Padme Geonosis Arena Outfit Tutorials

[Princess Liz Fett (Liz Welsh)]

Hello all!

I think Padme's geonosis arena outfits is probably one of her most iconic and recognizable costumes. The hair is a bit tricky, so I wanted to make a tutorial on how I did mine

Reference images for Padme's hair:






Since my old hairpiece got frizzy and worn out from trooping in it so often, I decided to redo it this past weekend. I used the same method and same materials, but with new ones because the old ones were worn out.

Materials that I used:
-Medium width hair curler tubes (you can find these at Sally Beauty Supply.) All together, I used 5, but you can certainly use more.
-Kanekalon Jumbo braid. Yaki hair ponies are also great, but this time I bought the Kanakelon because it was cheaper lol.
-Hair ties/rubber bands
-Hair spray
-Super glue and tape
-Scissors
-Bobbi pins (when tying together and onto your hair.)

Steps to making the hair piece:

1. Take out about 4-6 hair curlers. I decided to glue three together, then take another two and glue those together. You will see a plastic piece at the end of the curlers. Cut these out before you glue the curlers together. Use super glue to glue the curlers together (I added tape over the bond just in case the glue ever fails at a troop.) I do not recommend gluing anymore than 3 curlers together, because then it will be more difficult to bend them all in place. That is why I glued 3 curlers together, then glued the remaining 2 curlers together, making two separate pieces.



2. Now you will take out your hair extensions, and tightly coil the hair around the curlers. I left hair remaining at the ends, so you can tie them to the end of the curlers. Then, I left a piece of hair hanging off, and that piece you will carefully wrap around the exposed curler (you can glue this piece around it since it will be difficult to tie it around.) Make sure that there is a small loop of hair left over so that you can bobbi pin the pieces to your hair later. Then, once the hair is tied/glued on, spray it with a strong hair spray to keep it in place.





3. Once the hair is coiled and secured onto the pieces, it is time to now bend them into loop shapes and arrange them in a bun-like effect.



And your hairpiece is complete! (Just remember to occasionally coil the pieces and apply more hairspray on, which is probably what I need to do after the troop last night.)

Applying your hair piece on:

1. Part your hair in the middle.

2.
a. If your hair is short, you can tie it at the nape of the neck and use your hairpiece to cover it.
b. If your hair is long, you can tie your hair in a pony tail at the nape of the neck and use part of it as a bun and other pieces to create additional tiny loops (this is what I do with my hair.)

3. Secure your hair piece onto your hair with bobbi pins, putting the pins between your real hair and the small ends of hair on the curler pieces.

4. Pin any stray pieces of hair securely into the bun.


Here is what my Padme arena hair looks like:





Random photos that I grabbed from our recent troop:







Soon I want to take some better quality photos of the back view. I hope this tutorial is a helpful one!

MTFBWY and Happy New Year!

[Mosi ()]

great tutorial!

[SongofAmazon (Jenna)]

Thanks for sharing Liz! I think I'm going to move this into the tutorial section so that people can find it more easily.
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In planning and progress:
Summer Dreams Padmé, Riyo Chuchi, Havoc Trooper, Amilyn Holdo, Lilac Handmaiden, Saché, TOR Jedi

ALMO | RLGS Web Team | She/Her

[Princess Liz Fett (Liz Welsh)]

Thank you both so much! Thanks Jenna, I should have posted here in the first place!

I need to reduce the frizz on my hairpiece and then post some better quality photos soon

[Dark Queen ()]

can i use Kanekalon jumbo braid for my Leia Endor build? I'm getting a wig but will need extra braid/s... and how many?
thanks
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Marlene
Rebel Brief Leia

[SongofAmazon (Jenna)]

It depends on whether you are using a wig that is already in ponytail form, which will save you from needing to put wefts along the bottom to avoid bald spots, or whether you are just adding to the braids of an already ponytailed wig for how much you will need. If just the braids, one pack should be enough, but if you are also wefting, you may need a second.

Kankalon Jumbo Braid is kinkier than most wig fibers. It works great for extensions, buns, and so on because it is light and has a lot of volume. However, if you are wefting to a wig, you will want to use a silky fiber, to match the fibers on the wig.
_________________


In planning and progress:
Summer Dreams Padmé, Riyo Chuchi, Havoc Trooper, Amilyn Holdo, Lilac Handmaiden, Saché, TOR Jedi

ALMO | RLGS Web Team | She/Her

[Princess Liz Fett (Liz Welsh)]

Jenna is right, I only use these for my Padmé arena hair extensions because they are good for coiling around the tubes.

For Endor Leia's hair, you can use a wig and use the wig's hair to make the braided buns in the back, and probably use some extensions for the braids on top of her head. For braids, I recommend using the hair from Yaki Pony extensions. Those are very sleek and gorgeous, and best of all easy to work with

[Lora Skywalker ()]

Just make sure your wig and extensions match in color. There are often differences in color depending on brand.

I use extensions for the braids for Ceremonial Leia and Ewok Village Leia.
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Nordic Base BMO | DL of Aurora Delegation | CRC | She/Her They/Them

RLGS Detachment website: http://www.senate.rebellegion.com/

[Dark Queen ()]

thanks, that conforms with what my wig lady said. waiting for wig to arrive and then will get extensions to match
_________________
Marlene
Rebel Brief Leia

[SongofAmazon (Jenna)]

To add to this tutorial thread, I found this useful tutorials for the hair style as well. It is a video for if you have long, thick hair yourself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y37uNBxSMoU
_________________


In planning and progress:
Summer Dreams Padmé, Riyo Chuchi, Havoc Trooper, Amilyn Holdo, Lilac Handmaiden, Saché, TOR Jedi

ALMO | RLGS Web Team | She/Her

[SongofAmazon (Jenna)]

Here's a brief walk-through of how to make the pouches from foam and Worbla: https://www.facebook.com/FiremoonCosplay/posts/2322907214589785
_________________


In planning and progress:
Summer Dreams Padmé, Riyo Chuchi, Havoc Trooper, Amilyn Holdo, Lilac Handmaiden, Saché, TOR Jedi

ALMO | RLGS Web Team | She/Her