How to Make Halloween Zombies

You can be as creative as you want with zombie makeup.

Zombies are fun and scary costumes at Halloween. There are no rigid concepts that you have to adhere to when creating the illusion of a walking dead person; you are free to be as creative as you want. For this zombie makeup, you will use liquid latex to create three-dimensional wounds in addition to traditional makeup. The clothes can be whatever you want, as long as they are a little rumpled and dirty.

Things You'll Need

• Liquid latex
• Non-latex makeup sponges
• Makeup powder
• Powder puff
• Theatrical makeup
• Blood gel
• Hair gel
• Clothes

Instructions

1. Apply two layers of liquid latex in random shapes on your cheeks, chin, forehead and/or neck. Use a non-latex makeup sponge for this application and let each layer dry completely.

2. Pick at the latex, opening holes and peeling it away from your skin in flaps.

3. Powder the latex with translucent makeup powder using a powder puff. This will keep the latex from sticking to itself.

4. Apply makeup to your entire face, neck and ears with a makeup sponge. You can use either green or blue-gray for a traditional zombie, or a pale flesh tone for a more realistic zombie.

5. Mix a small amount of dark gray makeup into the color that you used for your face to create a custom shadow color.

6. Apply the shadow color around your eyes, under your cheekbones and to your temples to make your face look sunken in. Blend the edges of the shadows into your face makeup so they look like natural shadows instead of painted-on lines.

7. Mix a small amount of white into your face makeup to create a custom highlight color. Apply this highlight onto your cheekbones, chin and around your eye sockets, blending it into the skin color the same way you did with the shadow.

8. Paint blood-red makeup onto the skin within the open latex wounds. If desired, use an ivory shade on forehead and chin wounds to create the illusion of exposed bone.

9. Powder the entire makeup.

10. Apply blood gel into the wounds for a fresh look.

11. Mess your hair up as much as possible, using hair gel to keep it messy.

12. Put on dirty, torn clothes to complete the costume. Apply makeup to your hands if desired.

Tips & Warnings

• Makeup on your hands will get on whatever you touch. Keep this in mind if you use it.

• Do not get liquid latex in your hair. It will be almost impossible to remove without cutting the hair off.

References

• "Dick Smith's Do-It-Yourself Monster Make-Up Handbook"; Dick Smith; June 1985
• "Stage Makeup: Sixth Edition"; Richard Corson; 1981