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Goddesofthemoon — THE COSPLAY GUIDE: Tips
Published: 2009-05-08 03:13:35 +0000 UTC; Views: 67486; Favourites: 426; Downloads: 0
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If you read this please leave a comment telling me if it helped you or not.If you have any tips that you would like to share so that I can share with others please feel free to note me you will be credit with the next posting.
FB Group DIY Cosplayer Help
[link]
First things first!
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE ASIAN TO BE A GOOD COSPLAYER!
I see this argument every time I click on a cosplay picture.
Here are a few good cosplayers that are NON ASIAN.
Convention Do's and Don'ts.
General disclaimer ;: these dos/don'ts are not meant to be offensive or rude in anyway shape or form. These are advice/tips to help you achieve your perfect costume/convention experience and can be taken literally or non-literally.
Do:
= Start on your costumes early. A month or two in advance.
= Set deadlines for yourself. While it can be stressful at times it'll help you stay on track and keep your progress steady.
= Always bring a good camera with you and plenty of film.
= Ask for permission to take photos and to hug/glomp people.
= Be creative, if you plan on doing originals or female versions of characters really be imaginative with the outfits. Don't just put on a dress and call it a version. Make sure the design fits the character and the series!
= Bring a repair sewing kit to conventions. Glue guns are a must for prop holders! You never know when it'll come in handy.
= Use the buddy system. Sometimes the places where cons are held aren't all that 5 star, the buddy system helps when you have to make a late night run or return to your hotel through sketchy areas.
= Exchange tips/advice or deviant pages/blogs. Network like a champ.
= Check con regulations to make sure your props/costumes are acceptable.
= Make friends and don't be a wall flower!
= Regularly check official boards/cosplay boards for meet up/photoshoot information.
= Invest in coolers and ice for late night snacking/drinks!
= If you're going to a Convention as a main character from a series meet up with some co-stars/supporting characters. Cosplay is good on its own but its better with company!
= Hotel locations near convenience stores modernly priced restaurants. This will help keep down food and drink costs.
= Stay hydrated. No one likes heat stroke or a trip to the hospital!
= Ration money, forget your wallet in your room or car. Check your Bank status after major purchases, keep a check book/balance book with you to keep track of your spending.
= Pick characters that are similar to yourself, it makes the cosplay better when you can adapt and relate to said character.
Don't:
= Use duct tape. While it may be magical, putting it on your shoes for a cosplay is not.
= Wear a costume that was put together in two hours, two days, or even two weeks unless you are a professional or you actually did an excellent job.
= Males, don't wear costumes that require you to shave if you refuse to. It ruins the illusion of the character that you've set out to portray.
= Pick characters that have revealing clothing if you don't have the body for it, are self conscious, or are doing it for the wrong kind of attention. Think of it like this, if you won't wear it in front of your grandmother, why would you wear it to a con in front of strangers?
= If you do wear revealing costumes do not complain about unwanted attention or being hit on by locals. Its going to happen whether you like it or not, be aware before hand.
= Just wear a costume to a character you know nothing about. Do some research! Its how the best cosplayers/cosplays are made.
= Please don't creep. No one likes a stalker!
= Don't act like you're better than another cosplayer or person just because you made your costume, are in a costume, ect. Conventions are for fun, not for tom douchery!
Addatives
Looking for Elven ears?
Here’s a great site.
Aradani costumes
[Link below. PLEASE READ]
Aradani features sets of prosthetic body adds such as ears, horns, scars, ect., ect.
Aradani is a good site to go to if you are looking for pointed Elf ears. These prices are low, some items are even under ten bucks.
Features A-J are good for:
High elves
Fairies
Goblins
Wilde Elves
Satyrs
Fauns
Orcs
Trolls
Elfquest characters
Anime characters
Sea creature ears for Mermaids and Dragonkin or even sea elves.
Hobbits
And they even feature ears from Lord of the rings, half elves.
Their most noted ears are the 10” Twilight elf tips.
Aradani also sells Latex horns and ones of polymers in a selection.
They sell vampire fangs in short and saber and even prosthetic wounds and open cuts for possible Zombie or fighting/wounded characters plays.
