Wigs are defiantly something I would love to have more experience with. When I started out on cosplay I was actually terrified at the thought of even leaving a wig in the same room as a pair of scissors. All I had the guts to do was braiding, clipping in extensions and putting in hair ties.
Now one thing I have been starting to look at is what can I do to achieve certain hairstyles. I am not gonna lie, I still lack confidence to an extent with hair in general but I guess I just need to consider it with a similar mindset to working with fabrics. You just need to be careful to cut it in the right places for the right effect!
One thing I have learned over the years is that wigs are not usually ready to wear. In fact, there is a good chance you will need to give it a good trim and cut bangs as they are often around chin-length so they can be worn by different head shapes.
The base
I decided that Asuka would be a fun cosplay to put together and although the costume itself is still in the works, the wig is now done. I have ordered a 'Alex in Milkshake pink' wig from Coscraft. The bangs were cut and the sides were cut off just above the shoulders. The longer cut-off were kept to one side while I gave the wig a good spray for added volume and a slightly untidy look.
The extension
During the earlier stages, I just simply used a hair tie for the side ponytail to give me a better idea how the wig would look throughout the process. I felt that this made the wig look very flat but thankfully the cut-offs were the PERFECT length for the extension,
I looked online for various tutorials and read a large number of forum posts and decided to go for the caulking method. Sadly I don't have any process pictures but if you looks up 'Wig caulking' there will be a number of tutorials to help you out.
It is basically a process that allows you to make your own wefts. You carefully line your wig strands evenly on a line of masking tape and pop some watered-down decorator's caulk. I had made the mistake of using the type that does now clear but shush :P the hairclip covers it! I rolled them and sewed them together to create a chunk of hair.
The hairclip
This part was actually pretty simple. I began by getting some left over craft foam and shaped then cutting them into wings.I made 2 wings, 1 with the smaller part missing so they overlap and have more of a 3D feel. I took a artist license to this as the wings should have been straighter but I felt I would like to cover where the extension and clips are so thermoformed them to be rounder. I made a cup so the wefts could fit snuggly in it for extra security and scavenged a clip from a cheap child's hairpin to attach it to the rest of the wig! it is then painted white and varnished with PVA glue!
I finally managed to finish part of my Sora Naegino cosplay this week but it was not without sqealing as I kept thinking that I would glue my hand to my head or something.
All of us have gone though this multiple times; the annoying numb sensation because you have a thick layer of Superglue on your hand! It is not very practical at all!! It keeps flaking and you could barely feel a thing. It is not a clever idea to bite it all off as it could cause more trouble than before.
The quick solution? NAIL POLISH REMOVER!
That is right! By using an Acetone based nail polish remover you can soften the glue. The Acetone creates a reaction to the cyanoacrylate by softening it,
Be sure to soak you skin in soapy water as it would help loosen it a little quicker. Then simpy apply the nail polish remover after lightly drying your hands. Acetone degrades the polymer and gets rid of the icky feeling.
Acetone dehydrates your skin so be sure to treat your hands to some moisturizer at the end. You may want to wash yor hands too as it smells icky!
Whatever you do do not use cotton be it be buds or whatever. Cotton contains cellulose that would fizzle and burn in reaction to the Cryanoacrylate.
Anyone who knows me well will know that I love entering masquerades!
Being backstage can be very daunting but don't let
it put you off from doing a good show!
At any anime convention you will expect a stage event where cosplayers volunteer to show off their work on stage. Depending on the event some masquerades are competitive where others tend to just be just a little fun. There is alot to them so here is a little guide to help you make the most of them.
A common misconception is that masquerades are only for the best cosplayers. This is, in fact, not true at all. While some cosplayers go to show off their best efforts, entrants often join in for the thrill of it or to simply work on their confidence.
Please not that this guide is aimed for the UK convention scene and many events may have different variations to what may be expected. On YouTube it seems that some countries use the word 'Masquerade' to what we Brits call 'Skits' or the 'Omake'. To avoid any confusion,please read the guidelines for your chosen event.
