People about Cosplay...

Fandom.
It’s a way of expressing your love for a particular anime/manga/video game series. You enjoy the world the author created so much that you feel like dressing up as one of the characters. It’s a tribute of sorts.

Escapism.
It’s fun to take a break from your real life and escape into an anime/manga/video game world, even if just for a day at an anime convention. You get to be someone else for a bit.

Attention.
Great cosplayers draw crowds of convention-goers, get their picture taken by lots of photographers and receive lots of compliments. It’s flattering.

Belonging.
When you walk through a convention and see other cosplayers, there’s a sense of belonging to a community of people with shared interests. People make eye contact, smile when they recognize your character, ask to take pictures and are generally pretty friendly.

Craftsmanship.
Some people really enjoy the process of planning and creating the costume. Making armor, sewing, and building weapons can be a fun and rewarding hobby.

It really depends on:

1. The costume. How is it made? How is it put on? How hard/easy is it to wear?
2. The cosplay. What cosplay? What makeup does it require?
3. Individual preference. What works best for you?

There is no 100% rule for this. If it requires body paint, doing that before putting on the costume may be best. If the costume requires going over the head, putting makeup on after the costume is at least halfway on may be better. Same with wigs and other accessories.

I tend to decide on and create my cosplays with makeup/wigs as the last things to put on, not the first. Because for me that is easier. And since I am allergic to body paint, that isn’t a concern. It varies from cosplayer to cosplayer and cosplay to cosplay.

Adding more things to the list:

• Don’t compare yourself to other cosplayers! They probably have a lot more experience than you!
• There’s no shame in buying your cosplay instead of making it yourself! For most first time cosplayers it’s a huge responsibility. There is a lot of time, money, and dedication that is required to make even one cosplay.
• When you go to an anime con for the first time take a friend with you. Not only will you have more fun, it is also a lot safer to play by buddy system rules.
• When traveling to conventions always have a ‘con survival’ bag with you. It should include a water bottle, a notebook/paper and a writing utensil, basically make up for touch ups, and snacks. You can really put anything in your bag that you think you may need.