Bald caps come in a few different materials. The cheapest and most readily available are latex bald caps, which are usually thinner and slightly more delicate than some of the more robust materials. The other common type is a silicone bald cap, which is stronger but also usually four to five times the cost. Since both of these are single use only, costs can really add up as you learn to apply the prosthetic. The next steps are to make the bald cap look like your skin. This can be done with foundation and make up or, if your character is like mine and has a more fantasy or sci-fi bend, a lot of body paint. Whichever route you take, you should aim to hide the seam as much as possible to create a natural look. The varieties of Bald caps have slightly different application techniques. The Silicon cap is created to blend seamlessly onto the actor’s face and because it is cast, it should fit like a glove and in theory should be an easier application. Crafted from durable latex, our professional grade bald caps provide a seamless and realistic appearance when applied correctly. The latex material mimics the texture and appearance of skin, ensuring a natural and believable result. If you are looking for a stunning transformation for a cosplay event or other character purposes, our latex bald caps are the perfect foundation for your look. 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.

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. 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.

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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. You need to give it A LOT of coats of PVA glue to seal and strengthen it. I took 3 weeks and 25 thin coats of PVA, allowing each one to dry in between. This gives a really tough and non-porous 'skin' to the head so I can use it for all sorts of work. Obviously it won't take heat or serious chemicals which will both melt it.

What are the different elements of bald cap application and how long does it take? (i.e., tools and materials)?I'm using blue latex here so you can see what's going on. the latex can be brushed on if preferred, but I find that the stippling effect of the sponges leaves the final surface of the bald cap with a very realistic 'skin' texture.

Cut your cheap bath sponges into 2" (50mm) cubes with a pair of scissors. Coat one side of the sponge with liquid latex and then carefully start to dab the latex onto the head. take the latex all the way to the edge of your outermost line.A vinyl bald cap is anything from 45 minutes to 3 hours but depends on many factors including the type of hair being covered, what the finished look needs to be and what time and budget is available to create it. Step Two: Apply Adhesive to Front Hairline Image credit: Images Courtesy Trent Cannon/Cosplay Central

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. 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. 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]If the latex begins to dry out you will see it lifting the latex you have already laid down, keep the latex on the sponge wet to avoid this happening. Once the entire area of the cap has a thin even coat, leave it to dry for a couple of hours. You can try to wash the sponge out under running water, but I don't bother, I just discard the cube and use a new one for each coat. What distinct types of bald cap are there? How do you know which is the right one to use in each circumstance? The bald cap itself should be applied securely at this point, allowing you to move your face without creases forming or the edges popping up. However, we want to get rid of that obvious seam between your skin and the material. If you’re using a silicone bald cap, you can actually melt the edge by carefully applying acetone and blending it into your skin that way. However, as they are so much cheaper, I went with a latex cap. Image credit: Images Courtesy Trent Cannon/Cosplay Central