Advice on headgear

SpookyBlackKat · Post by **SpookyBlackKat** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:06 pm

Without giving away my brainchild just yet...I'm taking ideas for DIY comfortable headgear. The type a kid wears with braces. I'll be in costume for about 12 hours so it will need to be comfortable but easily removable when I eat. Any thoughts or tricks to making this? I can't imagine many people have made their own headgear but I just thought I'd ask...

sheenahellen · Post by **sheenahellen** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:25 pm

A headgear that's made of cardboard will do.

jadewik · Post by **jadewik** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 4:25 pm

Hmm... interesting idea.

I wonder if a large 2" elastic band and/or Velcro strap would work for the "headband" part... and then maybe a sport chin-strap with a snap on it... and somehow attach stationary pieces with metal wire to the "bendy" pieces.

Not exactly sure where to go with this... what it's going to be used for... and exactly what you had in mind, so I can't get more specific than that.

Pumpkin56 · Post by **Pumpkin56** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:34 pm

This is a tricky one. When I googled orthodontic headgear, I got a few different kinds. If what you are looking for is similar to this: (which looks like a torture device to me haha)
http://www.tanos.co.uk/braces/bkb/image ... dgear1.jpg then I would say use something like a few leather or canvas belts that a fastened together in some sort of fashion. The chin strap looks like one you would see on a hockey or football helmet. The piece that goes to the mouth looks similar in shape to a harmonica holder. If you could figure out how to put all of that together, you might have something. If you are going for this kind of headgear: http://www.orthokineticscorp.com/wordpr ... adgear.jpg then again I think it goes back to using some kind of belt around your head with maybe some kind of foam for cushioning. Is this thing actually going in your mouth? Or is it just giving the illusion that it is? If its going in your mouth, you could try using an athletic mouthguard and altering it to fit what you need. From there, using some kind of sturdy wire to go from the head piece to the mouthguard. I still think the harmonica holder would work here as well. It's just a matter of putting it all together...

SpookyBlackKat · Post by **SpookyBlackKat** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 5:51 pm

We had planned on going to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween this year so we were looking for Disney themed costumes to wear. Now I'm not sure if we will be attending so this project is on hold. Though it's still fabulous and if I can find an alternate party to attend, I will wear it there.

OMG! If you just google "braces headgear" you get some really scary results! I'm so thankful I didn't need headgear with my braces when I was younger. Harmonia holder is a great idea! Never thought of that!

Here's my awesome Disney costume inspiration:

Pumpkin56 · Post by **Pumpkin56** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:14 pm

Haha is that the evil child from Finding Nemo?

SpookyBlackKat · Post by **SpookyBlackKat** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:54 pm

YES! I love her. She's really the only "villain" in that movie.

My costume comes complete with a plastic bag of water and a floating fish which be constantly shaken. Of course...

Pumpkin56 · Post by **Pumpkin56** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:23 pm

Thats too funny. If you do it, you have to post pictures!

SpookyBlackKat · Post by **SpookyBlackKat** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:32 pm

Fo sho!!

sheenahellen · Post by **sheenahellen** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:53 pm

Yeah Post Pictures!!!

MacPhantom · Post by **MacPhantom** » Mon Oct 03, 2011 10:58 pm

Mind and bring a rag to mop the drool from your chin which will be inevitable with any sort of costume that keeps your mouth open all evening.

SpookyBlackKat · Post by **SpookyBlackKat** » Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:32 pm

Just in case anyone ever needs to make fake braces, here's how I pulled it off:

Bought a cheap pair of fake teeth and scooped the dental wax from inside the mold.
Heated the wax until clear, then molded them around my top row of teeth.
Wait a few seconds for the wax to cool then pulled downward to remove the wax mold.
I used metal earring backs for the brackets. Glued them directly to the wax mold. (I had to use super glue, nothing else I had on hand would hold.)
Clipped a piece of 22 gauge floral wire from one end of the mold to the other. As I crossed each bracket I pushed the wire into the earring back.
Voila! Custom molded braces which do not interfere with talking or eating and are comfortable to wear.

The head gear is a headband with the same 22 gauge wire connected to each end. The wire was then shaped to come down in front of my ears then run in a half circle in front of my mouth. The headband sits over my ears and on the back of my head.

And without further ado, I present Darla from Finding Nemo:

MakeBelieve · Post by **MakeBelieve** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 2:54 pm

I want to be Darla this year...and I was wondering if you could tell me where you got the sweater? It would be greatly appreciated! :]

Have a great day!

SpookyBlackKat · Post by **SpookyBlackKat** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 5:33 pm

I made it. It's a long sleeve T from Old Navy and an iron on transfer I printed from google.

MakeBelieve · Post by **MakeBelieve** » Sat Sep 29, 2012 8:25 pm

Ok! Thank you very much!! :]

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Advice on headgear

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