Franklin’s Journal Presents: How to Make Your Own Latex Catsuit…

…in just a few easy steps.

Things you will need:
One half-naked chick
Liquid latex
Foam brushes
One drop cloth
One Unitard
Saran wrap
Silicone-based sex lube (ID Millennium works well)

The first thing you’ll want to do spread out the drop cloth. In fact, it’s remarkable how many things one can do on a Saturday afternoon that start with "The first thing you’ll want to do spread out the drop cloth"…but I digress.

Stand the half-naked chick on the drop cloth and wrap saran wrap around all her underthings.
This accomplishes two things. First, it’s a lot of fun; in fact, it’s difficult to overstate how much fun you can have with a roll of saran wrap and a half-naked chick. Indeed, if the chick is completely naked rather than half-naked, it’s about twenty-two percent more fun than most people can handle…but again, I digress.
Second, it protects the underthings from latex that soaks through the unitard. Believe me, latex WILL soak through the unitard

The reason for the saran wrap is that you’ll have to paint the unitard while it’s on the half-naked chick. You’ll want to make sure it’s made of Spandex or something equally stretchy; cotton, not so good. So:

Put the unitard on the half-naked chick. Technically, at this point, she is no longer half-naked, more’s the pity. The cat in the background is strictly optional, and will disappear quickly anyway; cats don’t much appreciate the smell of liquid latex.
You’ll probably go through two or three 16-oz containers of liquid latex to cover one unitard.

Now it’s time to get busy. Grab a brush and start painting!

Use the foam brushes to start painting the liquid latex on the unitard. You’ll note that the back door is open in this photograph; that’s because you won’t much appreciate the smell of liquid latex, either.
A number of thin coats is better than one thick coat. You’ll go through a lot of foam brushes; when the latex starts to cure in the brush, it has a habit of leaving streaks. Don’t even bother trying to wash out the foam brushes. I tried it, and you don’t want to go down that road. When they start getting rubbery, throw ’em away and use a new one.
You’ll want to keep the lid on the container of liquid latex when you’re not actually sticking the brush in it, too. If you don’t, the latex starts curing in the container, and that can only end in tears.

When you’re done with the first coat, you’ll have to wait for the latex to cure.

Liquid latex takes about half an hour or so to cure. During this time, it will stick to itself aggressively, so care must be taken to make sure that the formerly half-naked chick wearing the unitard doesn’t let any part of herself touch any other part of herself. That means arms and legs apart, which is always good.
If you want to take pity on your formerly half naked chick, a hair dryer speeds up the curing process significantly. Or, you can just watch The Matrix: Revolutions while it’s drying.
"Mister Anderson, welcome back. We missed you!"

Or:

…you can do both.
Why, Mr. Anderson? Why? Why, why do you do it? Why, why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you’re fighting for something, for more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is, do you even know? Is it freedom, or truth, perhaps peace, could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson! Vagaries of perception. Temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or purpose! And all of them as artificial as the Matrix itself, although only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love. You must be able to see it Mr. Anderson, you must know it by now. You can’t win, it’s pointless to keep fighting! Why, Mr. Anderson, why? Why do you persist?

At this point, you may discover that you’ve made the same tactical error that we did. You see, no matter how careful you are, you’re probably going to miss some spots with your first coat.

Now, if you’re more clever than I, you’ll use a unitard that isn’t the same color as the liquid latex you’re using. That way, it’ll be easy to find the places you missed.
Then onto another coat, and more foam brushes. You may find that it’s necessary to lie on your back to get some of the bits.

Now it’s time for the silicone lube…and no, it’s not what you think. Even after it’s cured, latex has a certain…affinity for itself. Which means that it’ll stick to itself tenaciously when you pull off the unitard, and you’re not likely to be able to unstick it.

The solution is to rub down the half-naked chick with the silicone lube. It keeps the latex from sticking to itself…

The silicone also makes the latex nice and shiny.
Mmmm, shiny.

At this point, you’re nearly done. Remove the unitard, returning the chick to half-naked status. At this point, you’ll be glad of the Saran wrap, believe me. You may also have to peel the unitard off bit by bit, as latex is almost as tenacious at sticking to flesh as it is at sticking to itself.

Then comes…

…final touch-up. The edges of the collar and the wrists and ankles will probably need a bit of touching up, and if you did what we did and used a unitard the same color as your latex, you might find other spots as well.

78 thoughts on “Franklin’s Journal Presents: How to Make Your Own Latex Catsuit…

    • Heh. Y’know, funny thing is, when I use words like “chick” (and write entries like this), to me they’re so obviously over the top that nobody could ever take them seriously. The tone is deliberately intended to be tongue firmly in cheek, but I’m told that no, it’s not obviously satirical at all.

