Tag: Cosplay Tips

Summer Cosplay Hacks

With summer coming up, most cosplayers are getting ready for conventions and meetups, too excited to remember exactly how hot a wig and costume can get under the sun’s unforgiving rays. Going to Kuronekocon every August has given me plenty of experience with just how brutal cosplaying in 100-degree weather can be, but it’s also taught me some important tips and tricks for staying cool while cosplaying in the summer.

A lot of cosplayers may be tempted to tough the heat out, but heat stroke and heat exhaustion do happen and they are no joking matter. Planning for the heat may seem like a hassle, but it could make the difference between enjoying your con to the fullest or retreating back to your hotel sick and miserable after only a few hours.

To make sure you can enjoy cosplaying in the summer rather than suffer through it, here are a few things I’ve learned in order to deal with the inescapable heat:

Make or look for cosplays made from natural fibers. This might not seem like a big deal and it can potentially mean spending a little bit more, but believe me–you will feel a major difference just by doing this. Polyester traps heat and sweat against your skin. Sound pleasant? It’s not. And in severe heat with more layers than advisable, it can be dangerous. On the other hand, natural fibers such as cotton and linen will breathe and wick away sweat, letting you stay way cooler.

Stay hydrated. Seriously. Drinking water and stopping for bathroom breaks may seem like an inconvenience, but they are a lot less inconvenient than a heat migraine which can be debilitating and bring your whole day to a halt. Carry water with you if at all possible.

Speaking of staying hydrated, freeze half a bottle of water the night before con. In the morning you can fill it up the rest of the way and it will help ensure you have ice cold fluids all day long.

Replenish lost electrolytes. If you’re sweating, you’re losing electrolytes. And if you’re cosplaying in the heat, chances are pretty good that you’re going to sweat a lot. Replenishing those lost electrolytes will not only help protect you from heat-related illness, it will also make sure you feel your best and can enjoy cosplaying to the fullest. I like these single-serve electrolyte powder packs that you can just pour right into your water bottle. These ones have no added flavors, sugars, or any other fillers. It’s just the electrolytes you need, nothing else.

Pick heat-friendly cosplays. (Seriously.) Save your heavy faux-fur and wool cloak for winter cons and pick something a little lighter to wear during the summer. It is okay to have seasonal cosplays. I have cosplays I can only wear during the cooler months. And I have others that I’d freeze in during winter. If you’re not sure whether a cosplay will do well in the heat, wear it during a hot day for a trial run.

“Cheat” on layers. If you are stubborn enough to have a cosplay with several levels during the summer, remember that you can cheat a bit to stave off the heat. If your character wears a long-sleeve button-up shirt and a jacket for instance–opt for wearing a short-sleeved button-up shirt instead. No one will see the sleeve anyway, and it’ll save you a few degrees. You can also use faux collars sewn right onto vests and skip the undershirt all together. Also, if you are crazy enough to wear a cosplay with a coat during the summer, don’t be shy about taking it off. If you’re wandering around the vendor hall doing some shopping give yourself a break. You can always put the coat back on for photos.

That brings us to another point. Take breaks often. Limit your time outside in the heat, take frequent breaks to walk through some air-conditioning to cool down, and if you feel the start of a headache or experience any dizziness or just feel miserably hot, head to the bathroom and run some cold water over the inside of your wrists. This will help your body to cool down quickly.

Keep cool with a handheld spritzer fan or cooling towel. My good friends Danny and Cleo spend most of the hot, August convention here with spritzer fans in hand, spraying themselves down to survive the scorching heat. These little contraptions do work wonders to cool you down, and if you’re worried about messing up your makeup you can always spritz your neck, arms, legs, chest, or any other exposed skin. Plus you can use the fan as a regular fan, too. You can also use a cooling towel to keep the heat at bay even in the hottest cosplay. Putting one around the back of your neck does wonders to keep you cool.

That’s it for now–I’ll be putting these tricks to the test tomorrow for Lilac City Comicon (cosplaying Kageyama and Todoroki), so I will let you know how that goes in my next post!

Did I miss any tips for beating the heat in cosplay? Leave a comment and let me know below!

Have fun cosplaying this summer and above all else, stay safe!

