Maybe vampires were all the rage a few years ago, but zombies are quickly taking their place thanks to the popularity of shows like The Walking Dead and movies like My Boyfriend is a Zombie. Read on for some tips and steps on how to create your own zombie look.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Apply Zombie Makeup
Step 1. Prepare your face
You want to start from scratch, so use a mild facial cleanser to remove makeup and oils from your skin. Dampen with lukewarm water, then pat (don't rub) your face with a towel. Don't put on moisturizer or sunscreen. These products can cause latex makeup to flake off.
- Pull your hair back. If you have long hair or bangs, remove it from your face while you work. Put it in a ponytail and keep loose hair away with bobby pins or a headband.
- If you are a boy, you may want to shave before applying makeup or special effects. Latex and gelatin can get stuck in your hair and are difficult to remove. Also, if you are dead your hair does not grow. It is obvious.
Step 2. Apply latex or gelatin to create wounds and cuts (optional)
Liquid latex and gelatin are two substances that you can use to create cool zombie effects, like open wounds, bleeding gouges, bite marks, and broken noses. While they may sound intimidating or difficult to use, both liquid latex and gelatin are surprisingly easy to apply. An explanation of how each product works can be found in the third and fourth parts of this article.
- If you decide to work with liquid latex or gelatin, you will have to apply it at this point in the makeup process, that is, before starting with face paints.
- However, if you decide that these products represent too much work and you don't have time to find it, skip to the next step. You can still create a chillingly rotten zombie look without these materials!
Step 3. Apply a base of white face paint or performance makeup
Use a soft makeup or stippling sponge and dab the white all over your face. Then blend it in with light, narrow strokes until your entire face is covered in a light layer of makeup. Let it dry completely.
- Create a mottled effect by subtly applying a second color over the white. You can use gray for an ashy rotting effect, red or purple for a bruised effect, or green and yellow for a gangrenous effect.
- Use the best quality face paint you can find. Cheap, low-quality face paint won't mix well and is bad for your skin. Try to get some high-quality acting makeup. You will usually find it in good costume stores.
Step 4. Create dark circles around the eyes
Dark, sunken eyes will help you look dead, violently injured, not asleep, or all of the above!
- Line your lids with a dark eyeliner pencil, and then sweep it out. Then, use black or brown eyeshadow or face paint to fill in dark circles under the eyes or around the lids.
- Incorporate around the edges with red or purple paint or shadow to create the illusion of freshly bruised skin, or with green and yellow for older-looking bruises.
Step 5. Hollow out your cheeks
Zombies look pretty emaciated - good brains are hard to find! You can get this sunken look by sucking your cheeks inward and applying some powder or black paint over the holes. This will highlight your cheeks.
Step 6. Darken your lips
Apply black lipstick or paint to your lips to create a dry, dead look. Also highlight the creases around your mouth with dark, shadowy lines.
Step 7. Create protruding veins or bloody scratches
Use a small brush to paint light zigzag lines in shades of blue and purple to create prominent veins. Take a dry stippled sponge (or other rough sponge) and dip it in red face paint. Sponge lightly over face to create a bloody-looking scratch.
Step 8. Finish off with some fake blood
You can buy fake blood at most costume stores, or you can create your own non-toxic version by adding a little red food coloring to the corn syrup. To create all the fake blood you'll need, mix a cup of corn syrup with a tablespoon or two of red food coloring. To make it look darker and more realistic, you can add a drop or two of blue food coloring.
- Apply the blood to the root of your hair and let it drip down your face, or take some blood in your hand and dip your mouth to make it look like you just ate!
- Use a toothbrush to splatter the blood. Put some fake blood on a toothbrush, point the bristles at your face and run your finger through them from bottom to top.
- Creates a dripping blood effect. Dip a sponge in fake blood and wring it over your skin. The blood should come out in a natural-looking spray.
Part 2 of 4: Complete the Zombie Effect
Step 1. Wear creepy-looking zombie contact lenses
Zombie contact lenses, usually very pale blue or white, can make your costume that much scarier. Find these lenses online or at costume stores.
Step 2. Get greasy zombie hair
The undead don't care too much about their personal hygiene, so washing your hair is not a priority. If you want your locks to look weak and lifeless, rub a good amount of conditioner over them. You can do this before or after applying makeup.
- You can also make your hair look messy and unkempt (to achieve that "just out of the coffin" look) by combing and brushing back with a small comb. Spray with a spray hairspray to keep it in place.
- Sprinkle baby powder at the root for an ashy, graying look.
Step 3. Stain your teeth
Like the rest of the body, the teeth of a zombie generally appear in a state of decay and putrefaction. Sure, you can buy fake teeth at the costume store, but they can be awkward and awkward to wear and prevent you from talking and eating normally. Get rid of the problem (temporarily) by staining your teeth with water mixed with brown food coloring.
