Here's the Plan

Well, summer's coming up pretty quickly. After the series of unfortunate events leading up to Anime Boston 2014, I decided that I never wanted them to happen again. Now, I will probably end up doing something very similar at one point in the future (and it really can't be helped), but I have decided because of this to (attempt to) plan out my summer. Last summer I was loaded with AP homework, community service self-defense classes, working at my dojo, going to Drum Major Academy, and trying to squeeze in some cosplay (which for the most part, I didn't get around to) but this summer is going to be THE SUMMER OF COSPLAY! In my New Years Post, I revealed that I was planning on making a Hajime Ichinose cosplay and I still am, however this project is insanely large and insanely out of my comfort zone. Due to this, I've also complied a list of other cosplays to make so that I can generally keep my head on whilst inevitably failing many times with Hajime. This list includes:

• FINISHING MY FRACKING ALOIS TRANCY COSPLAY ONCE AND FOR ALL!
• Completing either my C.C. or Homura Akemi (both of which I have already begun).
• Making my Senior Dress-Up Day costume (which I thought was going to be Zelda but now that I've taken on Hajime she may be off the table. I dunno--we'll see).
• Starting both a 833 M17UN4 C4P70R (Bee Mituna Captor from Homestuck) and a Trickster Dirk Strider (also from Homestuck).
• Designing and making the shoes, legs, and bodice of my Hajime Ichinose. (Preferably the arms as well but saving the wig, head piece, and skirt for later.)

Well, that is the plan. If I can get all of these crossed off my list (or even like three of the five crossed off my list), I will probably cry tears of joy. Look forward to it. And now back to the present. I will hopefully be going to Promstuck on June 8 on the Boston Common as (most likely) John Egbert. Hope this has you pumped! What are you doing for your SUMMER OF COSPLAY!? I'd love to know!--Leave a comment or email: wickedcosplay@yahoo.com. MadDog out!

Homura Akemi Skirt! (Started)

Today I started work on my Homura Akemi skirt! I made a basic gray, pleated skirt that I will be hemming (to the right length) and sewing white trim/lace/haven't decided quite yet around the bottom of. That's about all for today. Here's a picture. MadDog out!

And here are some bonus pictures of the raccoon eating my house. He is very cute but he has to go.

Devit Part Three!

It has been so long... *Author's note: Read the previous phrase as dramatically as you possibly can.* Anyways, I was supposed to have Devit done for Sunday of (last) Anime Boston but clearly that didn't happen as I was planning on finishing his outfit Saturday night but I got sick and didn't even go to the convention on Sunday (sadness). Well, I have finally completed "the pants" and found an old white tank top which I painted a red "X" on. Other than the jacket (which I may not ever make) this completes my Devit cosplay. Sorry I didn't feel like doing the body paint and makeup right now but hopefully sometime over the summer, I will be doing a photoshoot with him so... I guess I hope that that makes up for it. It's not my best cosplay, but I think Devit turned out pretty okay. MadDog out!

C.C. Wig Styling and Wig Tips!

Well, I apologize because my camera has been lost for the past few weeks. I found it the other day though and decided to get back on track with the whole cosplay and blogging thing, which brings me to this post. I got my C.C. wig a while back and have just now found some time to cut the bangs on it. (The wig itself is from Arda in the style of Le Tigre and in the color of Light Green.) It is not a wig that is meant to have bangs but with a little styling, I have transformed it.

(Do you like my shirt? I think it's so cute! Thanks, Emma-chan!)

First a sectioned off the fibers that I wanted to become bangs and then I cut upwardly to get the length and natural-look I necessary for them. (Thinning scissors also help with this process.) Because my wig is heat-resistant, I was able to use a normal curling iron to get the new bangs to curve nicely instead of just stick out straight like they were. Voila. Completed C.C. wig. And now for a few basic tips.

Tips for Cutting and Styling Wigs:

• Helpful safety tip: If you are a beginner cosplayer and/or have little to no experience cutting hair and styling wigs, start with a character that has a simple hair style and work into harder hair styles as you get better at wig cutting and styling.
• When brushing out a tangled wig, only use a wide-toothed comb so as not to tangle your wig further. Also start from the bottom of the wig and work your way up. (This is extremely important if you have a ridiculously long wig.)
• Invest in some cutting sheers and thinning scissors!
• If you have to do dramatic cutting and styling, invest in a wig head. Then, measure out where your own features are on the wig head for reference so that you don't cut anything the wrong length.
• Alligator clips/duckbill clips are your friend.
• Most styles don't have really straight "edges." To get a more natural look, cut up not straight-across. This way you get a more grown-out look then a freshly-cut look and it gives you a little more flexibility if you make a small mistake.
• Don't you dare use "normal" hair products on wigs! "Normal" products are meant to work on normal hair not plastic. Go out and get yourself got2b products. This is the classic cosplay wig brand because it will get you results. (Reason: Instead of reacting with the fibers in normal hair to create volume, it doesn't and therefor works on plastic. Yay!)
• Heat-resistant wigs are the way to go.

Also, if you don't even know where to buy a wig and this post was completely irrelevant to your problem, you should check out this post here. More cosplay to come--MadDog out!