Recap Zombie SFX Makeup panel

I have held zombie makeup panels several times now and it is always so much fun. Last time was together with Bettcanard Design. 

In this post I will add some of the links and tips I talked about during my panel for those who are interested in trying this at home. You can also read about other SFX makeup effects, like gelatin here. 

When I want to make a zombie makeup I start with designing the look and looking for inspirations. And I like to focus on two or three large effects as to not loose myself in details. But still you need to address everything from ruffled hair to dirty fingernails. So perhaps a little gut falling out and a broken jaw is enough "large effects" and then you make some small wounds and add blood an d dirt all over. 

Photo: cghub.com

So when you know what to make you need to know how to make it. The internet is full of tutorials, and I have even written some of them.

How to make an exposed teeth mask

To add dimention and realism to your makeup, never use only one red color for the flesh, I say always use three or more to get the best effect. 

Photo: danarki

And my wonderful sister have made a few others: BettchanardDesign.blogspot.com 

Here are a few other online tutorials and tips.

• wikihow.com/Look-Like-a-Zombie
• instructables.com/id/The-Perfect-Zombie/
• wikihow.com/Make-Fake-Blood

During my panel I showed you a youtube video, here is a link. NB: you should never use scissors to open the latex skin, a tweezer and then rip it with your fingers is safer.

Video by: NomNomWonThanh

I also showed a clip from the Syfy channel series "FaceOff" where the contestants get the task of creating a horde of zombies (season four, episode seven). I have learned a lot from this series and would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about SFX makeup in general. 

Equipment – what do you need, and what I showed off during my panel. Most of these you can get at Joke shops, Panduro, well stocked makeup store or on internet (like MouldLife.co.uk)

• Liquid latex (make sure it’s the kind you can put on your skin, read the description on the bottle)
• Tissue paper (try to use the ones without prints)
• Glue, again that is meant for putting on your skin (Mastix, Spirit Gum, Pros Aid)
• Foundation color, crème color is the best here, either pale skin color, white, greenish (I have one called corpse from Kryolan)
• Sponges, q-tips and brushes. And whatever you dip in latex will get ruined.
• Acrylic color (NB: not use close to eyes or mouth) Use at least 3 colors, red, deep red, dark brown. You can also use lipstick and other makeup to color you wounds. 
• Fake blood (either make it, see link above, or buy it)
• Stipple sponge (great for making bruises and smudge blood)

Stipple sponge

Here are some wounds I made after the panel at Metrocon, model Tom Vida Johannessen. It only took about 10 minutes to make. 

Photo: Kake Yamamura/Kake Cosplay

In addition here is my human heart clutch purse, which is also made out of liquid latex and tissue paper. 

Other zombie effects can be made by using a bald cap with some random chuncks of hair glued to it, or add guts. Here I have filles condoms with cotton and fake blood. 

For more tutorials on other types of spesial effects makeup, see my SFX makeup writeup. 

Zombie mashup

This is a presentation of some of the Zombie makeups I have made the past years. Hope you enjoy. Here is a tutorial for how I made the makeup with torn face and exposed teeth

Photo: Danarki

Photo: Danarki

Photo: Henrik Helino

Photo: Danarki Editing: Digikill

Photo: Aslak Sødal

Photo: Karin Olava Pettersen

Next on my Zombie agenda is helping Powerstream Productions with makeup tips for their upcoming zombie movie. Stay tuned. 

More brains! Zombie part two

So I have this ready from my Zombie time post. Please note that all blood and teeth are fake. The blood is acryllic paint, and the "teeth" are made from fake nails, please see previous post about how this appliance was made.

Next step will be to make the rest of the face. First put on contact lenses, I think it makes a zombie makeup so much better. 

Then the process is much the same as last time, put latex and paper over your face. 

Blend with a sallow facepaint. The rough texture enhances dead zombie skin. 

And peel back your skin. 

Now you put the other mask in this hole and glue down with spirit gum. Seal the edges with more latex. Paint the inside of the skin edges/flaps red with brown edges, add some blood and dark circles under the eyes. Since I was going to the movies I did not use too much blood as to not make as mess on their interior, but next time the teeth and skin will be dripping. 

All blood and gore effects are makeup

And next time I will use this in an Alice in Zombieland style :)

Zombie time!

Want to see more of the costumes I make, follow me on facebook: "Chrixdesignandprops"

I love zombies as much as the next girl and can not pass on an opertunety to dress up. Warm bodies is featured soon and Banzaicon is around the bend. I want to make a torn jaw, exposed teeth mask. 

The idea is to make this in two stages, the torn flesh I will make on application day, but the exposed teeth I can make now (saving time on application day)

First up, teeth, which are made from fake nails and cut into shape. 

Precut and aligned

Next step - latex. Here I have stippled liquid latex (69 kr at Standard, like this one) over the area I want my mask to cover (sorry for bad quality mobile photos, best I had at the moment)

And layer up with toilet paper and cover it with latex again. Let it dry. 

Same with upper jaw

Adding teet, which are glued on with spirit gum (also known as mastix)

More teeth

Gums. If you look closely on this picture you will see that i have added more texture above and between the teeth, creating gums and securing the teeth. 

Paint job
I used thick acryllic paint, which gives a a wet look and is cheap. Red and brown are mixed here. 

And darker brown around the edges. 

Full front. An ekstra nail is added to the chin as to create the effect of exposed jaw bone, buildt up with extra tissue around the edges. 

Take it off and I have a reusable mask. And it is easier to finish detailing it. 

A little more detailing, painting under and between the teeth. And making some brown strikes on the teeth itself. 

This is all for now. When the time comes that I will wear it I will add more fake blood, but it is easier to store when it is dry and clean like now. To apply it later I will use more latex or spirit gum. It is important that the area around the mouth is attached thoroughly. The edges however will be covered with more fake skin - but more on that in my next tutorial.  

See my next post on how to make the rest of the makeup