# Stage make-up: how can I age myself 20 years cheaply? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 8, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107 "2004-05-08T00:07:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/1 "2004-05-08T00:07:16Z")
I am 37, blonde and very fair skinned. I am playing the role of a man about 55-60 in a community theater production. There is **no** budget for make-up, nor is anybody in the play (including me) much experienced in stage-makeup. What would you do to age 15-20 years? It doesn’t have to be elaborate since this is community theater- the nearest audience member will be several feet away- but I would like to convincingly gray my hair or line my face without going overboard. Also, in the play I wear a black tuxedo for most of my scenes, so I’d rather not use white powder that will dust the jacket visibly. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/2 "2004-05-08T00:20:08Z")
Ordinary cosmetics such as eyebrow pencils can be used (sparingly) to suggest bags under the eyes and crows feet at the corners of the eyes (don’t overdo it). If you slick back your hair it might well make you look older, as well as making it easier to whiten it in places - using ordinary white and black face paints (which I think are available cheaply at Toys R Us, it should be possible to mix up a grey that will effectively (but non-permanently) apply to your hair. The best kind of face paints, I find, are those that are sold as a dry, hard cake and can be applied with a wetted brush or sponge. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/3 "2004-05-08T00:27:57Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > If you slick back your hair it might well make you look older, as well as making it easier to whiten it in places - using ordinary white and black face paints (which I think are available cheaply at Toys R Us, it should be possible to mix up a grey that will effectively (but non-permanently) apply to your hair. Thanks. Are the face paints likely to flake onto the tuxedo? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/4 "2004-05-08T00:44:23Z")
Not if you use the solid block kind; they are very much like the blocks of watercolour paints you get in those cheap pressed tins for children and if you apply them onto hair that is already set in place with gel, they are going to be pretty much fixed in place. I suppose a trial run with a black T shirt would be the way to test - you’re going to have to experiment a bit with the make up before you get it right anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Earthworm\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f07891/32.png) [@Earthworm\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthworm_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/5 "2004-05-08T00:59:45Z")
Damn hamsters ate my post again. We try again: My makeup experience comes from years of halloween costumes - you may want to take it with a grain of salt. Buy some base and pencils that are slightly darker than your skin. Apply a little under the eyes to give that sunken appearance. It only takes a little - otherwise, it just looks like cheap makeup. Stand in front of a mirror and smile, frown, squint, etc and pay attention to the existing lines and wrinkles. Then, take a pencil and enhance those. If you know any women who wear makeup often, enlist them to help you blend everything together. Finally, if you can, grow a mustache. Nothing says “older guy” like some facial hair. And if you really want to go nuts, try to make yourself some bushy eyebrows. Nothing grotesque, mind you - just slightly more than you already have. It those subtle little details that show age. Good luck, let us know how it turns out! ---
**Author:** ![ZaLucky1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@ZaLucky1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZaLucky1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/6 "2004-05-08T01:35:55Z")
MY mother had to do the exact thing for her first time on stage (she’s 44 and trying to look 80). She used women’s make-up, which you can borrow from just about any person nowadays. Do this in layers: Take a dark pencil (eye liner\pencil or the like) and line the typical wrinkles on an older person (or accentuate the line you \*may \*have). Don’t forget to include your neck and your hands. They are also exposed to the light. Being on the stage, you do not want to look like a ghost so be sure to use a concealer that is much darker than your skin. Believe me you’ll think you look like a circus freak in normal lights, but stage lights and distance are huge factors in how you look. Don’t forget to cover up your neck and your hands if you put lines on them. Don’t forget the slightest bit of lipstick so as to not have missing lip syndrome. As for your hair, you can do a temporary dye (that will last for 7-10 days). I do not know how long your show is running, but sometimes this can be much easier than getting all the paint or makeup or silver hair make-up (yes they sell makeup for your hair) at the end of a loooong night. Not only that, but it is a change in what you normally look like … some people like it, some people don’t. Or a cheap wig… What show are you doing? Break a leg 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/7 "2004-05-08T01:47:06Z")
