Cosplay is a new fashionable hobby that came from Japan and over the years of its existence has captured the entire globe. Its essence lies in acting out favorite anime characters, cartoons, comics, movies, and even real personalities: singers, actors, politicians, and so on. How to make cosplay at home depends on the complexity of the costume, details and image. Some cosplay models earn their creativity, for others it’s just a hobby. There are many theme festivals and communities where you can show your cosplay or discuss a stranger.
How to make cosplay
High-quality cosplay requires several components: a hairstyle or a wig, makeup, costume, accessories and wagering. Most cosplayers, including professional ones, work at home independently or surrounded by friends. This is a very interesting hobby that requires a lot of time, attention, strength and sincere love. Characters come in all degrees of complexity: from incredible space aliens that only professionals can master, to ordinary schoolchildren. Choosing who to cosplay a girl or a guy with will be quite simple.
Hairstyle
How to make a cosplay hairstyle? Most often, not wigs from live hair are used, but wigs. Over the years, an experienced experienced cosplayer can accumulate a lot of them - each on a separate character, or even not one. There are several reasons why experienced cosplayers choose wigs:
- The wig is more practical. The hairs on it are thicker than live hair, they do not curl, they have a saturated color, they shine and look more "cartoonish". This is good, since making an anime cosplay means becoming a cartoon hero.
- Natural hair can get out of hand. The wig will not be disheveled by the wind, the hair on it does not fluff and does not stick together from moisture.
- Not all hairstyles can be done on live hair. For example, many characters have an unnatural hair color or a length different from the length of the cosplayer's hair. Sometimes it is impossible to grow hair of the exact length that characters have, it is not always possible to style natural hair in a complex hairstyle. Some wigs are sold already laid specifically for the characters.
- Caring for your hair. If you cut your hair or color for each character, they will quickly become thin, brittle and inanimate.
Makeup
Cosplay makeup is required for both female and male characters. Of course, the degree of complexity depends on the specific hero or heroine, but there are basic rules: the complexion must be even and light, the eyes are bright and expressive, so cosplayers use lenses and false eyelashes. Often advanced cosplayers resort to the services of professional makeup artists, but this is not necessary. On the Internet there are many instructions on how to make easy cosplay makeup for girls and guys who have just begun their journey in this area.
Costume
The most difficult and important part of cosplay. Costumes are its basis, the most expensive, but interesting part of the image. They also come in varying degrees of difficulty. There are several ways to purchase or how to make a cosplay costume. Some talented cosplayers prefer to sew costumes manually at home on their own, while others sew in the studio. The costume can be bought in the online store or with hands, but you need to do this carefully. There is a risk of acquiring a poor-quality item from a bad, inappropriate fabric, of the wrong color or size.
Accessories
How to make cosplay really interesting? Using parts and accessories. In order for the image to be complete, you need suitable shoes, jewelry, and other details of the image (for example, a phone, hair clips or elastic bands for hair, a bag or backpack, wings, hats, crowns, and so on). It all depends on the characters: you need to carefully look at what accessories and additional surroundings the heroes use, and try to get them out.
Wagering
This item includes the cosplayer's acting data and the ability to enter the character's character. It’s not enough to dress up as a hero, you need to become him. Location, posture, gaze, lighting and the like are very important when it comes to photography. In photos, post-processing is still very important. For example, you can change the color balance or contrast so that the photographs acquire the right atmosphere, become brighter and more expressive. Some cosplayers actively use computer graphics in their photos to draw elements of the hero’s world that could not be found in reality, or to create a more spectacular picture.
How to make your first cosplay: tips for beginners
- You should start with simpler and more realistic characters. Who can cosplay a girl or a young man without special skills? Characters from cartoons, comics, anime, series, or films with a simple realistic world, such as the anime "K-ON!", Are a good choice. about schoolgirls musicians.
- You need to choose a wig and costume carefully, it is advisable to buy from familiar sellers. If you can sew a simple suit in the studio or on your own - it is worth using it.
- Even if the eye color of the model and the character matches, it is recommended to use contact lenses. They visually enlarge the eyes, make them brighter, more expressive and more beautiful. Also, false eyelashes in a small amount will not be superfluous. It is desirable that they be plastic and not too thick.
- Many characters can be cosplayed not in their basic costumes, but, for example, in a swimsuit, sports uniform or pajamas. Sometimes these costumes are less expensive, easier to buy or sew, so you can start your first cosplay with them.
- To make cosplay easier and more interesting, you can meet other beginners and not only cosplayers in thematic groups, on websites or at thematic festivals. They can share tips and experiences, suggest suitable conventions and communities, they can explore cosplay together, which will be more fun, interesting and productive.
- Do not rush. Having bought in a hurry the first suit that comes across, you can stumble on low-quality goods. As a result, you will have to spend more time and effort. A groomed wig can start to get confused, and fluently selected lenses can cause allergies. Cosplay needs to be approached thoroughly and not in a hurry to make it as soon as possible.
- With friends more fun! If you call friends for help and engage in cosplay with them, this will not only increase productivity, but will also make this interesting hobby even more fun (even if friends are not keen on cosplay)!
Cosplay is becoming more and more popular every year, gradually developing from a simple hobby into a separate area of contemporary art. Cosplay is on the verge of acting, photography, modeling and even fashion.