Roll of plaster impregnated gauze strips

1 Cup of DRY Plaster of Paris

2-3 plastic or paper bowls

warm water

petroleum jelly (or other suitably thick cream/moisturizer)

scissors

paper towels

cloth head band

cover up drape sheet (or old shirt.. I use an old bed sheet)

clean up soap & towel

mirror (hand mirror for client, or hanging mirror if you're doing yourself)

instant camera (opt'l) – very interesting to capture a photo while "being plastered"

table and comfortable chair ( I use a high chair for clients so I can easily move around them while standing up)

Start by putting a wide head band on your client (or yourself if your making your own mask). Try and cover the hair line all around face as well as possible. I often just tear an old piece of sheet and use that as a head band.

Apply a good even coating of petroleum jelly to the entire face –being sure to put extra along hair line, on eyebrows, eyelashes, and lips. (you can substitute petroleum jelly for something more "appealing" but make sure it's a heavy cream (I've used vitamin e-oil with a little wax and other herbs – combining mask making with facial!).

In one of your plastic bowls, put about 1/2C of warm or cool water and sprinkle in about 1/3c Plaster of Paris (Always add plaster to the water, not the other way around). This light plaster/water mixer makes a smoother finish (and a faster set time) for the plaster gauze strips.

Dip one plaster strip at a time into the water/plaster mixture and apply to face (see diagram for hints or refer to references to order my booklet which goes into more detail)

I start along outside of face.

Make sure each strip overlaps with previous strip and smooth into close contact with face with your fingers.

I put small pieces around nostril area early on (and while clients eyes and mouth are still free) so that your subject is certain of his/her ability to breathe. (that includes you, if you're doing yourself).

Having the eyes and mouth covered with plaster depends on what you (or the client) wants for the finished mask. If you want a mask with a screaming mouth for example, you might want to leave the lips free of plaster. If you want an inner mask, often the eyes closed (covered) is more powerful. In either event, I save around eyes and mouth (if the subject wants these covered) for the end. Let the subject know when you are about to cover the eyes or mouth, taking care to smooth the wet strips into place so you get a good mold without poking too hard.) (If you are doing this on yourself in front of a mirror, I suggest you keep your eyes uncovered …duh! – though I've done myself covered a few times).

When all areas of the face have been covered (2 layers is usually fine for most places with a little extra layering along the outer face line and jaw line.. (This is because this is where the most stress is place when taking the mask off.)

Finally, I add a little more plaster to the water bowl (so its a thick cream texture) and I work to really smooth and finish the mask.

While your subject is still under the plaster, its a great time to (wipe your hands and) snap an instant photo! (After the experience, people love the mysterious look of themselves completely sealed under a plaster mask – its quite evocative!

First, I tell people before they "go under" the plaster 2 things:

The mask becomes hard enough to come off (usually it gets a little warm as it sets and is rigid and ready to carefully take off in about 12-15 minutes or less – you can tell and so can the client).