Any cosplayer (myself included) knows that when crunch time hits — usually about two weeks before a convention — the adrenaline starts to kick in and we all start to question our skill to its fullest extent. Whether it's that final paint detail, the last few details that need to be hand-sewn, or the final touches on our wig styling, there's no denying it: Cosplay is uber stressful.

It doesn't need to be, though! Using cosplay hacks is a great semi-from-scratch way of creating an incredible cosplay without needing to drive oneself crazy in order to do it. Luckily for all of our cosplayers and fans out there, we've got 30 awesome tips and tricks to (hopefully) help the creative process come a bit smoother. Not everyone is good at sewing, painting, metal-working, crafting, etc., and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. The beautiful thing about cosplay is that any effort is valued and appreciated, even if a costume is bought or commissioned. It's the art and thought behind it that stands out and, in all honesty, any cosplayer who puts on a costume before a convention is a hero in the nerd world.

So check out 30 ways to jazz up any cosplay and, just maybe, make life a bit easier next time inspiration hits.

30 Puff Paint Is Great For Adding Faux Embroidery

Embroidery is not an easy thing to do by any means and it requires skill and patience to get just right. while it might come easy to some people, this isn't always the case for everyone. A neat trick to make a costume appear as though there have been hours of embroidery work put into it is to use puff paint as a base. By outlining the detail in puff paint (fabric-safe, of course,) then sewing around the heightened layer of paint, you can easily create the illusion of authentic embroidery.

29 Mirror Vinyl: Little-Known Trick For Metallic Props

Mirror vinyl might as well be a heaven-sent gift for cosplayers but there are many out there who don't know of its existence. The material has a decent amount of stretch to it and is thin enough to be wrapped over or around props. It's great for things such as armor and weapons and will give the natural, metallic and reflective finish that metal is known for. It doesn't cost that much and can be cut into sections and glued quite easily.

28 Purchase A Second Wig To Give The First More Volume

Wig styling is, personally, the bane of my existence. It's something I've never been able to get quite right and part of the reasoning for that is because wigs don't function as normal hair would. Extra volume is usually needed to create a full and realistic-looking wig, and this can totally be achieved by purchasing a second wig, carefully removing hair from the wig cap, and gluing or stitching extra hair into the original wig. It takes some time and patience, but it's great for bangs, curl details, extra fullness underneath, etc.

27 Sock Glue Fixes Just About Everything

For those with legs like mine, it's likely that you live by sock glue when it comes to any cosplays that require high socks. My particular favorite is Jobst, 'It Stays!' (and it does... for days if you don't wash it off and the stuff is a miracle glue.) It'll hold anything skin-related, including socks, stockings, shirt details, wigs, the list goes on and on. It's one of those things that every cosplayer should have in their cosplay first aid kit, just in case of slippage.

26 Liquid Lipstick Is The Perfect Way To Change Up Eyebrow Color

I do this on the regular because my hair is never a 'normal' color, but it's a fun and creative way for cosplayers to change up their look to be more realistic to a character they're recreating. Liquid lipstick is super cheap nowadays, and all it takes is a thin angled brush to sculpt eyebrows to perfection. A little goes quite a long way with this stuff, though, so start out with a minimal amount. Wet 'n Wild has a great selection of liquid lipstick colors, all for five bucks.

25 Don't Be Afraid To Go The Semi-Homemade Route

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to making cosplays and though some people are against 'bought' costumes, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. In fact, if there's a specific skill you don't have, buying certain aspects of a costume in combination with creating from scratch the things you are great at can really make it stand out. This fifty-fifty with store-bought details as well as hand-made details makes it authentic, cohesive, and, let's admit it, so much easier.

24 Concealing Brows Can Be Tricky, But Here's A Foolproof Method

A glue stick might be something that gives us hardcore flashbacks of grade school but as an adult, they can do so much more... especially when applied to the eyebrows. Layering up some glue stick glue, smoothing it out, and letting it dry a bit gives a cosplayer the perfect base to draw on their own eyebrows. Throw some foundation and/or concealer over the top of a dry glue stick and you've got yourself some custom eyebrows. Change the color, shape, volume, and you've got some makeup to match your awesome outfit.

23 Fabric Dye Helps To Dye Synthetic Wigs

A common problem with wigs is that the color will always be just slightly off. This isn't always the case but if it is, some synthetic fabric dye can totally help the situation. This will obviously only work for synthetic wigs (which most cosplay wigs are) because the dye is formulated to penetrate the material. The one thing to be wary of is that the dye will stain, so it's always good to do a test run and have a backup wig, just in case.

22 Fabric Paint Is Great For Intricate Details

Fabric paint is probably, by far, one of my favorite things as a cosplayer (besides sock glue.) It's incredibly versatile and allows a cosplayer to create details that wouldn't be otherwise achieved with fabric printing or an iron-on design. Fabric paint can also create depth and stand out far more with its vibrancy than any other medium for drawing on details. If you're handy with a paintbrush — or even with a stencil — this is a great option. Plus, it's usually washing machine-safe.

