Stage Blood
First ask yourself what you are trying to achieve?
What does your blood need to do?
Does it go in a body orifice, such as the mouth or eyes?
Does it get on clothing and need to be washed out?
How long is the actor on stage wearing the blood?
Does it need to congeal?
Research
 Reference real images of blood or gore while you are talking to the director,
designer or making it yourself.
Experiment
 Mix and create until you get the desired effect.
 The lights on stage will change the way your blood looks.
Store Bought
The most washable of all bloods is REEL brand, available at: www.makeupmania.com
It comes in different recipes:
 Aged $120 a gallon
 Original $90 a gallon
 Thick $55 for 16 ounces
 Thick Old Dried $55 for 16 ounces
BEN NYE: Stage Blood, 32 ounces for $32.95. Flows very well. Color is deep and
shows up well on video or film. It is a little too dark for black actors. Moderately
washable. Bonus: edible and mint flavored. Also available in Thick Blood (excellent) and
Dried Scab (browner and older looking). They make a dried blood powder. It is a very
economical way to go…you can splash it all around or stain clothes with it…designed to
simulate horrific crash scenes in emergency training exercises.
KRYOLAN: They make excellent products. They have blood that dries to the touch
(great for clothes) and Eye Blood (cry tears of blood), they have many more
products…check them out.
MEHRON: The worst on the market...too light, too runny, looks like watery, strawberry
pancake syrup. Don’t waste your time.
OTHERS: Most of the others are junk…most are made in off shore labs and repackaged
here in the US. Most contain fillers and don’t look real at all…drug store kiddie
Halloween quality.
Costume Crafts: Dying and Distressing 2010
SOU—Ashland Center for Theatre Studies
Blood Recipes: Making fake blood is like cooking; everyone has his or her own recipe.
Basic Blood (HAS A GOOD CHANCE OF WASHING OUT.) To further protect
clothing spray with Scotch Guard.
2/3 cup corn syrup (Karo)
1/3 cup detergent
 No tears baby shampoo is good if blood gets in the eyes
(Johnson&Johnson No More Tears)
 Liquid color-safe bleach
 Dish washing detergent (green colored might be useful
 Simple Green brand household cleaner
3-5 teaspoons of red food coloring
 Children’s non-toxic WASHABLE poster paint can also be used
2-3 drops of green as needed
TO THICKEN ADD
 Cornstatch, about 5 tablespoons
 Clear unflavored gelitan (will clot over time)
 Chocolate pudding (will clot over time)
 Creamy peanut butter (the protein will make it easier to wash out)
TO CLOT OR CONGEAL ADD
 KY Gelly
 Clear unflavored gelitan
 Chocolate pudding
 Alcohol products (vodka or rubbing alcohol)
TO ADD SHEEN
 A few drops of mineral oil or glycerian on top
Edible
Mint Blood (THIS WILL STAIN CLOTHING)
2/3 cup corn syrup
1/3 cup water
5 tablespoons corn starch
3-5 teaspoons red food coloring
2-3 drops green food coloring
1 drop peppermint extract, if desired
Mix the cornstarch thoroughly with the water. Add the corn syrup. Mix well. Add red
food coloring into the mixture, using only 3 teaspoons at first. Then, add a couple drops
of green food coloring to take the ‘pink’ edge off the red coloring. If the mixture is too
light, add one or two teaspoons more red food coloring. Add an extra drop of green food
coloring if the mixture gets too pink again (real blood is slightly on the dark red to
reddish brown side, when it’s not fresh from the heart). Add one drop of peppermint
extract if you wish a fresh minty blood mixture.
Costume Crafts: Dying and Distressing 2010
SOU—Ashland Center for Theatre Studies
Chocolate Blood (THIS WILL STAIN CLOTHING)
Good for handkerchiefs and bloody prop shirts
½ cup water
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
3 or 4 tablespoons corn syrup
½ to 1 teaspoon red food coloring
2 drops yellow or green food coloring (optional)
Mix the cocoa powder thoroughly with hot water. Add the rest of the ingredients. Blend
well, and then wait for it to settle a bit. Skim the bubbles and chocolate scum off the top.
The longer it sits, the more the cocoa tends to settle to the bottom, which oddly mimics
the effect of real blood separating.
If you splatter this mixture onto a cloth, it makes neat two-part marks that dry into pretty
convincing bloodstains. If you let it run from a victim’s mouth and then let it dry, the
blood darkens and cakes to thee skin in much the same way real blood does.
Painted Blood
Acrylic paint with fabric medium is a good way to go. Experiment with color, there is
always a little blue paint to your red. You can add some mineral oil on top to add shine
for a fresh look.
Gore
A good dried gore can be made with boiled macaroni pasta. Sculpt or coat and paint.
White glue would work well.
Costume Crafts: Dying and Distressing 2010
SOU—Ashland Center for Theatre Studies