How To Make Zombie Makeup

Hey everyone,

If you've made indie films, you've probably though about making (or made) a zombie movie. I don't know why, but zombies are an irresistible gem in the lexicon of potential movie subjects (not to mention Halloween costumes).

Watch our video to see in action the steps to make Zombie makeup. And if you enjoy it, subscribe to our itunes and visit our site.

As always we invite viewers to improve our design and send us video clips of your projects. All you have to do is upload, and you could be featured in our monthly user submitted podcast.

Well first things first. Here's the shopping list:

1. Liquid Latex (flesh tone).
(You should be able to buy this at any decent costume shop, or you can get it online at places like http://www.liquidlatexworld.com/ )

2. Toilet Paper.
(Or "Bathroom Tissue" for all you people who are afraid to say "toilet".)

3. A Basic, multi-color make-up kit.
(I used a 5 color "aging kit" that I bought at a costume shop, but you could use any make-up as long as it has some flesh tones, reds, and maybe some greens. It all depends on how "dead" you want your zombie to look.)

4. White face cream.
(This is going to be the base of almost any movie make-up you'll do. It's like primer for your effect. You can get this at ANY costume shop.)

A few warnings...

First things first, when working with liquid latex you need to make sure your actor/actress is not allergic. Apply a small patch to the under side of their forearm and wait at least 15 minutes to see if it gets red and swollen. Most people are not allergic, but you don't want a pissed off actor with a red and puffy face in your life...believe me! Now that you know your subject is allergy free, have them wash there face, then put their hair back with something. Also men (or women I guess) should shave all excess hair off their face. Eyebrows are OK, but a beard or some stubble is really going to be painful when you try and remove the latex. Latex in your hair is a very bad thing. Heed these few warnings and your zombie make-up will go much smoother.

Step 1: The base layer

First thing you do is apply a thin, but even layer of liquid latex to the subjects face. This will be our base layer. Wait 15 minute for it to dry. You'll notice that as liquid latex dries it turns mostly clear.

Comments

[chanceoc]

These instructions really helped! I went on a Halloween cruise and have no make-up experience. For the costume party, I went as a Zombie Tourist and everyone was super impressed that I did the make-up myself. I've included a pic, but the camera flash doesn't really do the look justice. Thanks!

[frenzy]

This posting has won today's "I Made It" Challenge. For winning you will receive a 3 month pro membership!

Thanks for using instructables!

http://www.instructables.com/community/I-Made-It-Challenge-Is-Back-Win-A-Pro-Membership/

[bobs cycle shop]

simple, yet effective, a perfect 'refresher course' if you will!
it'll come in handy tonight! :-D

[posraweitak]

im doing an awesome halloween party this year and i know just about every thing there is on haunting. very cool.

[superman.r.83]

yeah the video sucked, but when it comes down to it... just do what you love. Check this out!

[Chipmunk]

Cool tutorial. I'm trying to find some liquid latex, but I'm not sure where too look? I have a fancy dress party on friday. And I'm going as a zombie. XD I dont want to get some online though.

[flyingpuppy]

Here's a cheap latex-like replacement you can make yourself: http://www.diypics.com/how-make-latex-fx-makeup/

[SnuffyDaPenguin]

I bought some at our local Party City, it was only like $2 for a decent amount.

[Amerika Wastid]

It seems like chain costume stores in malls don’t carry liquid latex. You’ll need to visit a professional costume store that caters to theater folk and the like. Check your local yellow pages. Or ask a drama club kid.

[Lanvi]

Awesome! I got so much info about how to do this to myself tomorrow for our schools halloween party!
Thanks for making this!

[PoppaCritter]

My Wife and I used the techniques here for a Halloween party, and it came out great! (The crowd loved the make-up). Just wanted to say 'Thanks!!!' for the awesome instructions!

[krei]

I didn't really look at the instructables. I just do my face make up like a zombie very often for pictures. Tell me what you guys think and if I should make an instructable myself.

[vaguilar1]

how did you do this?! thinking of being a hot zombie for holloween, hard to look pretty and gross at the same time

[LeahWasHere]

Your zombie makeup is AMAZING!!!!!!!

[monetbreeding12]

OMG!!! i LOVE your make up! i've been looking for good ways to do zombie make up but so far the instructions i found were very low quality. i have really dark skin so im not sure how well the toilet paper thing would work on me and im sure you know how hard it is being a girl and looking for good make up tips on how to be a zombie...but i would LOVE IT if you could make an instructable about how you did this. the gash on your face and the bullet wound have been the best looking that i've found yet!

[LeahWasHere]

Mixing coffee and fake blood really works well

[rbrooks7]

Great how-to! I'm going to use this on a local TV segment I'm doing on zombie-related websites for Halloween. I'll post the link when they put it on their site.

I'm also going to include a site on surviving the (inevitable) zombie apocalypse and Zombie Ipsum, the lorem ipsum alternative for the undead. http://www.zombieipsum.com

[mumblessinclair]

awesome tutorial. I used this when I submitted my zombie photo to http://zombieambience.com/

hopefully I win this shirt from them :D

thanks again!

[nmiller14]

thats a stereo typ zombies eat flesh not brains >:(

[fmondaca]

Great Instructable, I mixed this one with the fake blood instructable, using Hershey's Chocolate and red food coloring, worked really good, everyone wanted to take pictures with me =)

[nmiller14]

asome looks like a zombie in dead island

[ddahl]

Latex contains ammonia. That's the rank smell. You get used to it though. :) P.S. It's also what "eyelash glue" is, so anyone applying false eyelashes, skip the $7 .5oz tube at the drugstore and get a 3oz bottle for $2.50. ;)

[camp6ell]

what did you use on your ears to get them to stick out like that?

[dtillis08]

hahahhaa

[courtchaosx]

this is sweet. if I can dress up as a zombie for halloween at work, I will be doing this. Heck even if not, I'm going to be doing this!

[DarkLotusChylde]

Be careful when applying facial make-up. If it is a hot day you can easily over heat using a method like this. I know from experience. A little spirit gum will save you from using latex on the whole face. TP gives a great effect ! I love using it. If you tug on the dried "skin" to make a cavity you can make a small hole and inject stage blood under the skin. Looks ahsum and it actually weeps blood!

[ScubaSteve]

My bottle of liquid latex really SMELLS! Is this normal?

[multisync]

Yes, I think so =P
mine does as well...

[Jawatech]

Thats pretty cool! However, if i see anything that even looks like a zombie im killing it. no questions asked. So be careful wearing that. :D im serious.

[theo316]

Settle down..Jawatech..It's halloween! lets not take things to seriously...ugh

[Plazman]

I don't know about a bandana zombie. I think zombies should have matted hair that looks like they were lying in the dirt for a while. I would be less scared of a bandana zombie than a messy hair zombie. Make no mistake though, I will kill them both in a heartbeat.

[watermelonhead]

The bandana's to keep the hair out of the way.

[bowmaster]

Go for a head shot. Kills all types off zombies.

[kyeguy13]

lol

[unknown24]

ooh. scary...

[eischool]

gr8 art for SFX and Zombie

o have found a cool link for latex, zombie, haloween mask

please check out interested Latex Masks.

[grillslinger]

Great job! It's amazing what can be done with toilet paper! Great instructable, too! Here is a zombie using the latex and toilet paper method. I threw some cotton in as well.

[matt_sawyers]

Hey look! Your new profile pic! ;)

[ac1D]

nice effect, but try to directly do step 6 when your done with step 2. this will avoid the tp to "crack"

[mg0930mg]

but the cracking makes it more realistic. :D