How to make a face mold with alginato step by step

Have you ever thought about making a mold of your face? This project can be done with different materials, including various siliconas. But one of the most recommended options is, without a doubt, alginato. If you want to find out more, keep reading.

Alginato is a material specifically used to make "temporary" molds of the face, hands, and other parts of the human body. It is a non-toxic material that is harmless to people and their health, and is also safe for skin.

It is very easy to use and delivers spectacular results! Learn now how to make a LifeCast mold of a complete face with Feroca.

Materials needed to make a face mold

Before getting started, you need to know which two types of alginato are recommended for LifeCast face molding:

• Fast alginato from Feroca suitable for the body

Alga-Cast Fast is very easy to use and hardens quickly. It has a curing time of between 3 and 5 minutes.

In just a few moments you will have a perfect mold ready to cast one or two times, depending on the casting material. It is recommended to make a counter-mold with plaster bandages to support the silicona mold.

• Slow alginato from Feroca suitable for the human body

There is also a slow alginato from Feroca. This slow alginato from Feroca sets in around 10 to 15 minutes, depending on conditions and the time of year.

For best results, it is recommended to use lukewarm to cool water. Hot water significantly reduces working time.

It is especially recommended for people who are just getting started with molding and do not yet have much skill or experience.

• Plaster bandages

Feroca's plaster bandages are ideal for making counter-molds for Life Casting and other molding projects.

They dry very quickly, in around 2 to 3 minutes. To apply them, dip them in warm water and then wring them out before placing them in the desired location and shape.

They are able to cover any material (cardboard, wood, metal, glass, plastic, etc.) and are ideal for masks, molds, and models.

As a tip, if applied directly to skin, be sure to apply a protective cream first to avoid pulling on body hair or hair.

• Monsters Clay modeling clays from Feroca, Professional Modeling Clay

Feroca's professional modeling clay is an oil-water based sculpting clay that is sulfur-free, reusable, and can be remelted indefinitely. It is ideal for LifeCasting copies and molds, and is also compatible with platinum silicona.

There are different versions available. The linked version is Soft, but there is also a Medium and a Hard version, for different types of projects depending on the hardness required. There are also other versions of the same products: the Monster Clay Grade modeling clays.

This type of professional modeling clay is made entirely from non-toxic materials. It has a very low melting temperature and a low-tack feel, which means it does not stick to tools or fingers. It also has high plasticity and a unique soft-candy-like quality when warm.

At room temperature, Monster Clay has enough quality to capture even the finest details. As a safety note, when using Monster Clay keep in mind that it melts very quickly in the microwave, so it is recommended to heat it in 15-second intervals at full power.

It is also preferable to use thermal gloves with this material as it can cause burns. Its container is designed to withstand temperatures of up to 250 ºC in an oven.

• Brushes, spatulas, and other necessary tools

Finally, other workshop tools and utensils will also be used throughout the process, such as brushes and spatulas. Brushes will be used to apply the melted modeling clay to the alginato mold. Spatulas are used to touch up the final mold and better correct any imperfections.

Video tutorial: how to make a full-face LifeCast mold

In this tutorial we will show you step by step how to make a LifeCast of your face using alginato.

Full LifeCast in alginato · Alga-Cast

How to make a face mold step by step with Juan Villa

Preparing the model

The person having the mold made should bear in mind that alginato is suitable for human skin, but not so much for hair. So, if you are planning to make a mold with alginato, you will need to protect the hair on the head as well as the eyelashes, and a few other details such as earrings and ears.

To do this, you can use latex caps. If you do not have one available, a swimming cap will also work. For earrings, it is also advisable to use modeling clay. Cotton plugs should be placed in the ears to prevent alginato from getting inside.

To attach and secure the latex cap to the head so it does not move during the process, Juan Villa recommends using a special adhesive designed for contact with skin, such as Protac by Monsters Makers, which you can purchase from Feroca.

Preparing the alginato

As Juan Villa explains, there are several ways to make the mold. In the video, this expert opts for a simpler method in two phases, starting with the back of the head and then moving on to the front.

When preparing the alginato, you need to pay attention to the proportions. A ratio of 3 to 1 or 2 to 1 is recommended, meaning two or three parts of water for every part of alginato. If you want a very thick alginato, you could even go as far as a 1 to 1 ratio.

In these cases, experts use a thicker alginato so it does not run off the head, since it is being applied to a vertical surface.

For the mix, first pour the alginato into a container, then add the amount of water needed and gradually mix it together.

Bearing in mind that fast alginato dries in 3 to 5 minutes, you need to mix it quickly and vigorously to avoid wasting time while also making sure there are no lumps.

Process for the back of the head

Applying alginato to the back of the head

The alginato should be applied to the bust of the face precisely and quickly. It should not be too liquid so it does not run too much, so it is better to use less water than usual when mixing.

Leave it to dry for the necessary time and prepare the next phase: making a counter-mold with plaster bandages.

