Cheap Way to Create Fake Cuts, Gashes for Halloween

Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I love making my own costumes and figuring out how I am going to do my makeup.

Over the years—and especially while I was a college student on a budget— I've learned some tips and tricks for getting a big Halloween look without spending a lot of money.

One Halloween staple is fake wounds and bloody gashes. Hollywood professionals use liquid latex or scar wax, but those can be pricey and hard to find. So here's a way that I've discovered to create those real looking cuts and gashes with items you probably having lying around your house or can find at Target.

Here is what you will need: eyelash glue (for fake eyelashes), glue stick, foundation, makeup sponge, butter knife, cotton swabs and fake blood.

1.  Use a damp makeup sponge to apply the eyelash glue (I'm partial to DUO) where you want the cut to be and let it dry. This step isn't 100 percent necessary, but I find it makes removing the cut at the end of the night a lot easier. 

2.  Take the glue stick and smear on a generous—but not overly thick layer—of the glue. This will create a fake layer of skin, which you will cut into to create the wound. You can use the butter knife for this or your fingers.

3.  Give the glue a few minutes to set up. I'd say about 5 should be enough, and then use the damp makeup sponge to apply a topcoat of eyelash glue. (This helps even out the texture of your fake skin.)

4.  Carefully cut into the glue with the butter knife to create the cut. This will add depth and make the gash look real.

5.  Take the foundation and the makeup sponge and blend the "wound" into your skin. If you are going for a zombie look, I recommend using a foundation that's two to three shades lighter than your skin tone.

OPTIONAL STEP: I sometimes like to take a little dirt and stipple it into the wound with the makeup sponge for added color and texture.

6.  Dip a cotton swab into the fake blood and dab it into the cut. This will add to the illusion of depth in the cut.

7.  Drip blood down the wound. I like to pull the cotton off one end of a swab and dip it in the fake blood. Then, I use it to drip it down the injury to create authentic looking drips and drops.

HELPFUL HINTS:
If you're doing a face or neck injury and don't want the blood on your costume, I suggest wearing a bib. Taking a shirt off after or trying to get dressed with the wounds can mess them up.

A toothbrush dipped in fake blood is a great way to create fake blood spatter.

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