Headache by Tobias Dostal
You bump your head. A thick red liquid begins to ooze slowly from your forehead right in front of everyone watching. You concentrate for a moment. And it vanishes completely, leaving not a single trace behind.
No harm done. Just pure, stomach-dropping, jaw-on-the-floor visual magic. Headache is the pocket-sized visual effect from one of the most creative and inventive magical minds working today. Tobias Dostal kept this one close for years, sharing it quietly with a small circle of top professionals who wove it into some of the most shocking and memorable moments of their live shows. When it finally went online it went mega-viral almost immediately, and it is not hard to understand why: in a world of phone cameras and short-form video, nothing commands attention quite like watching something that genuinely should not be possible happen directly on someone's face.
The custom-made gimmick is what makes Headache work so well. It creates a completely convincing illusion of thick, viscous red liquid appearing and spreading in real time, with a realism that reads perfectly both live and on camera. It fits in your pocket, it is ready to perform in seconds, and it is just as effective in an impromptu setting as it is on a properly lit stage.
What makes Headache a genuinely flexible tool rather than a single-trick gimmick is how many ways Tobias has found to use it. A bump on the head is the obvious presentation, but he also teaches it as a hair cutting mishap, a chest wound, paint leaking from a container, and a range of other creative applications that give you the freedom to build the moment around whatever story fits your show best. The gimmick is not limited to the forehead either: wherever your imagination takes the premise, Headache can follow.
It was a huge hit at Blackpool Magic Convention. It has been shared among working professionals who trust it in their real shows. And once you have performed it even once, you will understand immediately why it has the reputation it does.
What's included:
The custom Headache gimmick, ready to perform straight out of the box
Full tutorial from Tobias Dostal covering multiple performance ideas and applications
Difficulty: Beginner
Best for: Close-up, walk-around, stage, social media content, comedy magic
Is it durable?
Yes. It will last for a long time even with regular use.
Does it require sleight of hand?
It requires some sleight of hand to perform.
Is everything ready to use out of the box?
Yes. Everything is ready for you to perform the effect out of the box.
Frequently Asked Questions
