Getting younger

Chris Ellerby

Hmm... If I had a good answer for this one I would not wear a hat all the time! 

Pros-aide could work as a stronger alternative for the hairspray to hold the new hairline, though as you mentioned removal would be a lot of work.  To help with removal you could try PPI Telesis Super Solv gel.   I love Supr Solv for removing pros-aide, and the gel version is nice because you can let it sit for a while to help break the adhesive down.   That said, I've not worked much with pros-aid in the hair, but as long as you don't go too heavy with the adhesive and are patient with the removal it should be fine.  I know folks use pros-aide and bondo (thickened pros-aide to cover eyebrows, so there's that.

But if you got hairspray to work, that might be less effort overall. 

I know for thinning hair you can paint the scalp or even use a flocking-like product to add more body, but moving the hairline without a small lace appliance or laying hair is a real challenge.  You seem to have made great progress there though! 

/Chris

Darrell Green

Chris Ellerby said:

Hmm... If I had a good answer for this one I would not wear a hat all the time! 

Pros-aide could work as a stronger alternative for the hairspray to hold the new hairline, though as you mentioned removal would be a lot of work.  To help with removal you could try PPI Telesis Super Solv gel.   I love Supr Solv for removing pros-aide, and the gel version is nice because you can let it sit for a while to help break the adhesive down.   That said, I've not worked much with pros-aid in the hair, but as long as you don't go too heavy with the adhesive and are patient with the removal it should be fine.  I know folks use pros-aide and bondo (thickened pros-aide to cover eyebrows, so there's that.

But if you got hairspray to work, that might be less effort overall. 

I know for thinning hair you can paint the scalp or even use a flocking-like product to add more body, but moving the hairline without a small lace appliance or laying hair is a real challenge.  You seem to have made great progress there though! 

/Chris

Thank you. I will experiment with both the flocking and the pros-aide with the gel solvent. I think the comb forward requires the flocking regardless of method of attachment, pros-aide or hairspray. The skin beneath really shows through like a beacon.

I can be smart about the trials and use the extreme ends of my hair rather than the mid points like used in the actual comb forward. I have been having some success with wig pieces for sideburns and mustache so I think my next big test is receding hairline fillers without a full wig or cap. But seeing what might be possible with this comb forward, i must play a little before I move on.

Darrell Green

And you have a great point with the encapsulated eyebrows, it obviously does release so it is just a matter of process and patience.

Tom Luca

Matt Winston said:

@Darrell Green In addition to the advice shared by @Chris Ellerby you can also use tape, artfully hidden within your hair, to subtly pull your skin back and remove facial wrinkles, and I can't overstate the value of good lighting. That will go a long way toward eliminating the shadows caused by wrinkles. Another great trick is to use gravity to your advantage. If you're looking up at your camera, gravity will pull your skin more tautly and remove some wrinkles too. Good luck!

Good point Matt! Man this site is great. Hey, didn't they do that tape technique on the picture TOOTSIE (1982)? Or was it MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993)? Both great comedies by the way. I love the pictures from the 1930s to the 1990s. 

Darrell Green

Tom Luca said:

Matt Winston said:

@Darrell Green In addition to the advice shared by @Chris Ellerby you can also use tape, artfully hidden within your hair, to subtly pull your skin back and remove facial wrinkles, and I can't overstate the value of good lighting. That will go a long way toward eliminating the shadows caused by wrinkles. Another great trick is to use gravity to your advantage. If you're looking up at your camera, gravity will pull your skin more tautly and remove some wrinkles too. Good luck!

Good point Matt! Man this site is great. Hey, didn't they do that tape technique on the picture TOOTSIE (1982)? Or was it MRS. DOUBTFIRE (1993)? Both great comedies by the way. I love the pictures from the 1930s to the 1990s. 

Both for sure but the tape scene in Mrs Doubtfire is a true classic .... "Instant Eyelift!". That entire scene is not only hilarious but shows actual, useful effects processes. Thanks for reminding me these existed, I have been laughing and watching for about twenty minutes now. 