 

Just as a heads up, there may be affiliate links in this post. These don’t cost you anything extra, but they help me earn a small commission and that helps me keep this blog running so that I can provide even more anime and game reviews plus cosplay tips and tricks!

Con Crud: Prevention and Recovery Tips

If you’ve never heard of con crud before, let me tell you right now that it’s no fun. It’s the sickness that can result from being exposed to a cocktail of viruses at a convention of thousands of other people coming from all different regions and environments.

Con crud can take a lot of different forms, and while I usually am able to prevent it… this year I got so sick after Sakura-con that I had to get x-rays and was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Although this year was a rough one for con crud, there are still ways to help protect yourself from catching it and tips for a quick recovery if you do happen to catch it.

Con Crud Prevention: Before the Convention

Half of the battle for preventing con crud is to make sure your immune system is at full strength before you hit the convention. There will be an absolute sea of germs there, so the stronger your immune system is when you attend, the better you’ll fare.

  • Get a flu shot at least ten days before the convention. Even if you do get the flu, getting a flu shot beforehand will diminish the intensity and the length of time you’re sick for. Consider getting a pneumonia shot if they are available, too. Most vaccines are thimerosal-free, now, too, which is good news to anyone sensitive to preservatives or worried about heavy metals.
  • Get plenty of sleep before the convention. In a perfect world, we would eat three square meals during con and get at least seven hours of sleep, but life happens. Time has a habit of getting away from you at con. Just in case you don’t get enough sleep while you’re attending, make sure to sleep extra the week before. Hit the convention well-rested. Not only will you have more fun, you’ll lower your chances of getting sick.
  • Allergies? Take care of them with a non-drowsy allergy pill. Seriously. This was possibly my major downfall this time. I stayed with a couple of awesome friends who have two very cute cats and while I’m mildly allergic to cats, it’s usually fine if I take a Zyrtec. Only… I ran out of Zyrtec after the first day of staying with them for a week. If your immune system is off having a hissy fit over seasonal or environmental allergies it might not do its job in protecting you from actual germs.
  • Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of water, and take some supplements (especially vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc) the week before. All of these help to boost your immune system so it can fight at full strength.
  • Increase the amount of spicy food, onions, and garlic in your diet. I didn’t get a chance to do that this time around, but usually just this step does a fantastic job at warding off sickness.
  • Hold off on the alcohol. Drinking, especially heavy drinking, can bog down your immune system so that it’s not at it’s best when you need it most.

Con Crud Prevention: During the Convention

When you’re at the convention, your health is the last thing on your mind. While you’re busy having fun, though, a few small steps can help prevent you from getting sick. The last thing you want is to have your con experience ruined with the flu, right?

  • Eat real food and drink water. I know, you’re busy and tempted to survive on only pocky and energy drinks the whole weekend, but you’ll feel a lot better during and after con if you make sure to get some real food here and there and drink water regularly. It doesn’t have to be full meals (though ideally, it would be)–even just crackers and cheese or healthy fruit snacks or a hardboiled egg can do wonders. Just make sure to refrigerate your snacks if you have anything perishable. Food poisoning is no fun at all. Carry a filtered water bottle with you during con, too, so you can fill up at any sink or water fountain and stay hydrated.
  • Wash your hands before you eat. If you can’t, use hand sanitizer. I know this should be common sense but it’s extra important during a convention. You’re touching merch that ten thousand other people have touched. You’re shaking hands, hugging, high-fiving, and cozying up for selfies with more people than you do any other weekend. Wash. Your. Hands.
  • Wash your hands before touching your face. Same as before, your hands end up crawling with germs at con. If you need to rub your eyes or nose, adjust your makeup, etc. wash your hands first.
  • Get some sleep, even if it’s not a full seven hours. Five is still better than zero. You’ll have a lot more fun at the convention if you get at least five or six hours of sleep, too. Seven is better, but I get it. Con is a crazy time. So, get at least five.

Con Crud Prevention: After the Convention

After the convention, chances are pretty good that you have a whole host of viruses running through your system. How well you take care of yourself in this time will make the difference in whether you deal with the germs effortlessly or wind up bedridden and miserable.

