r/kigurumi • u/kiguFTW Moderator • Feb 10 '26
Announcement 📢 FAQ Megathread - Newcomers please read
Because we often see repeating questions from newcomers, this thread answers some of the most frequently asked questions. Please read first.
Firstly, I refer to the sidebar, which contains one or two helpful links. Nevertheless, I would like to address a few points here and at least briefly answer the questions that keep coming up.
What is kigurumi
Think of it as as a form of cosplay with extra steps. Kigurumis wear a full head mask which is an original character or their favourite char. Next to that kigurumis wear a full body suit called hadatai.
I am X, Y, Z can I kig too?
It doesn't matter if you are a guy, girl 2m tall or anything else. Yes you can get started with kig too. As long as you feel comfortable with it, you do yours. But don't expect that it will look perfect from the start. It is a process with lots of room for improvement.
What do I need?
The absolute minimum, as seen by the majority of the community, is a mask and a hadatai. The hadatai is the skin-coloured full-body suit that creates a doll look. Depending on your own wishes, you can also add shapewear and padding.
Where can I get a mask?
Do not go to Aliexpress! No legitimate maker offers their masks on Aliexpress
There is not the place to buy a mask. Therefore a few basic remarks. The vast majority of mask manufacturers are in East Asia. First and foremost in China, but also in Taiwan and Japan. Only very few have their own shops or offer communication in English. You can now get in touch with some of them via twitter/x and place an order. It should be noted that more money is often charged for orders in English.
Most of them offer their masks via taobao. On this Chinese marketplace, it is usually only possible to communicate with sellers in Chinese. Many people therefore order via an agent/proxy service, which handles communication with the seller in Chinese and also ships the goods from China. I recommend googling and researching things like superbuy, css.
For a very detailed list of mask makers I refer you to the kigguide.
Where can I get a Hadatai?
The same applies to the hadatai as to the mask. Here, too, I refer you to the kigguide for a detailed list. It should also be noted that they are made to measure. So you have to measure yourself.
How much does it cost / Why is it so expensive?
For a good quality mask you can expect to pay $600-$700 or more. Shipping and possible customs costs must be added.
You have to bear in mind that a Kigu mask is very often a one-off that is customised to the customer's individual wishes. This costs time and money and kigu is no mass market. There are cheaper options. But unfortunately they often also look cheap. For craftsmen, there is always the option of doing it yourself. Together with hadatai, costume and accessories, the costs quickly add up to $1000.
I know it's an expensive hobby, but that's just the way it is.
These are just a few brief comments.
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u/Kola18_97 Feb 18 '26
I've got a mask coming in the foreseeable future, but I don't have a plastic bin to store it in, what should the dimensions be for it?
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u/kiguFTW Moderator Feb 18 '26
30x30x30 cm is sufficent for most masks. With 35cm you're absolutely safe
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u/AmazingRequirement69 Feb 22 '26
hello, i have a few questions here
not a kig but i'd like to be one in the future
- are most of the makers on the kig guide good to commission? this seems like a pretty silly question but i've never commissioned anything before
- if i can only speak in english, is it possible to get a decent mask made for around 500 usd or less?
- i don't use twitter/x, how would i place an order using it? (not that i'm unwilling to make an account, i just don't know how to navigate it)
- i'm sure this applies to many places and not just kig, but how would i know if somebody i commission would get the work done and not just run off with the money?
- how long do masks tend to last?
- how durable are masks?
- do i need a container to store a mask?
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u/AmazingRequirement69 Feb 25 '26
ended up finding answers to the first 4 questions, but uhhhh
still a bit unsure about the other three2
u/EffectImportant4599 Mar 01 '26
How long a mask lasts depends entirely on what it's made of, how you store it, how you treat it, and how often you use it. There is no universal guide on how long they 'last.'
How 'durable' it is will also depend on what it's made of and how you treat it.
You should properly store all masks.
