Wounds can be simulated with stage makeup.
When a character in a play has to appear injured, the injuries are simulated with stage makeup. These wounds can be created with basic makeup materials available at any costume shop. For accuracy, research how real wounds look. The distance from the stage to the audience will help, but you still want the wounds to look as realistic as possible.
Instructions
Bruises
1. Apply a thin mottle of bright-red makeup to the "bruised" area with your fingertip or a brush. This mottling should be very faint and randomly applied in the area that has received the impact.
2. Apply a slightly heavier mottling in a darker red within the first layer of color. This mottling should stand out a bit more.
3. Apply a small amount of maroon makeup to the center of the bruise with a coarse black stipple sponge to simulate broken capillaries.
4. Apply a light green or yellow mottling around the edges of the bruise if it is supposed to look a few days old.
5. Powder the makeup with a powder puff and translucent powder to set it, keeping it from smearing.
Cuts
6. Brush a stripe of spirit gum adhesive onto the skin in the area where you want the cut. Allow it to get tacky.
7. Pull some fluff off of a cotton ball and press it into the tacky spirit gum.
8. Pinch a small wad of nose putty from a container. Roll in between your fingers to form a worm shape, then press it into the cotton.
9. Smooth the edges of the putty into your skin. Applying a small amount of mineral oil onto your fingertips will help to prevent the putty from sticking.
10. Use a blunt stick to carve a cut into the putty.
11. Apply flesh-colored makeup to the surface of the putty, and dark-red makeup within the cut.
12. Powder the makeup to set it.
13. Apply fake blood into the cut and let it drip.
Scrapes
14. Cut the edges of a coarse, black stipple sponge with a pair of scissors to round its shape.
15. Dip the stipple sponge into fake blood or maroon makeup.
16. Gently drag the sponge across your skin, leaving the appearance of fresh scratches behind.
