Predator Wig and Mask
Part 1 of my Predator Cosplay tutorial. This tutorial will take you step by step through the creation of the wig and helmet portion of my 2018 Predator Cosplay.
Slide 3 & 4: What You’ll Need
- Overwatch Reaper Deluxe Foam Mask
- Black Double Lace Wig Caps For Making Wigs
- 3/4″ Backer Rod – 50ft
- Craft Foam – 2mm
- Plasti Dip Spray (2)
- Hammered Silver Spraypaint
- Modge Podge
- High Density Foam Brush
Predator Wig
Slide 5: Cut to Length
I originally cut my Predator hair too long. I wore the wig to a costume party a few days before Halloween and found that it was heavy enough to cause my a headache and stiff enough that it was difficult to move my head (a hazard while driving to and from the party). When I got home that night, I had to disassemble the full wig and cut the hair shorter; making it fall just past my shoulders rather than mid-back. This ended up giving the full wig a more “Predator” feel anyway and made it lighter and easier to maneuver in.
Slide 7: Video
This slide breaks away to recommend the below YouTube video showing how to mold and adapt the cut backer rod to form the “hair” strands of the Predator cosplay wig. That video is embedded below:
One thing that I learned after my first attempt at the Predator wig (which I redid after the costume party), was that I had more “hair” than needed. When I took it apart and put it back together, I not only shortened the hair, but I also removed some of the strands. Attaching the strands about 2 inches apart and then putting the next row up in the spaces between the lower row gives the wig a full body of awesome Predator hair, without weighing it down too much.
No additional notes on the next few slides
Predator Helmet
Slide 17: Add Craft Foam and Modge Podge
Looking back, one thing that I would do differently here is not attach the gun sighter to follow the temple of the mask. I should have put another piece of foam behind it, at an angle, to position the sighter to face more outwardly. As it is, it would always point more at the nose of the mask vs at whatever Predator is aiming for. This is something that didn’t but me until I started going through my photos after the full cosplay was completed, but now is a pet peeve when I look back on it.
Slide 18: Paint:
Another example of hindsight being 20/20 is the mouthpiece of this mask. Predator has a very straight mouthpiece, but it is typically a little shorter than I had to do with the base Reaper mask I used. Because of that, my mouthpiece looked a little more fake and reflective in photos than I would have liked. I would recommend using something pointed and carving cracks into the foam before painting this for a more worn and less reflective overall look.
Slide 19: Finished Look
I really wish I had taken some more photos of my Predator face paint through the process or made a tutorial video on it, because I’m really pleased with how it turned out. Unfortunately, I was too focused on the painting and did not take photos. What I can tell you is that all the pink and red in the face is from lipstick, the black is eyeliner, and the rest of the face was comprised of green and gold eyeshadow and white face paint. I try to use actual face paint as little as possible in cosplay, because I’m usually in costume all day long and face paint tends to crack or melt after a few hours. Actual makeup is designed for all day wear, and so makes a much more successful cosplay.
Here are some larger photos of the finished Predator face:
[PHOTOS]
Further tutorials for this cosplay are on their way. But I’m tired and don’t want to spend my entire weekend at the computer, so they are coming on another day! 🙂
