Applying facial hair for a stage production is a great way to help establish a character. Whether old or young, grey, grizzled or a five o'clock shadow, facial hair on the stage communicates a message. The type of facial hair used should be determined by the age, social standing, experiences or purpose of the character being portrayed.
Begin with a clean face and no moisturizer. Facial hair will not stick to greasy skin.
2
Decide what kind of facial hair your character requires. If it's just a five o'clock shadow, use stippling and a stipple sponge instead of actual hair.
3
Choose whether the beard, mustache or other hair should be curly or straight. Crepe hair comes curly and will need to be steamed for a straighter look.
4
Apply spirit gum or liquid latex to the area of the face where hair will be applied. Work in one area at a time so spirit gum won't dry too quickly.
5
Position a small amount of hair at a time, especially when building a natural looking beard. You can always add more for a certain look.
6
Trim beard or other areas after the right amount of hair is applied until desired look is achieved. This includes eyebrows and side burns.
7
Remove beard carefully at the end of each performance to be used again. If it is made well, you should be able to use the same facial hair over and over.
Tips & Warnings
When building a beard, determine the length you want and apply the longest pieces first, working from the inside out.
Apply spirit gum or liqiud latex to a freshly shaven face. Adhesive will stick to stubble and be painful when removing.
Crepe hair should be unwound carefully and steamed in sections with an iron for the desired look.
Stage actors are spotlighted by powerful lights, which wash out their natural coloring and details. Theater makeup, more pigmented than daytime makeup,...
