How to Make Disguises

Decide on the character you want to dress up as. For best blending in without notice, pick someone who would best fit into the environment you intend to hide in. On the other hand, if you are comfortable being noticed, a costume that is flashy, obvious and out of place may help distract people from your identity. For example in a shopping mall, a young man dressing as an old woman will not draw attention, but full pirate regalia will require more acting ability to conceal your identity in the face of scrutiny.

A change of clothing to a style you would not normally wear or one favored by the type of person you are trying to be will help you play out your new role.Thrift stores will provide you with inexpensive outfits and ideas. Glasses without lenses, jewellery or clothing can all be used to create your new persona. Do not overlook props, such as items that the person you are pretending to be would typically carry. Theatre supply and costume shops will provide other assets like wigs, or prosthesis to change your features, but at a much greater expense.

Your hair provides a cue to your identity, and may be easily changed. To give the appearance of grey hair, apply talc powder. This is safe, non-toxic and easily washes out when you are finished. Washable hair dyes will help cover grey hair, but keep in mind that it is impossible to go temporarily lighter, and the transition from brown hair to blonde is best done with a wig. Make sure to wear a stocking cap with wigs so your existing hair doesn't peek out. If all else fails, try styling your hair differently.

Makeup can unobtrusively change your face. Use light foundation to make features more prominent and dark foundation to cause features to appear sharper or more sunken in. Older people typically have much more pronounced noses, while younger people have fuller faces. If you have artistic talent, different colors of makeup may be used to remove or add color to your complexion, for example creating a distracting blemish. To change the shape of your mouth, cover the edges of your lips with foundation and concealer, and use lipstick to color in the new shape.

When dressed in your disguise, you will also need to carry yourself and speak like the person you are pretending to be. Your costume will provide some cues, for example high heels provide a more stereotypical feminine walk, while loose, baggy clothing facilitate slouching to hide the shape of your frame. If your disguise involves interacting with other people, practice the speech patterns and vocabulary of your persona in front of a mirror before you take it out in public.