♡ Shim ♡

As much as I gush about kig, I'm not a good person to ask for this kind of advice lol. At most I can point you to links or other people who might have real answers.

Have a look at this. It's a list of makers who sell masks and hada and other kig accessories.

The pinned post from @contrastkig also has some juicy info that might be helpful to you.

I also hear that @lyria-kig / @queen-of-moths is open for questions.

Then it's best to decide on the mask type, the vast majority of masks are either 2/3rds (covers 2/3rds of your head) or Full (fully covers your head). Half masks also exist but tend to be smaller proportioned and only cover your face and forehead for the most part. Generally more common for doll style masks than anime.

When getting custom masks you can either get a full custom (self explanatory) or semi custom. The latter is made using a preset "shell" design the maker has, similar to the generic but usually with a lot more options. Afterwards the maker modifies the shell's face to match more closely to your character. Since anime designs tend to fall into certain head designs depending on archetype or genre this is surprisingly accurate despite what it might sound. Ordering is usually through an order form or an email. In both cases you just state what you want, including shell type if semi custom, along with sending reference pictures of your character. Chinese makers are a bit more complicated since you have to buy through an agent like sugargoo usually but the process is mostly the same, just the makers use taobao and you'll be talking and sending what you want and references through an agent (genuinely super easy, not hard to do at all I promise despite how scary it sounds)

Then for a lot of kigs they get some shapewear, usually foam or silicone hip pads and silicone breastforms (if felt needed). On top of the hip pads is usually shapewear shorts and sometimes compression tights, depending on the person, to hold the pads in place and smooth out bumps and wrinkles. That's kinda the basics but some people get butt pads, waist cinches/compression bands too and all sorts of other stuff, all the way up to full silicone body suits. None of it is strictly needed, most people I know stop at the shaping shorts and tights with hip and breast pads. For kigging male characters breast binders and shoulder pads are the most common I hear about. There are more options out there though such as arm, leg and torso muscle pads and even full silicone male body suits.