My brother in law is doing a ROTS Obi-Wan costume and we are looking for a quality synthetic beard/mustache. I figured someone on here might be able to point us in the right direction.
Quality synthetic facial hair?
- Thread starter Feezle-Nuts
- Start date
Raffles
Sr Member
Don't use any pre made hair. Buy some Crepe hair and dampen it. Iron it straight and tint it to mach the colour you are going for. Start under the chin gluing with spirit gum working up. Then trim to the right length. Last time I did this everyone was convinced it was real and I've still got oads left from a $6 braid.
I grow my own, the old-fashioned way. :cool
Doing Luke and Obi-Wan in the same day is gonna prevent him from doing that.
darthgordon
Sr Member
I'd go with this idea. Movie/TV make-up artists often use the same trick.
JunkSabers1138
Sr Member
i'd like some for myself for everyday use... since everyone keeps pushin me to shave my natural beard and I can't grow it to the desired length in a short time... seems like a good method.
patsmear
Sr Member
Also, pull the crepe hair through a hackle. If you don't want to pay for a hackle, you can use a hair brush. It will thin out the hair and make it more real looking. Apply the spirit gum to the chin and let it become tacky. When sticking the hair down. grab a small bundle and cut the ends at an angle, then press the hair tips down, if they don't take use the end of a rat tail comb to help press it down.
Also, you can get the hair and instructions here:
http://www.fxwarehouse.info/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MC1&Category_Code=Hair
Pat
Also, you can get the hair and instructions here:
http://www.fxwarehouse.info/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MC1&Category_Code=Hair
Pat
Exactly how is the hair attached? Is it strand by strand and just "poked" at the skin until its adheared or is the hair already on a screen and that is glued to the face. Am I making sense? Is that what the crepe is?
Darth Mule
Sr Member
I tried a couple searches and ran up blank, but the best way to go is to have a ventilated facial appliance. This is basically a piece of lace that has had hair tied into it. Like a wig for your face. The crepe hair method above is fine, but it feels awful, it itches, and it takes hours to put on and make look good.
If you have any theatres in town that emply a hair and makeup staff, they might be able to either point you in the right direction, or make something for you for a cost.
If you have any theatres in town that emply a hair and makeup staff, they might be able to either point you in the right direction, or make something for you for a cost.
http://www.funfolly.com/h/w/wigchr4.htm
You can order this stuff off any theatrical supply house. Here's the first one I clicked on while doing a google search for theatrical beards. For an Obi-Wan, you'd want to go for the grey full character beard with either the grey Basic Char or European moustache.
You can order this stuff off any theatrical supply house. Here's the first one I clicked on while doing a google search for theatrical beards. For an Obi-Wan, you'd want to go for the grey full character beard with either the grey Basic Char or European moustache.
Darth Mule
Sr Member
Yes! That's what I was talking about. They spirit gum on, and look realistic, and don't take a year and a day to lay in. Good find Tricloud
sctcarts
Sr Member
Thought I'd chime in since I've been a working theatre actor and props master for a number of years.
The store bought beards are typically made of human hair, but they're somewhat tough to deal with. And they always look strange close up. They're meant to do well on stage, with distance. The plus is they're hand ventilated on french lace (also called theatre lace) and can be reused, and with the right amount of care and patience, they can be styled well too.
If you're doing something for a night (party), or for a photo, I would suggest hand laying crepe hair, as was suggested earlier. It takes a bit of time, but it's not too difficult to learn, and you can really get a good look with styling. There are various resources out there for how to do it, but I would suggest picking up Richard Corson's STAGE MAKEUP (I think it's in the 8th or 9th edition now)- always a great reference to have on hand and is considered by many to be the bible of stage makeup, and it has tons of information that is also applicable to TV and screen work. Some of the best Makeup FX guys in the business started with this book. Look into it!
:cool
The store bought beards are typically made of human hair, but they're somewhat tough to deal with. And they always look strange close up. They're meant to do well on stage, with distance. The plus is they're hand ventilated on french lace (also called theatre lace) and can be reused, and with the right amount of care and patience, they can be styled well too.
If you're doing something for a night (party), or for a photo, I would suggest hand laying crepe hair, as was suggested earlier. It takes a bit of time, but it's not too difficult to learn, and you can really get a good look with styling. There are various resources out there for how to do it, but I would suggest picking up Richard Corson's STAGE MAKEUP (I think it's in the 8th or 9th edition now)- always a great reference to have on hand and is considered by many to be the bible of stage makeup, and it has tons of information that is also applicable to TV and screen work. Some of the best Makeup FX guys in the business started with this book. Look into it!
:cool
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