How to Add Dirt to a Zombie Costume

With all of the high-profile films and books coming out these days, the flesh-eating, human-chasing, slow-rolling zombie is a Halloween favorite. There are lots of ways to make an artificial zombie costume, but for the most enthusiastic fans, authentic dirt is a good add-on. Here are some tips to follow when prepping a zombie costume with actual soil.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Get some good soil. Avoid just grabbing randomly from the ground, you may end up with some toxins and debris that you don't want. A good way to avoid this is to dig down into the earth until you see some pretty homogenous material, preferably dry or clay-type, that you can see has been thoroughly decomposed and blended into soil.

2. Find strategic areas for placing soil on your costume. For instance, you'd be better off streaking the front of your costume than the back, in case you'll be sitting on furniture during the night.

3. Apply dirt naturally. Toss it onto the costume and use it to create streaks.

4. Shake costume garments to remove clumps of soil. This also contributes to being clean and not dropping bits of earth when you walk into a party.

5. Decide if you want to use soil as part of a masking effect. Some will want to use straight make-up, but for really ardent zombie fans, smearing dirt on your face is the way to go. You might want to add streaks of dirt to your forehead or cheeks for a chilling effect.