A great costume is key to a fantastic Halloween! If you fancy creating a DIY costume that’s going to stand out from the rest when it comes to spooky impact, a zombie is one of the best options. Zombies come in all shapes and sizes, so makes a suitable costume choice for every member of the family. Read on to discover the top seven tricks to transform anybody into one of the scariest, most gruesome zombies on the planet!
1. Get the face right!
We all know that a pale face along with dark circles around the eyes is the hallmark of any true zombie! Use white face paint or fair foundation to give that “fresh from the grave look”. Blended black around the eyes will give a fantastic awoken dead appearance. Add fake wounds and dried blood for added gore. Unkempt, matted hair and black-painted teeth (use a suitable product for this, for safety reasons) complete the zombie look perfectly!
2. Corn starch makes great wounds!
Professionals use liquid latex to create wounds. This works well, but corn starch and water can give nearly the same effect. Add suitable colours (red food colouring and cocoa can give that dark red, old blood look) to add authenticity.
3. Dried blood
No zombie costume is complete without blood! To make your own fake blood, add food colouring and cocoa to glucose or corn syrup. This creates non-toxic fake blood that looks horrifyingly realistic. For added fright appeal, add some dried onion to the mixture for “blood with bits”! Want bigger bits? Add cereal! Depending on the size and shape of the bits you crave, there’s normally a cereal that will suit.
4. Get some guts!
Plastic body parts generously mixed with fake blood provides a great party piece, as well as being perfect for eliciting horrifying screams from timid trick ‘n’ treaters.
5. Red, white and black costumes work best
Although theoretically, zombies can wear anything, monochrome with a red accent of some sort is usually the best way to go. The zombie bride, for example, looks best in a white dress (a charity shop wedding dress or similar is ideal). Along with dead flowers and a wilting headpiece, bloodstains on the dress and can add plenty of spooky contrast.
6. Ragged clothes scream zombie!
Zombies have just dug their way out of the grave, so their clothing is unlikely to look its best! A few rips, tears, stains and frayed hems showcase the deceased’s scrabble to the surface wonderfully well. With a pair of scissors, fake blood and a black marker, it’s possible to fashion a zombie wardrobe out of almost anything.
7. Horror film associations
From Pennywise the clown through to Pinhead, Beetlejuice or Chucky, a Halloween costume that’s reminiscent of a well-known horror film character is always a hit.
Although we’ve given you plenty of suggestions, by following these guidelines and a little ingenuity it’s possible to transform almost any costume wearer into a disturbingly realistic zombie.