Q&A for How to Make a Plaster Mask

You can get it wet if you put a waterproof sealer on top or use waterproof plaster.

Plaster, petroleum jelly, hot water and patience is all you should really need, unless you want to decorate it.

Don't use clay because it will make the mask heavier. Use papier mâché -- it is light and airy and it is easy to bend.

Vaseline is petroleum jelly, it is just a brand name like Kleenex is a brand name for facial tissue.

Maybe half an hour, as long as you have prepared everything else in advance.

You can just avoid covering those areas with the gauze when applying it to the rest of the face.

Plaster of Paris is dangerous to human skin, so do not use it on your face or someone else's.

Yes, if you bake the clay, you can do the procedure the same from the step of applying Vaseline.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't use modeling clay or a mannequin to do it instead of a person's face.

This should work well as a form for mask making, so long as the plaster gauze is laid down in multiple layers. Going a little further than what's shown in this tutorial on the head, maybe a bit past the ears, or even doing a full head form, will also give you more space to work with. To ensure that your Worbla mask fits snugly to your face, you could use maybe two layers of plaster gauze when making the form initially, and then reinforce it with more from the inside after taking it off your face. This way the gauze won't bulk up the outside and deform the shape of your form's face.

Regular gauze won't set into firm material. If you want to use it, you need something to soak it in first (e.g. plaster powder mixed with water).

Apply the bandage plaster around your eyes, but don't cover them. Then, use your fingers to make the edges smooth and even.

Those are definitely options - they'll each just produce a different effect. A plaster gauze mask will create a piece that fits closely and snugly to the wearer, which may be more useful in certain applications. For many people's needs, though, when just making something for fun or with kids, a balloon may very well be sufficient to start working off of.

As you use something rich in oil or fat, it should be no problem.