- Rinse your mouth with the mixture and then spit it out. Alternatively, you can use red food coloring for a bloody effect!
- When you're done, brush your teeth with a little baking soda to remove stains and return your teeth to their original color.
Step 4. Create the costume
The perfect zombie makeup should be complemented by an authentic looking zombie costume. To create the classic zombie costume, get some old clothing (thrift stores are great for this) and do whatever you want to rip it off and get it dirty. Use scissors, roll it in mud, give it to your dog to chew on, etc. The scruffy she looks the better.
- Create bullet holes in your clothing by making circular marks with a black permanent marker and dripping or smearing fake blood around the edges.
- The great thing about zombie makeup is that you can wear it with any costume to "zombify" it. Use your creativity to create a zombie version of the boring costume you had in mind for Halloween. Become a zombie dancer, zombie tourist, or zombie pirate!
Part 3 of 4: Use Liquid Latex
Step 1. Buy liquid latex
Liquid latex is good for a general dead look, such as creating wounds or other facial deformities.
- You should be able to find it at Halloween supply stores or beauty chains.
- Pick a color that looks appropriate for a rotten, decaying look.
Step 2. Use the "stretch and apply" technique
Stretching your skin as you apply the latex ensures that no empty space is left by chance. In addition, it will leave you with some very creepy wrinkles when the latex dries.
- Gently pull or stretch the area of skin to be painted. It is best to perform this technique on one area at a time (forehead, one cheek, chin, etc.).
- Using a clean toothbrush or sponge, apply a light layer of liquid latex to the area in tight, alternating motions. Keep the touches light and short.
Step 3. Produce the places with deformities or wounds
You can use these techniques to make the face appear misshapen or to lay the foundation for a "healing" wound.
- Apply another layer of latex to "produce" your makeup. Creating light layers of makeup rather than spreading in bulk creates an even cover with minimal clumping.
- Mix some no-cook oatmeal with the latex and then apply it to one or two areas of your face. This is great for a gangrenous, crusty look.
- Put single-ply tissue paper between the layers of latex. Get a piece of toilet paper and separate the sheets to have a single layer. Tear off the edges until you have the shape and size you want. Hold it over the area where you have already applied a latex base coat and apply a new coat to the paper. It will help hide the smoothness of your skin with a rotting texture.
Step 4. Put wounds or scabs on the latex
Selectively tearing off parts of the liquid latex allows you to put wide cuts or small lacerations in your new skin.
- Use scissors. You must carefully trim the latex to create the wound you want. Be careful not to scratch your skin!
- Use a toothpick. Just dip it into the liquid latex and rock it around to create an open wound.
Step 5. Fill your wounds with blood
Dip a clean toothbrush or makeup sponge into the fake blood and dab your cuts or oatmeal sections.
Part 4 of 4: Use gelatin
Step 1. Make jelly a few hours before
To get the correct consistency, use 1/3 cup (80 mL) of water per packet of gelatin..
- Color the gelatin. Use a few drops of food coloring in an unnatural shade or add some liquid foundation in a similar tone to your skin for a fleshy look.
- Cut the gelatin into cubes. Store in a bowl or resealable plastic bag.
Step 2. Heat the gelatin carefully
If you heat it to a boil, you will break its structure. Put it in a bowl in the microwave and heat it in 10-second intervals, until the cubes have softened and acquired a somewhat slimy appearance.
Step 3. Apply the gelatin to your face to create raised wounds
Use a popsicle stick or tongue depressor to apply the gelatin to the area. As it begins to dry and regain its hardness, use the stick to pull small sections upward - this will add texture around the wound.
Step 4. Let the gelatin set and dry
If you are still using the makeup sponge on other parts of your face, avoid the jelly-like areas.
Advice
- To remove liquid latex, wipe a warm damp cloth over the area with latex and allow it to warm to loosen. Once it does, you should be able to remove it easily.
- Make sure you are not allergic to liquid latex or any of the cosmetics by testing on a small area. To do this, place a pinch of makeup or latex on a sensitive part of the skin (such as the inside of your wrists) and wait for fifteen to twenty minutes. If your skin looks irritated or you see a rash forming, wash off your makeup and don't wear it.
- Don't forget to add some of the fake blood around your mouth to create the look of a zombie that has just eaten. Spread some blood around your mouth, but first make sure it's non-toxic.
- You can create many different types of zombie skins based on what you wear. Depending on your preferences, you can wear different costumes to be a zombie cheerleader, zombie nurse, zombie firefighter, etc.
- Put on your gangrene. If you mixed oatmeal with liquid latex, make it look gangrenous! Use green paint or eyeshadow around the area and add a little red or black.