So Scary How-To Tips For A Life-Like Wound

Still wondering what to be for Halloween? Well, it’s probably too late to throw together that Quasimodo costume, but there’s plenty of time to stop by a novelty store for some fake blood.

And you can do wonders with a little fake blood and liquid latex. One of the easiest things you can do to gross out friends and neighbors on Halloween is apply a fake scar or scab here and there. It’s easy, and pretty cheap. The makeup will cost you less than $10 at the Display House or the Novelty Nook.

Linda Harrison, an expert in stage makeup who volunteers at Mead High School, demonstrated her craft for Our Generation last week. Rogers senior Neil Pierson was kind enough to be her “victim.”

For this wound, she applied a thick layer of liquid latex to Neil’s face. After drying it with a hair drier, she used a dull knife to pull pockets of the latex away from Neil’s face (you’ll have to ask a friend or adult to help with this part). She also tore parts of the latex to look like hanging flesh.

Hamilton used a paint brush to apply red stage makeup to the “cuts” in the wound, then dabbed a sponge in red, purple and yellow makeup to mottle the wound and the surrounding area.

Next came the blood. Harrison filled up the pockets she formed with the knife and poured the rest down the bumpy surface of the wound. Some kids, says Harrison, put a little cooked rice in their wounds to make it look like maggots have moved in.

In all, the effect on Neil took 20 minutes. His reaction?

“Man, that is sick.”

Happy Halloween!