Masks, mystery, and midnight flings: what Halloween really hides

Key findings:

• 62% of women and 35% of men plan to wear a sexy Halloween outfit in hopes of increasing their chances of having sex.
• 83% of men and 75% of women have had sexual fantasies about someone they met at a Halloween party.
• 67% of women and 38% of men have dated someone they met on Halloween night.
• 86% of men and 78% of women say the anonymity of costumes is a turn-on.
• 64% of women and 39% of men have kissed more than one person at the same Halloween party.
• 67% of women and 34% of men have kept a Halloween costume just for the bedroom.

Halloween: where seduction meets disguise

For many, Halloween is an evening where attraction hides behind costume and confidence. This year, 62% of women and 35% of men say they plan to wear a sexy outfit specifically to raise their chances of having sex. For women, the holiday has become a chance to experiment with body image and enjoy the attention that comes from bold self-expression.

The sexiest, and least sexy, Halloween looks

When asked which Halloween costumes they find most attractive, respondents leaned heavily toward confidence and familiarity. The nurse costume was the clear favorite, named by 27% of respondents, followed by Catwoman, 18%, bunny outfits, 15%, Harley Quinn 12%, and Wonder Woman, 8%. These choices share the same theme: empowered, bold, and slightly nostalgic characters who project control and seduction.

On the opposite end, some costumes were labeled instant turn-offs. Clowns, 22%, topped the list, followed by zombies, 17%, and lazy or inflatable costumes,13%, which many said “kill the mood.”It just shows how physical appearance and presentation still impact desirability, even on a night meant for disguise. In other words, people might celebrate body positivity in theory, but beauty standards still set the rules for what’s considered sexy and what’s not.

From fantasies to a relationship

The fantasy doesn’t always stop at flirtation. Some 83% of men and 75% of women say they’ve had sexual fantasies about someone they met at a Halloween party. And while not every spark turns into a story, 67% of women and 38% of men have actually started a relationship that began on Halloween night

The allure of anonymity

Astounding 86% percent of men and 78% of women find the anonymity of costumes sexually exciting. Makeup and alternate identities blur lines between who people are and who they want to be. That anonymity reduces dating anxiety for many and lets them explore fantasies without judgment. When faces are hidden, people feel free to act out sides of themselves that rarely surface in everyday life.

Halloween, a night of blurred boundaries

Halloween has always been chaotic, and sex follows suit. Nearly two-thirds of women and 39% men admit they’ve kissed more than one person at the same Halloween party. The same share of women, 67%, confess to keeping at least one costume for bedroom use later. 

Behind closed doors or not quite

Even the locations tell a story about loosened boundaries. About 46% percent of women and a quarter of men say they’ve hooked up in a party bathroom, while smaller numbers mention clubs, alleys, and even graveyards. At the same time, almost half of men and 27% of women say they’ve never had a Halloween hookup.

Methodology: Flirtini surveyed 2000 adults across genders and age groups. Responses were collected anonymously to ensure honesty and accuracy.