Sally makeup is the most recognizable face paint look of the season: a soft pale blue face, black stitch lines at the corners of the mouth and around the neck, dark lashes, a dark lip, and long, straight bright red hair. It takes about 45 minutes, and only the stitches need a steady hand. Here is the whole look from The Nightmare Before Christmas, step by step, plus a fifteen minute version.
What makes it read as Sally
Three things: the pale blue skin, the stitches, and the long red hair. The blue does not need to be intense; a soft powder blue reads better in photos than a bright one. The stitches are what make her a rag doll rather than just a blue face, so spend your time on them.
For how Sally compares with the other big character looks this year, see the trending Halloween costumes roundup.
Sally makeup, step by step
1. Prime and paint the blue
Prime the face and neck. With a damp sponge, press a thin layer of pale blue water activated paint over the face, ears and neck. Let it dry, powder it, then add a second thin layer where it looks patchy. Thin layers stay smooth; thick ones crack.
2. Shade the face
With a slightly deeper blue or a soft gray, shade under the cheekbones, at the temples and along the jaw. It keeps the face from looking flat and gives the doll a gentle, hollow look.
3. Make the eyes big and dark
A soft charcoal or deep blue shadow in the crease, black liner on the upper lash line, and a full pair of false lashes or several coats of mascara. Sally's eyes are large and sad, so extend the lashes at the outer corners.
4. Paint the lips dark
A deep plum or black lip, slightly smaller than your natural shape. Keep the edges soft.
5. Draw the stitches
With black liquid liner or a fine face paint brush, draw a line from each corner of the mouth out onto the cheek, then short crossing lines over it like stitches. Add a curved stitched line down one cheek and one around the neck. Keep the stitches evenly spaced, about the width of a pencil apart.
Take the stitches onto the arms and hands too if your costume shows them. It takes five extra minutes and it is the detail people notice in photos.
Sally's hair
Long, straight, bright red hair to the waist, worn loose. A wig is the easiest route and the most faithful to the character. You can preview the color on your own photo before you buy one: a fire red shade on a straight long style is very close. For more ways to finish a costume with hair, see our Halloween hairstyles guide and hair ideas by season.
An easy fifteen minute Sally
Skip the full blue face. Use a foundation one shade paler than your own with a little blue shimmer dusted on top, draw the stitches at the mouth corners and around the neck, add big lashes and a dark lip. With the red hair it still reads clearly as Sally, and it is much more comfortable to wear all night.
Looks that go with Sally
A skeleton, a corpse bride or a porcelain creepy doll all sit well next to Sally in a group. The other stitched, pale blue look of the season is the Corpse Bride, with a deeper blue lip and huge eyes; our Corpse Bride makeup guide covers it. For simpler options, our Halloween makeup looks list sorts fifteen looks by time and skill.
See Sally on your own face first
A full blue face and dark lip change how every feature reads, and the red hair changes it again. HairGlam's Halloween Studio puts the Stitched Rag Doll look, red hair included, on a photo of your face in seconds. Your first 4 Halloween looks are free, on iPhone and iPad. Try Sally makeup on your own face in HairGlam before you buy the paint and the wig.
Try Sally makeup on your own face
Your first 4 Halloween looks are free. 39 face paint and costume looks, no mess, nothing to wash off.
Character names describe costume looks only. HairGlam is not affiliated with the shows or films mentioned.
Questions people ask
What do I need for Sally makeup?
Where do the stitches go on Sally makeup?
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