Pre-registration
Not only they are popular to watch, but they are popular to enter. Naturally there may be a limited number of slots to allow the event to not drag too long (think of the entrants near the back and those behind the mics).
At a certain time before the event there may be a application form you may fill in. Nothing drastic, they just want to know a few details such as your name, character and sometimes even your choice of music. Entrants would often enter their best costume they bring to the con. It would be an absolute waste to wear a PE uniform on stage while you plan to wear this amazing ball gown on the floor. Get a group together if you wish.
Changes and special requirements
If you decide to opt out for any reason or have a new costume planned at any point then please e-mail or inform the event organisers as soon as possible. If you have any special requirements such as wanting to be near friends in the que, health issues or wearing a costume with limited visibility/mobility then it will be a good idea to let them know these things and they will do their best to help you out, such as getting a helper to guide you on-stage if you are unable to see properly.
The atmosphere
Masquerades are often performed on stage in front of a large number of attendees.Being a staple event, expect the majority of the con to be rooting for you! You would often get lined up in a certain order so the person calling your name to get called onto the stage will know exactly who will be on the stage next and you too will be aware of when to be strutting your stuff.
Before the masquerade you will be asked to attend a briefing. They allow the organisers to register who has turned up. You will be given the opportunity to ask any questions at this point aswell and to make changes (I will advise you to email the organisers for anything major). Use this opportunity to soak up the atmosplhere and try to visualise what poses would look great on stage.
The set up varies depending on the event itself; MCM Expos and Alcon have the main stage, Kitacon is well remembered from its glorious catwalk, FushiCon (videotaped below) had the box and AmeCon relays across several rooms. You will always be informed by the set-up by the organisers so be sure to listen to it during the briefing.
Lets make the most of it!
Arriving on-time
On the day you arrive make you read the schedule carefully as there will be what is known as what will be along the lines of 'masquerade preparation'. You MUST make sure you arrive before the designated time. You may be disqualified from the event if you fail to attend. Some event might make exceptions only for those who have entered events in the past but it would help alot if you attend. You are not expected to have you conbags or conbadges at this point so make sure you allow a friend to take care of your stuff for you. It should be just you and your costumes.
At this point there will be a register roll and your names will be called out. This just makes sure that everyone who should be there are present and cross off the non-attendees. You will be given instructions on how and where to pose and be given the opportunity to ask questions. Your names will be called out again to get in line for the que so the names of the participants will be parallel to the names listed when they get called out when you are ready to go onstage!
It is highly recommended that you are dressed ready for the event at this point too bar some quick make-up touches. Is this a judged event?
Remember not all masquerades are judged while sometimes are combined with the contest. Some people have a competitive streak while some just like being on stage. Check with the convention to see if they are the same event or if they are separate. You can even take part in both if you wish!
Staying in character
This is important if you are going to be serious about this. It is generally acceptable to enter just for fun but many of the best photos tend to show personality. If you are dressed up as Guy-sensei, show off some awesome kicks, if you are Princess Tutu and ballet trained, do some lovely ballet poses (or do some good research to get the stances right but please do not go en-pointe if you have not been trained properly!). They do not all have to be signature poses but doing the right poses, walk, expressions and stuff are all signs that you are well connected to the character.
Mess around backstage and make friends
The other entrants will be just as nervous backstage so it is a good time to mingle with other cosplayers and share the joy to help yourself (and others) to calm down. Do Darlek impressions with the electric fans, laugh, joke around and make a mustache using your hair/wig. It may make a massive difference for the good to the girl on the brink of tears (or even nausea). It is a good time to get to know others, which helps distract you from the anxiety.
Even veterans get nervous
Sometimes you will be nervous but there will be times where you are more excited. Sometimes it could be a mix of both so don't let nerves put you off from future events.
Walk with confidence!
