Drag makeup is an art form that requires a combination of skill, creativity, and boldness. From exaggerated features to flawless skin, every aspect of drag makeup serves to help performers create larger-than-life personas. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, this tutorial will guide you through the process of achieving a dramatic and flawless drag look. By the end, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to transform your face into a show-stopping masterpiece.
Step 1: Skin Prep and Base
Before diving into contouring, eye makeup, or lashes, it’s essential to start with a solid foundation. A smooth, hydrated face will help your makeup adhere better and last longer.
What You Need:
- Cleanser
- Moisturizer
- Primer
- Full-coverage foundation (1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone)
- Color Corrector (optional)
- Translucent Setting Powder
How to Do It:
- Cleanse and Moisturize:
Start by thoroughly cleansing your face to remove any dirt, oils, or old makeup. A fresh canvas ensures your makeup applies evenly. Follow up with a moisturizer that suits your skin type. Moisturizing helps create a smooth surface for your makeup and prevents it from caking or drying out throughout the day or night. - Apply Primer:
A good primer creates a smooth base by filling in pores, controlling shine, and giving your makeup something to stick to. Choose a mattifying primer if you have oily skin or a hydrating primer if your skin tends to be dry. Apply primer all over your face, focusing on areas like the T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) where you may experience excess oil. - Foundation:
Drag makeup calls for a full-coverage foundation that can cover everything from blemishes to facial hair. A foundation that’s 1-2 shades lighter than your natural skin tone will help create the “blank canvas” effect. Use a damp beauty sponge or a flat foundation brush to apply the foundation evenly all over your face. Don’t forget to blend it into your neck, ears, and hairline to avoid any harsh lines. - Color Corrector:
If you have any redness, dark circles, or blemishes, color correctors can help neutralize these imperfections. Use a green color corrector to cover redness and an orange or peach corrector to cancel out dark under-eye circles. Apply the color corrector gently before your foundation and blend it out to ensure a seamless finish. - Set with Powder:
Drag makeup requires staying power, and setting your base with a translucent powder is key to achieving this. Use a light dusting of powder all over your face to set the foundation and prevent it from creasing. For extra staying power, “bake” your face by applying extra powder under the eyes, along the jawline, and in the center of the forehead. Let the powder sit for about 5-10 minutes before brushing it off to create a smooth, matte finish.
Step 2: Contouring and Highlighting
Contouring and highlighting are essential techniques in drag makeup, as they add dimension, structure, and drama to the face. The goal is to create a more sculpted, feminine or angular appearance, depending on your look.
What You Need:
- Contour Cream or Powder (2-3 shades darker than your foundation)
- Highlighter (Light and shimmery)
- Blush (Optional)
- Contour Brush or Beauty Sponge
How to Do It:
- Contouring the Face:
Start by contouring the hollows of your cheeks, along the jawline, and along the temples to give your face a more angular, sculpted look. Apply the contour product in a “3” shape on both sides of your face, starting at the temples, down along the cheekbone, and finishing along the jawline. Use a contour brush or sponge to blend the product seamlessly into your foundation. Remember, the contour should be sharp but blended out for a seamless transition. - Contouring the Nose:
To slim and define the nose, apply contour along the sides of your nose, starting from the bridge and blending downward. You can also contour the tip of the nose to make it appear shorter or more defined. Apply a light highlight down the center of the nose to emphasize its structure. - Highlighting:
Highlight the high points of your face to bring light to areas that you want to accentuate. Apply highlight to the tops of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, the center of your forehead, the chin, and just above the cupid’s bow. You can use a cream or powder highlighter for a glowing, luminous effect. - Blush (Optional):
Blush isn’t always necessary in drag makeup, but it can add a beautiful flush to your look. Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks, blending it slightly upwards towards the temples for a lifted appearance.
Step 3: Brows
In drag makeup, eyebrows are often transformed into bold, arched statements. The placement of the brows is key to achieving the dramatic and lifted look associated with drag makeup.