Removing imperfections and applying release vaseline to the edges

Using a metal or wooden spatula, and once the alginato is dry, proceed to remove any imperfections you find on the bust. This is done to make the subsequent work easier.

Then, apply a little release vaseline with a brush to those touched-up edges to prevent the alginato from sticking to itself.

This layer of vaseline can also be applied to the eyebrows to prevent the alginato from adhering to them.

Plaster bandage counter-mold

The counter-mold will be made from plaster bandages because it is a lightweight, easy-to-use material that sets quickly. After this, you move on to the front part.

Feroca's plaster bandages have a lot of body, so you will need fewer layers of plaster to achieve the required strength.

To prepare the bandages, cut strips that fit the perimeter of the face. You can also cut smaller pieces to fit around the more delicate areas of the face, such as the nose.

Next, apply the bandages to the surface with the alginato mold. To do this, submerge the plaster bandages in hot water for around two or three seconds. Using hot water will help the bandages set faster. Then wring them out and carefully apply them to the surface of the mold.

After the first layer, it is advisable to add reinforcements so the counter-mold gains strength.

At this point, Juan Villa recommends adding an extra layer along the center of the head, something like a "ridge" or raised protrusion that extends above the level of the other layers — like a crest. The aim is to reinforce the most fragile area of the counter-mold.

Process for the front of the head

The preparation process for the front of the head is similar to that of the back.

The key difference in this process is the care that must be taken with the sensitive areas of the face, such as the eyes and nose. In this case, the person having the mold made should keep their eyes closed throughout the process, and care must be taken not to let the alginato enter the nasal passages.

At this stage of the process, Juan Villa recommends agreeing on a set of signals with the mold model in case the person feels uncomfortable, has trouble breathing, or experiences any other difficulty.

Applying the alginato

For the front of the face, you will use approximately twice as much alginato as for the back. After mixing it with water, as described earlier, proceed to apply the alginato to the model's face.

You can start carefully around the eye area so that the shape is properly captured. The nose should be left until last, as it is one of the most sensitive areas. For that part, you can use a spatula to help guide the shape and the alginato.

A little water can be used to smooth the final alginato surface, so that the eye, mouth, and nose areas are more clearly defined.

Front plaster counter-mold

Following the same preparation method as for the back, apply the plaster bandages to the dry alginato surface.

In particular, special care must be taken around the nose area. For that specific area, use smaller plaster bandages, placed in strips around the contour of the nose to reinforce that more fragile zone. Although it may seem obvious, the nostrils must be kept completely clear of any material. Juan Villa highlights that he likes to add a reinforcement area around the nose to prevent it from breaking.

Likewise, the plaster strips from the front are joined to those from the back. Thanks to the vaseline applied earlier, the two sections will not stick together.

Finally, as with the back of the head, a ridge or crest is added along the top of the subject to reinforce the central areas, from the neck to the top of the head.

The demolding process

During the demolding process, begin by removing the plaster shell from the model. The subject can make facial expressions (wrinkle their face, make gestures, and so on) to help ease the demolding process.

Very carefully, pulling from the edges at the neck and the upper half of the head, and once the plaster is dry, proceed to remove the front part of the mold. Then remove the back part of the mold, which is much easier to take off than the front.

Making the positive from the mold

Once both parts of the mold are complete, the next step is to make a positive from the alginato. For this, you can use moisture-resistant resins or professional modeling clays, such as the Monsters Clay modeling clays from Feroca.

When using Monster Clay modeling clay, the process involves first melting it in a microwave and then applying it with a brush to the inside of the resulting mask. This way you build up a clay replica, which makes it easier to touch up the final model to correct any imperfections from the mold.

On the front part of the mold, cover the inside of the nostrils with this modeling clay.

Joining the mold and reinforcing with modeling clay

Next, you will need to join the two parts of the mold and seal them with adhesive tape or something similar to prevent them from moving.

Then, apply more modeling clay to reinforce the inside so that the copy ends up around 1 centimeter or just over in thickness. You can pour the modeling clay directly through the neck opening and rotate the piece so that the liquid clay adheres to the walls of the model.

Removing the counter-mold and the alginato

Finally, remove the tape sealing the molds and carefully begin by separating the counter-mold first, followed by the membrane-like alginato from both parts of the head.

One important advantage of alginato is that if handled carefully, it could be used to make a new mold in another material such as plaster or modeling clay.

Remodeling the final result

Once the mold is defined, there will always be imperfections around the nose or ears, at the joins, or in the form of small air bubbles. That is when the remodeling process begins to achieve a perfect final finish.

For this sculpting work, you can use small metal or other material spatulas to help achieve the desired finish and shape.

Feroca, more than a specialist store for molding solutions

At Feroca we believe that customer care is fundamental. That is why we offer everyone a wealth of resources from experts like Juan Villa to ensure our products are used correctly and that you discover all their endless possibilities.

We have video tutorials, articles on our blog, and even WorkShops and live videos to keep you up to date with the latest developments in the molding and modeling art world, brought to you by Feroca. Browse our website and social media to discover them. We are experts in molding and modeling solutions.

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