Store link:
[link]
Sesshomaru Cosplay [link]
Is a lens that I found that is pretty helpful for costume makers. Remember for any costume do your RESEARCH. Find plenty of ref photos and study the character.
[link]
Buckled winkle pickers one of the best cosplay shoes. So close to his originals and pretty inexpensive I believe. Sold at Drac-in-a-box
www.Mehron.com Mehron
www.Kryolan.com Kryolan
These two above links are places for good quality body painting makeups.
[link]
For Sesshomaru makeup two pack refills are good. Cheery bomb red for cheeks, red for eyes and Dark blue, Dk.blue or DBL for moon, Wild orchid the last filler for a Just in case go with the purple moon.
This makeup was bought and tested by me and is a perfect match to Sesshomaru's [Anime]
Products that are good to go with using make up.
Barrier spray : [link]
A quality barrier spray that stops sweat. Misted before or after makeup use, before stops sweat underneath and after seals for the finished look and no run.
Foundation:
[link]
Foundation to hide the "I just shaved" look for a flawless finish. Good for a Sesshomaru cosplay as well as any other in general in general.
FOR WIG WEARERS:
If you happen to be wearing a bright coloured wig or white wig and are afraid of showing your hair underneath the first good way to reduce this is if you are a male you can go bald, too drastic?
Then for all a WIG CAP is a must. If your hair is long it is good to use knitted wig caps and to wrap hair around the head and pin it in place with bobby pins.
After hair is pinned, here is a product I have found that helps preventing coloured hair from sticking out.
[link]
Comes in silver or white.
If you’re doing a Sesshomaru play it’s good to go with the silver. It’s a SAFE and NON PERMINATE water based formula that covers the hair and will make sticking out hair LESS noticeable.
When the wig cap is on dab or stroke lightly around the edges of wig cap or hair line about half an inch into the hair to colour it. The hair will become less noticeable.
For those with COLOURED wigs such as purple, blue, green. Use the WHITE formula and do the same as above.
-Then take a bit of eye shadow in MATTE of the same colour as the wig and lightly brush it along the edges of your now whitened hair. Make sure that the shadow is of a NON-sparkling or pearlized kind and is a dull flat matte.
STYLING A WIG:
There are a few GOOD quality stranded wigs that sell and they are kanekalon, Eleora, toyokalon, and modlon. Human haired wigs are the best but expensive and stop at a certain length.
“ PART WIG” fibers are not good wigs at all so don’t buy them, they are usually poor quality.
Try to stick to reliable sellers and check out credentials if possible; also check out reviews or feedback.
When buying a wig check the quality as well as the assembly, make sure the wig will not fall apart. Double check sizing as well. Some go by Small, medium, and large.
When styling a wig important products to have are:
A wig brush
Wide tooth comb
Wig spray
Plenty of wig caps.
Hair spray or/and gel
Garnier Fructis Wetshine
Blow dryer
Only use salon professional products and nothing cheap or you will damage the wig. The Fructis Wetshine is a gloss spray, I have a small travel size bottle that I find good for travel, it gives the hair a quick shine boost and life while not being sticky or excessive. It also gives the wig or hair a nice fruity scent that last for hours. <3
When styling a wig use a generous amount of product but don’t go crazy. Treat it like real hair or you will damage it.
DO NOT use excessive hair gel or hair cement.
A little goes a long way when combined with sprays. Make sure to find a good hair spray that doesn't flake.
Take a small amount on your finger and rub it into your hands. Run your hands under cold water[for a couple of seconds] to further dilute to not damage but still do its job.
Or make sure the wig is damp or wet and gently work product in and style as needed.
Use hairspray to keep style.
Blow dry while holding the spike or curl. Do it low heat to not destroy the style.
Make sure the hair spray is not one that flakes off or gets OVERLY sticky or you could ruin your style.
For curly haired wigs, either buy them straight and style them yourself or get them curly styled already.
To curl a straight wig you need:
Curlers [plastic ones not the hot ones]
A blow dryer
Warm water
Bobby pins
Wide tooth comb
Hair spray
1. Wet the wig with warm water and rid any access water.
2. Part wig into sections like normal hair. Comb out section and roll it in the curler, pin and move on to the next one.
3. Repeat step two until the full wig, or just what you need is in curlers.
4. Make sure wig hair is still wet, if not mist it with warm to hot water.
5. Blow dry the hair dry on high but keep it far enough away so that it does not damage the hair.
6. Do this twice, step 4 and 5, and then remove curlers carefully. With Wide tooth comb; comb the hair gently through the curl once or twice if needed and there it is. Hair spray to hold style and done.