  • Catch up on sleep. In a perfect world, you would get at least seven hours of sleep a night at the convention. Let’s be realistic, though. You probably missed a few hours of z’s, so be sure to rest up after the convention.
  • Keep at it with the fruits and vegetables. Your body is likely craving real food after a weekend of snacks, junk food, and long hours on your feet. You burn a lot of calories at con and your body will be craving some real nutrients afterward.
  • Drink lots of water and take those vitamins (especially vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc). It’s easy to get dehydrated at con no matter how noble your intentions are, and the extra vitamins will give your fighting immune system an extra boost.
  • Turn up the heat with spicy food, onions, and garlic. Germs hate spicy food (including onions and garlic), so loading up on these helps give your immune system an advantage.
  • Replenish lost electrolytes. Long hours at con running around with friends and being over or underdressed for the weather in cosplay can result in some lost electrolytes. Add a little salt to your diet, keep at it with the water, and have a banana or two to build your electrolytes back up to where they should be.
  • Hold off on the alcohol… no really. Fight the temptation to have celebratory drinks after the convention. You might not be aware of it, but your immune system is already at war with all the pathogens you were exposed to. Alcohol will only drag your immune system down during these crucial moments.

What to Do If You Get Con Crud

Sometimes even with the best preventative measures, the con germs get you down. Cut your recovery time and get better fast by taking care of yourself if you get the crud.

  • Rest. A lot. There is no such thing as sleeping too much if you are sick. Sleep as much as you can while you’re sick to get better faster.
  • Don’t overdo it. If you’re sick, it’s not the time for exercise, a marathon, or a party. Even when you’re not sleeping take it easy. Let your body focus on fighting off the crud without pushing it to do other things.
  • Keep your germs to yourself. Resist the temptation to hang out with friends while you’re recovering. Focus on resting and save social time for after you feel better.
  • Load up on fruits and vegetables. These will keep your immune system running at full strength with all the vitamins packed into them.
  • Drink lots of water and take those vitamins (especially vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc). It’s easy to get dehydrated when you’re sick, but it’s also when your body needs water the most. Keep filled up on water and take vitamins to boost your immune system during its fight.
  • Turn up the heat with spicy food, onions, and garlic. These are not only good for prevention but also for recovery.
  • Replenish lost electrolytes. Make sure you’re getting a little bit of salt and potassium (bananas are great for this) while you’re recovering. You can lose a lot of electrolytes while sick no matter what form the sickness takes.
  • Hold off on the alcohol… no really. Although there are a few rumors about using liquor to fight off germs, resist the urge to imbibe while you’re sick. Not only does alcohol weaken your immune system, it can also further dehydrate you and flush out the electrolytes that you need.
  • If you don’t get better, see the doctor. This should be common sense, but if you get worse and worse and don’t get better, don’t tough it out. Get medical attention, because your con crud could be evolving into a secondary infection… like pneumonia. If it does (like mine did), you will have to take antibiotics in order to get better.

Conventions are a ton of fun but they are, admittedly, pretty tough on your body. The long hours up and about, traveling, being around huge crowds, and sleepless fasting periods spell trouble. So, whether you’re bolstering your immune system before a big con or looking for relief afterward, take care of yourself and rest up when you can.

Good luck and stay healthy!

 

Just as a heads up, there may be affiliate links in this post. These don’t cost you anything extra, but they help me earn a small commission and that helps me keep this blog running so that I can provide even more anime and game reviews plus cosplay tips and tricks!

Ultimate Convention & Cosplay Packing Checklist

With Sakura-con looming on the horizon, I’ve been sewing, packing, and crafting up a storm for the cosplays I’m working on. As I print out my cosplay packing checklist for the convention, I wanted to share a modified version of it with all of you! Remembering to bring a crucial piece of a cosplay–like a wig!–can make or break a convention. If you travel for cons, whether they are on the other side of town, the other side of the state, or the other side of the country, make sure you’re prepared with this checklist.

