My name is Jupanuma. This is not my first Cosplay I have done, but it is a Cosplay I did multiple times. And each time I remade it, I made it look better then before. Karkat Vantas - Homestuck is also not the only one I have done multiple times trying to get it the way I want it to look.
1st attempt outfit: the horns were made out of bake-able clay and attached to a headband (every heavy, and fell off the headband a lot. I had to Velcro them to the headband so I could fix them whenever). The wig got styled badly (first time styling a wig). The shirt was a turtle neck, and the symbol was to small and painted on wrong (hand painted, and did not use a stencil). The shoes were also the wrong color (never knew shoes could ruin a Cosplay till later).
1st attempt makeup: I used Ben Nye makeup, just the way it was (did not know Ben Nye you needed to mix colors to get the right gray). I did not seal my make up either (of course I didn’t touch anyone when I did this). It was the wrong color and over all just looked bad.
Now: I changed my shirt and made sure the symbol was big enough to see (can’t tell in this photo every well). Remade the horns and did not put them onto a headband (I do not really like the headband look for trolls). I fixed how the wig was styled (same wig). Got new shoes and new makeup (Snazaroo is what I use now). Learned to seal my makeup also.
So never give up on a Cosplay even if it looks bad at first. You can always fix what you do not like and make it even better the next time you work on it.
you can see your progression so well here! especially in the makeup. you definitely learn by experimentation.
(also, not only does sealed makeup look neater, it also means you dont get grey everywhere!)