Madame Tussauds
World's Greatest Wax Museum
MADAME TUSSAUDS
| NUMBER OF HOURS: | |
|---|---|
| Approximately 800 hours to make a figure | |
| Sculpt a figure | 350 hours |
| Mold a figure | 175 hours |
| Insert hair & style figure | 145 hours |
| Make a pair of eyes | 15 hours |
| Make a set of teeth | 30 hours |
| Color a head | 50 hours |
| Costume a figure | 35 hours |
Updated: April 2026
Posted: March 2026
MADAME TUSSAUDS
A sitting with a celebrity takes two hours, in order to take measurements, photos, costume donation, hand cast, hair samples, eye color matching and a signature.
The Sitting Session
A sitting with a celebrity takes two hours, in order to take measurements, photos, costume donation, hand cast, hair samples, eye color matching and a signature.
- Upwards of 250 precise measurements of the subject's head and body are taken to give Madame Tussauds' sculptors the information they need to accurately create a wax figure. The subject stands in pose on a turntable and 180 photographs are taken of the celebrity from every angle with different lenses and lighting
Face Measuring
Beyonce Sitting
MADAME TUSSAUDS
An armature acting as a skeleton' to support the clay body is constructed from metal tubing and wire. The sculptors have anatomical knowledge to ensure every bone, muscle and tendon is replicated correctly according to the pose.
Sculpting
An armature acting as a skeleton' to support the clay body is constructed from metal tubing and wire. The sculptors have anatomical knowledge to ensure every bone, muscle and tendon is replicated correctly according to the pose.
- The clay head and body are sculpted using the measurements and photographs taken at the sitting. Abuut 330 pounds of clay is used to sculpt one figure and it takes six weeks to sculpt a head for a figure in clay before it is molded. The head is sculpted 2% larger than life to allow for wax shrinkage.
Armature Skeleton
All their figures are sculpted to the true size of the celebrity.
Over 250 measurements are taken to ensure they are as realistic as possible.
Over 250 measurements are taken to ensure they are as realistic as possible.
Beyonce Knowles
MADAME TUSSAUDS
It takes 170 hours to mold a figure. The finished clay body is molded and cast into fiberglass and a 13 piece plaster mold is made from the clay head
Molding
It takes 170 hours to mold a figure. The finished clay body is molded and cast into fiberglass and a 13 piece plaster mold is made from the clay head
- Madame Tussaud's special mixture of beeswax and Japan wax is heated to 170 degrees Fahrenheit, and is poured into the head mold. The wax cools inside the mold and then the plaster sections are removed to reveal a hollow wax head. The celebrity's hands are also molded, cast into wax and colored
Head Mold
A multi-piece, plaster head mold, which fits together exactly, ready to be filled with molten wax.
Plaster Mold
Neil Patrick Harris
It takes 330 pounds of clay to sculpt a standard figure.
Wax Hand and Hand Mold
Hands are cast from life, creating a silicon mold with a plaster jacket. The wax hands are then cast from this mold and colored to match the skin tones of the face.
MADAME TUSSAUDS
It takes 140 hours to insert the hair on an average wax head, including eyebrows. Each strand of hair is inserted individually into the wax head by hand, using a forked needle, taking approximately five weeks to complete each head.
Hair Insertion
It takes 140 hours to insert the hair on an average wax head, including eyebrows. Each strand of hair is inserted individually into the wax head by hand, using a forked needle, taking approximately five weeks to complete each head.
- Hair samples are taken at the sitting and carefully matched to real human hair
Hair
MADAME TUSSAUDS
It takes 50 hours to color a head. Oil paints are used to build up layers of color on the face to give a translucency to the skin and a realistic texture.
Coloring
It takes 50 hours to color a head. Oil paints are used to build up layers of color on the face to give a translucency to the skin and a realistic texture.
- At the sitting a palette is taken matching the skin tones, and later this is used to choose the wax color.
- Artists use a palette of over 20 different colors to recreate lifelike skin tones
Tattoos are meticulously hand painted
Every freckle, mole, wrinkle, and dimple is accurately reproduced on the figure
Every freckle, mole, wrinkle, and dimple is accurately reproduced on the figure
Oil Paints
MADAME TUSSAUDS
The subject has their eyes matched for color at the sitting. The eyes are individually made from acrylic resin and every tiny detail is duplicated.
Eye & Teeth Making
The subject has their eyes matched for color at the sitting. The eyes are individually made from acrylic resin and every tiny detail is duplicated.
- Each iris is hand painted using gouache, and veining is added to the whites of the eyes with fine silk threads. It takes 15 hours to make a pair of eyes and no two pair of eyes are the same.
- Where possible a cast of the subject's teeth is taken. Each tooth is replicated using dental acrylic and is accurately color matched. This process takes 30 hours.
Eyes and Teeth
MADAME TUSSAUDS
Many of the celebrities donate their own clothes for their figure to wear.
Wardrobe
Many of the celebrities donate their own clothes for their figure to wear.
- Their figure stylist plans the costumes following extensive research and a team carefully assembles the costume.
Accessories
Many celebrities donate clothing and other items for Madame Tussauds to dress their figures with, including Joan Rivers who donated her personal nail polish in 2009.
MADAME TUSSAUDS
Finally, the head and hands are fitted to the fiberglass body and the completed figure is dressed.
Finishing
Finally, the head and hands are fitted to the fiberglass body and the completed figure is dressed.
- Before the figure leaves the studio for the attraction it is taken to the photography studio and critiqued by the principle production staff. The figure is then photographed in the style of a celebrity photo shoot.
Beyonce Knowles


