Elf ears cosplay is a great costume for conventions or parties, and it’s easy to make with a few simple materials. You’ll need some fake ears, a hot glue gun, and some wire. Follow these simple steps to create your own elf ears cosplay in no time!
Sleeping on Elf Ears
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: You won’t be able to wear your new elf ears while you’re sleeping. Because they’re attached with wire, you’ll want to sleep with a headband or a strip of cloth around your head to support them. If you don’t do that, you’ll risk damaging them while you sleep.
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Using the Wire
The wire is important for both structural support and comfort. It should be only slightly bent to fit your ears without poking through because it can become really uncomfortable if it’s too tight against your skin.
Also, don’t worry about the wire hurting other people- nobody will feel anything through the fake ears. If you’re going to be wearing elf ears for a long time, though, they may give you a headache or start to feel heavy. In that case, use some expandable headbands to hold them up and relieve some of the weight.
Using Hot Glue
You’ll want a hot glue gun because it comes out quickly, so you can keep your elf ears in place.
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Plus, hot glue dries instantly! If you don’t have a glue gun, you may want to use some spirit gum or similar adhesive that’s meant for special effects makeup. Make sure it works on skin before using it on your elf ears cosplay, though.
Putting the Ears On
After you’ve tested the glue, attach the wire to your ears and set them on your head. You’ll want some help with this part- elf ears are hard to balance! They should be sitting on the back of your ear, not on top or sticking out too far. Once they’re in place, secure them there with a thin strip of cloth, a headband, or even just a hair elastic.
Elf Ears Cosplay
After that, you’ll just have to put on your elf costume and show off your creation! You can wear them with or without makeup for a more elven look, and they’re still pretty cute even if you don’t dress up at all.
Remember: These ears are yours now, so you can use them for other costumes too. If you’re not using them for a costume, just pin the ears to your hair and enjoy looking like an elf.
How To Clean Elf Ears
Elf ears are made out of fake materials, which means you can clean them with any normal household cleaner. A quick wipe down with some soap and water will remove most of the dirt. If you want to get in between the ears or around the wire, use cotton swabs for a more thorough cleansing.
Be careful not to get water on the electronics, though- you don’t want to short anything out. Don’t use any alcohol or other cleaners that would damage the fake fur.
Prepping Elf Ears for Painting
If you decide to repaint your elf ears, make sure they’re completely dry before applying paint. Otherwise, the water in your paint will make the glue even weaker, and your ears will fall apart. You can use any paint that works on fake fur, which usually has a matte or satin finish.
Be careful not to get it in the electronic components. There are also specific paints for plastic that look really nice and won’t damage the ear fur’s texture. If you stick with matte or satin, you’ll need to seal the paint before applying any gloss clearcoats. Otherwise, it will rub off on everything you touch.
Repairing Elf Ears
When you first receive your elf ears, take a moment to look them over and make sure there aren’t any holes in the fake fur or broken strands of hair. If you notice anything, use a thread and needle to stitch it up before the hole gets larger and tears all the way through.
If your elf ears get too dirty to clean, remove the electronics and put them away somewhere safe. The fake fur will be fine on its own- you can put it back on when you get around to cleaning them.
If your elf ears break at any point, keep the wire and all the pieces. You may be able to glue the pieces back together with a strong adhesive like E6000 or Krazy Glue and then attach them to an ear backing later. You can use superglue to fix some of the smaller pieces, but it’s usually best to stick with something that’s specially made for plastics- you don’t want anything that will melt or warp your elf ears.
Because most of these items are small and easily lost, you should keep them together in a plastic bag once you take them out of the box. That way, you won’t lose anything, and it will be easier to keep track of everything.
Trying Out Your New Elf Ears
Once you’ve finished customizing your elf ears, it’s time to try them on! The first time you put them on might feel a little strange- since they’re not glued to your head, you might accidentally bump them or send them sliding down your face.
You can use double-sided tape or velcro to help them stay in place while wearing, but make sure nothing will be uncomfortable before you attach it.
Elf ears are designed for people with smaller heads, so they may feel tight or loose depending on your head size. If you have a larger head, don’t try to stretch out the fake fur- take them off promptly if they feel uncomfortable.
After wearing them for a while, though, you should get used to how the ears move and feel just fine.
Tips and Warnings
- If you sleep with your elf ears, make sure to always wear a headband or cloth to hold them up.
- If you don’t have a glue gun, use spirit gum or another adhesive made for special effects makeup. Make sure it works on skin before putting it on your elf ears cosplay!
- Wear these ears with or without makeup to look more elven. You can also pin the ears to your hair to make them less noticeable.
- Wash the glue off your skin and out of your hair if any gets on you or it.
Note: For collaboration with cosplay models for events, please contact SnowDragon via Instagram.