It’s Never Too Late to Hairpunch into Foam Latex

it’s never too late to learn how to hair punch into foam latex

Listen to Episode:

Or Listen On:

Apple PodcastsSpotifyPandoraiHeartRadio

.

This post may contain affiliate links, such as Amazon and Shop My, that I may earn from qualifying links. This means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, but never fear, because it means no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

.

In This Episode We Cover:

• the unique properties of foam latex
• what makes foam latex relevant in a silicon world
• the concept that the right solution beats fashion every time

Episode 92: Show notes

I want to tackle a subject that, well, in my heart, feel doesn’t get nearly enough love these days, and that’s good old-fashioned foam latex.

Yep, that classic material that so many of today’s younger makeup artists and newbies fresh out of school, I sound like such an old lady, but it’s true. A material that the young folks or young kids in shops might dismiss as antiquated.

But here’s the truth, foam latex is still an absolute powerhouse when it comes to special effects makeup. And if you’re a hair technician or a hair puncher, it’s one of the best materials you could ever learn to punch into. 

I get it. Silicon is everywhere. It photographs beautifully, it’s flexible, it’s translucent, it looks amazing in high-definition, digital and IMAX, all of the big things that you just see everything, and it’s marketed as the ultimate special effects makeup solution.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love silicon too, but here’s the mistake. Thinking that silicon is the only solution, because that mindset shuts doors before you’ve even had the chance to walk through them. Foam latex has been around for decades for a reason.

I mean, almost going close to a century, actually, and honestly, it’s never too late to learn how to work with it. In fact, adding foam latex skills to your arsenal of knowledge might just make you the person that your future boss calls when no one else has the answer or the experience. So why does foam latex still matter in 2025?

First of all, weight.

Foam latex is incredibly light. If you’re working on full suits, creature builds or prosthetics that cover large parts of the body, for instance, a full cowl, back of head, chest, neck, suit, sleeves, and a full body suit.

Silicon can so quickly become incredibly heavy and impractical. Foam latex, for me, solves all the problems that silicon creates. Second, and let’s talk about this, I’m going to say movement.

Foam latex is, like I said, it’s a lightweight, it’s porous, it’s made up of little air bubbles. So because of that, it has a springy bounce that can still look lifelike and when painted well and hair punched well, can work and have the perfect flexibility for certain types of creature work and animatronic skins. And I saw this firsthand when I worked on Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith, our makeup effects designer and boss, Dave Elsey and the entire crew, we all worked very hard embracing foam latex and improving on techniques that had been done in the previous movies with silicon.

So it was really gratifying to bring to life these same creatures using foam latex that had just been painted well and thought out with the end result in mind and the person underneath it in mind as well.

Now I want to talk about hair punching specifically because for me, this is where foam latex really can shine.

Hair punching into foam latex has a different feel compared to silicon because the material has tiny little air bubbles in it. It can grip the hair really beautifully.

There’s still a tactile sort of grabbiness to the foam latex and for me, that means that once the hair is punched in, it stays in and because it’s lighter, the final effect has natural movements that sometimes you just don’t get with silicon.

Sometimes silicon, depending on whereabouts on the body it is and how thick it is, can buckle weirdly. So there are definitely pros and cons to silicon as well.

It’s even got the word con in the name! (joking)

Think of all the classic characters that you love from the golden era of creature effects and you know the 70s and into the 80s when makeup effects I think was at its peak at its height.

But foam latex with hand-punched hair was honestly the unsung hero behind so many of these iconic characters and I’m not saying this to be nostalgic either.

It’s just about effectiveness and being aware of people’s physicality and the performers inside all of these things. So why do so many newer artists shy away from foam latex?

It comes down to perception.

Silicon is seen as modern.

It’s seen as high-tech and it’s seen as the ultimate solution and improvement on the opaque options of yesteryear.

Foam latex can be seen as old-school and outdated.

But here’s the thing. Professional makeup artistry isn’t about what’s trendy or fashionable.

It’s about what works, plain and simple.

And if foam latex is the right solution for the job, then dismissing it just because it’s not the hot material of the moment is rather short-sighted.

Now, if you’ve never punched into foam latex before, you might be thinking, well, is it even worth learning now? And my answer is absolutely yes.

Learning how to hair punch into foam latex gives you an edge. It gives you knowledge and it makes you adaptable. It means that when you walk on to a set or into a workshop, you’re not limited by your materials.

That you can look at a challenge and say, yep, I got it. And that confidence is what will keep you working. Now, let’s be honest, this industry is so unpredictable.

We’ve seen it through strikes, we’ve seen it through shutdowns, through new waves of technology that are currently happening. The people who thrive are the ones who are versatile, the ones who know more than one way to skin the cat, so to speak.

So don’t buy into the myth that foam latex is a thing of the past.

It’s still a brilliant, practical, and very much alive material in the world of special effects makeup. And if you’re a hair technician, or you want to become one, it is never too late to learn how to hair punch into it. And I’ve got just the thing for you.

If you DM me the word HAIRPUNCH on Instagram, I can send you my very favorite hair punching checklist to get you started. So just DM me. I promise you’ll get an answer.

I’m always floating about in the ether on Instagram.

So just simply DM me the word “hairpunch”, all one word, and I’ll send you out my free checklist.

In fact, your future self might thank you when that next job calls for something that everyone else has forgotten or never taken the time to learn how to do.

And that’s the kind of skill that makes you invaluable and it helps you stand out. Okay, that’s it for this time. Until next time, stay inspired, keep creating, keep experimenting, and remember, sometimes the old ways can be the best ways.

All right, I’ll see you soon. Bye-bye.

Click here to listen to this episode!

.

Take Me Back to the Podcast Homepage