GRAY MAKEUP:  There have been several proposed ways to make your skin gray.  Read through to see the pros and cons, and then decide what you might want to do!  We recommend Ben Nye because we have found it is the best quality makeup for your money, and because of how much information there is about it online.  As a word of caution, Ben Nye does tend to look blue even when mixed properly.  There are also other good makeups out there, we just don’t know as much about them!  Snazaroo has been getting very popular, as it’s water based and doesn’t smudge on everything.
There is no best makeup because different makeups work for different skin types!

Makeup testing and your safety  Note about application  General Makeup Tips  Note about skin types and makeup  Where to highlight/contour 

Creme/Oil-based makeups:

-Ben Nye: Full Tutorial  Video Tutorial  What to buy  What to buy 2  Where to buy everything  Where to buy/Advice on other cream makeup  Where to buy 2 (Review for this store)  Where to buy 3  Where to buy 4  Where to buy 5  Where to buy in the UK  Where to buy in Australia  Where to buy in Australia 2  How much do I need?/How to apply  Does it match my armsocks?  Will it melt?  How well does it stay on hands?  How much will it rub off?  Does it come out of my clothes?  Will it cover my tattoo?  Ben Nye and Acne  How long will it take to get here?  Layering  Cake vs. Creme debate  Alternate Setting powder  Better for you than baby powder  Final Seal Warning  Where to buy final seal  Taking it off  Taking it off 2  Taking it off 3  Taking it off fabric

-Krylon/Backstage: Alternate makeup (more info, more info 2, tutorial, tutorial 2)

-Mehron: Alternate Makeup (more info, Mehron and Ben Nye (check notes for reviews))

-Graftobian:   Alternate Makeup (tutorial/where to buy, where to buy)

Water-based (Cake) makeups:  Alternate Makeup  How to make it stay better

-Snazaroo: Alternate makeup  Ben Nye vs. Snazaroo review (more info, more info 2, review, info for darker skin, tutorial, mixing, pictures, more pictures)

-Paradise (Mehron water-based): Alternate makeup (more info, huge info post)

-Aquacolor (Krylon water-based): Alternative makeup (more info)

-Grimas: What color do I get?

Other kinds:

-PAX: Tutorial  Full Write up/Review  In-Depth Review  Review #2  Review #3  Where to buy  How to mix  What color paint do I use?  Application Tutorial  Tips and pictures  Using PAX with Ben Nye  Ben Nye vs. PAX - Waterproof  Ben Nye vs. PAX - recommendations  PAX and Ben Nye  Using PAX and Ben Nye for Blood Color

-Poor Man’s PAX: Review and tutorial

-Airbrushing: Can I airbrush?  More answers  Advice  Making it look good

-Liquid Latex (not recommended): Warnings  Advice

MAKEUP REMOVAL: How to get it off of you after wearing it, and cleaning up your clothes, wigs, and anything you’ve left grey on.  Pro tip, make sure you carry around a small makeup removal kit at conventions, because some hotels will kick you out if you get grey on their stuff.  It also makes the fandom look bad when you leave grey on other people’s clothes and stuff.  Don’t do it, be respectable, and if you leave grey on it, fix it.  Some links are repeated from their category above!

Removal of oil-based makeup:

Taking Ben Nye out of my clothes   Taking makeup out of fabric (Stain Devils)  Taking Oil-based makeup off of things that aren’t skin (Citrus Cleaner)  Taking Ben Nye off of skin and fabric (Goop)  Taking Ben Nye off of yourself (Cold Cream)  Taking Ben Nye off of your skin (Make-up cloths)  Taking Ben Nye off of skin (wipes)  Taking Ben Nye off of skin (baby oil)  Taking Ben Nye off of dry/sensitive skin (Comodynes)  Taking Ben Nye off of skin and wigs (baby shampoo)

Removal of water-based makeup is much easier, as it usually comes out with soap and water or Resolve Carpet Cleaner for stains in fabric.  Most of the above cleaners can be used for water-based makeup too, but try soap and water first and read the labels so you don’t ruin things or harm your skin.

Removal of PAX is a different beast, however.

Suggestions for removal of PAX and skin type theories  Simple removal of PAX (may not work for everyone)  Tips to remove PAX

BLOOD COLOR: Some people like to add their troll’s blood color into their makeup!  There is also more information under “lip color”.

Ulta  Custom/Vegan colors  Sugarpill (Making it stay better)  RED EYELINER WARNING  PAX/Ben Nye for nice face color

ARMSOCKS/GREY TIGHTS: There are many good reasons to make yourself a pair of nice grey armsocks-read for more!

Full Tutorial  Full Tutorial 2  Tutorials  Pros/Cons of Armsocks  Where to buy  Where to buy - Dark!  Where to buy2  Where to buy 3  Where to buy 4  Where to buy 5 and review  Tip for grey leggings  Where to buy grey toesocks/tights  Pictures  Vriska’s Roboarm Pictures  Vriska’s Roboarm Sleeve Tutorial  Dyeing/coloring tights  Advice on coloring tights  Alternatives  Info on Alternatives

ZENTAI SUITS: A step up from armsocks, these cover your whole body.  We’ll only be covering a few options that deal explicitly with trolls here.

READ THIS BECAUSE IT’S BAD TO ORDER FROM MILANOO HERE’S WHY AND HOW TO AVOID THEM AND THEIR ALIASES JUST DO RESEARCH AND DON’T BUY MILANOO THEY’RE SCUMMY AND OVERPRICED JUST SAY MILA-NOOOO

Bodysuit-making tutorial  Bodysuit Tutorial with Shading tips  Matching Zentai to body paint  Zentai vs. Making a Catsuit  Zentai in custom sizes  Zentai Store (Vandue)  Zentai stores (zentaizentai and zentaisuitstore)

NAIL COLOR: Blunt yellow-orange nails are canon, but not required by any means.  They’re just a simple way to make a good cosplay even more accurate!  Do not get nail polish with glitter in it, and google any nail polish you’re thinking about buying to make sure there isn’t any glitter in it.

