Planning a Hallo-weekend costume? If you’ve decided to go the “scary” route, there’s one place in Hell’s Kitchen you’ll need to visit — the Alcone Company’s “Blood Bank”, stocked with an inventory of (fake!) gore that would make even Dracula jealous.
Manager JD Kramer demonstrating Alcone Company’s fake blood products. Photo: Lucas Brito
The W49th Street store is known for providing everyone from big-budget film and TV productions to curious hobbyists with professional stage and special effect makeup for over seven decades, and has recently formalized its copious stage blood supply — with a “Blood Bank” sign advertising the retailer’s extensive offerings. “This is the first year that we’ll have the blood bank going in full force,” said manager JD Kramer, adding that Alcone would be leaning into the “blood and gore side of effects” throughout the store’s lower level in honor of Halloween (upstairs offers a more whimsical “surreal garden” theme).
For those not sure where to start when shopping for fake blood, Alcone carries bloods that can satisfy any need, including the aptly-named Fleet Street alcohol-based line that won’t transfer to clothes, and some highly-washable bloods originally developed for the Harry Potter film series.
A selection of the fake blood products available at Alcone’s Blood Bank. Photo: Lucas Brito
For “realism enthusiasts,” Kramer recommends Red Drum, which comes in four different shades ranging from deep, dark oxygenated blood to bright red venous palettes. And for those committed to a classic vampire costume, Alcone’s even got stage blood specifically made for your mouth: “You never want to make a practice of drinking a cosmetic, but it is safe to be used in the mouth,” said Kramer. His personal favorite? The aforementioned Red Drum line, which Kramer describes as “gentler on the skin” and easy to customize by mixing with water.
If you’re new to applying fake blood, there’s good news: “There are very few rules in makeup, but one good guideline is you can always add more — it is easier to add than to take away,” said Kramer.
“My personal favorite tip when applying blood is to let it drip from where it should. If you’ve got a cut on your forehead, great, dribble a little bit with a cotton swab or a brush onto where the cut is and let it run,and then, as you apply more, maintain the angle that you originally dripped from. Keep your head in the same orientation so that it picks up critical mass and moves naturally.”
When it’s time to remove your makeup, Kramer recommends coconut oil and the shower as the easiest way to de-blood — and if you stain your shower grout, shaving cream will remove any landlord suspicion that you’ve been involved in a murder.
Alcone’s lower level is stocked with Halloween-ready supplies. Photo: Lucas Brito
While the blood bank and Thriller-esque basement products project a Halloween theme year-round — they had recently sold buckets upon buckets of blood to the very gory revival of SUNSET BLVD and regularly provide indie horror movies with the necessary scary supplies — Kramer loves the festive spirit of the Halloween season. “We do our best to really have fun and celebrate the season,” he said. “Last year, we did a couple of themed costume days — we had a ‘Vampire Venzday’ once, a ‘Fairy Friday’ where we did a bunch of fun makeup and ran around like idiots in costumes and had a great time.”
Kramer started his career as a theatrical performer. “We had to do all our own makeup and I quickly learned that I enjoyed the non-verbal storytelling aspect of makeup,” he said. “The best part, at least for me, about being in this space at Halloween is hearing people’s ideas and hearing their challenges, because that really is the most fun part about being a makeup artist — the problem solving, aspect of it.”
As well as wall to wall blood, Alcone stocks prosthetic scars, bloody eyedrops, and of course, vampire fangs. “That’s the most fun — being able to bring someone’s idea to life with them. It’s not like we’re just handing someone a boxed solution — we get to work with them and watch their ideas evolve and grow and change,” said Kramer. “I tell myself and customers frequently how lucky I feel — I make the joke that we get to color all day for a living. But really, we do get to be in one of the final strongholds of in-person, professional makeup shopping, and it feels really cool.”
Alcone Company store manager JD Kramer in front of the boutique’s “Blood Bank”. Photo: Lucas Brito
Using Alcone’s “Blook Bank” to complement your Halloween costume? The staff wants to see your creations! Tag @alconeco (and W42ST) in your vampire finest!