre parting wearing a black tricorn hat and a black corset

Image credit: @mermaid.beemo

The Deep Red Straight Hair With a Leather Hat and Bandana

Deep red straight hair, a burgundy bandana and a brown leather tricorn make a rich, warm version of the pirate look. The hair is parted in the middle and falls smooth and glossy over both shoulders, while the bandana peeks out from under the hat brim. Gold hoops and red lipstick pick up the warmth of the hair. This is a good final option if you want the colour to be the star: the straight lengths show off a deep red better than curls do, because the light runs down them in one unbroken line.

Woman with long straight deep red hair wearing a brown leather tricorn hat over a burgundy bandana

Image credit: @paulkentphotography1000

How to Make a Pirate Hairstyle Last All Night

A pirate hairstyle has to survive a hat, dancing and a long evening, so build it to last. Start with texture: a little texturising spray or dry shampoo at the roots gives grip, and hair that is slightly dirty holds a style better than freshly washed hair. Pin the hat, not the hair: two bobby pins crossed under the brim hold a tricorn in place without flattening the crown. Braid the front sections if your hair tangles easily, because a braid at the front keeps the face clear while the back stays loose. Carry three extra grips and a small bottle of spray in your bag, and check the back of your hair once halfway through the night rather than fussing with it every few minutes. And if the wind catches your waves, let it: a pirate look only gets better when it looks a little weathered.

The One to Try First

If you only try one of these pirate hairstyles for women, start with the loose red waves under a feathered tricorn. It needs nothing more than wavy hair, a hat and a gold chain, and it reads as pirate from across the room. Once you have that base, you can swap the hat for a bandana, braid the front sections, or deepen the colour and make it your own. For more long-hair ideas that work with a hat, see Elegant Formal Hairstyles for Long Hair That Never Go Out of Style, and if you like the playful side of this list, 15 TinkerBell Hairstyle Ideas With a Playful Feminine Twist has more fantasy styling in the same spirit.