How to Make Fake Heads

Hey, everyone, and welcome to the technical blog for Indy Mogul's Episode#14 (fake heads).This build was a lot of fun and I hope you guys enjoy the episode. Send in your fake head videos and remember you can submit your project ideas here! And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes!

Shopping List

1. Styrofoam head.
(Many different websites sell these, but the cheapest I found were at www.valuedisplay.com )

2. Flesh colored spray paint.
(They don't actually make a "fleshtone" spray paint, so just get the one that looks closest to your actor's skin tone.)

3. Make-up kit
(Don't you people get it yet? Buy a simple make-up kit with some different flesh tones and reds.)

4. A wig.
(The foam heads come bald, So unless your actor is bald you'll need a wig.)

5. Glasses, mustaches, etc.
(Distinctive items like this that can be worn by both your actor and dummy head will help to fool the viewer.)

6. Fake blood.
(No matter which way you end up "offing" this poor dummy head. You'll probably want some fake blood on hand. Mix Corn syrup, red food coloring and a splash of chocolate syrup for yummy blood.)

7. Liquid Latex.
(To add some "fleshyness" to the face.)

Step 1: Creation of the Heads

So as you saw in the episode each fake head got the same initial treatment. Two coats of liquid latex, one coat of spray paint, then a make-up session to add details. If your head is not going to be seen up close you can skip the latex. All it really does is help fill in some of the little bumps in the surface of the styrofoam. The make-up mostly consisted of darking the lips and adding powder and a lighter flesh tone to the face. I darkened the eyes and apply eye brows before realizing that glasses would cover all that up. If you could get your actor to sit down next to you when you color the head that would be best.

Comments

[tinker234]

i need some help i want to make it look like the head was impaled but all over like jigsaws venus fly trap i hope to make something like that

[m5industriesinc]

like the gun shot one!!!!!!

[drbobay]

Very nice and funny too, in a twisted sort of way, really something we can all use. Thanks. Great safety tip. Well done

[bob111]

Please , how can I fake my face in plastic material your job was grates!!

[canengri]

If you want your face on the heads, you'll need to make a cast of your own face and you'll need someone else to do it for you as you need to lie flat while someone else applies the plaster. You MUST remember you need to breath while its being done so you need to leave mouth and nose holes and do not do this when your nose is blocked with a cold as it can become very uncomfortable. Plaster bandage laid over your face is good, which takes up the contours. However, you'll need to grease your face to protect your skin, particularly the eyebrows and (if you're a man) any other facial hair or the plaster will rip it out like a bad waxing when you come to take it off! Similarly you'll need to protect your hair too. Wear a hair band (I'm referring to the wide ones used to hold hair back for make-up application) or a bald wig if you want to cast the dome of your skull. Do not be a twit here, do not do your whole head or you will not be able to get the cast off! I have known one person who nearly did this so I'm not being stupid - I have to issue the warning. We used to have to do this all the time when I was an Art Tech in a school. Do not use cling film over your face either as you are at risk of suffocating. Also, the plaster heats as it dries so be prepared for some warmth! Gently peal the mask off and do not be tempted to do this too soon or you will lose the shape. Then you'll need to make a cast of the cast, so you get a positive from the negative. You can do this with layers of latex on the inside and peel these off when totally dry. You can then lay this over the base mask and you should have a rough representation of your own features. Alternatively look at this link on this site for casting in alginate. http://www.instructables.com/id/How_To_Cast_a_Face_in_Plaster/

[mangadragon]

I believe that was the whole point of this instructable.

[BraisedDuck]

That sample head looks like "weird al" yankovic!!

[GoodKatrina]

Great Instructable!! I'm curious...has anyone tried using this in the carpool lane? (minus the fake blood, of course) Did it work? can you post a photo of it in your car? THANKS!

[rip333]

Is it just me or do the heads look like Weird Al?

[csmiler]

Yeah..i thought so too....Weird huh?

[csmiler]

Huzzah for the Eye Stab!!!!!!Awsome!!

[freshmanfred0000]

Styrofoam skull cast in your home made ballistics gel may have worked nice. the last death was pretty fake looking though it was still pretty cool

[fancypenguin845]

the gunshot looked best cause you couldnt see the raw styrofoam on the insideof the head or hear the syrofoam crunching

[cheesefetty]

i love the eye stabbing

[Evil Bike]

gunshot

[codongolev]

definetly the headsmash.

[schoolyardheroesfan]

I loved the brick deth!

[Pancakeslayer]

lol, loved the eye impalement

[MovieMadMan]

Loved the eye death.. creepy yet entertaining. What did you make the clone in a can gell from? Tuna?

[jolshefsky]

Ordinarily I don't watch videos because they all play in studdervision ever since the codecs passed the now old computer's power sometime in 2003. But your instructional video is excellent: well-paced, well-shot and edited, informative, and best of all funny. In case you're taking comment votes, I'd like to see the head-smash in slow-motion. :-)

[Post Script]

No... clones don't have souls! lol that movie was funny!

[TylerG2008]

The test film was good. I risked crapping myself while laughing!

[Allonsy]

nice vid... poor clones......

[piper1234]

wonder why always have to be some related with kill someone o something, like a clone :S

[kirnex]

In the intro pic, is that John Holmes?

[connorcancount!]

haha nice.might try.

[joejoerowley]

Awesome instructable!! Big fan of your show. I loved the joke about clone heaven. Very funny!