Halloween Dead Costume Ideas

Dressing up as one of the dead, or undead, is a popular and classic Halloween costume. Whether you choose to be a zombie, vampire or the unfortunate victim of a tragic accident, you can create homemade costumes using a few accessories from Halloween stores and other materials that you probably already have in your home.

Zombie

Zombie costumes can range from simply wearing old clothes and pale makeup to bloody costumes with gory wounds. Dig through your closet for old clothes that you won't mind ripping up or visit a resale shop to pick up some expendable clothing. Zombie foundation makeup can be found at many Halloween stores; it gives skin a green-gray tint similar to that of move zombies.

Burn Victim

Smear soot onto old clothes to give them a burnt and blackened appearance. Adults may use a lighter to burn holes randomly in the clothes, but take care not to ignite the clothing and start a fire. Repeat this process with a wig, or smear a little soot onto your natural hair. Create burns by spreading a layer of white craft glue over your face and hands. Let the glue dry and it will start to crack and peel. Color the dried glue by applying red blush and black eyeshadow with makeup brushes to resemble blistering and charred skin. Spread a thin layer of petroleum jelly over your finished makeup to give the skin a shiny appearance.

Vampire

Victorian-style vampires are known as snazzy dressers, but you don't have to follow tradition. Wear any type of clothing you like and apply a layer of white makeup or pale makeup foundation to any exposed skin. Smudge a little black eyeliner under your eyes to give your face a hollow appearance. The most important aspect of a vampire costume is your fangs. While a cheap pair of plastic fangs will suffice, look for custom-fit fang kits. These kits contain wax which you can mold to fit your mouth perfectly and hold the fangs in place.

Accident Victim

Missing limbs and gory open wounds make impressive Halloween costumes; while prosthetics are available at retail stores, these effects can be made at home. Start by applying white craft glue to your skin and then piling tissues or toilet paper onto the glue to form the outside of the wound. Keep adding layers of glue and tissues until you are happy with the wound's appearance. Color in the inside of the wound with a washable black marker and then pour fake blood liberally over the entire area. This method can be used to create the look of a severed arm by tucking your arm into the body of a sleeveless top and building the tissue up on the shoulder.

References

• "Special Effects Makeup;" Janus Vinther; 2003