The Ultimate Convention Packing List

Important Documents

  • Convention Registration Receipt / Documents
  • Hotel Booking Confirmation
  • Flight, Bus, or Train Rickets (departure and return)
  • Driver’s License or Valid ID
  • Reference Pictures of the Characters You’re Cosplaying

Wig and Hair Care

Makeup

  • Foundation, Primer, Blush, and Setting Powder (if needed)
  • Plain Chapstick
  • Angle Brush (these are perfect for eyebrows)
  • Eyeliner, Mascara, Lipstick, Eyeshadow, etc. (as needed)
  • Makeup Remover Wipes
  • Compact Mirror

General Hygeine

  • Shampoo and Conditioner
  • Deodorant
  • Dry Shampoo (if desired)
  • Soap
  • Hair Brush
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Feminine Hygiene Products (even if you don’t think you’ll need them! You might, and someone else might)
  • Travel-Size Bottle of Laundry Detergent
  • Tweezers
  • Nail Clippers
  • Razor(s)

Electronics

  • Cellphone
  • Phone Charger
  • Portable Charger for phone (with cord)
  • Camera
  • Extra SD card
  • Camera charger

First Aid

  • Benadryl
  • Zyrtec (if needed)
  • EpiPen (if needed)
  • Ibuprofen
  • Band-aids
  • Any Prescriptions

Casual / Street Clothes

  • Pajamas
  • Bras and Underwear
  • Socks
  • Shirts
  • Sweater, Coat, Gloves, etc. for the Weather
  • Jeans or Comfortable Pants
  • Swimsuit (for the pool!)

Food

  • Filtered Water Bottle (so you can fill it up anywhere!)
  • Fruit Leather (easy to pack around with you)
  • Brown Rice Rollers (also easy to pack around with you)
  • String Cheese (also easy to pack around with you)
  • Yogurt and Bananas (for a quick breakfast on the go!)
  • Dark Chocolate (when you’re tired and need a pick-me-up)
  • Bread, cheese, and deli meat (for a quick sandwich between changes or after coming back from a long day at the convention–you can use jam and peanut butter if you prefer, too)

Miscellaneous

  • Cash (for food, merchandise, and fun–I put mine in separate envelopes for each day–this prevents running out of cash (and starving) the last day of the convention)
  • A Small Wallet
  • Breakaway Lanyard (You can easily pull these off without lifting them over your head! Perfect for not disturbing a carefully-styled wig, hat, armor, etc. when asked for photos.)
  • Compact Umbrella
  • Contacts, Contact Case, and Solution (if needed)
  • Eyeglasses (if needed)
  • Sewing Kit (for cosplay emergency repair)
  • Safety Pins
  • Emergency Flats (trust me, these will save your feet from those awesome but painful cosplay shoes)
  • Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (for cosplay emergency repair)
  • Large Trash Bag (for dirty clothes)

For Each Cosplay:

  • Binders, if needed
  • Shoes or Boots
  • Socks
  • Pants, Skirt, or Dress
  • Shirt, Vest, Jacket, Cloaks, or Cape
  • Wig
  • Jewelry (earrings, necklace, bracelets, armlets, circlets)
  • Crowns, Hats, Helms, Veils, or Headdresses
  • Gloves
  • Belts, Ties, Scarves, Sashes, or Cravats
  • Bag, Backpack, or Purse
  • Props: Animal Companions, Swords, Staffs, Volleyballs, Books, etc
  • Eye Accessories (glasses, monocles, goggles, blindfolds, etc)

One last packing tip…

There is one more thing I do when packing for a convention that helps a lot, especially during rushed mornings and frantic costume changes. Store everything you’ll need for each cosplay in a vacuum-seal bag. Use one bag for each cosplay, then shove all the bags in your luggage. You don’t need a vacuum to seal or unseal them–they are basically just enormous ziplock bags. You can squish any excess air out of them simply by pressing down or rolling, which helps save space.

By doing this, you can grab the bag for the cosplay you’re putting on and save time rummaging and searching for each piece. These bags work wonders for storing your cosplays later, too.

 If you are flying or taking the train or bus, make sure that your luggage fits their requirements (and make sure your shampoo, makeup, and any other liquids are packed according to TSA guidelines). Always tell someone where you’ll be staying and how to get ahold of you, and if you are meeting up with a group be sure to schedule meeting times and places in advance.

I also highly recommend doing a dry run and trying your cosplays out before you pack and leave for the convention to make sure everything works, everything fits, and you haven’t forgotten a crucial piece….

Whether you are traveling near or far, be safe, have fun, and check your packing list twice before you leave!

Did I forget anything on here? Let me know in the comments!