What to buy (Jordana)  What to buy (Sally Hansen) Picture for Sally Hansen  What to buy (Walgreens)  What to buy (LA Colors) Review for LA Colors What to buy (OPI)

What not to buy (Glittery L’Oreal)

LIP COLOR: Ever since Kanaya’s introduction, we’ve known that all trolls have dark lips to some degree.  While Eridan is the only male troll with black lipstick, here are some ideas on getting that right shade for your lips.

Opinions on black lips  Preparing for colored lips  Lipstick, Advice/Where to buy  Black Lipstick  HUGE WARNING - USING EYESHADOW AS LIPSTICK  Lip Pencils  Vegan lipstick  Lipstick Advice (and more)  Graftobian Lipstick  Urban Decay  Male Troll Lips

POINTY EARS/SEA TROLL FINS: Not everyone subscribes to the idea that trolls have pointy ears, while other people really like the idea. Either way is perfectly acceptable!  And for those pesky seadwellers, here are some suggestions for either ear or face fins, whichever you prefer.

Pointy Ears  Pointy and fin-ears  Fins Method  Fins Method 2  Fins and Gills methods  Ear fin tutorial  “One-Minute” Ear fin tutorial  “Vampire ears”  Wizafir’s store  Wizafir’s Etsy  Aradani’s Store and review  Aradani’s Ebay  Neraluna’s Store  How many points on fins?

SCARS: Gamzee and Dualscar both have scars now, or maybe someone is doing an AU cosplay of a troll with scars.  Either way, here’s what we know!  (Be aware that many DIY sites have more tutorials if you need more information or don’t like these options.  When in doubt, Google is your friend!)

Tutorial  Tutorial 2

CONTACTS/EYECOLOR: Contacts are a great way to get your eyes the right color for a troll cosplay, but remember, they’re just icing on the cosplay cake and in no way “required”.  If you feel uncomfortable wearing contacts, haven’t used them before, or can’t afford them, then don’t get them.  Always be safe when using contacts!

READ THIS FIRST

Custom Sclera contacts in all troll colors  Orange Sclera contacts  Eyeblood-alternative for Terezi/Redglare  Contacts Tag

SHIRT SYMBOLS: We recommend using either stencils, fabric symbols, or iron-ons.  If you have a steady hand, you can try hand-painting too! Be sure to print off the exact symbols from MSPA if you do either for the most accurate look.

Where to buy generic black shirts  Short or long sleeves?  Where to find all symbols for stencils  Zodiac Symbols  Zodiac Symbols 2  Zodiac Symbols 3  Zodiac Symbols on MS Word  Zodiac Symbols on dA

Painting on your shirt:  Painting w/o a dryer  Turn Acrylic paint into Fabric paint  Tips for painting

Stencil Tutorial  Stencil Tutorial 2/Advice  Substitute for Freezer Paper  Substitute for Freezer Paper 2

Hand-painting Tutorial  Hand-Painting Advice

Non-paint methods:

Heat-n-Bond Tutorial  Be careful with Transfer Paper  Be careful with Transfer Paper 2  Where to buy Transfer Paper  Lots of advice on Transfer Paper

Applique (fabric symbol) Tutorial

TEETH: The teeth, like the contacts, are a part of a detailed, polished cosplay but not “required.”  We highly recommend Scarecrow for fangs and Dental Distortions “Gremlins” for a full mouth of fangs!  We also have a few DIY tutorials and tips and tricks.

Fangs, for trolls with a pair or two of pointy teeth:  Fangs recommended for these trolls  Fangs

Full mouth of pointy teeth:  Recommended general troll teeth  Dyeing the gums of these teeth grey and more info  Fanged prosthetic teeth

DIY:  Braces-covering tutorial/Fake nails tutorial (REALLY GOOD)  Troll teeth with braces  Troll teeth with braces2  Fimo teeth tutorial  Custom teeth and general tips

More Teeth Options  Where to buy black tooth enamel  All teeth tag

TURNING YOUR MOUTH GRAY/BLOOD COLORS: Many people have asked for advice on doing this, and while it’s something most cosplayers aren’t too picky about, we’d like you to know what your options are and how to be safe and effective.  Note that Dental Distortions can dye some of their gums grey for your costume as well (check the teeth section above).

How NOT to do it  Black joke candy  “Painterz” candy (many colors)  “Ghost Drops” (bought in bulk, about 4 colors including black)  “Payback Attack” powder, comes in blood colors  “Black Jacks” black licorice candy - in the UK  Colored Icing  Hard Candy/Jolly Ranchers

HORNS: Because there are so many tutorials and methods out there, a Horn Master Guide is in the making.  For now, please be patient and search through a few pages of our horns tag!

INDIVIDUAL TROLL GUIDES:

Beta Trolls:

• Karkat
• Aradia
• Tavros
• Sollux
• Nepeta
• Kanaya
• Terezi
• Vriska
• Equius
• Gamzee
• Eridan (Also March Eridan)
• Feferi

Ancestors:

• Sufferer
• Handmaid
• Summoner
• Psiioniic
• Disciple
• Dolorosa
• Redglare
• Mindfang
• Darkleer
• Grand Highblood
• Dualscar
• Condesce

Alpha Trolls:

• Kankri
• Damara
• Mituna
• Meulin
• Porrim
• Latula
• Aranea
• Kurloz
• Cronus
• Meenah