Coco Inspired Day of the Dead Makeup

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Coco inspired Day of the Dead makeup and nails are the perfect way to pay homage to those we have lost.

What is the Day of the Dead?

Coco is a Pixar film centred around the Mexican celebration The Day of the Dead. Generally celebrated at the beginning of November it is not to be confused with the pagan holiday of Halloween. It is a time for the living to remember their friends and family who have departed and celebrate them.

In our multicultural society, it is important that as we pick up pieces of other cultures we do not appropriate them.

But a different way to experience and share grief is an important part of humanity.

Coco Inspired Day of the Dead Makeup

For this design I used just three colours of Snazaroo facepaint.

I was short on time so I created a half face. But the effects can be mirrored to a full face or finished as a half face. Try either creating a hard line or blending out the edge of the white paint.

First I created my base with white facepaint (my other half face has simple day make-up) and a sponge. I then used a thin brush and black to draw on the shapes around my eye socket and nose. 

When I was happy with these I filled them in with black paint and a brush.

I used a thin brush to create hoops reminiscent of flower petals around the eye. As well as dots underneath, a cobweb on my forehead and teeth lines.

When dry I used a marigold (an important part of The Day of the Dead celebrations) yellow paint to add more under-eye dots and fill in the petals 

Coco Inspired Day of the Dead Nail Art

I created this nail art look on press-on nails for ease but they can be easily recreated on your own nails!

I created 3 different designs inspired by the Pixar film Coco which focuses on the Mexican celebration of Day of the Dead.

The thumb and middle finger featured a skull pattern

The index and ring featured nail caviar

The little finger was inspired by marigolds-an important flower in Day of the Dead celebrations.

I also kept my colour palette to just white, black and yellow as I did with my facepaint.

Skull Nails

• To create the skulls I painted the nails white.
• When dry I used a dotting tool and black to create the nose, mouth and eyes including where I was going to put yellow.
• To avoid smudging you can do this in stages letting it dry in between.
• Once dry I took a smaller dotting tool and dotted yellow on the forehead and around the eyes in my chosen pattern.

Nail Caviar

• The first step is to paint your nails.
• I used black as it is best to do this with a colour that’s in the nail caviar.
• Then shake the nail caviar over the wet polish.
• To help them stick lightly press them in.
• I did this over a tub to catch any spare beads and avoid waste.
• I then sealed them in with a clear polish when dry.

Marigold Nail

• For my little finger I painted it yellow
• Then took some polymer clay flowers and pressed them onto the wet paint.
• Polymer clay flowers can be bought in various shops or online. Either in a cane which you have to slice or pre-sliced in a tub.
• Be careful where you position the flowers if you want the look to have longevity as they can ping off!

There we are my Coco nails-what do you think? Have you created a similar design? Share with us in the comments!