A fake beard might not look authentic in real life, but it can be a great disguise for a YouTube or TikTok video. While you can use many materials to create this special effect, coffee grounds are among the most inexpensive and readily available options. Keep reading as we provide a step-by-step guide to making a fake beard with coffee grounds and a few other ingredients that you likely already have in your home.
Before You Begin
We highly recommend getting everything together before you start your project, so you do not need to stop until you finish. You need coffee grounds, honey, and a soft-bristled paintbrush to create a fake beard.
- Honey
- Coffee grounds
- Soft-bristled paint brush
- Mild face cleanser
- Clean cloth
1. Clean Your Face
The first step is to use a mild cleanser and warm water to scrub your face to remove contaminants like dirt, oil, and old makeup. Once clean, allow it to dry completely before moving to the next step.
2. Apply the Adhesive
Dip your soft-bristled paintbrush in the honey, and use it to apply a thin film of adhesive over the bottom portion of your face and cheeks along the jawline. The brush will enable you to be more accurate and will help keep you from using too much honey. Take your time to get a good online of where the beard will be.
3. Apply the Coffee Grounds
With the adhesive in place, it’s time to add the coffee grounds. Hold small amounts in your hand, and gently dab them on your face. The grounds should stick to the adhesive and remain on your face after you take your hand away. If they don’t stick, you may need to add more adhesive.
4. Touch It Up
You can gently dab the coffee grounds with a paper towel or soft, clean cloth to help smooth them out and make them appear more natural. A wet paper towel or cloth can also help you remove unwanted ground. However, pushing the coffee around too much can cause it to clump and look unnatural.
5. Clean Up
Once you finish your video or whatever task you needed to have a fake beard for, you can clean your face. If you only do it once, you can wash it off in the sink, but know that coffee grounds can stick to the inside of a pipe, potentially leading to a clog. So, if this is a regular project, we recommend wiping the grounds off your face with a cloth and putting them into a pail of water that you can spread over your garden.
Coffee Ground Beard Alternatives
Adhesive Application
We recommend using a large soft-bristled brush to spread the honey over your face, as it will help you make clean lines. However, you can use your finger, a butter knife, or another tool, but remember to keep the adhesive layer thin.
Adhesive Alternatives
We recommend using honey as the adhesive because it’s good for your skin and is easy to remove. However, you can also use corn syrup, vegetable oil, or petroleum jelly as adhesives to create a successful fake beard.
Coffee Alternatives
You wouldn’t want to use expensive coffee for this project. Any cheap brand will do; you only need one cup or less. You can even recycle used grounds, but you must dry them out first in the sunlight or the oven set at a low temperature.
Ground Fineness
Any pre-ground coffee that you find in the store will work great. However, if you have a grinder, you will find that a finer grind will stick to your face easier, while something coarser will look more natural up close, so choose what works best for your project.
Summary
Creating a fake beard using coffee grounds may not be the best option if you’re going to a party or need to stay in costume for a long time. However, it’s great when you need something fast that doesn’t cost much, and the process uses items that you can find around your home. The honey adhesive will also leave your skin feeling smooth and soft.
Featured Image Credit: Goami, Shutterstock
