Things You'll Need:
- Roll of plaster impregnated gauze strips
- 1 Cup of DRY Plaster of Paris
- 2-3 plastic or paper bowls
- warm water
- petroleum jelly
- scissors
- paper towels
- cloth head band
- cover up drape sheet
- clean up soap & towel
- hand mirror, or hanging mirror if you're doing yourself)
- table and comfortable chair
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Step 1
Put the headband around the person's head you want to mask. Make sure all hair is out of the way. Then coat the petroleum jelly to the entire face –being sure to put extra along hair line, on eyebrows, eyelashes, and lips.
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Step 2
Mix 1/2C of warm or cool water and 1/3c Plaster of Paris in bowl.
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Step 3
Cover each plaster strip- one at a time- into the mixture. Starting at the outer corners of the face, apply one at a time to face, overlapping each as you go.
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Step 4
If you want the mask to have the eyes and mouth covered you of course, will need to cover these parts with plaster as well. Save this for last!
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Step 5
Repeat layering of plaster strips for 2 layers- 3 around the delicate jaw area.
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Step 6
Add a bit more plaster to your mixture to make it more thick and creamy. Then apply to evenly smooth out mask.
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Step 7
Wait 12-15 minutes for the mask to harden and dry.
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Step 8
When the masked subject feels the mask is hard, have them wiggle their face and jaw to loosen the mask. Then very gently and slowly pull the mask downwards and remove it.
Comments
joner337 said
on 7/21/2009 An alternative would be to use a service like http://www.ThatsMyFace.com that can do color lifelike facemasks from one or two photos of someone. A bit like an affordable Madame Tussauds!
tracysmith159 said
on 6/1/2009 Interesting make a life mask. Great art for a wall too.
irussell said
on 5/4/2009 I like the idea of making a life mask. Looks like fun!
kristara said
on 5/3/2009 Interesting project. Making a life mask would be a fun activity for the whole family
Felicia822 said
on 5/2/2009 Great article on how to make a life mask, Very cool project, Thanks RRC 5*