WARNING: In the event of a zombie apocalypse, you will be left with two options—you can either beat them or you can join them. If you try to beat them, there will be so. much. running. (According to the movie, Zombieland, the first rule of staying alive in an undead world is: Cardio... and lots of it!)

You will also notice a significant uptick in your marksman skills (Rule #2: Always employ the "double tap" killing method when dealing with supernatural forces). Rule #17: Don't be a hero. You can beat the zombies at their own game by simply blending in (after all, it worked for Bill Murray). This handy "how to" guide is ESSENTIAL for any zombie race "joiner." We've compiled all of the must-knows before you get your mingle on with the shamble squad—how to walk, how to talk, and even how to look the part.

One of the best parts of choosing your Halloween costume is deciding your undead backstory. There’s a reason that people usually choose doctors and soldiers for their zombie identity. These are the frontline victims of any zombie uprising! But here’s the thing, depending on the type of undead apocalypse you’re inserting yourself into, you could be caught by a biter while wearing all sorts of clothing.

Perhaps you’ll become a zombie teacher after getting caught off guard by a truly unruly child. Or maybe you’re a zombie quarterback who encountered the tackle of a lifetime. You don’t even have to dress up as an undead human! This zombie panda is sure to be an unexpected twist at any Halloween or zombie event.

There’s a freedom to being undead. You don’t have to worry about hygiene or your retirement account. All you have to do is seek out living flesh with your horde. Are you ready to find the right zombie identity? We’ve featured a few below. But while you’re reading about the various flesh-eating deadites, remember this.

Any character can be an undead character. Throw on chaps, a ten-gallon hat, and tug around a bloody hand with a lasso, and all of a sudden you’re a cowboy who got caught while riding his first (and last) rodeo. Transforming a character into an undead creature is simple. Choose whatever costume you’d like, add plenty of fake blood, and stumble into the sunset. Yippee-ki-yay!

We’ve discussed the wonderful group costume potential of the zombie costume in a previous section. The same goes for a family costume. Families can get creative. Perhaps a child dresses up as an apocalypse survivor while mom and dad are his zombie companions… or pursuers. Or everyone could wear hazmat suits while the wild youngest child dresses up patient 0. There are plenty of choices, the only limit is your imagination!

Putting together your zombie costume is quite easy! All you need is torn clothing, a convincing staggering walk, and some really great makeup. Before tearing into your clothing, consider your zombie backstory. How were you taken down? Where were you bitten? If a zombie only took a bite out of your shoulder, only that part should be wounded. The rest of the gore on your outfit should be tattered and blood-splattered from the general wear and tear of endlessly searching for living flesh.

Other than the cloth part of the costume, you need to focus on the makeup. While blood and wounds are important, you also need to think about the aging process of the skin. Have fun with it. Get ahold of some liquid latex and give yourself a peeling look. Want more advice? Check out our makeup tutorials below!

Ready to take over the costume contest? This will help look like you just rolled out of the grave!

Now that you have learned how to apply a prosthetic, your zombie makeup is going to look next level!

You’ve got zombie costume questions and you need answers fast! Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to guide you through this dark and strange zombie world!

What Does a Zombie Look Like?

However, according to the movies most zombies have similar characteristics. Zombies have pale skin with inflamed veins. They stagger when they walk and they're often wearing tattered clothing. They also have pale eyes and weathered skin.

How to Do Zombie Makeup?

As we’ve discussed in earlier sections, you can go as far as you want when it comes to your zombie ensemble. Using fake blood is always a great first step, but adding some makeup will take your look to the next level.

Where Did The Idea of Zombies Come From?

The actual root of folklore has been traced to Haiti in the 1600s. Traditional Voodoo practitioners used elixirs called “zombie powders”. These mixtures used toxins from pufferfish to create zombie-like symptoms such as addled walking, a deteriorated mental state, and difficulty breathing. It could also make a person appear dead only to wake after they were buried. The history of the Hattian zombie is much more complicated than we can explain in one paragraph with complications rooted in West African spirituality.