It’s better to wear the wig after styling being careful to put it on without mussing it up. It’s also easier to style it while on your head. After it might be good to use a bit of Hair sheen. Oil sheen that says OLIVE OIL on the front or Wig spray to get the luster you need.
For plays with SHORT hair if you have short hair that is around the same colour or length it is good to use YOUR OWN HAIR and not a wig. [Saves money]
If your hair is to your jaw and you’re doing a Kingdom Hearts Sora play, use your own hair and either get it professionally styled or have someone help you.
Styling Sora’s hair is pretty easy as long as you DON’T use a ton of gel or hair cement. Use an amount like above but part the hair first to help.
Do not do a straight part but a zig zag part it seems to keep it more natural.
Spike the hair use the gel more at the bottom or base of the spike then the top and use hair spray at the top to hold the point.
If you want to go with a more natural realistic look then tease the hair slightly and use a small amount of gel or hairspray to have this fly away but spiked look. Make sure it’s not TOO messy.
If you do not want to do this here are a few good sites for QUALITY cosplay wigs already styled that I have found so far:
[link]
For those looking for contacts:
[link]
This link is good for Sesshomaru contacts using the ones at the bottom of the page: Hazel Autumn Bella
Or if you want to get more than one pair with a discount here is JAPANESECANDY
This site features contacts for cosplays or just regular wear in prescription and non-prescription.
So don’t worries if you have two different prescriptions in each eye you can get a pair without any added fees at all; also if you buy more than one of one style they give discount. Sae-Chan is amazingly nice and friendly and if you have any questions she is sure to help.
I’ve found contacts on here good for:
Chii or Freya cosplays
Naruto plays and a few others.
[link]
Another site:
[link]
[link]
Colours Honey and Pure hazel are good for Sesshomaru cosplays and any with yellow to golden eyes and want to keep the RL but anime aspects of a character. While they are cheap I am not sure if they can be prescription or not.
COSPLAY SHOES:
[link]
Jennifer cosplay from Ebay has great cosplay shoes.
She even has a realistic version of Sora's shoes. I am not sure as of yet but I do think that they do custom orders for shoes. Not sure but you can always ask.
[link]
Sometimes they sell Bleach shoes and whatnot, but they are good for Naruto headbands, keychains and Akasuki Necklaces as well as others. Mask, and collectables.
If you’re wearing the bleach whickered sandals I suggest using a sealant at the bottom of some type or fitting them with rubber to keep them from breaking as you walk on the concrete. Otherwise stay indoors and check them every so often.
Cosplay Tutorials
Magnet headphones:
[link]
LAYERS Tutorial Translations:
[link]
Deviant cosplay group w/tutorials:
[link]
Deviant cosplay group w/tutorials:
[link]
DarkElements:
[link]
GSTQ tutorials:
[link]
Yoko's gun step step:
[link]
Yoko's gun 2 step step:
[link]
These step step's on Yoko's gun are not an actual tutorial but just a step step picture progress on a pro-cosplay prop makers progress while doing a commission.
It is really helpful.
Yoko's Rifle: Info:
[link]
Commissions or costumes:
Cosplayhouse does quotes on commissions for outfits. I checked them out to see what you would get for some cosplays. They say 48 hours and they will get to you but its been more than three for me so I'm not all too sure. They can be pretty damn expensive sometimes.
Cosplayfu.com has some decent costumes. For those that can't afford to make from scratch or don't know how to sew its good to get premades and then taylor it to yourself and add or take from it as needed.
If you know people that sew its good to get them to help you. Also, taking it to a taylor is a cheap and professional way. Some may even do the costume for you. Ask around and see.
Lolita:
Its abundantly clear that you can google this and find whatever you need but to save some time here are some links to help you out.
[link]
This is a link to the Lolita handbook located on Live journal.
For the DIY Loli's
[link]
Sewing and DIY entries on lolita pieces.
