SFX Practical: Applying Bald Caps

Bald cap application is dreaded by most makeup artists, but it is an important skill to have because it completely transforms the face, bald caps can be made up to look like natural skin, or decorated for editorial and fashion looks. A bald cap creates more space on the head to work with.

Here are some fascinating work that incorporates the use of bald caps.

Available from: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/4d/7f/df/4d7fdfa9c9580cf1a0db9c290c09f882 [22nd Oct 2014] 

Available from: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/84/9e/59/849e59b8a506912be3b6e7c3db2b3609 [22nd Oct 2014] 

Available from: http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/67/87/6f/67876fbcba27b842467e8b532055e639 [22nd Oct 2014]

Materials needed

• Bald Cap, size is important as it needs to fit the model snug. 
• Hair gel 
• Bar of Soap
• Pintail comb and brush
• Spirit Gum
• Spirit Gum Remover 
• Kryolan Supra Palette 
• Kryolan Aqua Palette 
• Foundation Palette 

Before you start working, make sure the model is caped and a towel is applied because you will be working with very wet hair. Make sure the model has a clean face which is toned, do not moisturise as a greasy surface will not allow the cap to stick onto the skin properly.

1. Comb through the hair ridding of tangles and knots. 
2. Use a water spray and throughly wet the hair, use your hand to block the water from getting on the model's face and always ask them to close their eyes. 
3. Squeeze a large amount of gel into the palm of your hand, and starting from the top of the head, work downwards, making sure all lengths of hair is covered and pay attention to the ends. Make sure you do not get gel on the forehead, if you do, wipe clean before applying cap. 
4. Spilt the hair into two section right down the middle. 
5. Comb through the sections and wrap round the head in crossover motion, combing it through and making sure that it stays as flat as possible on the head. 
6. If the hair doesn't stay up that means you have not applied enough gel. You can not use pins to secure the hair as it will puncture the cap. 
7. Put on the cap, ask the model to help you by holding down the front. Mould the hair under the cap. 
8. Cut the excess off, leave about an inch from the hairline so you can apply glue. Do not pull the cap when cutting as you will end up cutting too much off, when cutting the ears, cut a smaller hole and keep feeding the ear through until the size is perfect. Cut in jagged lines as clean straight lines are harder to conceal and is picked up easily on camera.  
9. Using spirit gum apply to the flaps and press down using a damp puff.
10. You can blend the endges of the cap by using acetone.
11. Decorate the cap. If you choose to apply skin tone, first use supracolour with a sponge and a salmon pink all over to cancel out the darkness of the hair, then go over with the foundation shade, you can also go in using brush alcohol and a brush in brown and yellows, flicking it on to create freckles. Always match the colour of the cap to the face not vice versa.