How to Make a Wolverine Costume

Last Updated: April 5, 2021

Wolverine is one of the most iconic comic book characters around. While his look has changed quite a bit over the years, he's always had his trademark claws. You don't have to make a complicated suit to make a good Wolverine costume. All you really need is a tank-top, a pair of sturdy boots, and a good set of claws. Throw in a few key accessories and a bad attitude to complete your look.^{[1]
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Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Assembling Your Outfit

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Gather your supplies. You may have most of what you need to make a Wolverine costume lying around your house. If you don't, take a trip to the thrift store. You should be able to find everything you need for a pretty good price. To make your Wolverine costume, you'll need the following supplies:^{[2]
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- A white tank-top
- An old pair of jeans
- A sturdy pair of work boots
2
Prepare your costume. If you end up buying everything new, try to find ways to break in the clothes. Wolverine is a tough-guy character. Do some yard work in the boots to break them in. Add a few tears to the tank-top to give the impression that you just got out of a fight.

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3
Get the right accessories. Accessories can make or break your Wolverine costume. Small details like dog-tags or an Indian head belt buckle, can do a lot to tie your costume together.^{[3]
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- You can purchase custom dog-tags online or at army surplus stores. Some pet stores and hardware stores may also have a way to make dog-tags.
- Wolverine's dog-tags read: "WOLVERINE 45825243-T78-A."^{[4]
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- You can get dog-tags made at many pet shops as well.
- You can buy a replica of the Indian head belt buckle worn by Hugh Jackman in the X-Men films if you want, but it isn't a requirement. Any large belt buckle should be just fine.^{[5]
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- Wolverine is sometimes depicted in a flannel shirt or a brown jacket. If you don't want to walk around in a tank-top, cover up with one of these two options.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Making the Claws

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Gather your supplies. All you need to make some claws is a large piece of cardboard, some paint, and a hot glue gun. While cardboard claws aren't the most realistic looking claws, they are the most affordable.
- Use a thick cardboard to make the claws. You want your claws to be stable, so avoid using anything thin, such as cereal boxes.
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Draw a template for your claw on a piece of computer paper. Make sure the claw is about 30 centimetres (11.8 in) long. You can also find claw templates online if you have trouble drawing one yourself.
- Cut a notch at the back end of the claw to give the impression that the claws are coming out of your knuckles.
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Use your template to draw six claws on the cardboard. Leave enough space between each claw to make cutting them out easier. Cut the claws out using a box cutter or sharp knife.
- It may help to cut the claws out in sections and then go back and cut the outline.
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Paint the claws with silver spray paint. Paint the claws a light gray color before painting them silver. Be sure to get all the edges when spraying. It's best to use several thin coats rather than one heavy coat. Let the paint dry overnight before handling them.
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Make a handle for the claws. Cut out two rectangles of cardboard about 6 centimetres (2.4 in) long. Then cut out two rectangles of cardboard about 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in) long. Make sure you can comfortably hold the pieces in your hand. You will need one piece of each size per hand to make a base for the claws.
- Hold three claws in your hands with each claw running between your fingers. Place the larger piece of cardboard in your palm and mark where the base of the claw falls. Using a hot glue gun, glue the claws in place.
- Take the smaller piece of cardboard and glue it on top of the claws to stabilize them.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Completing the Look

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Style your hair. A big part of Wolverine's look is his hairstyle. If you have medium length hair, it shouldn't be too difficult to style your hair like Wolverine. You could also find a Wolverine wig online.
- Use a blow dryer and a brush to blow the hair upwards on each side of your head. Curl the tips of the hair over, following the shape of your head.^{[6]
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- Hold the hair in place using hairspray or styling gel.^{[7]
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- Grow out your sideburns if you can. You could also look online for costume facial hair.
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Bulk up. Wolverine is a muscular character. You don't need the body of a superhero to dress as one, but muscles are a defining element of the character. If you have a few months to plan your costume, try lifting some weights and bulking up for your event.
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Become the character. When you go out in your Wolverine costume, adopt a surly attitude. Read some of the comics to get a feel for how Wolverine speaks. Remember some phrases he uses often, and refer to people as "Bub."

Community Q&A

Question

Can I do this if I'm a girl?

Community Answer

Yes! You can definitely go as Wolverine even if you're a girl. You can also go as X-23. She is like the female version of Wolverine. She has two claws on her hands and one on each foot. It's essentially a black suit, but you can always look up pictures of her for costume design help.
Question

How do I get my boots?

Pillowpig

Community Answer

You can buy them online, or search for them at a store near you.
Question

What if I'm black?

Community Answer

Race does not matter, anyone can wear a wolverine costume. You do not have to look exactly like him.