DIY HHN-Inspired ’80s Punk Rock Skull

Last week, we looked at the mid-century and earlier “dark ride” style in Halloween decorating, so let’s move ahead in time a bit for the Gen X punk era by turning an inexpensive plastic skull into an ’80s-style punk rocker.

I have lived through (and been part of) the height of the punk rock era of Gen X, but if you look around, the old-school punk rock style is something that has never really gone away.

The leather jackets, face piercings, torn jeans, band shirts, and, of course, provocatively extreme hairstyles are still something younger generations like to try and separate themselves from the generation of their parents before them. Ironically enough, they sometimes borrow their parents’ old clothes to do that. That’s fine because imagination evolves with the generations.

Like any look from any era, pop culture and nostalgic representations of it are sometimes a little more exaggerated and cartoonish than they actually were. This is the case from the Old West to the Roarin’ Twenties to the Woodstock era… and 1980s punk.

Right now, one of the most visible and popular theme park Halloween events around the world is Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) from Universal Studios. The street punk theme is prominent in their merchandise, advertisements, and attractions.

Both the Orlando and Hollywood parks have punk rock-themed scare zones and/or houses like Slaughter Sinema 2’s “Heavy Metal Hell in 3D”. Singapore’s Vampire Alley has several characters with a punk rock edge, some very similar to the ones in the American parks.

For this skull craft, I am going to use one of the visible punk rock characters from Hollywood’s HHN making the rounds on social media as an example. You can modify the style to fit your own punky desires.

Yes, we are going to work with the cartoon-y stereotype, because I am doing a fun Halloween DIY and not a complicated history of the punk rock movement. Plus, we only have a head to work with.

To do this, we’ll need to give it a mohawk and some face piercings, of course!

You’ll need:

• One plastic skull
• One or two colors of yarn
• Some old cheap loop earrings (or big chain links), pieces of jewelry chains, or some cheap metal earring studs or round beads
• Acrylic or craft paint

Hint: If a skull is too clean-looking, you can antique it with watered-down black or brown paint. I do this with a lot of my skull crafts, so they don’t look so “plasticy.”

Let’s start with the hair. To make the spikes in punk hair, tie several strands of yarn together at one end, then comb them out. A bristly brush or even a dog comb works well. I made my spikes about 4″ long. Once they are completely combed out, bring them up over the knot so it is on the inside. Use spray starch or old-timey hair spray to keep them stiff. I used a plain school glue and water mix to hold the tips together first.

Make about five of these and put them outside to dry completely.

While they are drying, work on the facial features. Paint some punk designs or colors over the eyes, on the sides of the skull, or wherever you see fit. This is the easy part because you are free to use your imagination.

Now, give it a few piercings. Place some hoops and studs around the eye and nose cavities. Add a chain from the nose to just above the jaw (where an earlobe would be if it had one). Some plastic skulls are soft enough to poke holes in, but you can also glue gun them in place.

Glue each of the Mohawk spikes in place along the top of the skull… and you have your punk rocker.

One of the things that makes punk rock such an intriguing movement is that it represents total freedom from rules and norms. In terms of your punk skull, let that freedom of imagination show through.

It’s creative anarchy, after all!