Bald Heads Male: Painting Skin Tones & Faces

Quick answer

Paint realistic skin tones on Bald Heads Male x10 by layering a base coat, shading recesses, and adding highlights to the scalp and face.

Step-by-step painting guide

1. Prime and base coat: Apply a thin layer of primer (gray or white) to the head. Once dry, paint an even base coat using a mid-tone flesh color. Avoid thick paint that fills in the facial details. Check that the primer is fully cured before adding the base coat to prevent tackiness.
2. Shade the recesses: Mix a darker shade of your base color (add a drop of brown or purple) and apply it to the eye sockets, under the nose, and along the jawline. Use a fine brush or wash consistency to let the shade flow into the crevices. Wipe excess wash from the brush to avoid pooling on flat areas.
3. Highlight the scalp and brow: Mix a lighter shade (add a drop of ivory or pale yellow) and dry-brush it onto the top of the scalp, cheekbones, and brow ridge. This creates the illusion of light hitting the bald surface. Keep the brush nearly dry to avoid leaving streaks; build up highlights slowly.
4. Paint the eyes: Paint the eye area with white or off-white, then add a small dot of dark brown or black for the pupil. Keep the pupil centered and small to avoid a surprised expression. If the pupil is too large, repaint the white area and try again with a finer dot.
5. Define the lips and ears: Use a slightly pinker tone for the lips and a thin line of dark brown for the mouth line. For ears, apply a tiny dot of the recess shade to the inner ear. Less is more—overpainting lips can make the face look cartoonish.
6. Seal with matte varnish: Once the paint is dry, apply a thin coat of matte varnish to protect the finish and reduce shine on the bald scalp. Shake the varnish well before use. Test the varnish on a spare head first if you are unsure about the finish.

Product facts

• Bald Heads Male x10: Includes 10 unique male heads sculpted by Victoria Lamb, suitable for 30mm heroic scale miniatures. The variety lets you practice different facial proportions and skin tone variations across a single set.