      In fact, it sometimes surprises me when I’ll say something that’s so obviously over the top as “stand the half-naked chick on the drop cloth and wrap saran wrap around all her underthings” and have people seriously believe that I look at women in a possessive or derogatory way, but I guess there are enough people who do really behave that way that it doesn’t come across as satirical at all. *sigh*

      And now I’m processing at you about it. Hmm. 🙂

      • For whatever it might be worth, I didn’t pick up sarcasm, but I did pick up, um, satire, maybe? Or meta? Anyway, I didn’t perceive “half-naked chick” as derogatory or demeaning in this context.

        • Ditto.
          I mean, gawd, if you’re cooperating to hand-make a latex unitard, how much do you really need to worry about being PC?

          Half naked chicks are a good thing. Sayeth a chick, who prefers the half-naked state on self and others, except for when completely-naked and/or formerly-half-naked.

  1. Heh. Y’know, funny thing is, when I use words like “chick” (and write entries like this), to me they’re so obviously over the top that nobody could ever take them seriously. The tone is deliberately intended to be tongue firmly in cheek, but I’m told that no, it’s not obviously satirical at all.

    In fact, it sometimes surprises me when I’ll say something that’s so obviously over the top as “stand the half-naked chick on the drop cloth and wrap saran wrap around all her underthings” and have people seriously believe that I look at women in a possessive or derogatory way, but I guess there are enough people who do really behave that way that it doesn’t come across as satirical at all. *sigh*

    And now I’m processing at you about it. Hmm. 🙂

  2. For whatever it might be worth, I didn’t pick up sarcasm, but I did pick up, um, satire, maybe? Or meta? Anyway, I didn’t perceive “half-naked chick” as derogatory or demeaning in this context.

  3. Looks like you guys did a fabulous job. I can’t wait to see the finished product in person.

    One note that the fabric pedant in me can’t help but make:

    “You’ll want to make sure it’s made of Spandex or something equally stretchy; cotton, not so good.”

    Her suit is either nylon or cotton (possibly polyester) with some amount of spandex blended in. You don’t actually need much spandex to make fabric extremely stretchy, and really it’s the weave – that is, the fact that it’s a knit rather than a woven – that gives it most of the stretch.

    How many coats did you use?

  4. Looks like you guys did a fabulous job. I can’t wait to see the finished product in person.

    One note that the fabric pedant in me can’t help but make:

    “You’ll want to make sure it’s made of Spandex or something equally stretchy; cotton, not so good.”

    Her suit is either nylon or cotton (possibly polyester) with some amount of spandex blended in. You don’t actually need much spandex to make fabric extremely stretchy, and really it’s the weave – that is, the fact that it’s a knit rather than a woven – that gives it most of the stretch.

    How many coats did you use?

  5. Ditto.
    I mean, gawd, if you’re cooperating to hand-make a latex unitard, how much do you really need to worry about being PC?

    Half naked chicks are a good thing. Sayeth a chick, who prefers the half-naked state on self and others, except for when completely-naked and/or formerly-half-naked.

  6. Copyeditor mode:

    couple of typos you might want to look for before you post it live on your site.

    flow. monitor your partner = capitalize the M.
    you’ll probably find tht = forgot the “a”. This one is characteristic of you 😉

    “Americans have bad knees.) = end quotes

    What’s te point of = forgot the “h”

    Otherwise, love it! It’s a very well-laid out site with clear explanations and the pictures really illustrate the points.

  7. Copyeditor mode:

    couple of typos you might want to look for before you post it live on your site.

    flow. monitor your partner = capitalize the M.
    you’ll probably find tht = forgot the “a”. This one is characteristic of you 😉

    “Americans have bad knees.) = end quotes

    What’s te point of = forgot the “h”

    Otherwise, love it! It’s a very well-laid out site with clear explanations and the pictures really illustrate the points.

    • Re: that “chick” in the catsuit

      Sorry, I don’t post my email address publicly on the internet, but you can reply to me here. Why do you need my email address?

  8. Saw this via OkCupid — good stuff.

    One thing I tried was using a real knife that I’d taken the edge & point off (using a grinder). So, it looked & felt real — still enough of an edge to feel like a cold & narrow knife blade, but blunt enough that there was no real risk of a cut or stab, even deliberately.

    No good for cutting through clothing, of course — but one could always pick up 2 identical knives, blunt one, keep the other sharp, and do a switch at some point (similar to what one of the other commenters suggested).

