Batman has always been one of the most recognizable characters among the moviegoing public thanks to the Dark Knight’s appearance in films like The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. The caped crusader’s enduring popularity is largely thanks to his distinctive look – which is defined by his appearance in Batman; The Dark Knight; and The Dark Knight Rises – and the fact that he’s always dressed in black.
However, sometimes a superhero’s looks can get a little stale. Luckily, the incredible makeup artistry of Suicide Squad and Avengers: Age of Ultron gave us some wonderful new ways to envision Batman and his world.
Here, we’ll explore some of the best makeup tips and tricks for portraying a timeless and charismatic hero – from giving you a better understanding of how to realistically re-create the Batman look to some brilliant ways of personalizing it even more to making you a one-of-a-kind superheroine.
How To Achieve The Definitive Batman Look
The most recognizable feature of any superhero is, of course, their makeup. And the most iconic and timeless makeup look for Batman is, without a doubt, the charcoal Grey Batman mask from The Dark Knight. Practically every single Batman character since then has emulated it in one way or another.
Now, you might assume that just because the Grey Batman mask is so recognizable that it’s easy to just walk into a makeup mirror and copy it. However, creating a perfect replica of the Grey Batman mask doesn’t come without some difficulty. In fact, it can take months to perfectly nail.
Fortunately, there’s a much simpler way to get the authentic Batman look without having to resort to extreme measures: use an imposter mask instead. An imposter mask is, essentially, a facsimile of the real thing. And just like the Grey Batman mask, the imposter mask can be worn by any actor playing the Dark Knight as long as it’s not transparent.
This Batman imposter mask will give you all the benefits of a real mask without the hassles of trying to keep the makeup flawless all night. Which, let’s be honest, is far from easy when you’ve got a busy night ahead of you.
Use Your Nails To Add Texture
Texture is one of the most important aspects of makeup and, indeed, of any form of art. That’s why it’s worth considering what kind of texture you’d like your nails to have while you’re at the nail salon getting the perfect look for your Dark Knight costume. For example, if you’ve got short nails, you might want to get some Gelish varnish to give them a bit more character. Or if you’ve got thick locks, you can use hair gel to spike them up a bit.
Whatever your hair and nail style, make sure you have enough gel or varnish on your nails to give them texture while still keeping your pedicure fresh.
Play Up The Contrast Between Darkness And Light
One of the most important elements of The Dark Knight’s look is actually the contrast between the darkness of his costumes and the light of his face. It’s no secret that the Dark Knight is a night-time vigilante, and the fact that his outfits are all black gives him a nightmarish appearance – which, of course, makes him that much more intimidating.
If you want to truly embody the Dark Knight, it’s worth considering how you can use your face and body language to drive the menace of your character. Stand in front of a mirror and put on your Dark Knight costume; it should feel like you’re almost wearing another person. Walk around with your head held high and you’ll seem like a force of nature.
Contrary to popular belief, being a night-time vigilante doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself to black outfits. In fact, there are some fantastic ways to mix and match different colors to make the Dark Knight multidimensional. If you want to portray a stylish and fashionable guy who happens to be a superhero, this is the way to do it. For example, you can incorporate colorful sneakers into your look.
Try Out Different Makeup Looks
If you’ve ever shopped at Sephora or Nordstrom, you’ll have encountered plenty of makeup products that you didn’t try out because the product names were too long or because they were intimidating. But, if you’re looking for a new way to add life to your Halloween costumes, why not give them a try?
There are tons of makeup products out there that are great for taking the sting out of everyday life, but that can also be a quick and easy way to transform into an altered state – like when you need to sneak past security or catch an illegal burglar. And if you don’t like how a certain product makes you look, you can always try another without losing much time.
The Different Facemasks For The Dark Knight
Let’s not forget about the many different facemasks that Batman has worn over the years. Like any good superhero, Batman changes his look as often as possible to keep ahead of his enemies. This often results in him wearing more than one type of mask during the same adventure.
For example, one type of mask he sometimes wears is called the “scarecrow mask” – which is, in actual fact, an empty suit with some cloth wadding attached to it. This makes the mask look like a Halloween prop even when it isn’t Halloween. However, the scarecrow mask is most recognizable (and, thus, most useful) when it’s covered in bones – which is why we often see it associated with murderers and other dangerous villains. This type of mask allows for incredible creative options when it comes to styling and embellishing it with cloth wadding, fake bones, or even a variety of fake skin patches in different colors or textures.
How To Style Different Facemasks For The Dark Knight
So, what’s the point of having all these different masks if you don’t know how to style them? Good question. When it comes to creating a distinct look for an imposter mask, it’s important to remember that it’s not really “stylishness” that’s the goal here but, rather, authenticity.
This is a more difficult task, but it’s all about getting that “vampire face” look right. When done well, it can be a terrifying and hauntingly handsome visage – like the one Kevin Costner wore in The Untold History of the Vampire.
To get this look, you need to raise the flesh around your eyes so that it covers your nose and upper lip. To complete the effect, draw some dark eyebrows over the black mask and give the appearance of two pit stains above your eyes – one on either side. It’s a dangerous face to meet, but it’s a proud face to know.
Make Sure Your Makeup Lasts All Night
One of the most important things to consider is how to keep your makeup flawless all night long. This is especially difficult if you have an event or party to attend the next day (or, God forbid, if you’re doing this as a Halloween costume). Remember: you’re dealing with your own flesh and blood here – and it’s not easy to keep your makeup looking this good for the entire duration. Plus, the more you wear it, the more difficult it will become to remove. Finally, if you want to keep that youthful appearance, you need to be making sure that your makeup lasts all night.
This is where the wonders of modern day technology come in handy. Whether you’re at home, work, or somewhere else, you can use your phone or a handy little makeup mirror to help you fix your makeup in between selfies.
Add Some Character
Another way to make the Dark Knight even more realistic is to give him some character. After all, he is a highly nuanced and interesting character, and the more you know about him, the better you can portray him. If you want to give him some added oomph, you can take a leaf out of Heath Ledger’s book and add a bit of jaded humor. After all, the last thing anyone wants to see when they look at you is a nice, innocent girl – let alone the girl version of Batman – so let’s have some fun with it.