Kanzashi Tutorial:
[link]
Lolita dress tutorial:
[link]
Altering a pattern [McCalls 7874]
"Victorian" skirt:
[link]
I've once used this as a basic step step for my lolita skirt pattern. With a few alterations on measurements and adding a panel or two i believe I got the effect I desired. It varies upon person to person.
Make Ruffles:
[link]
Disclaimer: This can be taken literally or non-literally.
For any questions just Note me and I'll be happy to answer or look up anything you might need.
Don't forget to check out the second one here : [link]
Related content
Comments: 228
Can you help me? My parents are really cheap, and I have no oney. (Exception 20$ at target) and i need to be sesshomaru for a friend's b-day party .
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The only thing I can say is, if you can't afford to cosplay don't. Its not cheap, even the cheapest crappiest looking costume is not cheap.
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But, I have to. 
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And cosplay done properly can still be fun.
I don't understand why people believe that if you take cosplaying seriously you don't have fun or vice versa.
This guide is to help ASPIRING cosplayers who want to be good to be better and to help new cosplayers get their foot in the door.
Its not about raining on someones parade or telling them what they can and can't do. This guide is just that, a guide.
If you don't like what it has to say, then simply don't listen or read it. It solves your issue of believing I'm making it unfun.
Have a good day. :]
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i have a question...
im going to cosplay hinata from naruto shippuden and i think i would do a good job. i have her speech pattern down and voice and i can even make myself blush XD But this will be my first time ever cosplayed -_- I dont know pretty much anything about cosplay or anime conventions and stuff. What do they do there? And since hinata has rather straight hair, how often do i have to tend to it? i dont have much money so i might not be able to keep it in a good condition.Are anime conventions expensive? And one final question is there an age limit to anime conventions?
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Conventions have panels, acts, cafes, game rooms, ect. There is a lot to do at a con.
If you're using your real hair depending on how it is affected by humidity and moisture will tell you how often you have to tend to it. If it is a wig then little to no tending.
Conventions are expensive and not advised if you aren't financially stable in at least having a job. You have to pay for your badge, your car ride/gas to get there, your room, you have to have at least 100$-200$ for food for the weeked, and if you want to buy something at least 100 in spending money.
There are no age limits to Conventions unless you are going to explicit cons like Yaoi con. That is 18+
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thank you i feel a lot better now
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oh I wanted to know if you knew any sites that help with light up costumes (Example: tron legacy cosplay)
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I don't know any exactly but if you google search how-to's on LED's you'll find some helpful stuff.
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PS: do u think you can help me out with making horns ? like the non-curly horns ? i cant find a good tutorial on horns :/
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Um, could you be more specific?
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like the animal horns srry , like a mountian goat horns
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I really couldn't tell you but you could try asking this person: [link] for a general idea. Though, I assume they bought horns and then made a mold of them, ect.
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Duct tape can be good for cosplays. I have an Edward Elric cosplay made mostly out of duct tape, and a lot of people told me it was really cool. Granted, it can be really stupid looking on a crappy costume, especially one that's not all duct tape... but if the costume is mostly duct tape, it's actually quite cool. :3
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If its all duct tape, that's fine but if its not all duct tape it looks stupid.
Especially if you just put a few strips on a pair of timberlands and call it cosplay shoes.
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Yeah, that is the one thing that drives me crazy. Putting yellow duct tape on your sneakers does NOT make you Sora. Stupid noobs. >.>
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Glad you can make use of them.
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First time Cross-player, I wanna Cross-Play Marisa Kirisame, do you have any tips other than listed?
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I am in the current process of asking a good friend who crossplays if he has some advice he can give you. For now, I'd check around cosplay.com. They have threads geared specifically for crossplayers.
Being a female, I just know what looks good, not much about how to actually do it when male. Sorry I can't be of more help at the moment.
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It's fine ^w^ thanks for replying, the guide just had a lot of good pointers so I had to ask ^^
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My friend said that going with natural make up is best. Using falsies and stuff to elongate short eyelashes makes you look more girly.
He didn't have much else since, he himself, is just starting to perfect his cosplays. Last years con he shaved his legs just for his cosplay! So its really all about going the extra mile and showing the details.
