Q&A for How to Make a Fursuit Head

You could always go with a paper head if you're low on money. I used 1/2 inch foam even though everyone else says to use 1 or 2 inch. If it's your first suit, I'd say you should use 1/2 inch foam and cheap fur you can buy on MoreFurLess, and maybe like one or two pieces of fur from Jo-Ann's. Be careful with Jo-Ann's fur, because it may shed.

There should be holes by the eyes, and if the fursuit has an opened mouth, there should be a hole in the mouth as well.

Depends on the level of detail you intend to put into it - your fursuit is a place to express your creativity, so you can feel free to take as long as you want to make it as detailed as you want or forgo such details in favor of having it done sooner. It's all up to your discretion.

Yes, they do. Fursuits made by professionals have plenty of padding so they are very comfortable to wear.

Detailing eyebrows and noses is the hardest for me. It kind of differs between people based on their skill set.

Yes, you can, it is more work than using hot glue. Hot glue usually works for upholstery foam, because it doesn’t completely absorb into the foam.

That is covered with faux fur like everything else. It’s up to you what it looks like.

It’s normally pretty challenging for someone who doesn’t know their way around a sewing machine and if you don’t have the money for materials.

Nope! It might be more fun to wear a fursuit to a convention, but they're usually not required.

Check out How to Make a Tail for instructions.

You can buy foam from a craft store or supermarket such as Walmart, Target, Michael's, or Joanne's.

There is no age limit to making fursuits. However, if you're making the suit for yourself, wait until you're done growing. That way you can't grow out of your suit.

You can get supplies from a craft store such as Joann's or Michael's. Sometimes you can find them in supermarkets like Walmart and Target as well.

Many fursuits have mesh eyes! From a distance, they look solid, but the wearer can see through them. They work similar to a screen door. You can also create transparent eyes out of material such as plastic.

Usually you would use plastic mesh, buckram mesh, Aida cloth, or some other sort of one-sided see-through material to make the eyes. However, most makers recommend using buckram mesh. This helps you see through the eyes, though there are some fursuiters who leave the eyes as they are (mostly for realistic fursuits rather than cartoony ones).

You can make it will paper, but use thick paper so it is more sturdy. It is cheaper, but more easy to break. Foam is a better choice, but if you don't have that option, paper should be fine. Just be careful.

You can use buckram mesh, aida cloth, or plastic mesh to make the iris and pupil, so you can see out of it. Use craft foam or plastic for the sclera.

No, it can be whatever colour you want. Although, try to get as close to the colour of your fursona as possible.

There are a ton of options you can choose from. If you don't have a specific design in mind, you can use photos to find inspiration and get an idea of exactly what you want. Look at reference photos of your animal to determine its muzzle shape. A cat has a short muzzle, while a wolf or a dog has a long one. Even though your fursuit head will likely be cartoony, it's best to try to get an accurate idea of your animal's appearance to translate it correctly to the foam head. Sketch out your design or save the photo you want to use so you have it handy as you make your fursuit head.

The truth is a quality Fursuit head is going to be a little pricey. But you can save on costs by making it yourself. The materials, such as foam, duct tape, plastic wrap, hot glue, and fur will be cheaper than buying a pre-made version. However, if you aren't crafty, it could be difficult to pull off a good-looking Fursuit head. So the more convenient option is to buy one that's already been made. You can also be sure it looks good because you'll be able to see it before you buy it.

If you want to make a quality Fursuit head, you'll want to have a few quality materials. Wrap 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick foam around your head to get a sense of how wide the mold will be. Take the sides of the foam and glue them together with a hot glue gun to create a tube. To make the ears, you'll need to cut out conical foam shapes. You can make the muzzle by folding a piece of foam in half and indenting the front. Then, you'll need to wrap the head in plastic wrap and cover it with duct tape. To finish the head, you'll need enough fur to cut into strips and fit into place.

Foam is probably the easiest method. You could use resin or paper mache or even 3D printing but these are all more complicated. Don’t use cardboard though, as it isn’t safe for fursuits.

Pre-made fursuits can be found in various places. Depending on the maker, you can buy from an auction site or get them directly from a maker’s social media page or store. You can also find them at furry conventions, if you happen to attend one. Also eBay may have options of premade fursuits.

You can make a fursuit head out of pretty much anything! Your creativity is what matters most.

Fursuits are usually expensive. For the entire fursuit and all parts, a fursuit will be around $200 - $5000,depending on the detail you put into it.

Machine washable heads can be tricky, but you are able to make them. If the head is only foam, you should be fine. Make sure there are no airbrush marks either as those will come off easily. The eyes can be very tricky, but I recommend acrylic paint. Make sure you don’t add electronics like fans, LEDS, or anything like that. And always put the washing machine to cold and delicate as normal setting will destroy the head entirely.

The type of stitch totally depends on what your stitching. If it’s an area in the head that will have a lot of tug in it (like the neck), then the ladder stitch is a good choice. When I make my head I use this stitch a lot because it’s not sloppy and is very durable!

If you are getting fur for about $24 a yard, and foam for about the same price, with everything else in between, then about 200 at the least and 400 maximum for a full body if you are making it yourself. This is cheaper than a commissioned professional fursuit by a maker.