Darlings, in honor of last night’s premier of The Walking Dead, I thought you might enjoy a few tutorials to create your own zombie look this Halloween.

There are a tremendous number of tricks and techniques out there to create zombie effects. While some require serious expertise and equipment, there are many easy techniques for crafting truly spectacular zombie effects at home, with limited investment in special makeup or paraphernalia.

First up, there is a the very common technique of liquid latex, as shown in this tutorial from Malabar LTD.

This tutorial uses a very specific collection of stage makeup brands, but you can create a similar look using comparable costume store or inexpensive drug store products.  In a pinch, you can substitute Elmer’s Glue thinned with a bit of water for the liquid latex.  This oozy pustule below was created with glue, toilet paper, and inexpensive makeup layered over Kellogg’s Corn Pops.

If you don’t have access to latex, or have a latex allergy, you can create tremendous effects by using prosthetic gel – a simple, inexpensive product made of plain old gelatin or a combination of gelatin and glycerin.  This technique by Beauty by Brig is a quick, no fuss way to make prosthetic gel at home.

Prosthetic gel is great for sculpting deep wounds and effects, although large pieces work best if attached with a bit of spirit gum.  I used prosthetic gel to create this very wet looking half-rotted face.

You can also use prosthetic gel with a mold to create special effects, or layered upon itself to build great, gooey blisters, like in this next tutorial from Brig.

Finally, here’s a tutorial showing a combination of both techniques from The Walking Dead’s own special effects wizards, Greg Nicotero and Andy Schoneberg.

I hope this gives you a little inspiration for your own Halloween costumes, darlings.  Don’t forget to enter our big Halloween Contest.  Get entering for your chance to win.  We’ve already had three winners so far and I simply can’t wait to play with you, my dears.

Related Posts:

– I Am the Death of the Moon: Werewolf Attack Makeup Tutorial

– And the Blood Came Out Like a Bird: Gouged Eye Makeup Tutorial

– Heartsick and Eyes Filled Up with Gloom: True Blood Makeup Tutorial

Categories: Costumes & Makeup, FX Makeup, Makeup Tutorials

Tags: costume, costumes, crafts, DIY, fancy dress, fx makeup, halloween, Halloween costume, Halloween Crafts, latex, makeup tutorial, Prosthesis, Special effect, The Walking Dead, tutorial, Walking Dead, zombie