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I'm still looking at the first few bits, but, I'm female, though I'm a flatboard female. I don't have breasts yet and I most likely wont till year 10(year 8 now) or so o.O but, next year, I'm probable cosplaying at Supernova in either Brisbane or at The Gold Coast. I'll be cosplaying Robin from young justice. I just want to know, do I know enough to cosplay him?
I know he has short black hair, and blue eyes(I'd willingly get a hair cut, my hair dyed darker, and blue contacts!)
I know his outfit is black and red, with black shoes, black gloves, a black domino mask with spikes at the tops on the side, and a black cape with yellow trim. My friend and I will be willing to make his outfit.
I know he wears jeans, black shoes, sun glasses, a green shirt, covered by an un-zipped up black hoodie in civilian around the other young justice characters, except when at school, where Artemis goes too.
I know hes Richard "Dick" Grayson, and that his first language was Romani, his second being english(though I don't think many people know this?), I know hes skinny and not that tall(opposite, I'm almost tall enough to reach the top of the fridge, and I way about 70? 69-ish.). I know he's a trained acrobat since the age four, and that his parent's where killed by Tony Zucco when he was around 8-9. I know he discovered Batmans secret by total coincidence and curiosity.
I know that he was one of the first sidekicks made.
I know that he has a holographic laptop, and is a Techno geek, and is also a mathlete.
I know he goes to Gotham Acadamy, lives at Wayne manor, is a pro hacker, was created in 1940 by DC's Bill Finger and Bob Kane, was born on the first day of spring(21st march), and I know that he got his super hero name from his mothers old nickname for him, 'Robin'.
If I know all this, should I cosplay him?
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To be honest, this really sounds like a troll post. I'm gonna indulge and answer anyway.
Let me first put this disclaimer, these are tips I thought up through my experiences at conventions. They are tips, helpful advice really and may be taken seriously/literally or not at all.
At any rate, if you know all this about your character why are you asking someone on DA if you should cosplay them? When I say know your character I mean known your characters demeanor and his/her habits, his/her history and his/her likes/dislikes. You obviously do.
No one wants to see a Robin running around groping people and trying to stick his hands down peoples pants. Obviously that's not his character.
Its about going into character and being the character you are cosplaying, acting. I am not saying do it 24/7 while wearing this costume but at least when you're indulging for photos give a little spark of what the character is.
Especially do this in Larp. I've seen too many LARP's with cosplayers that held non-cannon attitudes.
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Thanks. It wasn't suppost to seem like a troll post. I haven't really cosplayed before. I'm a bit scared, seeing as I have ADHD and ASD I think I may not get into it well. D:
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Well, regardless people will do what they want anyway. Im not saying do it or don't. I think if you want go ahead, you do know a lot about the character and its not a requirement but for those who strive to be the best cosplayers its just helpful advice.
The internet has no tone so I was not sure if it was or was not a troll. Glad it wasn't, its okay to be a bit scared. Honestly my first time cosplaying, I was alone but within the first hour I had already met really cool people and I calmed down. It gets scary at first, especially in front of people but the cool thing about doing it at conventions is that there is always, always someone from your series and you are bound to have people recognize you by character or series.
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Wow! really? 
x.x now, I wonder how I'll be able to do skits. xD Oh well, when the time comes, I'll know if I can get on stage to do 'secrets'.
You've been very helpful. :]
>.o I'm also doing Hidan from Naruto, which is going to be hard, seeing as he hasn't got much of a past(he doesn't even have a last name. ._.) xD
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Thank You so much for this; I'm cosplaying tomorrow at the Birmingham NEC as Suika Ibuki, and it's because of you my costume is not a failure! Thank you so much!
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I am glad you found this useful. You're very welcome!
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Oh and btw what about Vocaloid cosplays??? ;3
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Which Vocaloid cosplays are you looking at?
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I'm looking at a Kagamine Len cosplay
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From which song? I've been looking at Servant of Evil myself. :]
If you're talking about the regular Len, do you want to buy or make?
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Sorry to bother you… 
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Sooryyy….. I just… said that before I ordered it…. TT^TT
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lololol, Its okay its no problem
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Im soo glad i found this! Lol my friends and i just formed a cosplay group 
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You're very welcome.
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