Dirtying down, how to break down an artist/models make-up. Dirt, stained teeth, and dirty hair

Dirtying the skin

Dirtying down your model includes getting dirt in the creases of the face, hands and under the nails. There's also a really easy way of making the teeth look unbrushed and dirty.

Equipment used:

-Greasepaints (black, brown & red)

-Krylon Tooth enamel

-Brill Cream (to give hair a greasy appearance)

-Colored hair spray

-Dry shampoo

-Cotton buds

-Makeup brushes

-Methylated spirits (removal of tooth enamel)

Using Tooth Enamel

•     Have your model open their mouth and dry the tooth with a cotton bud.

•     Apply either the black, brown tooth enamel onto the tooth and keep the lip raised to allow the color to dry.

•     Next shade around the edges of the teeth to create a 3D, more realistic effect

•     Always check the teeth throughout the shoot and have toothpicks and cotton buds on set so that you can correct the teeth.

•     For removal take a small amount of methylated spirit onto a cotton bud and gently roll on the tooth.

Dirtying Down

•     Start by applying a moisturizer to areas that you want to appear the dirtiest on the skin.

•     Next spray colored hairspray to make the area darker on the skin or you could use some grease paints (remember to use the correct color of “dirt” for the surroundings that you are shooting in).

•     Then apply brill cream to make the roots of the hair appear greasy, as this is the area that becomes greasy first.

•     Spray a very small amount of dry shampoo on the middle and ends of the model’s hair to make it look dull. 

•     Always make sure you have dirtied down any areas of clothing or other body parts such as neck, chest, hands, forearms and possibly feet that need to be dirtied down to create a really authentic look.