What You Need:
- Brow Pomade or Pencil (1-2 shades darker than your hair color)
- Concealer (for shaping)
- Brow Gel or Setting Spray
How to Do It:
- Shaping Your Brows:
Start by covering your natural brows with a concealer or brow wax. Drag queens often draw their eyebrows higher than their natural brow line to elongate the face and create a more dramatic shape. Use a creamy concealer to cover your natural brows and set it with translucent powder. - Drawing New Brows:
Using a brow pencil or pomade, draw new brows higher on your forehead. The shape should be exaggerated and more angular than natural brows, with a sharp arch. Make sure the brows are even and symmetrical. When drawing your brows, focus on making the top line sharp and clean to accentuate the eye area. - Conceal for Precision:
After drawing your new brow shape, use a small amount of concealer to clean up any stray lines and define the shape. This will create a sharp contrast and make your brows stand out even more. - Set the Brows:
Finish off the brows with a clear brow gel to keep them in place. This ensures that your bold brow shape lasts all day or night.
Step 4: Eyeshadow and Eyeliner
Drag eye makeup is all about bold, dramatic eyes that grab attention. The key is to exaggerate the natural shape of your eyes and make them look larger, more defined, and more expressive.
What You Need:
- Eyeshadow Primer
- Eyeshadow Palette (Neutral shades for everyday, bold shades for performance)
- Eyeliner (Liquid or Gel)
- False Lashes
- Mascara
How to Do It:
- Prime Your Lids:
Before applying eyeshadow, use an eyeshadow primer to prevent creasing and enhance the color payoff of your shadows. Apply the primer evenly to your eyelids and blend it out. - Eyeshadow Application:
Start by applying a neutral matte shade to the crease to define the shape of your eye. Blend a darker shade into the outer corner of the eye to add depth. For a dramatic look, create a cut crease by applying a light, shimmery shade to the eyelid and blending a darker color into the crease. This technique enhances the appearance of larger eyes. - Eyeliner:
Liquid or gel eyeliner is essential in drag makeup. Apply a bold winged eyeliner that extends beyond your natural eye shape for a more dramatic effect. The wings should be sharp and angled, creating the illusion of bigger, more dramatic eyes. - False Lashes:
Drag queens often wear multiple pairs of false lashes for maximum drama. Apply a pair of voluminous lashes that flare outwards to emphasize the eye. Use lash glue to carefully place the lashes as close to your natural lash line as possible. - Mascara:
Coat your natural lashes with mascara to blend them seamlessly with your false lashes. This adds volume and makes your eyes appear even larger.
Step 5: Lips
A bold, dramatic lip is the finishing touch that can make or break your drag makeup look. Lip shapes are often exaggerated, with lips drawn larger than natural, overlined, and full.
What You Need:
- Lip Liner (1-2 shades darker than your lipstick)
- Lipstick (Bold or matte)
- Gloss or Glitter (optional)
How to Do It:
- Line Your Lips:
Start by outlining your lips with a lip liner. Drag queens often overline their lips to create a fuller, more exaggerated pout. Be bold and extend the liner slightly above your natural lip line for a more dramatic effect. - Fill in with Lipstick:
Apply a bold lipstick color that complements your overall makeup look. Reds, pinks, and deep purples are popular choices. Use a lip brush for a more precise application. - Optional Gloss or Glitter:
For extra drama, you can apply a gloss or lip glitter to add shine and sparkle to your lips.
Step 6: Setting the Makeup
To ensure your makeup stays in place for hours of dancing, performing, or partying, it’s essential to set your look with a setting spray.
What You Need:
- Setting Spray
How to Do It:
- Spray and Lock In:
Hold a setting spray about 6-8 inches away from your face and spray in a circular motion. Allow it to dry naturally. This will ensure that your makeup stays in place, doesn’t crease, and lasts throughout the day or night.
Conclusion
Drag makeup is a transformative art form that allows you to explore bold shapes, exaggerated features, and creative expression. From prepping your skin to creating sharp brows, sculpted cheeks, and dramatic eyes, every step of drag makeup is about pushing boundaries and creating something visually stunning. With practice, you’ll be able to master the techniques and develop your own signature drag look. So, grab your brushes, get creative, and let the transformation begin.