This is perhaps the most important thing! You would not slump when you get photographed on the con floor so why should you when you get shot my dozens, if not hundreds of photographers at once? Keep your back straight, strut, keep your chin up! You'll look fabulous so don't let bad posture ruin a good photography opportunity! If you are nervous, fake confidence! The rest of the convention will be behind you cheering and you will get a lot of respect for your guts.
POSING!!!!
To avoid looking like a dork, be sure to plan ahead and have some idea how to pose. This is especially important if you are in a group but if you are going solo you can improvise. This is the opportunity to show that you know the character and doing this properly can get you some extra brownie points from the fans.
Due to the lighting of the room chances are you will look more washed out than usual. To avoid looking like a ghost be sure to tone up your make-up to further promote your finer features. Use plenty of foundation, keep natural looking tones for your eye-shadow and add some warmth to your cheeks too! Food! Glorious food!
Be sure to do this at all times during the con but it is especially important in the masq! With the briefing, wait for the event to start, wait to get up on stage and watching the other entrants it may take a few hours and you will be hungry/dying for a beer by the end of it. The lighting here will be more intense than in the halls so to minimise poor skin showing and the risk of passing out be sure to have a light meal before the event.
Be sure to have a light meal before the briefing. I like to take my time while getting dressed and drinking tea to help calm me down. It will be handy to have a light snack in your room at this case but be sure to eat before getting into costume. It helps to take your time to apply make-up and getting the wig right so it helps stretching the time it takes to get ready. If you don't take care of yourself it will show!
Take your time
Not everyone has fast cameras and some people will be using their smartphones so it is a good idea not to rush if you want the crowd to fully appreciate your work. My favourite way around this is to keep on moving while having poses in between movements. Make a performance out of it, freeze for 5 seconds, show your grace and repeat. The photographers will be grateful for it, the videographers will have some nice footage and you will be happier with the results.
Avoid speaking/shouting unless you are Goku shouting 'KAMEHAMEHA!!!!!!!'
This is more of my opinion than anything. You are unlikely to be given a microphone so your voice will be washed out by the background noise and music. Masquerades are an opportunity to show off your costume and is often seen more as a visual art. You may want to enter the omake instead if you plan to have any dialogue.
It is a quiet Friday night. You have just finished gaming
and nothing exciting is happening on Facebook when you suddenly get a
hypercreative brainplosion when you realize you have some leftover cardboard
tubes, a toy gun and some glue. The convention is not until like 6 months later
but it would be nice to get that rifle out of the way before you advance onto
the sewing.
Later on you have managed to get all of your costumes done
so the last few weeks before the con is going to be a breeze…that is until you
suddenly you realize that not everything will fit in the suitcase! Your clothes
fit in fine, and the same with your costumes. You have managed to put your
toiletries into your rucksack. It is just your rifle you are having trouble
fitting. For starters, it is too big, and even if you can fit it in it would be
far too delicate to stay in such cramped conditions.
Oh dear! You haven’t finished your driving lessons yet so
that is a major no-no and none of your friends are willing to pay the
extortionate parking fees so using a car is out of the question. It is a real
shame as this would actually be the easiest option as you can go straight to
the convention and just leave your stuff in the boot while you travel. You have
decided to go by train. However, you have done such a fantastic job on your
rifle to the point that it could stir up some panic if seen. Many cosplayers
have come across this problem in the past, and there is always a huge number
that will. It is a wonder that so many props make it to the convention in one
piece.
If it is a staff or looks especially harmless (and not
easily broken) you can just carry it by hand assuming you have light luggage.
If this is not the case it would help to pop your prop in a bin liner. You can
consider using bubble-wrap to give it extra protection. Sadly, you lose a hand
to carry the rest of your luggage so either have a friend to help you can
consider packing light to make the journey a pleasant one. Props that are
sheathed onto your back can be carried the same as you would in costume as long
as they would not interfere with you moving about.
If you are transporting something much bigger (like Halo armour
for example), extremely fragile or a specifically styled wig then the practical
option would be to put them into boxes. Smaller boxes can be put into suitcases
so you get the best of both worlds of safety and convenience. It can be a good
idea to play Tetris with parts of costumes and T-shirts to help cushion your
work while at the same time free up space in your normal luggage.
