When I was about 8, I wrote a story about a talking dummy who walked around at night. It was a concept that I hadn’t yet seen on screen. Just the thought of it was enough to write about it.
My dad even had a dummy named Lester. That doll scared the crap outta me.
Puppets and dolls have always been a scary addition to any horror film. This month we’re diving into puppet makeup, both frightful and frilly, and the things that make puppet makeup standout.
Puppet, Dummy, or Doll?
When I think of a puppet I think of strings and cartoon-like features. Socks and buttons immediately come to mind.
But, the famous puppet Slappy from the Goosebumps book series, one of the most famous scary puppets, is certainly not a sock and doesn’t have strings.
One characteristic they all have in common is their hard exterior. Whether made of plastic or wood, creating a puppet or doll makeup must give off the sense of being hollow on the inside and hard on the outside.
Lots of highlights for the plastic look, and lots of texture for a wooden look.
Pinterest Inspiration
As always, I pulled some really nice images to inspire your creativity. Check out these puppet makeups.
Tutorials
Puppet makeup can be pretty simple, but it’s the details that really make a puppet makeup stand out. These tutorials place emphasis on making your makeup look real.
This first tutorial is so, so good and so detailed. I love how the finished look turned out. It looks so real!
This next tutorial is just a joy to watch come together. There’s no voiceover, but there’s enough detail to learn how to do some spectacular things with your own look.
This next tutorial is a long one, but I loved how she accomplished the wood texture in her makeup. This is a must-see.
Product Recommendations
Here are a few of the products that can get you started making a Puppet makeup look. These are products I’ve used, and you’ll see some of these products in the “Puppet” makeup effects subscription box.