21 Rivets Are Really Just Painted Googly Eyes... Let Us Explain

This is a pretty rad and purely brilliant way to add rivet details to any type of armor. Googly eyes have flat backs so that they can be easily glued down to paper when crafting, but there's no reason they can't be used for cosplay props. Some of them are even self-sticking, which makes the process ten times easier and faster. A little gray or black paint over the top of them (carefully) helps to conceal the 'eyes' and will give them a super realistic metal appearance.

20 Everything Begins With Craft Foam, Even Armor

Craft foam is usually the number one item on any cosplayer's list when it comes to armor or even props. We're quite sure that any company selling EVA foam or thick craft foam makes a fortune off of it when convention time rolls around, and for good reason. This stuff is the best base for anything that needs to be bent (use a heat gun, carefully,) painted, carved into, etc. It holds its shape, can be cut into easily with an Exacto-knife or box cutter, and works well with most craft glues.

19 Use A Yoga Mat For Gauntlets

A yoga mat is great for finding your zen, but it's also a great starting point when it comes to armor details such as gauntlets. Its flexibility lends itself well to being rolled up (and glued) but it can also be cut up to create depth and height when it comes to individual costume detail. On props, it can be used as a way to add extra support or texture to a prop that has a solid base. This is something you can get creative with and for the most part, they can be found pretty cheaply.

18 Thrift Stores Are Cosplay Heaven

Most cosplayers are already aware of what great starting points a thrift store can be but if you haven't checked your local store out yet, what are you waiting for? These stores are a haven for clothes that are just waiting to be altered or cut up, and all for an outrageously low price. Thrift stores are also great for tracking down random odds and ends such as craft materials as well as shoes and jackets, all of which can be added to later on. It's the perfect way to save money for cosplay on a budget.

17 Additionally, Hardware Stores Are A Goldmine

There's not a cosplayer out there who doesn't love finding random gems in the most unobvious location, and the hardware store is usually a gold mine. There's plenty that can be found here for nearly any cosplay detail or prop and all it takes is a little patience and having an open mind. Washers, bolts, PVC, all these things and more can be picked up for cheap and turned into unique additions to any detail-heavy costume. You might even find things such as gloves or boots that can be used or altered.

16 PVC Is The Perfect Base For Any Large Prop

I recently had my first trial run with PVC and I am not a lover of the material. I couldn't imagine using anything else as a sturdy base for a prop and I can't imagine there's too much out there that's sturdy, paintable, and solid for less than three bucks. PVC can be used as a base for things such as wings or headgear as well with a little extra work and TLC. Additionally, it can be cut down to size, providing you with a customizable option as well.

15 Frog Juice: Sounds Weird, Works Like A Charm

Frog Juice is the strangest-sounding laminate but it actually works. For ten bucks, you can easily find this online and it not only provides an exterior shine, but it waterproofs and prevents the gradual fading of any and all props. Frog Juice also protects materials against UV rays, so it's practically a must when it comes to any outdoor photo shoots. For something so cheap, it's great just to have around the house. Plus, it dries in up to 30 minutes, so it's fast, too.

14 Clear Nail Polish Will Halt Rips And Seal A Variety Of Things

If you're cutting it close and frog juice simply isn't an option, clear nail polish is a quick fix. After all, nail polish is basically a laminate, it's just safe for use on skin. Clear polish can help to seal and finish off any minor project and colored paints can also be useful in small detail painting. It won't have the long-term sealing power or UV protection that Frog Juice will provide, but it will work in the short-term. It can also be layered easily and a good tip is to keep the nail polish on-hand for touch-ups.

13 Pantyhose Are Basically Hairnets Waiting To Happen

Most wigs will come with a hairnet but the problem with this is that everyone's head shape is different. Something I've noticed is that the hairnets that tend to come with wigs are somewhat uncomfortable and don't stretch as much as you'd think. By cutting a pair of stockings or fishnets into a short cylinder, you can easily tuck your hair and make do. By adjusting the length a little, you can even have a hairnet that's customized according to the amount of hair you have.

12 Use A Hair Straightener To (Carefully) Iron Hems

It can be a pain to get into tight spaces (such as sleeves) with a regular iron. You also risk burning hems if they're delicate or super thin with an iron, especially if it doesn't have a delicate setting. A mini straightener is a great way to hit all of those spots without throwing too much heat on fabric. It's also a great way to iron-out hems on the go without packing a huge iron, especially when traveling for a convention.

11 Wax Paper Isn't Just For Baking, Use It For Vinyl, Too

By a show of hands, who has tried — and struggled — with sewing vinyl? We thought so. The solution to the vinyl slippage and tough exterior is a little bit of wax paper. The wax paper will grip to the top of the vinyl so it won't be sliding all over the place, and will also serve as a way to hold stitches in place as you go along your happy sewing way. The wax paper can be removed easily later on since it just rips apart from the seam it's been sewed to. Easy!