 

Just as a heads up, there may be affiliate links in this post. These don’t cost you anything extra, but they help me earn a small commission and that helps me keep this blog running so that I can provide even more anime and game reviews plus cosplay tips and tricks!

Sakura-con Cosplay Lineup

Hey everyone! As I finish watching My Hero Academia, I’ve been hard at work on getting my cosplays together for Sakura-con. It’s hard to believe the convention is only about a month away, now! I am excited to share my cosplay lineup with all of you and can’t wait to debut a few new cosplays (as well as some of my old favorites).

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On Day Zero, I’ll be cosplaying casual Todoroki (My Hero Academia / BNHA), on the morning of Day One I’ll cosplay Elliott (Stardew Valley), and in the afternoon will switch to Kageyama (Haikyuu!!) which is always one of my favorites. Day Two brings Balder (Kamigami no Asobi), and Day Three will be Todoroki again–this time in the UA athletic uniform.

This will be my first time cosplaying Todoroki and Balder, which is very exciting!

Balder and Todorki have both presented interesting challenges that I’ve been hard at work on. Todoroki’s outfit is straightforward, but thanks to my allergies I’m extremely limited in what cosmetics I can use. I ended up mixing together makeup for the scar by hand. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out! Simply mixing some red mica pigment and French red clay with my existing foundation did wonders! It swatched well and I can’t wait to try it out in a makeup test.

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Balder has been a challenge for different reasons–sewing ones, mostly. I’m creating nearly the whole cosplay from scratch and it is… complicated, to say the least. The white jacket is riddled with gray accents and panels, and it is embellished with gold trim in various designs. I’m not using a pattern for either. Instead, I simply folded a shirt in half that fit well, set it onto the fabric, and traced around it essentially four times. The sleeves will come later.

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Because I’m working without a pattern, I gave myself generous wiggle room (about an inch or two all the way around) and after pinning everything together… started moving the pins in, cutting the collar while I had it on, and getting one side just right before copying the adjustments onto the other side. It’s a round-about way to do things but it usually works well!

I finished the ear cuff for Balder, as well! It just slips right onto my ear, no piercings required. I bent the metal rays of the sun with pliers and used clear silicone glue to adhere it to the cuff. Gluing metal is always tricky, but the silicone seems to be doing the trick so far.

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Before the convention, I will definitely be doing a trial run of the two new cosplays. I’ll post pictures when I do! In the meantime… I still have a lot of work to do on Balder’s jacket, and I have a volleyball to pump up.

Any conventions that you guys are preparing for, or cosplays that you’re working on? I’d love to hear about it!

Lessons on Creating Cosplays from Scratch

Hello, hello!

Welcome to my humble blog. If you don’t know me already, my name is Michelle, also known as Rynthae online. I’m a cosplayer, crafter, writer, artist, violin-maker, anime aficionado, and frequent misadventurer.

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My Arabian Nagisa (from Free!) cosplay, which was made from scratch. Photo by Shelby Mclachlan.

Although I started out buying ready-made cosplays, I’ve delved into the territory of frequently making my own cosplays, or modifying ones that I do buy. It was somewhat terrifying in the beginning. I started with building props–keyblades, swords, jewelry, etc–and while I loved doing that, sewing was never my forte. Even after having sewn whole cosplays from scratch I’m not sure it’s my forte. However, I will say that flying blind while sewing waistcoats and harem pants has taught me a few things.

Seam Rippers Are Your Best Friend

I always rip out a seam at least once per cosplay. No matter how long I’ve been sewing or modifying things, it seems to be a rule of the universe: I will sew something upside-down, backwards, or inside-out at least once.

Youtube is Your Other Best Friend

I have limited “real” sewing knowledge–I simply do it anyway. I took a short Home Ec class in middle school once where we sewed pillows (admittedly not very high on the difficulty chart) and I occasionally did battle with my parent’s possessed sewing machine. Usually, that resulted in the bobbin spewing forth a stream of knots before devouring whatever fabric I was working with. I have received some good advice from friends and family, but I’ve also found Youtube to be an incredibly helpful resource. Even if you think there is no way there’s a video for the strangely specific situation you’re in… chances are, there’s a video for it. Really.