> [@vixen\_llama](#): > > What show are you doing? Break a leg 🙂 _You Can’t Take It With You_. I’m playing Mr. Kirby, the stock broker father of the female lead’s fiancè. [This](http://www.gsw.edu/~library/Jonweb.jpg) is what I look like (or looked like two years ago), except for when I’m playing [“Teddy Roosevelt” Brewster](http://www.worldwiderant.com/standing.jpg) in _Arsenic & Old Lace_. ---
**Author:** ![ZaLucky1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@ZaLucky1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZaLucky1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/8 "2004-05-08T02:05:56Z")
Excellent show! A personal favorite. As far as the make-up … you could have a lot of fun 🙂 What do you think you’re going to do with your hair? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/9 "2004-05-08T02:16:54Z")
Two words define all that is holy and good in theatrical makeup- Max Factor. Use the best, always. If you really want to add years, use liquid latex, some kleenex and a blow drier. No, this isn’t a dirty joke. Wet your face with a layer of liquid latex (or wet the kleenex with it, I can’t remember). Lay kleenex over the latex. Dry with a blow drier. As it dries, it wrinkles up. Viola! You can put makeup over it in some cases, but you might experiment with adding liquid pigments to the latex instead. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/10 "2004-05-08T04:28:20Z")
If you can find a _white_ make-up pencil, the one course in stage make-up I took recommended drawing thin white lines directly along the top edge of each black “wrinkle” you add. Under bright lights, the black line will appear to be a shadow, and the white will appear to be skin that is facing the lights. Depending on the size of the theater (especially if there will be people up close) you want to avoid overdoing this, though. I recommend starting with just black, and adding white to “prominent” wrinkles, like forehead and mouth corners, first. If it looks good, maybe do a few more, but play it by ear. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/11 "2004-05-08T06:48:22Z")
I’ve used white shoe polish in the past. Dab it on and comb it in. Have someone you trust help you with the back of your head. Comb it often until it drys. Flakes will fall out and get on your costume, but they will brush off. Use a toothbrush to get the shoe polish on your facial hair. If you’ll be wearing glasses, you may not need to do much with your face beyond whatever basic makeup is necessary in your theater. Most of what you need to do to be convincing as a 55-60 year old man will be done with your acting. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/12 "2004-05-08T19:53:11Z")
A totally different approach would be consuming masive quantities of alcohol for a two to four week period. It sure worked for Nicholas Cage in _Leaving Las Vegas_. Smoking lotsa cigs would also help, but they are bad for ya. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/13 "2004-05-08T22:49:45Z")
Another thing you might like to do (if it fits with the role) is to pad your clothes in such a way as to suggest ‘middle aged spread’ - essentially love handles, a beer gut and man boobs - again don’t overdo it or it will just get in the way and look stupid; also, if you’re going to be moving fast at any point, be aware that it is at this time that the (usually lightweight) padding will be most likely to look fake - it won’t sag and wobble like the real thing (unless you use plastic bags filled with jelly or something, but that could be disastrous if they leak). ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/14 "2004-05-08T23:47:38Z")
> [@](#): > > If you really want to add years, use liquid latex, some kleenex and a blow drier. No, this isn’t a dirty joke. > > Wet your face with a layer of liquid latex (or wet the kleenex with it, I can’t remember). Lay kleenex over the latex. Dry with a blow drier. As it dries, it wrinkles up. Viola! I went through a brief interest in stage makeup at one time and wanted to try this, but I didn’t have enough money for liquid latex. I found that Elmers glue works pretty well too- thin it with water (say, 1:1). Noce wrinkles, but kinda shiny. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/15 "2004-05-08T23:50:08Z")
one last thing: pull and hold the skin rather taut while drying. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-make-up-how-can-i-age-myself-20-years-cheaply/244107/16 "2004-05-08T23:57:33Z")
Forget makeup. The clue to an age-based role is _stance_, in particular the small steps you take as you walk around during dialogue. Do some people-watching (hey, it’s an excuse to spend an afternoon sat in a cafe 😃 )…there’s a difference in the way 20-year-olds, 30-, 40 etc all carry their body, I guess it’s partly a cultural thing and mainly due to physical changes. Also, get some time in front of a large mirror, alone (to avoid embarassment 😉 ), and experiment. 🙂