MakeUpMania.com
Prosthetic Application Work Sheet


Basic Supplies Needed:
Appliance Piece (latex, foamed latex, gelatin or silicone)
Adhesive (appropriate for appliance type)
Q-tips, sponges, brushes
No Color Powder
Powder Puff
99 % Alcohol
Color for appliance (RMG, Pax Paint, Temporary Tattoo Color)
Adhesive Remover (99% Alcohol, Acetone, IPM, Super Solv,etc)

Additional Supplies Suggested:
Pros-aide
Acetone
KY Jelly
Bondo/Edge Filler
Adhesive Remover (99% Alcohol, Acetone, IPM, Super Solv,etc)
Various additional sponges. (German, Ruby, Cannibalized etc)


General Safety Precautions
Prosthetic Application is for the professional use of makeup only. Although these products have been used through out the professional industry for years and "tested" on thousands of people, some people may have reactions to the varied products used in this medium. If sensitive to cosmetics in general - or allergies are known - it is best to avoid using makeup on anyone until investigated further. If any reaction occurs remove immediately. If any rashes occur or worsen after removal, seek medical attention. Do not assume you can do more than you can or take risks where you or your actor may be harmed. Stay away from the eyes with all cosmetics, adhesive and removers, allow for ventilation, keep brushes clean, always have fresh water, removers and paper towels accessible. If wearing on stage or on set it is a good idea to have an emergency removal kit - if the actor gets hurt while the piece is on - the kit can go to the emergency room so the piece can be removed. Stunt men and women in particular have been known to end up there with full on prosthetics. By applying any piece it assumed you are doing so professionally and you are responsible for yourself and the person you are applying it on. Think the process through before starting. Be safe.


Prepping the Skin & Piece
Make sure skin is clean and free of oils or lotions. Remove scridge from piece. (Some pieces come with the original scridge from the sculpting process still attached - it defines where the fine edge is.) Put smaller pieces or larger pieces with intricate edges on where they are to be attached.. Stack puff with powder and liberally puff over piece edge, outlining where piece will go. When you remove the piece there should be an outline made from the powder.


Applying the Prosthetic
Apply a thin coat of adhesive to the skin where the piece will be, powder; apply a thin coat to the prosthetic piece, powder. Place piece on face and adjust for best placement. Dip brush or q-tip into 99% alcohol and starting from the center of the piece, snake under the piece and reactivate the adhesive by hitting both skin and piece with alcohol. Press down the piece on to skin to secure. Work this same process through out the piece outwards, leaving the edges unglued. Work kinks and air bubbles out as you go. When the piece is glued down, gently work the edges and smooth to the thinnest lay down possible. After the edge is completely down and air bubbles and kinks worked out, go over the entire edge with a stippled layer of adhesive - preferably with pros-aide or Beta Bond and textured sponge. Do this a few layers, until you cannot see the edge of the piece. If the edge is very thick or needs extra covering, use Bondo or Edge Filler. Duo Lash Adhesive is good too. Powder well when DRY. (You can use a cool setting of a blow dryer to speed up the drying process.)


Coloring the Prosthetic
Many types of prosthetic coloring products do well when the piece is "sealed" with Pros-aide or Bondo. Since Pax Paint is an adhesive based product - you do not need to seal the piece when using Pax. To seal the piece lightly stipple a light layer of Pros-aide or Bondo over the entire piece. Let dry and powder. Match skin tone or choose color desired - mottle on the colors on with a mottling effect. It is almost like pointillism painting. Painting the color one piece - screams "makeup". The subtle layering of mottling tones - to create dimension of the skin gets the most realistic results. Also some artists like to start with a ruddy tone to kill the color of the appliance; some appliances are created with ruddy tone already. Stipple various shades of skin tone or injury or character colors over piece. Skin tones look good with a ruddy finish. Use a "Cannibalized" sponge to create this effect. A cannibalized sponge is your basic sponge, pulled in half and small chunks picked out with you finger or tweezers to create and very uneven surface. Powder well when complete. KY Jelly is a good trick to bring the piece back to life or during the wear, to revive dullness.


Maintaining the Piece
For long wear times - make sure to have adhesives, touch up colors, powder and KY Jelly. Pieces should wear comfortably but may lose color or life. Add color or KY Jelly when needed. Edges do come up, especially where movement is (mouth, joints etc) and can be re-glued. Perspiration will also cause the piece to start to lift, sometime a little place for sweat to drip through is better than letting it build up and letting a larger section left.


Removal of the Prosthetic Appliance
If possible use steamed towels to lay over larger pieces to help soften adhesive. If you do not know how to steam towels do not use this method! Hot!!! Start by finding a good edge to lift and using a q-tip, brush or bent brush, work adhesive remover into the edge and start to lift the piece as you apply more of your remover. Stiffer brushes are needed if you are going to use a brush. Keep working the edge until you can lift the entire piece off. For larger pieces, once you get a nice size section lifted, you can soak an old powder puff in remover and gently rub, lift until the piece is entirely off the skin. Work with generous amounts of remover and lift evenly. Work gently. Be especially careful around the eyes. Keep eyes closed, Have tissue available to sop up excessive remover.

DO NOT ALLOW REMOVER IN THE EYE!!!
IF YOU PLAN ON SAVING THE APPLIANCE - USE ONLY 99% ALCOHOL OR ACETONE TO REMOVE.
You can use IPM, or Beta Solv, or Super Solv - but the piece will be destroyed and cannot be glued down again. If you are saving the piece - you can remove the piece with alcohol or acetone and then you can use the other oily removers on the skin - which are faster and generally gentler on the skin. Also, liquid hand soap is good for the left over gooey stuff and if possible jump in the shower!
To save the piece - clean the edges with acetone using a stiff brush, let dry and powder well. Place carefully on paper towel overnight - store in a Ziploc baggie large enough to hold it without folding it.


Eva Marie Denst for MakeUpMania.com 10/15/2004
Updated 10/22/2005

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