Prosthetic Lekku

This sale is for a made-to-order medium length SILICONE lekku headpiece with a "prosthetic" lekku on one side. The metallic sheen is created with mica powders and can be painted in different metallic shades. Since the mica is suspended in silicone it limits the shine a bit, but it still has a recognizable metallic effect overall. The prosthetic side is smooth and does not have the same skin texture as the other side. I designed this mold for Rianna Saren, but it can be used for custom characters as well. Price Breakdown: The medium style lekku are $165, and the prosthetic pattern is $50. (It takes hours to mask off the lines and airbrush each one, and there is the added cost of the mica as well.) COLOR OPTIONS: Please click on the "ADD A NOTE TO YOUR ORDER" link when you get to the shopping cart, and use that box to let me know which body paint brand and color you would like me to match.  MICA OPTIONS: After I airbrush the dark lines for the prosthetic segments, I paint the metallic layer over them. There are two options for the mica: Hand Painted Mica: Hand painting the first layer of the mica-laden silicone causes brush strokes to show up in the finished lekku. It gives an interesting textured effect but sometimes looks like obvious brushstrokes. Airbrushed Mica: Using an airbrush to apply the first layer of mica-laden silicone creates a finish that is completely free of brushstrokes. However, this option has different issues of its own. Because the mold is porous and the silicone must be dissolved to a liquid with solvent in order to pass through the airbrush, the silicone will sink into every pore of the mold which can create little "pill" textures over the surface. They are tiny, but they are there and I haven't been able to eliminate them yet. Still working on that! In the sample image, airbrushed mica is on the left, and hand painted is on the right.   Head Sizing Options: The mold is 21 inches in diameter and will stretch to accommodate larger head sizes.  Ear Cones: I will include one pair of matching ear cones with this headpiece. Shipping Time: Every lekku headpiece is made to order, and will be cast, stuffed, and shipped as quickly as possible.  The final shipping time will depend on how many orders I have in my work queue, and how complicated the designs are. Please be patient and know that I'm always casting and shipping as fast as I can! My Order Spreadsheet: I have a Google spreadsheet where I keep a list of my current orders. It only shows each person's name and what style of headpiece they ordered, but it lets everyone know how many orders I have at any given time and they can watch their names move up to the top of the list as I ship out headpieces. I also post occasional notes and updates at the top of the spreadsheet. If you would like to see the spreadsheet, you can find it here:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12ugjiqRntBPM5Ue8DflZravJT7kmnhdqrkMJJbRcR44/edit?usp=sharing Length and Flexibility: These lekku are 27 inches in length when cast. They stretch a bit when they're stuffed and may get a little bit longer when worn since the silicone can stretch a bit under its own weight. These silicone lekku are much more flexible than latex lekku and will sway more as you move.  Durability: Unlike latex lekku, which can begin to crack after a while, silicone lasts quite a long time. My oldest silicone headpiece is nine years old, and it is still in perfect shape even after traveling back and forth across the country for quite a few conventions. Silicone is prone to tearing under some conditions, however. It won't tear without a starting point, so you must be careful not to create a weakened point where a rip might get started. This is primarily a concern around the edges of the head opening. When trimming away excess silicone, make sure to cut a straight line with your scissors. If you leave a jagged edge, that point can begin to tear. Cut a smooth, even line and it won't be a problem! Stuffing: The lekku are filled with pillow stuffing. I reinforce the top curves of the lekku with a layer of firmer silicone and then they are filled with a soft expanding foam which preserves the shape of the curve. P Weight: These lekku average between 1.4 and 1.7 pounds. The weight varies because I can't always use the exact same amount of silicone, stuffing, and expanding foam. I try to keep everything within the same range, however, based on the results I've found to work the best. The silicone itself averages one pound, and the rest of the weight comes from the stuffing. Static: Silicone is more prone to building up a static charge than anything else I've ever worked with. It's not a huge problem for costumers, just keep in mind that pillow stuffing fibers, loose bristles from paint brushes, and bits of hair will inevitably be found stuck to your headpiece. For the extra wiggle of silicone, though.... it's worth it. You can rub baby powder on the lekku to reduce the static and shine of the silicone. Glue: Nothing sticks to silicone! If you want to attach a decoration permanently to the lekku, typical glues like rubber cement won't work. Instead, you must use a silicone specific adhesive. I recommend Sil-Poxy, which is sold by Smooth-On. If the foam stuffing starts to come out of the lekku after a while, you can also use the Sil-Poxy to glue it back into place, and if the headpiece ever develops a tear, Sil-Poxy can be used to apply a patch. International Orders: If you're an international customer, please review your country's import policy before purchasing. Customs fees and import taxes are the sole responsibility of the buyer. As a business owner I cannot declare on the customs paperwork that the lekku are a gift, or that they have a very low value. Photographs: The photos shown in this sale are not the same lekku headpiece which is for sale. They are examples. The lekku I ship will be cast from the same mold and will look identical save for any natural variations in the silicone, colorant, and stuffing. Please keep in mind that colors appear different on different monitors. I would be happy to help with any Twi'lek costuming questions, so please feel free to ask. Twi'lek costumes are a lot of work, especially since you have to do the body paint every time you wear them if you want to be an exotic color... but it's definitely worth the effort. It's really fun! People often stop you for a picture, and I have a good laugh every time somebody asks, "Can I touch your tentacles?" Good times!