Pure Stubbornness Determination Always Prevails

I’ve been there. Two in the morning, having already ripped a seam three times, double- and triple-checked to make sure I was doing something right only for it to turn out wrong. Again. It’s tempting to give up when this happens. It’s tempting to say “I’m just not cut out for this” but the truth is: no one is really cut out for this. Everyone is always learning. Everyone runs into snags or gets confused. Don’t give up. Keep trying, and if what you’re doing doesn’t work, try something else.

I made a tiny vest for the cosplay above three times. Those three times were sewn and ripped and sewn again multiple times each. I spent as long on that vest as I did on almost the rest of the entire outfit. Why? Because I am perpetually confused by linings, apparently. I couldn’t get the vest to flip right-side-out after sewing it. I tried everything, tried ripping different seams to free up different parts, but no matter what I did, I always ended up with the vest lumped and trapped inside of the lining with no way to free it. I got so frustrated with the whole thing that I cut down the middle of the lining, in the inside back of the vest, flipped it out, and sewed the cut line back together.

It was unconventional, but it worked.

Creating cosplays is different from creating clothes in that you have more liberty to break the rules. Don’t give up. Keep working, keep trying, and when all else fails: try something different.

Don’t Be Scared of New Materials

For years I made props out of cardboard and paper. It was an elaborate process to create solid, durable 3D props out of them, but I was quite happy with the results. By comparison, wood scared me. It was an unknown. The idea of working with power tools felt terrifying, and for a long time I shied away from it.

Because I was so nervous about working with wood for the first time, I didn’t realize until far later that it was actually easier to work with. It took less time, it was sturdier and often lighter, and I could carve details instead of only painting them. And speaking of paint–the wood was a lot easier to paint, too. As scary as power tools were, I came to really appreciate the belt sander and the dremel for carving.

And you know what? I went from being someone who was scared of wood to someone who works with it regularly. I really think that building a few elaborate swords out of wood gave me a lot more courage to dive into violin-making, which I absolutely love.

Math Offers Answers

Cue the groaning. I know, you would rather eat a whole cardboard box than do math–but really, it comes in handy for creating cosplays. Not sure how long that sword or staff should be? Easy trick–pull up a reference picture of it in the hands of the character you’re cosplaying. Put a sticky note by the head of the character and make a mark for how big it is from the chin to the top of their head. Now measure your head from the chin to the top of your head and write that down on the sticky note. Then use your marked length on the sticky note and measure how long the prop is in head lengths and multiply that by your head length for a perfect proportional prop.

That’s just one example. Sewing is full of opportunities to use math and the most comfortable you are with using it, the less you will need to rely on patterns. (And let’s just admit, most patterns are more confusing than they need to be, anyway.)

Spend Time on the Details

If you’re ever tempted to cut corners, remember this: having a nice clean paint-line, hemming the fabric of your cosplay, and styling your wig can make a big difference in the overall look of your cosplay. These things really pull it together. Details are a chance for you to make this cosplay as beautiful as it can be, to give it a sense of realism whether it is a volleyball uniform or a mage’s cloak. When you spend extra time on the details I promise, people will take notice, and they will be impressed.

Cosplay Is For Everyone

I know you know this, but it’s easy to forget that this also applies to you. We’re all our own worst critics. We all look in the mirror and our eyes are drawn right to the spots we stress about most. Be kind to yourself. Cosplay your favorite character. Whether they are bigger, smaller, taller, shorter, the same gender or different, the same age, whatever. The people who truly matter will support you. If someone doesn’t like it, that speaks more about their own insecurities and shallowness than it does about you.

I’ve gone to conventions with no makeup before in 110 degree heat, stressed because my skin is never happy. Everyone was more kind and welcoming than I could have ever imagined. I have extensive skin (and food, but that’s another story) allergies, so I’m very limited in what makeup I can wear. I can’t wear contacts for the same reason. And you know what? People still ask to take my picture. People who love the same series still get excited to see me. I’m by no means skinny, but I cosplay two athletes (Kageyama and Nagisa), and as worried as I was the first few times, but people were truly happy to see me at conventions and meetups and had nothing but kind things to say. Those cosplays have become some of my favorites over the years, too.

When people look at you, they won’t see whatever you worry most about. They will see a character they love and a potential friend. So, be brave. Cosplay your favorite characters. And most importantly, have fun.