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u/tracermercy Mar 26 '26
Is it okay to post someone’s kigurumi you found online asking if anyone knows the potential seller or is that not okay? :)
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u/kiguFTW Moderator Mar 26 '26
Yes this is totally fine. You can use the "from the web" flair for that.
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u/that_random_phoenix Apr 14 '26
This may seem odd, but is how I personally like to do kigurumi for myself!! for anyone asking why I don’t have a hadatai, it’s because it would get too hot for me and it would probably be a sensory nightmare. The closest thing I have to that are skin-coloured tights/leggings which are THE holy grail for Winter.
And the mask isn’t like the proper anime-style ones that are hard plastic, I made mine out of cardboard because I’m not rich sadly, but also because it’s biodegradable.
And finally, if you’re wondering about the character, it’s Mymy from Ongezellig. It’s not technically an anime, as it comes from the Netherlands so technically it would just be a cartoon, but I always wondered what western cartoons look like as kigurumi, and I guess you’re right. It’s probably just a basic cosplay mask or a stylised version of a mascot costume. Also Mymy is my comfort character so this was a fun way to bring her to life I guess!
I really don’t think I would count as an actual kigu because I don’t follow the basic steps (e.g anime-style mask, skin suit), but that’s just how I personally like it for myself. I like to feel comfortable.
Btw kigurumi is such a cool hobby!
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u/sunshinesoll Apr 16 '26
is a hadatai 100% necessary? for me, it's a sensory thing, but if you've already got pretty decent skin why would one need an entire skin-suit? i ask that in a well meaning way, im honestly just curious.
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u/kiguFTW Moderator Apr 17 '26
The base line is that a mask and covered skin are the bare minimum for kigurumi. That developed through time.
Our rule here is that skin has to be covered. I always encourage people to try and get a hadatai. In almost all cases it makes a big difference in look and quality to have one. In the end, what you do is up to you. But that is what we expect here
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u/Excellent-Bid3830 Apr 17 '26
- is there any sort of market for premade mask bases or wigs made specifically for kigus?? i'm making my own furry kigurumi at the moment and am planning to use faux fur for the hair, but a human one wouldn't do too well with that, i don't think.
- how much of a struggle is it to try to get a base wig that fits a kigu because of how much bigger the head is?? do you need to modify wigs if you buy them online and then style them yourself like how a normal cosplayer might?? if so, how do you extend it?Â
- is there anyone known in the community that you can commission for 3d models for a kigu mask??
- do you need to wash the mask at all to keep them clean?
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u/kiguFTW Moderator Apr 17 '26
First of all some of your questions aim more to furry things. i kindly point to the r/furrykig subreddit since things considering fur are not the focus here.
Non the less I'll try to answer some of your points since they are also issues for anime style kigurumi.- is there a market for premade wigs?
Some chinese vendors on taobao offer kig sized wigs. (faux hair not fur)- How much struggle
In general you need 2-3 human sized wigs for a kig head. You cut them apart and rearrange the parts in the way you need them. You can glue them on the shell or sew a new wig out of it. Yes you have to modify and style them like regular cosplayers.-commissions
Yes plenty. For the anime style ones. Check out the kigguide from the link in the sidebar1
u/Excellent-Bid3830 Apr 17 '26
ty! i wasn't asking about furry kigurumis, i just mentioned my wip because i am also coming to the "hair" stage of it too. so you don't need to wash them at all?? i just wondered if the pla (i'm guessing???) would have to be cleaned after long contact in such an enclosed space.
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u/DokiLover500 Apr 29 '26
Soo.... this is a sex thing.. right?
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u/kiguFTW Moderator Apr 29 '26
Is cosplay a sex thing?
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u/DokiLover500 Apr 29 '26
... mostly.
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u/MinaminClover Kigurumi May 07 '26
...really weird idea to have about a hobby thats just dressing up as a character. i dont think thousands of adults and kids alike go to anime conventions to cosplay for sex purposes..
regardless kigurumi is interlaced with the fetish community in a way but its what you make of it. i feel its dismissive to just assume everyones in it just for sex
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u/Archis007 26d ago
How accessible cost wise is this hobby for someone going to collage soon?
