casualty simulation make up

when trying to create an incident or injury, a basic knowledge of what would actually happen is a good start, so if you dont alreay know, look up the effects of the injury you are trying to create. one good point to remember is that most severe injuries will cause shock of one form or another.

if you are going for horror, for example in a halloween costume, much of this research will be of little use, as most people just want gore and/or lots of blood. it is still a good idea however to have a look online for pictures to copy, as sometimes reality can be worse than many people imagine. if you do decide to look for pictures, be sure to have a strong stomach, some websites can be graphic.

i am starting to add photos, but it will take a while, as i cannot work in the low light of the evenings, and in the day i ahve a lot to fit in already, college, red cross, sja, scouts ect ect.

first decide why you want the injuries, for example, it is first aid training? is it to play a prank on your friends? is it just to challenge yourself with something new?  if you intend to actually fool someone that the injuries are real, consider thier abilities, for example a paramedic, doctor, vet, or even an experianced first aider will be a lot harder to fool than your average work mate (depending on your job, obviously) if you intend to fool someone who has no experiance or training, it may not be worth even attempting to fake shock, and focousing only on blending the edges of the make up into your natural skin tone.  if on the other hand, you intend to fool someone with a high level of experiance, google shock, and learn to act. 

when deciding where to put the injury and what to have, think about the mechanism, and the story.  could you come up with a belivable story that explains all the injuries? if yes, then carry on, if not, it might be worth reconsidering.  sometimes less is more (1 good injury, rather than loads, which are almost guranteed to look fake unless you imitate a high trauma event like a decent car crash), especailly if you want people to really belive you. 

another important factor is the practicalities of movement of the skin under the injuries.  if you have a part of the body that will move a lot, for example a joint, or parts of the face, then whatever you use needs to be very durable, however if you are placing it somewhere like the forearm or somewhere that you will be able to keep reasonably still, something more intricate (and fragile) can be used.  if you intend to to a through and through type injury (including impaled limbs ect), think about how the entry and exit will move in relation to each other. 

i always have some items in my make up bag, and most of these are available at a high street chemist or a large supermarket. examples of these are

• cotton wool pads/balls (i prefer pads, you dont get as many bits of fibre coming loose)
• moist tiolet tissues/baby wipes
• Q tips
• alcohol hand gel (if you can find it without moisturiser, all the better)
• kitchen towel or tissues
• paintbrushes and make up applicators (you can get a good selection from where ever make up is sold. for paint brushes, i get cheap synthetic fibre ones meant for acrylic and watercolor paints you can get ones specifically for make up, but these can get expensive)
• spatula or palette knife, some people use a round ended kitchen knife
• baby oil (brilliant for cleaning wax or oil based products)
• spray plaster (hold stuff in place temporarily)
• hair bands
• cocktail sticks/toothpicks
• Vaseline

i also have a stock of make up in the general kit, which allows me to make most effects. some of this will be available at a high street chemist or a supermarket, but some of it you may need to order online or find a theatrical supply store.

• derma wax
• bruise wheel and/or creme make up palette
• liquid latex (there are different ones, some are labeled as OK to apply directly to skin, and some not. i get the stuff that is not meant to go on skin, but use it on skin anyway. i do not recommend this for most people)
• powder foundation (or blending powder)
• blusher
• acrylic paint (not normally used on skin, but for painting inside fake wounds)
• homemade fake blood
• fixing powder for the cream make up
• clear gloss (lip gloss works too, if its clear)
• pale flesh or off white cake make up

i use grimas make up, and have had good experiences with it, but i will not start trying to sell anyone any one brand.

some other equipment i have, but don't have in my general bag includes

• extras of much of the itams listed above
• a pump, tubing, and bag for fake blood to create continuous bleeding or arterial spray
• fake blood ingredients, unmixed 
• old clothes with holes/tears for wounds to show through (i do have a stock of smaller sizes, but if you are going to be working on other people, its normally best to ask them to bring old clothes to cut) i have all sorts from a tracksuit, to an old wedding dress
• industrial denatured alcohol (used for clearing up spills of some make up on my floor, as the cleaners i use for skin will mark the wood more)
• a stock of items to stick into wounds, and other general items collected in day to day activities that i think may be of use

it is important to take into account sensitive skin, and always read the instructions on the items you buy, each one has its own safety instructions, please follow them until you are used to the products. then if you do experiment, only on yourself.  that way you only have yourself to blame.   

• whenever using derma wax, coat evrything in baby oil or derma wax remover to stop it sticking where it shouldent.
• less is often more, and even if its not, its easier to put more on than take it off
• practice, practice, practice
• start simple to get used to the products, then start of more complex ones.
• alcohol (or anything alcohol based) and cotton wool pads/balls are the best thing i have ever found for cleaning, if a little harsh on skin

i started working with cas sim make up as i have been helping run the local cub scout pack since i was about 12. at one point the archaela (leader) asked me to run part of the first aid training for a competition that was coming up. i thought about the best way to keep the boys (sorry, not sexist, just an all male pack at the time) interested in what many consider a boring subject, thus i used my first lot of latex and fake blood. the cubs loved it, and remembered the sessions for a long time, some of them have left scouting, but we have met in the street, and they have said how well they remember (and enjoyed) those meetings. this not only got the children interested in what is an important and valuable subject, it sparked my interest in this sort of make up.

i have a links section to the individual projects, and hope to add more soon. i apologise for my spelling and typing throught, but the only time i really get to update these is late at night. any questions or comments, there is a comments section below, and i will try to respond to any comments made if it is appropriate. any questions asked will be awnsered if i can.