Spirit gum is a traditional adhesive made primarily from gum rosin dissolved in alcohol. It is widely used in theater, film, and crafting industries for attaching wigs, beards, and prosthetic appliances.

1. What Is Spirit Gum

Spirit gum is a solution of natural resin (gum rosin) in a volatile solvent such as ethanol or isopropyl alcohol. When applied to a surface, the alcohol evaporates, leaving behind a tacky resin layer that acts as an adhesive. The term “spirit” refers to the use of alcohol as the solvent. The resulting adhesive is clear to amber in color, depending on the grade of rosin used.

2. Applications of Spirit Gum

• Theatrical and film makeup for attaching beards, mustaches, and prosthetics
• Costume and cosplay adhesive for wigs and special effects
• Arts and crafts adhesive for paper, wood, leather, and fabric
• Temporary bonding in laboratory or workshop settings
• Fixing lightweight decorations or parts where removability is important

3. How Spirit Gum Is Used

1. Clean the skin or surface with alcohol to remove oils or dust.
2. Apply a thin layer of spirit gum using a brush or applicator.
3. Allow the solvent to evaporate for 10–30 seconds until the surface becomes tacky.
4. Press the item (wig, beard, prosthetic, etc.) onto the tacky area and hold for several seconds.
5. To remove, use a spirit gum remover or isopropyl alcohol. Clean any residue and apply moisturizer if used on skin.