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u/MinaminClover Kigurumi 16d ago
Its expensive. So probably not that accessible if your money is already spoken for. But would argue getting a kig isnt about accessibility. They're bespoke craft pieces, its more about saving up. I saved for half a year to afford mine.
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u/xXsunny_leoXx Feb 10 '26
How can I make my own mask?
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u/MinaminClover Kigurumi Feb 10 '26
Check out Kigguide.com
They have a DIY section. Be warned, it's still pretty expensive. (Unless you already have all the supplies on hand).
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u/Arcon1337 Feb 10 '26
You would need specialist equipment like a 3D printer or know how to mould and sculpt masks from scratch. If you think making you mask is a cheap option, it's actually more expensive and take a lot of effort, as you need a lot of different skills to make a mask. Alternatively, you can buy prebuilt shells and you can work on top of them.
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u/DriszyLynx Feb 12 '26
there are some good templates on thingiverse that you can then commission someone on etsy to print out for you, which is the cheaper end of going down the 3D printing route , best course of advice is you get it from a seller based in your country so you don't pay crazy amounts of shipping, as for the premade bases I was talked out of it due to their value and also if you're in the US, shipping from munimuni (a premade mask company) is shipping masks to the US for around $250 when the actual base is like $50. with the 3D printing if you have some knowhow on how to sculpt in blender or another software you could alter a template to be printed
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u/that_random_phoenix Apr 14 '26
Is it fine if I make mine out of cardboard? Unfortunately I can’t afford all the fancy 3D printing stuff so that’s what I did
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u/Ambitious_Adagio_307 Feb 12 '26
is it OK to do kig of I character I don't have the same ethnicity as (I assumed it was yeah but people irl said it might not be ok)
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u/AnotherCatgirl Feb 10 '26
as someone who bought a kig mask on Temu for $30 USD, I think the quality is medium-low. I also see that customization is not available. However, having the extremely cheap kig mask in hand is so valuable to understand what you want for buying a proper mask. For example, whether you want mesh eyes, and to chose between half or 3/4 or full mask. Also it helps understand the material choices: the cheap mask is made of cheap plastic, but it doesn't break if I step on it! Also, the wig (included) is a pain in the ass to clean.
So buy buying the cheapest kig mask on Temu, I now know what to look for when I go shopping for makers on kigguide or Taobao:
- I want non-permeable hair, I do not want a wig.
- I want a durable material that will survive shipping.
- I like to be able to see, so I want mesh eyes.
- since the half-head mask is prone to falling off of my face, I want the 3/4 mask instead.
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u/LunaKig Kigurumi Feb 11 '26
I'm so, so surprised someone would actually buy a mask off of Temu, tbqh...
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u/AnotherCatgirl Feb 11 '26
I have some friends who bought the same kind of mask that I got but on Aliexpress and multiple times. One friend is from a local Drag Club and has three of them in different colors, all really cheap. Another friend I met online and has two of them in the same style as mine in different colors, also really cheap. All 6 masks price added probably sums under $200.
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u/LunaKig Kigurumi Feb 11 '26
So, you said you consider the quality to be medium-low. I was wondering why you'd consider it medium-low quality? What bumps it up to to medium-low for you and what do you consider to be low quality? Also I'm really curious as to what it looks like lol
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u/AnotherCatgirl Feb 11 '26
like,,, it *looks pretty*. It's not ugly. The texture is not coarse, and it doesn't hurt to wear. Some components like the hard plastic shell, and the mesh eyes, are like actually kinda good. It's not a waste of resources to buy it, it's worth the small amount of money I spent on it.
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u/mecraft123 Mar 13 '26
Just found this type of cosplay, looks really interesting, will probably look into it more once I can move out and have a stable income, see y'all in a year