Halloween is by far the most magical time of year; the air is cold and crisp, evenings are lit by glowing pumpkins and the smell of freshly baked Barmbrack pervades every corner.
Kids and grown-ups alike get to play dress up and pretend to be whatever their heart desires. From ninjas and mermaids to zombies and ghouls, All Hallows Eve is filled to the brim with imaginative costumes.
However, all that creativity means that it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd.
If you want to give your Halloween costume a little extra oomph, why not add some scary scars to push your look over the edge?
In the video above, we're showing you how to apply fake scars. In the video below, we're showing you how to remove them correctly.
How to apply fake scars
1. Begin by applying your adhesive to your prosthetic with a cotton bud, spreading it evenly across its surface.
Top Tip: If an adhesive is not given with the prosthetic spirit gum, pros-aide or liquid latex can be used.
2. Tap the adhesive lightly until it is tacky before applying it to the skin.
3. Once applied, ensure all the edges are stuck down firmly.
Top Tip: Prosthetics should be applied to areas that aren’t prone to a lot of movement e.g. forehead, collarbone. If you want it to look like a scar is running through your eye, cut one in half and cover the surrounding eye area with red face paint or eyeshadow.
4. To anchor the prosthetic and blend the edges, dip a sponge in liquid latex and lightly stipple it around the edges of the prosthetic.
5. Once the latex dries and becomes clear, you can apply foundation to cover the edges more if necessary.
6. Once the prosthetic is to your liking you can apply fake blood with a small brush or cotton bud.
Tools used:
- Cotton bud
- Sponge wedges
- Small brush
- Scissors
Products used:
- Liquid Latex
- Fake blood
- Face paint
Product info:
- The products used above were from Kryolan, however, there are plenty of other brands available.
- Try to avoid cheap liquid latex as most cheap liquid latex contains high amounts of ammonia which can sting and cause your eye to tear up when in close vicinity.
- Try to avoid cheap fake blood as it can sometimes stain - aim for a water-based product.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
How to remove fake scars
1. To correctly remove the prosthetics and avoid damaging your skin, use a product specifically made for removing prosthetics.
2. Pour some of the remover into a separate container and dip a cotton bud into the remover.
3. Gently swipe the cotton bud around the edges of the prosthetic until the edges become loose and you are able to gently peel away the prosthetic, wiping it with remover as you go.
4. Once the prosthetic is off, use a larger cotton pad and the remover to wipe away access latex.
5. Once free of latex, use your own makeup remover or micellar water to wipe away remaining makeup and fake blood.
Note: Fake blood will likely spread once water is added so be prepared to spend some time removing it.
Tools used:
- Cotton buds
- Cotton pads
Products used:
- Adhesive remover - we used Ben Nye "Bond Off" but any brand will do.
- Micellar water
Tara Fetherston was our make-up artist in the above videos, you can check out her SFX creations on Instagram @tarafetherstonfx
