Q&A for How to Fake a Headache

First, you want to focus on recalling how it feels like to actually experience one, even if you don’t have it in the moment. Think back to a time when your head was really pounding—maybe from fever, stress, dehydration, or a bad cold. Tap into that physical memory so you can bring it forward in your performance. Start with subtle body language. Imagine the pressure building behind your eyes or your temples. Let that naturally affect how you move—maybe you squint, rub your temples, or close your eyes for a second. Slow your movements a bit, like each step takes just a little more effort. Keep your shoulders a little tight, almost like you’re carrying the weight of the pain. If your character needs to speak, try softening your voice slightly, as if talking too loud would only make things worse. The key is to keep it realistic, remember that less is more. Overacting can make it feel forced, so let it be organic, like the headache is just part of your character’s day. You want the audience to believe that you’re not just pretending to have a headache and you’re actually experiencing it.

Some migraines can last for days at a time, but three days is pushing it. 48 hours (or two days) would be more reasonable.

You can get headaches for dehydration, not eating the right food, loud noises, or bright lights.

Yes. This is called a migraine. A migraine is basically just a really bad headache that lasts for anywhere from 4-72 hours.

Yes, that's believable. You might also nudge the conversation toward a close by saying that you're head is killing you and you need to lay down.

Roll or strain your eyes as much as you can, eventually you will get eyesores, and then you will get a headache.

There are lots of reasons people get headaches. Dehydration and vision issues are common causes, as is stress.

Start to show that you are starting to feel better, but then complain about a headache. No one questions that. If they want you to take a pill, pretend you swallowed it but really hold it in the back of your cheek.

Just tell the teacher/nurse that your head hurts, and try to squint like the light is making it worse. Tell them you're having trouble concentrating in class because of the pain.

Drink something extremely cold (like a slushie) quickly. If you want to get rid of it, press your tongue flat against the roof of your mouth.

Stay up a few hours later than usual the night before, this usually does the trick.

If you're a female that normally wears makeup, avoid wearing makeup that day.

A headache is among both the most common illnesses and the most difficult to verify. Even if hooked up to diagnostic equipment, if you say you have a headache, there's not really a way to prove that you don't. Even a doctor can't truly prove that you don't have one. However, they are not only very well trained in being a doctors and doing medical stuff, they also have very keen psychological skills. They can sense who's faking it and who's not, and moreover, they have loads of experience.

Tell them you're a danger to yourself or others. Then you'll be admitted for 3 days and wheeled away in a straight jacket.

You could use some dark eyeshadow under your eyes.

Do not use the makeup method then, just follow all the other ways of faking a headache. It would be ironic if you used the makeup and actually got a headache from the makeup, so just don't use it!

No. In fact, you should act like you've lost your appetite because your head hurts so bad.