If your idea of Halloween fun is creating zombie makeup that will horrify your loved ones, then you're in luck. Here's some quick tips on using liquid latex, which you can order online or pick up from a costume store, to create the ugliest, scariest, grossest, undeadest zombie of all.
Latex Mask Basics
Whenever you decide to use latex to construct a Halloween mask, you need to remember a few simple basics. Apply some liquid latex to a small area of your skin. Let it sit for a while to see if your skin reacts.
If you don't have any irritation, then you need to shave any skin that will be directly in contact with the latex. Moisturize your skin thoroughly, and let it dry. Now, you can begin to craft your wounds and gore to disgusting perfection.
Getting the Zombie Look
Zombie Foundation: For perfectly horrible zombie makeup, start with full white face makeup. Add a slightly greenish tinge for that ghoulish undertone. Use a sponge rather than your fingertips to apply the greasepaint to get just the right look.
Flaky Flesh: A zombie's skin must be flaking off, as he just crawled out from his grave. Use thin coats of liquid latex. You'll need two or three layers of latex to get the look you want. You can use this same technique to "tear" the skin as well.
Wrinkles Galore: To make a wrinkled face, puff out your cheeks when you apply the latex. Hang tough because you need to keep those cheeks puffed until the latex dries. Use a hair dryer to speed up the drying time, but keep it at a medium heat.
Finishing Touches: Dab on some brown, and then add green, yellow and purple. Keep everything uneven, so it looks realistic, and then use a stiff sponge to add a few brown and black streaks so they look like dirt. When applying colors to your face makeup, remember to use darker colors to the areas of your face you want to recede and lighter colors to the areas you want to bring forward.
Use some baby powder on your face makeup after you are done applying the greasepaint, but before you ooze on the blood.
It doesn't hurt to practice a time or two before the big night. When it comes to zombies, the better the makeup, the bigger the scare.
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