Mehron SILICONE Twi'lek Headpieces - Medium Length
This listing is for pre-colored silicone headpieces in the medium length. They are made to match the Mehron Paradise brand of body paint. Mehron Paradise is a water based body paint that comes in a dry compact that is ideal for sponge or brush application. Like most water based paints, Mehron Paradise paint can be rubbed off during wear, so a body paint sealant should be used to help the application last longer.
These are the colors that I have samples for so far:
#1 - Mauve
#2 - Light Pink
#3 - Light Blue
#4 - Light Green
#5 - Lime (Please Note: Lime silicone pigments are mostly yellow, which is very translucent, so it is difficult to make an opaque headpiece in this color. I use as much pigment as the silicone can tolerate, but lime lekku usually have slightly transparent areas and you can often see a color difference where the inside of the lekku transitions from the pillow stuffing to the expanding foam to the person's head. The density of yellow pigment also tends to make lime headpieces slightly stiffer and heavier than other colors.)
#6 - Violet (This a very, VERY dark color. While I can make the silicone match this color, please be advised that people have told me that it does NOT photograph well when they took costume pictures. I have heard complaints that their face just looks like a purple-black blur with eyes in many of their pictures.)
#7 - Teal
#8 - Red (This is a very dark, very brownish red. If you want a brighter Mehron red, I recommend the Beach Berry.)
#9 - Amazon Green
#10 - Purple
#11 - Storm Cloud
#12 - White
#13 - Mango
#14 - Beach Berry
#15 - Coral
#16 - Light Brown
#17 - Orange (Please Note: Orange pigments are mostly yellow with a very small amount of red mixed in, so they often have the same translucency issues that are found with yellow pigments.)
#18 - Yellow (Please Note: yellow silicone pigments are very translucent, so it is difficult to make an opaque headpiece in this color. I use as much pigment as the silicone can tolerate, but yellow lekku usually have slightly transparent areas and you can often see a color difference where the inside of the lekku transitions from the pillow stuffing to the expanding foam to the person's head. The density of yellow pigment also tends to make yellow headpieces slightly stiffer and heavier than other colors.)
#19 - Dark Pink
#20 - Sky
#21 - Olive
#22 - Foxy
#23 - Felou (Felou is an orange tinted flesh tone which has been popular for Madame Garsa Fwip costumers.)
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Please Note: I do not sell Mehron body paint. I included a paint cake in each picture to show that the lekku were made to match that color, and to help people see which brand/color of paint to buy if they want to match the color of the lekku. A cake of paint is NOT included with each headpiece.
I do my best to match the silicone to each body paint color as closely as possible. I cannot guarantee a perfect match, but I will always try to get the colors as close as I can!
Shipping Time:
Every lekku headpiece is made to order, and will be cast, stuffed, and shipped as quickly as possible. The final shipping time will depend on how many orders I have in my work queue, and how complicated the designs are. Please be patient, and know that I'm always casting and shipping as fast as I can!
My Order Spreadsheet:
I have a Google spreadsheet where I keep a list of my current orders. It only shows each person's name and what style of headpiece they ordered, but it lets everyone know how many orders I have at any given time and they can watch their names move up to the top of the list as I ship out headpieces. I also post occasional notes and updates at the top of the spreadsheet. If you would like to see the spreadsheet, you can find it here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12ugjiqRntBPM5Ue8DflZravJT7kmnhdqrkMJJbRcR44/edit?usp=sharing
Ear Cones:
Each female headpiece comes with one pair of ear cones. If you wish to order extra pairs of ear cones, you can find them in the Twi'lek Accessories section of my store. If you are going to use multiple head wraps for your Twi'lek costumes, it helps to have an extra pair of ear cones for each wrap! Male Twi'leks have human style ears, so I do not include ear cones with male headpieces.
A Note on Painting Silicone:
Silicone is more challenging to paint than other materials. Unlike latex headpieces, you can't paint silicone with the same body paint that you use on yourself. Please read the tutorial for painting silicone in the Tutorials section of my store if you want to add spots, tattoos, or change the color of your lekku!
Head Size:
Silicone headpieces are only made in a small size because silicone will stretch to fit.
Length and Flexibility:
These lekku are 27 inches in length when cast. They stretch a couple inches longer to approximately 29 inches when they're stuffed, and may get a little bit longer when worn since the silicone can stretch a bit under its own weight. These longer lekku are very flexible and will sway considerably as you move. Silicone lekku are really, really wiggly!
Durability:
Unlike latex which can crack after a while, silicone lasts a long time. My oldest silicone headpiece is nine years old, and it is still in perfect shape. Silicone is prone to tearing under some conditions, however, so you must be careful not to create a weakened point where a rip might get started. When trimming away excess silicone around the head opening, make sure to cut a straight line with your scissors. If you leave a jagged edge, that point can begin to tear. Cut a smooth, even line and it shouldn't be a problem!
Stuffing:
The lekku are filled with pillow stuffing. I reinforce the top curves with a soft expanding foam which preserves the shape of the curve and holds the pillow stuffing in place.
Weight:
These lekku average between 1.4 and 1.7 pounds. The weight varies because I can't always use the exact same amount of silicone, stuffing, and expanding foam.
Static:
Silicone is prone to building up a static charge. It's not a huge problem, just keep in mind that pillow stuffing fibers, loose bristles from paint brushes, and bits of hair will inevitably be found stuck to your headpiece. For the extra wiggle of silicone, though.... it's worth it. To reduce a static buildup, rub baby powder into the silicone with a cloth, and then wipe off the extra powder. It will cut down the static charge and reduce the silicone shine to give your lekku a more natural look.
Glue:
Nothing sticks to silicone! If you want to attach a decoration permanently to the lekku, most glues won't work. Instead, you must use a dab of silicone or a silicone adhesive. I recommend Sil-Poxy, which is sold by Smooth-On. If the foam stuffing won't stay in the lekku you can use Sil-Poxy to glue it into place, and if the silicone ever develops a tear you can use Sil-Poxy to apply a patch.
Photographs:
The photos shown in this sale are examples. The lekku I ship will be cast from the same mold and will look identical save for any natural variations in the silicone and stuffing. Please remember that colors can vary widely on different monitors. They may look lighter or darker, or appear to have different shades from one screen to the next. If you want to be sure that a color is exactly what you want, I advise getting a sample of the paint to test before you purchase a headpiece in that color.
I would be happy to help with any Twi'lek costuming questions, so please feel free to ask. Twi'lek costumes are a lot of work, especially since you have to do the body paint every time you wear them if you want to be an exotic color... but it's definitely worth the effort. It's really fun! People often stop you for a picture, and I have a good laugh every time somebody asks, "Can I touch your tentacles?" Good times!
