Zombies are slow, gruesome, expressionless creatures that rise from the grave and are a popular Halloween costume choice. Luckily, zombie costumes are pretty easy to make. All you have to do is choose the type of zombie you want, and customize your outfit and body before you're ready to go to a party or show off your zombie walk.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Deciding on the Zombie Style
Step 1. Dress up as a "traditional" zombie
If you want to dress up as the classic zombie type, try the traditional version. Be a walking zombie shuffling, slow and dumb with empty eyes. No special type of clothing is required for this type of zombie. Use whatever you have, like old jeans or a T-shirt.
Step 2. Create special zombies
Maybe you want to create a special themed zombie, like a zombie princess or a ballerina turning into a zombie. Try to be something cute, but have turned into a zombie.
- If you want to look realistic, use fake blood.
- You can use last year's costume because you can turn it into a zombie, as long as it's allowed to be "destroyed" into a costume.
- You can also become an interesting zombie by giving it a tinker with clothes. You can be a cheerleader, a pizza delivery guy, or the guy who was supposed to go to a prom and turn into a zombie.
Step 3. Create a couple or group theme
It's fun to dress up as a zombie with your partner, family, or friends. Some costume competitions even have this category.
- Be a zombie couple, like a zombie bride and groom, or maybe a famous couple from history come to life.
- Be a zombie family! You and your family can have fun pretending to be creatures that rose from the grave.
- Try visiting a flea clothing store for wedding outfits.
Step 4. Create zombie versions of famous characters
Turn superhero characters, television cartoons, movies or anything else into zombies! Choose your favorite character and experiment.
- Make sure you have the character costume selected. You can also choose a character that is simple and easy to identify, such as Little Red Riding Hood.
- This tactic is good if your costume is outdated and in poor condition. Since you'll be more or less damaging the costume you have (see below), this trick works well on costumes that are quite old.
Part 2 of 3: Zombie Outfits
Step 1. Fade and/or wrinkle your clothes
Veteran zombies don't wear branded clothes so you need to make the old clothes you wear look authentic. There are several ways to do this using household items.
- Use a spray bottle filled with water mixed with a few drops of brown or black food coloring, or black tea to make clothes look old. This technique works best on brightly colored clothes that look dingy, dirty, and worn.
- Spray clothes evenly to give them a more realistic appearance of aging.
- Use a bleach solution in a 1:1 ratio to "fade" clothes. Zombies are often exposed to the sun so their clothes look old and faded. This technique is great for making dark clothes look more worn.
Step 2. Destroy the clothes by ripping and tearing them
Zombie clothes often get caught in objects so that the faces of the clothes are full of tears. Add snags to clothing using a seam ripper or knife, or rub the grate over the desired area. You can also tear clothes by hand, especially in small holes.
- To make the rip look more realistic, cut in random areas and vary the number of cuts and thread counts.
- Remember that you will be wearing this outfit so don't rip it too much!
- Do not tear clothing in inappropriate areas.
Step 3. Dirt clothes with dirt and mud
Take your clothes outside, and rub them on the dirt and mud for a dirty zombie look. Add mildew to clothes by mixing liquid latex and oatmeal, then let them dry on clothes.
- If you have plenty of time, bury the clothes outside for a week.
- You can find liquid latex at a costume store, large supermarket, or online.
Step 4. Add blood to the clothes
Zombie outfits are covered in the blood of their victims so add them to your costume for added effect. Use commercial fake blood, or make your own, then splatter all over the clothes using your hands and a sponge.
- Make sure you take a few steps back to judge how the zombie outfit looks from a distance.
- To make an easy homemade fake blood, mix corn syrup with a few drops of red food coloring. Then add a little chocolate syrup to darken the blood.
Step 5. Burn and burn your fireproof clothing very carefully
This step must be done very carefully! Point the lighter at the clothes to burn or scorch parts for a zombie-like look.
- Burn clothes when not wearing them.
- You should only do this step in an open area and away from flammable objects, and have a fire extinguisher nearby.
Part 3 of 3: Zoning the Body
Step 1. Create wrinkles using liquid latex
Apply a thin layer of liquid latex to your face using a sponge, then stretch the skin tightly while drying the liquid latex with a hairdryer. This step will make your face look old and tired.
- Do it before you put on makeup so that the wrinkles appear deeper in the makeup.
- If you have a latex allergy, make a substitute for it. Combine 1 cup (240 ml) cold water, cup (60 ml) tapioca flour, 1 pack plain gelatin, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) solid coconut oil.
Step 2. Use makeup to lighten the face
Make sure your face is pale by dabbing pale skin-tone makeup on your face. Don't let the natural color of your face make you look alive!
Don't make your face blue and green because zombies are always very earthy in color
Step 3. Make the tongue look dead with food coloring
Zombies shouldn't have pink tongues so mix a drop of black food coloring with mouthwash and shake it in your mouth. Your tongue and mouth will be the color of the dead.
Step 4. Make your eyes appear sunken
The trick, add a purplish-brown color around the eye sockets and along the upper and lower lids.
Darken the eyelids with a black pencil over a purplish-brown color
Step 5. Put on colored contact lenses
Colored contact lenses are great for removing the "life" in the eyes. Try red, green, or another dark color lens.
Colored contact lenses should only be used with a prescription, even for non-corrective lenses. You can get it from an eye doctor and get a prescription
Step 6. Make open wounds on the face and body using liquid latex
Combine liquid latex and cotton, tissue, or toilet paper in a bowl and apply to face or arms. Allow the mixture to dry halfway before starting to pull the sheets. Take some of the dark earth color with a sponge, then add fake blood to the mixture.
- If the liquid latex wound is covered with hair, add a layer of Vaseline/petroleum jelly first.
- When you're done being a zombie, just peel off the molten latex to release it.
Step 7. Add blood to the face and body
Use a cotton swab to rub the blood onto your body and face.
- You can make blood drip or smear.
- Try making your nose bleed!
Step 8. Part and oil the hair
Don't forget to make your hair look disgusting to complete the zombie look. Toss the hair with a brush and tangle it. Use hairspray to keep your messy hair in place. Use conditioner while your hair is dry to make it look greasy and dirty.
- You can find colored hairspray if you want to add black or dark brown to your light hair. Purchase these products at the pharmacy.
- You can also tuck branches and leaves in your hair.
- If you don't want to mess with your hair or don't want to comb it later, buy a cheap wig that can be damaged.
Tips
- Experiment with fabrics and makeup ahead of time so you have plenty of time to prepare and fix problems before the event.
- Buy fake wounds. Apply to face, neck, arms, and various body parts for added effect!
- To create wrinkles, knead the garment and leave it under a heavy book overnight.
Warning
- Test all products on a small patch of skin beforehand to make sure you're not allergic. Avoid using liquid latex products if you are allergic to liquid latex.
- Try not to scare other people, especially young children or others who are easily frightened. Just be nice and have fun with everyone.
