Halloween will be here before we know it and you are probably already thinking about costume ideas. If you want to make a homemade costume, a DIY Zombie Costume is the perfect choice. It's cheap, quick, and easy, and you probably already have most of the things you need at home. So if you want to know how to make a homemade Zombie costume, let OneHowTo help you design your own zombie outfit!
What Kind of Zombie are You
With so many movies and television shows about zombies, there are plenty of ideas for your DIY zombie costume. Do you want to be one of the new, modern zombies featured on shows like The Walking Dead, or do you want to go for the more classic Night of the Living Dead zombies? If you are unsure, watch some classic zombie movies or series to give you some ideas!
Additionally, consider the setting your zombie character might have come from. Were they trapped in a suburban neighborhood, or perhaps they emerged from a creepy old forest? This can help you decide on the style and details of your costume.
Clothing for a Homemade Zombie Costume
To create an authentic-looking homemade zombie outfit, your clothes need to be torn and pretty much destroyed. This means you can grab something from your closet that you no longer wear and use it as a costume. Many people use their old work uniforms as clothing.
Once you have found the right outfit, it's time to start customizing to turn it into a convincing DIY zombie outfit. Your zombie clothes should be extremely dirty, unkempt, and messy. Zombies wander around in the woods and get caught on thorns and fences, so make your clothing look that way by cutting holes in it or making tears. For added realism, consider adding some fake mud or grime using a mixture of cocoa powder and water, which can be applied to the fabric.
If you want to put a few burns in your zombie outfit, grab a lighter and start making some spots (but be careful!). Zombies have arguably been through a lot, so make sure your clothing represents that very well. It should be noted that adding some different textures to your clothes, like bits of leaves or twigs, can enhance the overall look.
The Bloody Part
Because zombies normally eat humans and/or brains, you have to make sure that you have some fake blood on your homemade zombie costume. It is best to start at your hands and your face. There is fake blood that you can buy at Halloween stores that is pretty inexpensive, or you can make your own. To make your own, you simply need corn syrup and red food dye. This type is a little sticky, but it is usually cheaper than buying it at the Halloween store.
If you want to go the extra mile and look the part, you could even try giving yourself some fake wounds using our tutorial guide on How to Do Fake Wound Makeup Step-by-step. For a more gruesome touch, applying some dark, clotted blood around the mouth and neck area can give an impression of a recent "feeding".
Adding texture to the blood can also give it a more realistic look. You can mix in a small amount of cocoa powder or coffee granules to simulate clotted blood, making it appear more like real gore.
Hair and Makeup
Hair and Makeup are very important to your zombie costume as well. Remember that zombies do not brush or comb their hair. They do not wash it either, so make sure your hair looks dirty and messy - you could even back comb it!
As for makeup, you can grab some of your (or your sister's or mom's) dark eye shadows and make dark circles under your eyes. Or you can buy some grease paint makeup that is sold at Halloween and fancy dress stores. Play around with how you want your face to look. You can go from scary to just really tired-looking. It all depends on what kind of zombie you want to be.
Moreover, adding some smudges of dark colors around your cheeks and forehead can mimic dirt and grime. Consider using a little bit of white face paint to give your skin a pale, undead look. For added emphasis, you can use a damp sponge to apply some green or gray tones to give a more decayed appearance.
By now, you should have plenty of ideas for a homemade zombie costume, so don't delay. Find yourself some old clothes and get started. If you have any zombie costume ideas you think we should include, please let us know in the comments below!
If you want to read similar articles to How to Make a Cheap Zombie Costume at Home, we recommend you visit our Festivities & Celebrations category.