Welcome!

If you want to make your own, custom fitted prosthetic nose piece then you have come to the right place. This process is not complicated, but does have a lot of steps.

This process uses regular Mask Latex, not foamed latex. Mask latex is easy to get and use. Foamed latex is a much more complicated process and isn't shown here.

Special Effect Supply Corp. has all the materials you need for this project including a small kit for beginners.

Prepare the model. Protect the clothes with plastic. Remove all makeup, especially waterproof mascara.

Mix prosthetic alginate according to its instructions. About 1/8 to 1/3 lb. is enough for the nose area.

Quickly put this on the face, about 1" more than around the nose area. It's beginning to set when it gets an oatmeal consistency. The alginate will make an excellent impression

You'll know when it sets, it will be firm.

Next, you will need to apply plaster bandages. The plaster bandages form a cup to hold the cured alginate to keep it from flopping around.

I like to "Roll" the edge of the plaster bandages where I need extra support.

To remove the mold, have your model bend over. Let patience and a little gravity pull the mold from the face. Use a cotton ball with some water to loosen the plaster bandage residue from around the hair line.

Put a couple of strips of plaster bandage around the bottom of the mold so that it forms a good bowl.

Support the bowl in a box or container of some sort. This will support the mold as you pour it and capture overflow.

Fill the mold with UltraCal30.

Make it flat on the bottom, this makes a base from which to work later.

Use oil-based clay to sculpt your prosthetic. I used a towel to simulate the large pores of a witch's nose.

Paint the plaster and sculpture with mold release agent. We have and recommend "SeaLube." The release agent allows everything to come apart later.

Cut up a container to put around the sculpture. It needs to be close, but not tight.

Plug gaps in your container with some clay.

I used a couple of rubber bands to hold everything together.

Mix and pour some UltraCal30 into your container. Be careful not to damage your sculpture. Again we want the surface to be flat.

Wait for the plaster to harden.

Remove all of the clay and clean out your mold. Any stray residue will create a "Blind Spot" later. The mold must be clean, clean, clean!

Pour in some liquid latex.

You can slosh it around, or move it around with your finger. Experience will help you move it around so that you have thin and thick spots.

Pour out excess. You can keep it for the next time if you wish.

Let the latex dry overnight. It is dry when you can push it with your thumbnail and it won't leave a dent.

When the latex is dry, powder the inside with some talc or baby powder.

Carefully pull out the appliance, note the nice thin "blending edge"

This page originally posted: 07/29/2003
This page last updated: 01/15/2010