Alternatively, you can make them in a way you can collapse them so they would
be much easier to manage. From experience, I have found that using a clear plastic
bag (particularly the zipped ones where car parts are sold in) is really useful
as not only you can make sure the props are intact, but it also shows other
commuters that there are some fragile objects that they need to watch out for!
Things you might need to consider:
How much walking do I need to do?
How can I make carrying all my stuff more conformable?
Can I handle all the weight throughout the whole time?
How busy would public transport be?
No matter how well you transport your props and regardless
if they survive or not there is also the issue of them breaking during the
weekend. It would be helpful to bring super glue and extra repair supplies in
case such accidents happen. As a last resort you can always ask a family member
to give you a lift if you don’t live too far away.
Cosplay is certainly not without the odd bit of suffering,
whether it is wearing high heels, needles jamming right into your foot and the
odd uncomfortable journey but do not allow that to ruin your chances of having
a good challenge. You’ll arrive and people will see all the work you have put
into everything and you will forget the rage you had to endure.
Please be aware of the rules the convention may hold for props and weapons. Chances are that there will be a size limit and materials will be taken into consideration, and such props may only be allowed for masquerades, competitions and certain photoshoots. Please read the rules before you begin making your weapons (SRS BSNS!!!)
Sometimes you need time to decide on your next costume. Considering time, money and resources it can be at times quite a difficult choice. Their may be numerous costumes you would like to attempt but at times you may need to weigh up the pros and cons of making a costume, such as learning curves and what features of your body you are willing to show.
The good old Sailor Scout uniforms are
excellent examples
Some costumes, while they may seem beautiful on the character, might be a challenge in itself trying to figure out how to make them look good on yourself. Most of us of this world are not born with long and slender legs, eyes the size of dinnerplates and completely flawless skin so if we strive for perfection there are many challenges that we must consider to make the costume look best on yourself.
Despite all of that a common misconception is that a perfect cosplay is in perfect proportions to the character. That on the other hand this is not quite the case as we are born with many body shapes and sizes so it is up to us to decide what looks best for us as we are the ones wearing the costume. If it is the case that the'one size fits all' rule applies strictly on costuming then lots of opportunities to make a costume look even better for yourself becomes wasted, or even not attempted as 'visual perfection' would not be possible in the 3D world.
If you are cosplaying a character that shows leg or stomach and don't with to put these on show as much then you are more than welcome to add a few more inches onto your clothes to better cover problem areas.
Revealing costumes don't just apply to those that are showy on the skin; they can include skin-hugging costumes too. Although they may mimic your own natural body shape it is often pretty easy to wear some foundation garments under the costume to prevent unwanted jiggling and panty-lines. Some fabrics may be more flattering to certain body types. For example, T-shirt fabric might be a possible alternative for spandex for those who are not quite as confident with their bodies as it is thicker but still has a nice stretch. Make sure you don't make anything too tight as fat would bulge, and if they are too loose then the costume would look unfinished.
Now we have gotten the types of costumes I wanted to take a look at, the number one rule rocking any costume is to be confident! If you don't feel comfortable with what you are wearing then it would show and affect your posture and mood, making you appear worse than you feel. Confidence and generally feeling good about yourself would often make any costume look (or at least give the illusion of it)better where slouching and generally being unhappy would make even the most well made of costumes look bad. Don't stress yourself and certainly do not be afraid to challenge yourself every now and then, bring back ups when in doubt and wait until you feel more at ease if you need extra time for weight loss or confidence.
From experience I find, although very uncomfortable, that heels are often a great asset to making a costume more visually appealing. This creates an illusion that the legs appears longer than it seems, making them appear slimmer. However, I suggest that unless you often wear them that they should only be worn for short periods at a time or changed to flats regularly/while going for long walks. Most people will understand if you need to change back into them for photos. Consider putting some time aside that night to pamper your feet as they deserve a break and they would most likely ache that time. Gel cushions work wonders so be sure to prep some before to go to the event! Pantyhose/tights will give your legs a nice sheer and will also give your legs support and hide away imperfections.
