How to Hide a Tattoo

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Sometimes you may need to cover a tattoo on an actor. They may be playing a role that doesn't have any tattoos or the tattoo just doesn't fit the part. I got the idea for this blog post by watching the transformation of Rico Zombie on YouTube. It is a really cool video where see him looking “normal” then you see him rub of thee makeup and you see his tattoos.  The video starts out by asking, “How do you judge a book?” and then you see the commercial, which is what the video is, for Derma Blend. So today I'm going to teach you how to hide the tattoo.

This is the behind the scenes of the Go Beyond the Cover commercial.

Here are the steps to covering a tattooo.

1. Match the make up to the actors skin tone
2. Cover the entire tattoo with a layer of makeup
1. This is just one of many layers you will be applying
3. Powder it 
4. Apply another layer
1. This time blend the edges out
5. Powder
1. If that last layer covered the tattoo completely stop here.
6. Apply yet another layer
1. Yet again blend the edges out
7. Powder
1. If that last layer covered the tattoo completely stop here  
8. Apply a last layer 
1. For the final time blend the edges out 
9. Powder for the last time

• If the tattoo is still showing slightly repeat steps 3-9 until the tattoo is completely covered. 

If you uses a really thick layer you may only need to use one or 2 layers. 

Here's an example of what the process looks like.

This is a very good technique to have. I use it every day for work. I work at Disney and am not aloud to have tattoo showing.  So every morning before work I wake up and use the same technique I just told you about to hide the tattoo on my food. So I can tell you for a fact that it works.

I hope you liked this blog and can put this technique to work.

Here are some websites if you need more help.
Everydayhealth.com
About.com
eHow.com

How to Turn Your Friend Into a Zombie

David after I was done with him on Halloween.

Turning some one into a zombie is pretty basic. All you are basically doing is lightening the persons skin tone and then shading in the usual areas, cheek bones, temples, and under the chin (if it's a guy), and then you shade the eyes, to sink them in. That may sound rather complicated to some, so like always, I'm going to walk you threw the process step by step.

1. Apply the foundation to your actors face
• Make sure to use a foundation that is 2 tones lighter then your model's
• Make sure you blend the foundation down you model's neck
2. Apply shadows to your actor 
• (Make sure the shadow in 1 tone darker then your actors natural tone)
• Just under the cheek bones
• At the temples
• Around the eyes
• Under the jawline
• On the side of the nose
3.  Apply highlights
• On cheek bones
• On the bridge of the nose
4. Apply greens and yellows
• Apply these around the shadows to give your actor a sickly look
• After applying bruises add some more greens and yellows
5. Apply bruises
• Apply different shades of reds 
6. Apply setting powder
7. Add rigid collodion
• You apply this by liberally applying this to your model's skin
• This may take multiply applications 
• Allow this to dry between applications
8. Make any needed touch ups
9. Apply setting powder
10. Apply congealed blood
• Add this where the rigid collodion has dried to make realistic wounds

Now you know how to turn your friend into a realistic zombie.

Your friend should look something like this.

Here's a video of me turning my friend into one so you can see the process.

If you need any more help you can check out these websites.

• YouTube
• about.com
• instuctables.com

If you needed make up or any of the supplies you used in this application you can order it from these websites.

• AEO Studios 
• FX Warehouse