Choose your makeup. There are two types of clown makeup: professional greasepaint and basic face paint. The professional paint costs more and lasts longer. Make your choice based on how long your clown gig is and whether you want to spend the extra money.
Clean your face with facial soap and dry with a hand towel. Dirty faces are oily, which makes it hard for the makeup to remain in place.
Use a hair tie to put your hair back and out of the way. If a piece of hair falls in your face while the makeup is wet, it could leave a mark. Keep your hair tied back until the makeup dries.
Decide if you want your face to be white or beige as well as how much of your face will be painted. Some clowns paint their whole face and their necks, while others just paint a round face.
Draw the outline of your face with your color choice of makeup. This is the lightest color you will use and the base of your design, which is why it is applied first. Apply it with your hands until it looks smooth and even.
Use red or pink paint to create a mouth. This mouth can be happy, sad, excited, or mad. It can be big or small. You get to decide what kind of clown you want to become. Use a makeup brush to apply the lips.
Work on your eyes next. You can use any color. Some clowns color coordinate their eyes with their outfits. Take a look at what you are going to wear and see if it gives you any ideas. Then use the makeup brush to apply the makeup to the eyes. You can make your eyes racoon like, oval, or more tall than wide.
Draw eyebrows above your real eyebrows with eyeliner. You can use face paint, but eyeliner works great. You can then use the eyeliner pencil to draw your eyebrows straight, crooked, or any funny way you want.
Add a nose with either some clown makeup (usually red) or use a foam clown nose.
Create a unique design. This could be diamonds on your cheeks or a tear drop falling from your eye. You may even do a row of hearts across your forehead. This design should make you a one-of-a-kind clown.
Give your makeup time to dry before you let your hair down. If you are going to wear a clown wig, you may need to leave your hair up.