At the end of the day, costume making is basically your own interpretation of the design. It is your creation, a result of your own hard work. In other words, be happy with what you do!
Cosplay can test the boundaries of your self-confidence. It seems that just a few inches of body fat can make an impact to whether or not you should cosplay a certain character. Unlike traditional dress up, cosplayers often feel that they need to look the part yet it is considered the preference to choose based on what you want to do. Anxiety and your image can really make an impact on lots of things in life, not just cosplay.
Everyone that knows me well will surely be aware by now that I probably, in fact, suffer from many anxiety disorders. I have Social Anxiety, which I am slowly leaning to cope with, and I also have Generalised Anxiety, Anticipation Anxiety and a few minor OCD tenancies.
In all honestly, I never had any professional help, not even a diagnosis; yet its still obvious that the listed above were the roots of the many problems I have to face such as anticipation worry, social nerves, depression from workplace bullying and giving TOO much of a **** about anything and everything that goes on around me. I proved to myself many, many times that its all in my head but still getting my mind off such things are not quite this easy.
I always thought that as a constant worrier maybe that would be the path to gaining more endurance to handle such negative thoughts. I always do manage to get back on my feet eventually but lately I have noticed that should be the last thing I should worry about since what is more of a problem is how I tackle worry on foot. It wasn't until I started working that I realised how many problems this could lead to. In fact, most of my worries until that point were more dwelling into my thoughts rather that coping with stressful situations on the spot and coming up with a solution immediately. Depression and anxiety does far more harm than good, and just sitting around behind the computer all day wouldn't help all that much so something needs to be done.
I was toying with the thoughts for years to whether to see a doctor or not as I don't want to keep handling all of this for the rest of my life. I spent a few days Googling solutions to try and beat my stress levels as I don't want to be on anti-depressants (I can't stomach tablets well and I like to enjoy drinking alcohol). I found out that exercise turned out to be one of the best solutions for it.
The problem is, although I am not afraid of moving and I can spend quality time away from the laptop, is that I am very, very unfit. My PE lessons at school got it into my head that because I was a really, really fast developer in my late childhood/late teens that having curves is not practical at all on the sports field and its true when people say it hurts running around with quite a colossal sized chest. I never considered myself to be fat but I have always been a little chubby in places.
About a decade later, although I still lack stamina and flexibility, I am starting to think that maybe I shouldn't compare myself to others in terms of physical endurance but try to become more active to enjoy the many other benefits such as stronger bones, improved cardiovascular health, faster metabolism, improved thinking and a depression/anxiety beater. Oh, and sports bras really do make a difference in performance!
On New Years day I just on a whim decided to go on a gentle jog around the block. Nothing intense, just wanted to test the waters. I noticed although it did hurt a bit at the time I felt better shortly after. I jogged again tonight and been asking around for tips to improve my endurance when I was done and found out all that jogging requires is some perseverance and some weight training would help too. I want to lose a bit of body fat. Maybe I should make it into a habit, now the new year has begun.
KitaCon has a group called Fita4Kita that is designed for the congoers that wish to improve on their overall health. Cosplay seems to be a common drive for a healthier lifestyle and looking at their Facebook page is very inspirational and full of help. I have been working on my make-up skills for the past year and that alone gave me a esteem boost so
I have a number of cosplays for the year that will be mostly made out of spandex, including Rock Lee. I dont want my weight to be the deciding factor for who to cosplay. Now is a good time to stop worrying and start doing something about it!
I secretly had this tutorial prepared for you guys since Boxing day as I couldn't help but to want to start the New Year with new content. Thankfully I had most of this written already considering I have been nursing a hangover today.
The patten I made for Hikaru's bodice using this tutorial
I know it sounds odd but masking tape and cling film are pretty handy for certain cosplay techniques, especially if you are make form costumes such as non-stretch leotards and maybe even corsets. Here are some examples to how to make your costumes easier to make.