One thing I picked up, in this viewing, (Mrs. Doubtfire 1993) is the tape on the face/forehead is attached to strings. This means no taping needed into the real hairline but instead controlled by strings all the way to the back of the head. Hiding them would be tricky without a head cover or wig but my character use-case usually includes a cover. 

@m@"Matt Winston" @c@"Chris Ellerby" Chris, any examples of this in use? Anyone we can lean on for this process review? I can imagine coloring the strings the same color as the hair and laying hair over it but would love to see this in a teaching video. Do we already have this available?

Darrell Green

I found another doubtfire makeup montage. Apologies but I don't know the copyright on the original but here is the link to this production behind the scenes special. Note, the use of the hair net style anchor. This is apparently where the tape ties to like a parachute and chords. Then the trick would be pulling from lower (side of head) locations to balance the forehead pull tape so the hair net (parachute) does not move but is pulled equally to stay at the back.

https://youtu.be/l8e7U5mcNsI?si=git06CVuTkmjxlNx

Darrell Green

I am back around with another need for the eyelift tape pads from Mrs. Doubtfire but this time for the purpose of face shaping rather than anti-aging. I saw, in the recent survey, that we might get some further hair and facial effects classes (if the survey puts up good numbers in that area) and was wondering if we have any instructors who use the tape and string combinations for the temporary face lifts?

I need to shape an eyebrow. The other method would be blockers followed by prosthetic eyebrows. But because I am wearing a hat for this cosplay, the tape and string would be far quicker.

Any pros I can throw this question to?

Oh, and I used the "younger hairline" comb forward again this year for bard. Dropped a good 10 to 15 years with this trick:

Darrell Green

I received two varieties of the facelift tape. The first is the conventional tape pad and cord combination that was displayed in Mrs Doubtfire. These allow a minimal tape area near the hairline but require an anchor point on the other end. Some of the cords wrap completely around the head to an opposing tape at the mirror point on rhe other side of the face. These are elastic cords. I believe the originals, from Mrs Doubtfire, were cords that tied and were not elastic.



The second kind is a more recent innovation. These look like bandaids without the cotton center section. Quite genius, really, as they are applied very similar to an adhesive bandaid but include a stretching action required before attaching the second half. 



Both can be applied in such a way as to hide them rather well.

Because my hairline is receding and I will be wearing a hat, both versions would be completely hidden. Keep in mind that the above pictures are not intended to look younger but just to introduce and demonstrate the two versions.

In this next picture you can see my intended purpose, the reshaping of the brow to match Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation (one side only to demo):



But even with this simple demonstration, the lifted brow side displays far fewer wrinkles, bags and shadow lines, putting these products directly in line with our ongoing search for makeup and special effects that make the model younger.

With a combination of both types and the exaggerated use of multiple tapes applied, these could quickly reshape the face in numerous disguises whether conventional or grotesque. A burn scar prosthetic could be greatly enhanced by pulling the area tight like a naturally healing burn scar does. These are cheap and easily removed, lending to their versatility in effects makeup. I plan to apply these wherever I would have been forced to remember to flex facial muscles for a pose. Downturned mouth, tucked back ear, the possibilities just pile up.

The only application caution is to apply to freshly cleaned skin. I used alcohol to prep the tape site and be careful to avoid touching the adhesive with your fingers before application.

Darrell Green

@Matt Winston I was rewatching Barney Burman "Age Makeup - Light to Moderate Aging" and the discussion tipped toward "de-aging" and he said, "That would require a completely separate video."

Which, of course, made me think, "OK, let's dooooooo THAT."

Possibly, he was jesting but it sounded like he had an answer but was sticking to topic, which was a class on aging. It would be super cool if he had a slew of tricks for getting younger.

Any chance it could be on a future list?

Darrell Green

Just finished up a build of Lucius Malfoy but wanted to share the ups and downs in age effects. Woke up looking like this:




Then age effects to this:



And then reverse to this:


All are mirror and cell phone so not the greatest but it showcases a pretty drastic age swing. Too much fun, too much fun. All pictures, above, taken in under 30 hours.