Step inside legendary FX make-up studio Demonic Pumpkins

HOW TO: create gory wounds, bruises and a slit throat using FX make-up! PLUS make perfect fake blood!

HOW TO: make a gobsmackingly realistic disembowelment!

PLUS: We speak to kings of horror thrash Gwar about how to create perfect stage make-up and prosthetics!

You need (available from any good fancy dress shop):
A ‘bruise wheel’
Fake blood (regular and thic, click here for how to make your own)
Liquid latex
Loo roll
Tooth enamel (a coloured tooth make-up)


Step 1
Latex application
Dab a thin layer of latex over the parts you want to look like ripped skin – avoiding eyebrows, stubble and hair. Stick a sheet of loo roll on to the latex, ripping the straight edges off first. Add two more thin layers of latex on top and let it dry.

Step 2
Latex destruction
With tweezers, scratch a small hole in the paper/latex layer. Grab the edges of the hole and open it up (be careful not to grab your real skin!) Make a few jagged rips to make it look like your skin is falling off.

Step 3
Foundation
Apply make-up (blue, green, grey – it’s up to you!) all over your face with a ripped sponge. Never use just one colour: add multiple shades to create depth. Smear a very thin layer of latex on your lips, add some talcum powder and then smear this to create zombie lips.

Step 4
Features
Use dark purple and blue shades on your eyelids, under the eyes, around the nose, under your cheekbones and anywhere your face has shadows. Add a little red make-up right under the eyes for that freshly-risen-from-the-grave effect.

Step 5
Details and Finishing
Draw some thin, short lines in purple to suggest veins. Fill in the holes in the latex with dark reds and purples, adding thick blood to make them glisten. Pat powder on your face to help dry the make-up. Splat your hair down with gel, then rub in some talcum powder for undead locks. Apply tooth enamel if you have it (but be warned that it permanently stains false teeth). Rinse your mouth with fake blood and you’re done!

Top tip!

How to get it all off
Red food colouring tends to tint the skin (which is why it’s often better just to buy fake blood rather than making it at home), but there’s a simple way to remove those stains: shaving foam! Rinse the blood with hot water, squirt on some foam (not the gel kind) and it’ll lift the tint out of your skin. You’ll see the foam turn red as it removes the colour.