  9. Saw this via OkCupid — good stuff.

    One thing I tried was using a real knife that I’d taken the edge & point off (using a grinder). So, it looked & felt real — still enough of an edge to feel like a cold & narrow knife blade, but blunt enough that there was no real risk of a cut or stab, even deliberately.

    No good for cutting through clothing, of course — but one could always pick up 2 identical knives, blunt one, keep the other sharp, and do a switch at some point (similar to what one of the other commenters suggested).

  10. Keeping the latex conditioned with a silicone-based lubricant helps make it easier to take on and off, in addition to preventing it from sticking to itself, but it’s still some work to get on and off.

    Work that’s fun to watch and even more fun to help with. 🙂

  11. Keeping the latex conditioned with a silicone-based lubricant helps make it easier to take on and off, in addition to preventing it from sticking to itself, but it’s still some work to get on and off.

    Work that’s fun to watch and even more fun to help with. 🙂

  12. This is awesome. I hope L has a journal here, because it would be a shame for her to miss such a complimentary post. One day, I hope to have someone write something as wonderful about me. 🙂

  13. This is awesome. I hope L has a journal here, because it would be a shame for her to miss such a complimentary post. One day, I hope to have someone write something as wonderful about me. 🙂

  14. I heard we’d missed something rather impressive when we went off to have dinner with our Seattle friends, but… wow. I find the lack of sympathy from the observers somewhat understandable. *grin*

    Speaking of things that were missed, did you mention the lipstick marks on the lampshade at any point in your description of our ever-so-memorable accommodation?

  15. I heard we’d missed something rather impressive when we went off to have dinner with our Seattle friends, but… wow. I find the lack of sympathy from the observers somewhat understandable. *grin*

    Speaking of things that were missed, did you mention the lipstick marks on the lampshade at any point in your description of our ever-so-memorable accommodation?

  16. Re: Zippers?

    I am careful to paint as close to, but not directly on, the zipper as possible, but since zippers are made of non-porous materials, it doesn’t matter. If you get any latex in the teeth, just pull it out. Most of my costumes use hidden zippers so I have to paint the fabric over the zipper that’s hiding it.

    that’s if the outfit that you’re latexing comes pre-equipped with a zipper. Occasionally I make the fabric part myself and I will need to include a zipper, but I won’t add the zipper until after it’s painted. If the material is really stretchy, it won’t hold its shape or stay on the body without being fastened in some way.

    So, for instance, when I make boots, the material I’m using is usually a pair of dance tights, which pull on without zippers. If I try to cut them and add a zipper, the material is too stretchy to sew properly. So I’ll pull them on, latex them, then cut out the zipper opening after it’s dry, then add the zipper by hand.

    But if the outfit is already constructed with the zipper in place, don’t worry about it, just paint carefully and peel off the excess when it’s dry. Use a craft knife to separate the latex you’re removing from the latex you want to stay on so that you don’t accidentally pull out some of the latex from the fabric.

  17. Re: Zippers?

    I am careful to paint as close to, but not directly on, the zipper as possible, but since zippers are made of non-porous materials, it doesn’t matter. If you get any latex in the teeth, just pull it out. Most of my costumes use hidden zippers so I have to paint the fabric over the zipper that’s hiding it.

    that’s if the outfit that you’re latexing comes pre-equipped with a zipper. Occasionally I make the fabric part myself and I will need to include a zipper, but I won’t add the zipper until after it’s painted. If the material is really stretchy, it won’t hold its shape or stay on the body without being fastened in some way.

    So, for instance, when I make boots, the material I’m using is usually a pair of dance tights, which pull on without zippers. If I try to cut them and add a zipper, the material is too stretchy to sew properly. So I’ll pull them on, latex them, then cut out the zipper opening after it’s dry, then add the zipper by hand.

    But if the outfit is already constructed with the zipper in place, don’t worry about it, just paint carefully and peel off the excess when it’s dry. Use a craft knife to separate the latex you’re removing from the latex you want to stay on so that you don’t accidentally pull out some of the latex from the fabric.

  18. Re: that “chick” in the catsuit

    Sorry, I don’t post my email address publicly on the internet, but you can reply to me here. Why do you need my email address?

  19. Thanks for this. I had only one rule for my partner and it concerned a specific sexual activity. After reading this and thinking on it for a while and discussing with him I’ve rescinded it as a “rule” and just asked that when if or when it comes up with another partner that he please remember that it will be hard for me and that I will probably feel the need for some extra reassurance. It feels a little terrifying, having the rule there provided me with no small amount of reassurance … but hey … direction of greatest courage, right?