Sometimes normal pattens can be hard to come by or a deadline is getting close so you cannot even consider buying one so you will have to improvise. You come up with a draft but its not going to plan. It needs to be close fitting and it needs to be perfect. Try wrapping yourself in cling film! I know it does sound kinda awkward like some creepy BDSM practice but it is a very handy and accurate method getting patterns quickly. I am defiantly not a fan of maths and measuring tapes but I can reassure you that they are really easy and you can alter and reuse the patterns. Sadly I didnt have any photos of the process a few months back so Ill do my best to explain :'D Sorry guys! However I did manage to save the patten I managed to create using the method.
These methods are really simple and the materials are as cheap as chips and easily found in many shops! You will need the following for all of them:
Cling film
Masking/duct tape
Permanent marker
Scissors (make sure they are thin!)
1) Pattern making
Say for example you want to make a bunny suit (a classic example for this method). Unlike most leotards they are often made out of a none-stretch fabric such as PVC in the cosplay world and they would often have complicated pattens if you were to go with the usual design. It can be possible to do this alone like I had to with my Hikaru cosplay but if you have a friend to help you it would be much easier.
To do this, you begin by wearing whatever underwear you plan to wear on the day (this is important as shapewear could alter your figure slightly).
Wrap your torso with a few layers of cling film in the areas you wish to pattern on your body. Make sure you add a few inches as masking take can get annoying with contact to skin.
Repeat step 2 with masking tape.
Get your marker pen to mark where you would like to cut. Think about the best places to add the seams.
When you are happy with that, carefully cut yourself out along one of the marked seams. It feel likes you are removing a suit of armour at this point.
Cut the rest of the seams.
You should now have a patten! Draft it onto some spare fabric to make a mock first to ensure you are happy with the measurements. Don't forget to add seam allowance!
2) Making a cast
If you have a lot of complicated bits of thermoforming to do for some accessories but the heat would be a bit much and you may need somewhere safe to put them in between making them.
Arms and legs are much easier to add clingfilm and tape on than torsos. You can easily do it yourself. Taking the arm for example:
Wrap your arm with cling film.
Repeat with duct tape/masking tape
Draw a line from one end of the arm to the other. This will act as a line to cut your arm free.
Once it is removed, get some additional tape and reconnect the cut to make a tube.
Carefully seal one of the ends but try not to distort the shape.
Using any scraps you can fun (paper, fabric, even bits of tape) stuff the hell out of it!
Seal the other end.
DONE!
3) Duct tape dummy
Just imagine the steps above but it concerns the body from the neck down (or just your torso). I already have a second-hand mannequin so I never really had to take this step but I feel that is it very handy to know should you feel it is of use. If you have no access to a mannequin (they are pretty expensive) they are a much cheaper alternative and you can be sure to get the measurements right. The end result should resemble a shell-like bodysuit with stuffing.inside.
Due to my lack of experience and your safely, I will cover the basics but I'd suggest looking into researching proper ways to make these. You will need a friend or 2 for this so it will be a good laugh! Be sure to use the bathroom first as the process may take a while.
Get some old clothes that covers every inch of your body. Painter's coveralls are ideal and really cheap. Please note whatever clothing you wear will get destroyed in the process so old and unwanted clothes wiil work best.
Cut the tape into short strips! Make sure it is heavy duty tape. Begin at the torso around the stomach.
Make your way around the body and keep going.
Once you are done use a marker to mark out any costume construction details.
Carefully get cut out and use some additional tape to repair the cuts.
Wigs are defiantly something I would love to have more experience with. When I started out on cosplay I was actually terrified at the thought of even leaving a wig in the same room as a pair of scissors. All I had the guts to do was braiding, clipping in extensions and putting in hair ties.
I looked online for various tutorials and read a large number of forum posts and decided to go for the caulking method. Sadly I don't have any process pictures but if you looks up 'Wig caulking' there will be a number of tutorials to help you out.
