Repeat steps two and three for each side of the head, applying adhesive to the skin by the sideburns and in front of the ears. Do one side and then the other to help you make sure that when you press the bald cap to your skin, the top and sides remain smooth. A bald cap is a wig-like cap simulating the appearance of a bald or partially bald head. As part of an actor's make-up, it is often used to make a person appear older. [1] Bald caps are a versatile medium. They form the basis of many creative fantasy make-ups. [2] Mark the head using the DVD pens (I use different colours for each edge) such that the first line covers the entire area of the cap, the second is about 1/4" (six millimetres) inside the first, the third is 1/4" inside that and the fourth 1/4" inside that. See the picture for a visual guide. Applying a bald cap is an important skill. It’s one our students learn as part of their special effects makeup training at Brushstroke. Harrie Sheppey is one of our 7 month ITEC students. This was her first time working with a bald cap and it turned out really well.

What are the techniques of applying a bald cap? Do techniques vary depending on which type of bald cap use? Bald Caps should last 10-12 hours but the mobility of face can be an issue. Actors can be very expressive so it may require touching up during the film day. It’s important to be aware that the actor’s skin can get sore when applying daily. One of The Iver Makeup Academy’s brilliant award-winning Tutors Renata Gilbert explains Bald Caps and their use in Film and TV. With over 20 years’ experience in the industry, working on well-loved TV dramas and iconic films, she is an “all-rounder” artist, as they say in the business, working with hair, makeup and prosthetics. Don’t be afraid to pull the bald cap tight. If you’ve done a good job of gluing the front of it down, it won’t come loose and keeping it tight will prevent wrinkles from forming. Want the opportunity to be taught by our award-winning teaching team – view our variety of courses here.The main difference between latex and silicone bald caps, aside from the price, is how they are blended into the skin to hide the seam between the cap and your skin. We’ll discuss this a bit later, but it will impact the materials you need to apply the bald cap. This is where having an extra set of hands and eyes is important, since you’ll need some small, sharp scissors to cut a slit for your ear to come through. Start by cutting a line straight up so that you can pull your ear through and then trim it bit by bit until the bald cap lies flat but still covers your hair. Image credit: Images Courtesy Trent Cannon/Cosplay Central Considerations that need to be factored are what will the Actor be doing during filming, what location you are filming in i.e., heat, cold, wet, dry, action shots, how long it will be on for, any allergies and how much hair the actor has that needs to be wrapped etc.

Silicon bald caps tend to be used in higher budget films and have a translucency that looks more effective which is much harder to replicate when using Vinyl caps. Anne Hathaway had a Silicon bald cap cast for her role in The Witches.We prioritise quality and realism. We source our cruelty free, vegan products from trusted brands including Mehron and Ben Nye, each is well-known for their expertise in the industry, ensuring that you receive professional-grade items that meet your expectations. One thing you will notice when getting a head is the large variety of cranium sizes! Below are my mannequin head and my styrene one, note the difference. Latex is very elastic (they make condoms out of it) so you could just use the smallest one and have done with it. However if your model has a big head or a lot of hair, and has to wear the cap for any length of time it makes sense to try and get a reasonable fit to start with. If you can only get a polystyrene head then you should consider preparing it for use. You can make bald caps using the head as is, but eventually the soft surface of the head will start to break down and lumps will get pulled out of it. Step Two: Apply Adhesive to Front Hairline Image credit: Images Courtesy Trent Cannon/Cosplay Central The bald cap is pulled over the head a bit like putting a swimming cap on. It’s powdered to help and, though it’s reasonably strong, you need to be gentle as the cap plastic is naturally very thin.