Bald Caps

Making

1) wrap cling film tightly around the subjects head and cover with clear tape to create a hard shell.

2) Draw an outline of your subjects hair-line all the way around adding about 1/2 inch onto it.

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3) Lift off the shell and trim to the hairline

4) Place the shell on the red head and trace around the edge with a china marker

5) Remove the shell and put a light layer of petroleum jelly on the surface of the head.

6) Pour a small amount of whatever bald cap material you're using into a cap and stipple a thin layer over the cap area with a rubber sponge

7) When the first layer is dry, stipple on another. Repeat until you have five thin layers. If the bald cap in vinyl it needs to be powdered before being removed.

Applying

1) Flatter the subjects hair as much as possible

2) Make sure the inside of the bald cap is clean from powder residue as this will hamper the adhesion of the glue.

3) Clean the skin around the hairline with IPA to make sure there's no grease on the skin so the glue sticks better

4) Put the cap over the models head (get the model to hold the front of the bald cap whilst you pull the back)

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5)Apply adhesive in the middle of the forehead and press the cap down.

6)Apply the cap to the back of the neck with the model leaning their head back slightly so when they lean forward the cap is tight to the head.

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7)Stretch the cap around the ear and cut/tear out the ear shape.

8)Attach from behind the ears to the back of the head.

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9)Stick the cap in front of the ears to the middle in the same way as before (if using pros-aide it's a contact adhesion so needs to be put on both sides and allowed to dry)

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10) Blend the edges with acetone getting it on the bald cap not the models skin and protecting their eyes. Blend the edges to look seamless into the skin.

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This was an intersting method to read for bald cap application as it differs from how I was taught to do it in first year. The hairline is drawn slightly further down than where it normally is and the material doesn't got down the red head in stages to get thinner at the outer edge. It is also only 5 layers thin whereas I was taught to 8-10 layers to make sure it's thick enough. However I did really like the instructions of how to apply it at the back with the neck lent back so that's it's tight to the head - although I probably won't be using this method as I will be having a low ponytail at the back of the head so it's just stuck in front of the ears to save time and to have a smooth head because the hair won't be wrapped.

Debreceni, T (2013) Special Makeup Effects for stage and screen. 2^nd edition. Abingdon. Focal Press