How To Make A Full Head Mask

What is the Best Way to Make a Full Face Mask for Cosplaying?

Are you getting into Cosplay for the first time or looking to improve your mask making skills? You've come to the right place! Today, we're going to explore several different and efficient ways you can make a full face mask for all of your cosplaying creations and projects.

From 3D printing to foam to paper mache, there are lots of different ways to make a full face mask for all of your cosplaying needs. The only limit? Your time, your budget and your imagination! Let's get started.

Research and Set Your Budget

When it comes to creating your full face mask, the first thing you need to do is set a budget and find out what you want. The type of mask you create and how you create it will depend on how you want the mask to look, feel and how much you're willing to spend. If you're going for a low-cost full face mask, the material is going to be different than if you're willing to spend a little extra money on something that will last. If you really want to get fancy, you can venture into the world of 3D printing, but we'll get to that later. No matter what your budget is, don't neglect comfort. Try wearing a mask all day in the Las Vegas heat all day and you'll understand just how important a comfort fit mask liner is.

Best Ways to Make Cosplay Masks for a Low-Budget Costume

Low-cost face masks will include things like craft foam and paper mache. While they aren't as sturdy and perhaps not quite as authentic looking, you can still pull a look off quite easily and you won't break the bank in the process, which is ALWAYS a good thing!

Making Your Own Paper or Foam Mask

Paper masks work best for masquerade-type events. Both children and adults will find the process of creating the mask not only fun, but also educational, so you can also think of it as homework. Another great thing about paper masks is that they are CHEAP and can be designed in any way you'd like.

Foam masks tend to be best if you're going for full head coverage, so Cosplayers with a low budget will typically choose this option. It's fun, it's easy and it looks pretty dang awesome when it's put together with a coordinating costume.

Choose the Material

If you're making a paper mask, the first step will be to choose the type of material you'd like as the base of your paper mask. Cardstock or cardboard tends to work best, but you can use something like a sturdy paper plate if you find that it will work better for what you are trying to create.

Choose the Shape and Don't Forget to Breathe!

The next step for your paper mask is choosing the shape. Some people like to do a sort of Victorian style masquerade type mask, but others prefer to go with a character of their choice. Whatever it is, carefully trace your design onto the material of your choice with a pencil. Make sure to put eye holes and a mouth hole, otherwise you might have trouble breathing and/or seeing once the mask is on your face. Not good!

If you're having trouble seeing or need help wearing your mask with glasses, don't forget to add a Mask-R-Aid liner to your build

If you're making a mask out of craft foam, you can find a cheap styrofoam wig head at a craft store and use it to put your mask together and get the sizing right, as that can be difficult when you're making a costume piece for yourself. When you're sketching the shape and design out for the mask, don't forget that the side you pencil on will be on the backside, so don't worry too much about marks and scuffs.

Cutting and Decorating

For the Paper Mask: You can cut it out and paint it or decorate it however you please! Some people like to do some rhinestones, others like it plain, or just with accents of colors. If you're feeling particularly spunky, feathers make a wonderful addition to any paper face mask.

For A Craft Foam Mask: You can paint your mask as soon as you've put it into its correct shape. If you bought the foam in the right color, you can skip that step, but we still recommend you put a coat or two of mod podge on your mask to help it keep its shape and last longer than it might without it.

Wearing Your Mask:

When it comes to wearing your mask, you can either punch holes in the side and tie a string around your head, or look into using spirit gum to attach the mask directly to your face. Just make sure you do plenty of research and make sure you're not allergic to anything you might put on your skin, including spirit gum and spirit gum remover.

Other Fun and Thrilling Ways to Make Cosplay Masks

If you're not so tight budget-wise, it can be fun to experiment a little in the Cosplay department and find out about other ways to make your mask thrilling and lifelike. Included in that list would be materials like Wonderflex and Worbia. So if you're wondering how to make your stunning mask with Wonderflex and/or Worbia, read some of our great pointers below!

Choose Your Shape and Inspiration

Just like every piece of great art was inspired by something, your mask will need inspiration. No matter where it comes from, by pulling out all of the best features of any given character or work of art, you can make something truly spectacular.

You'll want to use a blow dryer to get the desired shape of your mask with both Wonderflex and Worbia. You can obtain excellent forming utilizing both positive and negative molds. If you're worried about the material getting stuck in or on the mold, line it first with plastic wrap, high-grade aluminum foil or you can spray it with cooking oil spray. DO NOT PUT IT DIRECTLY ON YOUR FACE FOR SHAPING. This will SEVERELY burn your skin! You'll have about 1–3 minutes after heating it up to shape it, so knowing what you want before hand and working out how you'll do it is very important. Don't forget to give yourself a way to breathe and see from the inside of your mask, either.

Decorate Away

Because Wonderflex adheres to itself, it's pretty easy to add embellishments. Both of these materials also work well with acrylic paints and other decorations, so don't be shy! Follow your imagination and make a Cosplay mask nobody will forget.

Creating and wearing a cosplay mask can be interesting and fun, but also pretty intimidating. However, no matter how nervous you get about making your costume the next big hit, don't get nervous and spoil the fun that comes along with creating your own Cosplay costumes and masks. If you think of every build as an adventure, it'll never get old. So just throw back and have a great time!