Prosthetic Dragon Scales

I've been learning about fantasy makeup, and wanted some latex prosthetic scales for a dragon costume. Making my own was surprisingly easy - although it did take a full week to cure, so if you want to make them for a specific event, please plan ahead!

To make the prosthetic:

1. plasticine
2. leaf cutter (you can find these sold for cake decorating or polymer clay) - the size of this will determine the size of your scales. A circular cutter would give you mermaid scales
3. rolling pin
4. cling film/saran wrap
5. perspex sheet or other flat movable surface
6. plaster of paris
7. mixing cups and stick
8. scales
9. liquid latex
10. paint brush

To wear the prosthetic:

1. isopropyl alcohol
2. pros aid or spirit gum
3. liquid latex (optional)
4. makeup (I used red foundation and various eyeshadows + highlighter)
5. makeup brushes

Squish your plasticine until it warms and becomes more pliable (you can warm it in a plastic bag in hot water if you're impatient). Then roll out a fairly thin layer. I drew out the shape I was planning onto the plasticine (although I changed my mind and did a heart shape instead).

Use your leaf cutter to cut out a bunch of scales. It works best if you layer cling film over the plasticine, but you can do without if you don't happen to have some. Roll out more plasticine as and when needed. Start smooshing the scales onto your base on the perspex sheet, paying attention to the direction of scales if it's not a symmetrical design. Once I'd put a few on the base it started to look like a heart shape would work nicely, so I went with that.

Keep going until you've made a shape you're happy with. I also did a second copy, as I wanted to have a set of two moulds. Stop and admire your work!

Next we need to build a wall to keep the plaster of paris in. It doesn't need to be beautiful, it just needs to be a) taller than the scales and b) watertight! If you keep the walls relatively close to your scales then you'll need less plaster.

Mix your plaster of paris according to the instructions on the packet. I ended up using about 56g of plaster, with 25g of water. Mix the water in slowly, as if you're making especially delicious pancake batter, and then give the cup a few taps on the table to bring any bubbles to the top.

Pour a bit of plaster into your plasticine shape(s). I tilted my perspex sheet until the plaster coated the scales from all angles. Then I put it back flat on the table, and poured the full amount.

Go have a nice cup of tea and a sit down. I left my plaster for two hours (the packaging said one hour, but it still seemed too soft to me), and then started chipping away at the plasticine. Once I'd removed the walls I was able to lever the plaster off pretty easily, and it left quite a pretty bit of plasticine too!

I left the plaster of paris to dry propped up, to maximise airflow.

Over a period of days, you now want to paint in thin layers of latex. With the first layer it's especially important to minimise bubbles, and also get into all the nooks and crannies. Let it dry (it'll go a nasty translucent yellow colour!) between each layer. You can't just pour the lot in and expect it to set.

I also painted the edges of the mould to have an overhang to blend into my skin - but it turned out I did too many layers there and it ended up too thick. Next time I'll only do one or two layers of overhang, I think I did three or four.

Carefully remove your latex, going slow to avoid breaking the plaster mould. Yes it looks hideous (mmm, earwax yellow), but it's gonna look great once it's on your skin and covered in makeup. When I realised the overhang latex was too thick to blend into my skin, I trimmed it off close to the scales.

To prep your skin for the prosthetic, give it a wipe with isopropyl alcohol (not too much, and keeping some distance from your eye area). Then stick your prosthetic on with pros aid or spirit gum, following the instructions on the packaging (I used pros aid, and I spread a little onto the prosthetic itself and my skin).

If you left a thin latex overhang from casting, you can use more liquid latex to mask the join between the prosthetic and your skin. I trimmed it off, so I skipped this step.

Cover your prosthetic with the same foundation you're using for your whole face. Then do a bit of contouring, working dark eyeshadow into the crevices, and a bit of highlighter on the tops of the scales, using the same colours that you want for the rest of your face.