Prosthetics & AppliancesNo. 9779 · The 2026 edition
How to Use Appliances, Spirit Gum, and Liquid Latex for Halloween
Master the art of attaching and blending Halloween appliances with spirit gum and liquid latex for realistic effects.
Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at spirithalloween.com.
This tutorial covers each stage of applying a prosthetic: from brushing on spirit gum and pressing the appliance, to blending with latex and foundation. You'll also learn to add bruising and gory details with cream makeup and a stippling sponge, and finish with powder for a natural look. Removal is straightforward with spirit gum remover, alcohol, or nail polish remover.
Directions
- Apply spirit gum to the back of the prosthetic piece and let it sit until it becomes sticky.
- When the spirit gum feels tacky, place the prosthetic against your skin and hold it there for half a minute.
- Coat the edges of the appliance with liquid latex to help it lie flush against your skin; you might need two or more layers.
- For a seamless look, apply a foundation that matches your natural complexion over the latex.
- Once the latex has dried, use cream or grease makeup to add bruising around the wound, making it look deeper or bloodier. Our Halloween palette includes many colors for this effect.
- Stipple on purple and black makeup around the wound and yellow on the outer edges with a sponge to enhance the bruising and realism.
- Dust white face powder over the area to give it a more natural, matte finish.
- To remove everything, peel off the liquid latex—it comes off easily—and use spirit gum remover, rubbing alcohol, or nail polish remover to dissolve the spirit gum.
