Slay the competition at Halloween costume contests across Canada! Being a zombie is hard work. The unending thirst for blood, the craving for brains, the need to constantly check to see if your limbs are still attached-oh, it’s all a bother! The last thing on your mind is thinking about how to at least look the part!
Don’t worry: we’ve got your back. Learn how to apply the best zombie makeup right here at Halloween Alley with these quick and easy steps:
1. Finding the right product
Zombies aren’t picky with brains, but they should be picky with their makeup. Use only the best products for the best results. We recommend Woochie and Mehron brand prosthetics and makeup for their cinematic quality and realistic finish.
Woochie prosthetics are used to add texture and realistic feel to your wounds, bloody bolts, scars and scratches. It’s a top-notch product used by professional makeup artists! These are used to add additional appendages, scars, nails and bolts to your skin.
Mehron products, on the other hand, are applied directly to the skin with a series of sponges and paint brushes. This is the more traditional product used by face painters, and is the makeup of choice for performers such as the Black Eyed Peas, Hilary Duff and Pink!
Figure out which products you need to complete your costume, and you’re well on your way to rocking the perfect zombie look!
2. Applying Face Paint
Face painting is a creative art, but most masterpieces start out the same way. Here are the basic steps to applying face paint using a Mehron product:
Plan Ahead – Visualize
Find an origin point – Bites, scratches and wounds often source from one point on the body. Work on that location first before spreading your efforts to the sides of the wound. Using a paintbrush, use red makeup to mark the shapes that will eventually become your bite mark or scar.
Apply Texture
Apply liquid latex or gel to the desired location so that the affected area is raised and has texture. Latex can be shaped in many ways, so you can get creative! One way we found that makes great tendon-looking results is to push your finger around the liquid latex until it becomes string-like material. Use this layer of latex to make some great scar wounds!
Apply the latex and let it dry so that it becomes hard. You can now paint over the latex and apply layers of makeup so that the raised portions look realistic.
Add Detail
Use a paintbrush in the surrounding areas for further detail such as blood streaks to make your latex-raised wound stand out. Fine detail brushes can be used to create the look of veins.
You can also dab a sponge in the surrounding areas for “bruises” or sickly-looking skin. Get creative with the red and blue makeup here-those are the two most common colours to be used for a zombie look!
Take a look at NsomniaksDream from YouTube. Here she puts what we’ve stated above in practice, from molding and applying liquid latex to using the fine paintbrush for a bruised, veiny effect:
Mehron products come in gels, paints, creams, liquid latex and more! There isn’t one “rule” on how to best apply your ideal makeup, but the process is generally the same. Picture your wound, start from the source, apply texture, add detail, then finish off with surrounding makeup!
3. Applying Prosthetics
Unlike Mehron makeup products, Woochie prosthetics are pre-packaged so that you can have great results without dabbling too much in liquid latex. Here we’ll describe how to best apply a Woochie prosthetic for realistic effect:
Applying the Prosthetic
Before application, check the positioning of the prosthetic for fit
Apply spirit gum directly on the prosthetic (a quick-drying solution used mainly by actors) before pressing the appliance into place.
Tack the spirit gum by pressing or pulling the appliance to make the gum sticky.
Secure loose edges with a little more spirit gum. The prosthetic is now attached!
Adding detail to the wound
Apply liquid latex around the surrounding area for a seamless-looking wound.
Using a sponge, you can “Stipple” various colours over the prosthetic area for a “bruised skin” effect. We recommend the use of red, yellow, purple and blue for this (In the video below, CinemaFX uses Corpse Yellow, Bruised Red and Undead Purple).
Blend the above colours with a makeup sponge.
Apply fake blood for extra effect. Use gel for a coagulated blood effect, or paint for blood drips.
More of a visual learner? Here’s a video that will help you visualize the steps to applying your Woochie prosthetic:
4. Find help!
If you’re not comfortable applying your own makeup, feel free to enlist some help! Our knowledgeable staff are Halloween experts, and many of them have years of makeup experience. Visit your local halloween store and see if we can help fit you up!
Many of our stores also have weekly makeup tutorials. Our Abbotsford location has weekly Wound Wednesdays and personal appointments with professional makeup artists. Check to see if your local store has anything similar-we have lots of halloween resources at your disposal!
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Celebrate Life. Halloween Style!