  20. Thanks for this. I had only one rule for my partner and it concerned a specific sexual activity. After reading this and thinking on it for a while and discussing with him I’ve rescinded it as a “rule” and just asked that when if or when it comes up with another partner that he please remember that it will be hard for me and that I will probably feel the need for some extra reassurance. It feels a little terrifying, having the rule there provided me with no small amount of reassurance … but hey … direction of greatest courage, right?

  21. bubbles?

    hello i just tried this method on a lycra catsuit, but when is dried i had what looks like tiny bubbles, so the finish is not a smooth one like yours.. i used sponge brushes and throw them away when they got too bad, i used a hair dryer to help with speed the process and i used brand x liquid latex in black.. so yeah it looks like a bunch of tiny beads in the finish.. do you have any advice for me.. can i upload a photo here? if you need one.. thanks for any advice..

    • Re: bubbles?

      Were the bubbles in the liquid latex before you applied it? That can happen if you shake or agitate the latex too much. If you open it and see bubbles, let it sit for several hours to let the bubbles go away.

  22. bubbles?

    hello i just tried this method on a lycra catsuit, but when is dried i had what looks like tiny bubbles, so the finish is not a smooth one like yours.. i used sponge brushes and throw them away when they got too bad, i used a hair dryer to help with speed the process and i used brand x liquid latex in black.. so yeah it looks like a bunch of tiny beads in the finish.. do you have any advice for me.. can i upload a photo here? if you need one.. thanks for any advice..

  23. Re: bubbles?

    Were the bubbles in the liquid latex before you applied it? That can happen if you shake or agitate the latex too much. If you open it and see bubbles, let it sit for several hours to let the bubbles go away.

  24. Awesome job! Interesting technique and an entertaining read too.

    How flexible and comfortable is it to wear? Very hot and uncomfortable? Does it still stretch enough to sit down, etc?
    No strategic zippers for calls of nature?
    I was also reading about this technique on latexworld.
    Thinking of making a full size ‘duct tape’ body dummy of myself and then using a unitard with back and crotch zipper. Also plan to glue foam pieces to unitard before painting latex. Goal is a David Lynch ‘Dune’ movie stillsuit.
    Do you lotion up to ease putting it on?

    Thanks for the inspiration.
    Sharkdude in CA

    • Like anything that’s made of latex, it doesn’t breathe, so if you’re in a warm place or doing vigorous exercise it will get pretty toasty. 🙂

      If you start with a Spandex undersuit like this one, it’s actually a lot easier to get into than a pure latex body suit would be. And, of course, strategically placed zippers are a boon if you want to use the bathroom easily…

  25. Awesome job! Interesting technique and an entertaining read too.

    How flexible and comfortable is it to wear? Very hot and uncomfortable? Does it still stretch enough to sit down, etc?
    No strategic zippers for calls of nature?
    I was also reading about this technique on latexworld.
    Thinking of making a full size ‘duct tape’ body dummy of myself and then using a unitard with back and crotch zipper. Also plan to glue foam pieces to unitard before painting latex. Goal is a David Lynch ‘Dune’ movie stillsuit.
    Do you lotion up to ease putting it on?

    Thanks for the inspiration.
    Sharkdude in CA

  26. Like anything that’s made of latex, it doesn’t breathe, so if you’re in a warm place or doing vigorous exercise it will get pretty toasty. 🙂

    If you start with a Spandex undersuit like this one, it’s actually a lot easier to get into than a pure latex body suit would be. And, of course, strategically placed zippers are a boon if you want to use the bathroom easily…

  27. Thanks for reply. I also came across some other websites that seemed to ‘borrow’ some of your pictures and text. Sincerest form of flaterry is taking credit for anothers original work? 🙁

    Could you leave strategic hidden areas un-latexed to help it breath and stay cooler?
    For example, in the arm pits?
    Or is it an all or nothing deal with the spandex undersuit?
    Whats your informed opinion?

    Thinking ahead to when I pass out on the convention floor! 😉

  28. Thanks for reply. I also came across some other websites that seemed to ‘borrow’ some of your pictures and text. Sincerest form of flaterry is taking credit for anothers original work? 🙁

    Could you leave strategic hidden areas un-latexed to help it breath and stay cooler?
    For example, in the arm pits?
    Or is it an all or nothing deal with the spandex undersuit?
    Whats your informed opinion?

    Thinking ahead to when I pass out on the convention floor! 😉

  29. i tried this without model only paper, and you must wait too much not half hour, or what kind of liquid latex did you use?

  30. i tried this without model only paper, and you must wait too much not half hour, or what kind of liquid latex did you use?

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