Materials You Need to Get Started
Essential supplies: acrylic primer (Vallejo Surface Primer or Rustoleum 2x Ultra Cover), acrylic paints (Citadel, Vallejo, or Apple Barrel for budget), a set of synthetic brushes (sizes 0, 1, and 4 flat), 400-grit sandpaper, painter's tape, a palette or plastic plate, water cup, and matte or satin clear coat spray (Krylon or Testors Dullcote).
Budget breakdown: brushes $8-12, primer $6, paint set $10-15, clear coat $7, sandpaper $3. Total first-timer investment is under $45. Skip the airbrush — it adds $100+ and a learning curve you do not need for your first custom.
Optional but helpful: a figure holder or alligator clip stand ($5 on Amazon) keeps the figure stable while painting and lets you rotate it without touching wet paint.
Step 1: Prep the Surface Properly
Surface prep determines 80 percent of your final result. For PLA figures like Voxelyo editions, lightly sand the entire surface with 400-grit sandpaper to give the primer something to grab. Wipe dust with a damp cloth and let dry completely.
Apply primer in 2-3 thin coats, waiting 15 minutes between coats. Hold the spray can 10-12 inches away and use sweeping motions. Thin coats prevent drips and preserve detail. The figure should look evenly coated with no bare spots and no thick areas where detail is lost.
Step 2: Plan Your Design and Base Coat
Sketch your design on paper first, even if it is just color placement notes. Decide which areas get which colors. Work from largest areas to smallest details — background colors first, then foreground details last.
Apply base colors in thin, even coats. The golden rule: two thin coats always look better than one thick coat. Load your brush, then wipe half the paint off on the palette edge before applying. This prevents globbing and preserves sculpt detail. Let each coat dry 20 minutes before adding the next.
Use painter's tape for clean edges between color blocks. Press tape edges down firmly with a fingernail or toothpick to prevent paint bleeding underneath.
Step 3: Add Details and Highlights
Switch to your size 0 brush for details like eyes, patterns, and small color areas. Thin your paint slightly with water (90% paint, 10% water) for smoother detail lines. Brace your painting hand against the table for stability.
For shading, mix your base color with a small amount of black or dark brown. Apply to recessed areas and undersides. For highlights, mix base color with white and apply to raised areas and top surfaces. This adds depth that makes custom figures look professional.
Step 4: Seal and Protect Your Custom
After paint is fully dry (wait at least 2 hours, overnight is better), apply clear coat. Matte finish looks most like the original factory finish on Labubu figures. Satin gives a slight sheen. Gloss is rarely the right choice unless you are going for a wet or candy look.
Apply 2-3 light coats of clear coat, waiting 20 minutes between coats. This protects against handling, dust, and minor scratches. Let the final coat cure 48 hours before displaying or handling.
Your first custom will not be perfect — and that is fine. Each one gets better. Many collectors start by repainting a lower-cost PLA figure like a Duck Bubu or Pink Fang Bubu before attempting a custom on a higher-value piece.