Creating a “KPop Demon Hunters” Halloween Costume? Here Are 5 Expert-Approved Tips to Channel HUNTR/X

It’s not too late to pull together a “Golden” last-minute KPop Demon Hunters Halloween costume.

Following its June 2025 release on Netflix, the animated film became a global phenomenon, staying on the streamer’s Top 10 for several months and later breaking records as the platform’s most popular film of all time. In July 2025, Alan Lee, who voices Mystery Saja, encouraged his followers on X to embrace the fandom by not being afraid to “cosplay” KPop Demon Hunters characters.

“I saw some conversations floating around about people being reluctant to cosplay characters from KPDH due to ethnicity and I just wanted to say.. Cosplay is for everyone!” he wrote. “Go cosplay your favorite character from #KPOPDEMONHUNTERS! Post and share that love with others online!”

Now that Halloween offers the perfect excuse to step into character, kids and adults alike might want to channel HUNTR/X — the trio of Rumi, Mira and Zoey — or, for those who dare, even the Saja Boys. To help fans bring the superstar cast to life, PEOPLE spoke with the DIY creator Lauren Riihimakiwho created her own Rumi costumefor her top tips.

Here are five tips for creating last-minute DIY KPop Demon Hunters Halloween costumes.

Find the core elements first (even if it’s not an exact match!)

If you’re throwing together a last-minute Halloween costumethe best place to start might just be your own closet.

“People underestimate how much of a costume they already have just in their closet,” Riihimaki told PEOPLE. “Most costumes only really rely on a few key identifiers. … You’re really just one step away from already having something in your closet.”

For Mira, you might consider pulling out a vintage band T-shirt from your pajama drawer, while denim shorts and knee-high boots can come in handy to re-create Rumi’s look.

Remember: it’s OK if it’s not an exact match, because the rest of the costume (or hair and makeup!) can pull it together.

If you need an extra touch, accessories like a fake sword or a microphone headset can be a KPop Demon Hunters giveaway.

It’s not too late to paint

If you’ve dug through your closet but can’t find the staple items, don’t fret: there’s nothing a little paint can’t fix.

You may come across items you no longer wear — perhaps the shoes that have seen a few too many wears and aren’t in their best shape, or the white tank top that’s no longer in its sparkling condition — which are great candidates for transformation with some paint.

Rumi’s exact yellow cropped bomber might not be lying around your closet or easy to find on the day of Halloween, but a little yellow fabric or spray paint can do the trick on an old item that you no longer wear.

While a full fabric paint or true dye job might take longer to dry, there are plenty of options that can be ready to go on just a few hours’ notice.

“It’s not as intense as people think it is,” Riihimaki told PEOPLE.

It’s all in the hair

As Riihimaki explains, even if your outfit doesn’t match the movie directly, it all comes down to the hair.

“The purple wig tops all,” Riihimaki told PEOPLE about embodying Rumi. “She has such iconic hair.”

Can’t get the wig in time for Halloween? Several stores offer temporary hair dye in a range of colors, making it easy to DIY the hairdo. Alternatively, if you don’t want to dye your whole head, Riihimaki suggests spraying it onto a braided hair extension. One caveat: temporary, spray-on hair dye doesn’t mix well with rain.

Although becoming Rumi might require a hair transformation, Zoey’s space buns are feasible for anyone.

“The purple wig and the space buns and the colors of the hair I really think are the most recognizable, especially if you’re doing a full trio,” she said. “As long as everyone’s got the hair down, I feel like you’re halfway there.”

Choose the Kpop Demon Hunters scene (and character!) wisely

Luckily for fans, there are plenty of scenes to choose from if you’re looking to embrace your favorite character. Like any pop star, the HUNTR/X girls have plenty of costume changes.

If you don’t want to turn one of your jackets into Rumi’s yellow bomber, it might be easier to pull out some leather and try to re-create their black battle outfits.

Alternatively, Riihimaki suggests putting together a black jacket with a white two-piece set to create HUNTR/X’s iconic black and gold jacket look — though he stresses the importance of focusing on the hair.

“I want to think that between a gold belt, a white two-piece setand a black jacket, and a purple wig, it’s like people would be like, ‘Oh, that’s Rumi.’ No questions asked,” she said.

Riihimaki also shared that it can be even more of a giveaway if it’s done as a group costume, whether it’s dressing as HUNTR/X, the five Saja Boys or even the demons.

Makeup can bring the costume to life

Riihimaki admits that she isn’t a “hair and makeup beauty guru,” but she does feel confident that focusing on those elements can be a great last-minute solution.

“If you want to commit to doing the full makeup, you’re one trip away from a Sephora or an Ulta to go find what you need to do the makeup,” she said, explaining that it can be easier to make a last-minute trip to a beauty store than to pull out the paint brushes.

For example, Jinu’s outfit relies so heavily on black clothes and accessories that it can be easy to transform into the character by using makeup to create the lines on his face, Riihimaki said.

“Similar to (Rumi’s) purple wig, having the full face of makeup with the lines and everything is kind of all you need if you want to commit to that way,” she said.

At the end of the day, Riihimaki said there’s one important thing to keep in mind: Halloween is the best holiday to embrace DIY, regardless of how put-together it is.

“It’s the one time of the year when everyone is on board with doing crafty stuff, especially last minute when you’re in a pinch,” she assured.

Read the original article on People