The Balance Between Dramatic and Realistic Makeup Styles for Drag Kings

📸 Sarah Malone

What’s your signature look for your Drag King?

Being a Drag King is a wonderful canvas for creative expression. The truth is, you’re never stuck with anything you’ve done before as a Drag King - because you made it up! This means you can change it at any time.

Drag King makeup is one of the four pillars of being a competent King. Unless you have a makeup artist you can bring with you to every gig, Drag King makeup is a skill you’ll want to learn. 

It is important to understand that Drag King makeup is not everyday makeup. This is theatrical makeup for the stage. 

Why do we need makeup for the stage? 

Stage lights can be very bright and can wash out your natural facial features. Makeup helps to define and enhance your features. Your expressions will be more visible to the audience, even those seated far from the stage.

Interestingly, makeup can also enhance the emotional impact of your persona. For instance, darker makeup around the eyes can make you look more sinister. Bright colours can make you look more cheerful or innocent.

Even if you’re performing on screen, makeup plays an important role. Both camera and lighting can be very unforgiving. They can highlight imperfections and create shadows on your face. This can make your face look uneven or unnatural. Makeup helps to even out your skin tone and reduce shine. Continuity is also important as film and TV shows are often shot out of sequence.

So where to start?

One of the questions to ponder is: do I want to create a more realistic masculine look? Or do I want a theatrically dramatic face?

Let’s delve into these two forms of Drag King makeup to help you choose.

Realistic Masculine Makeup

Opting for a realistic look, you will use makeup to sculpt your face. The aim is to draw out masculine features. 

If you are on T, you might be already satisfied with the masculine features of your face. To avoid looking washed out under the lights, you will still need performance makeup. This will also ensure that your facial expressions are visible to the audience.

The goal of this look is to masculinise your facial features. The best way to do this is with contouring and highlighting. You can also add missing features such as facial hair.

Don’t forget to frame your face by filling in your hairline. A more feminine look is to create a love heart-shaped hairline. Masculinise your face by creating an angular frame for the face.

Leave eyebrows and facial hair until last in creating your look. The shapes you choose will make your look.

Dramatic Theatrical Makeup

This is where you can get creative. Think glitter beards, defined lips, heightened eyebrows, colour and drama.

Start with the archetype for your performance. Are you heading into glamour boi or Queen territory? Or venturing out into Drag Thing land into a world of fantasy or sci-fi?

Theatrical can also mean adding obvious freckles to a face. They are not natural looking but they read as cute, sweet or innocent.

You can go outside the box here with non-skin-tone colors for contouring.

Make sure you cover your face completely - don’t leave any places uncovered. Blend, blend, blend. You’re aiming to create an airbrushed finish.

Dramatic eye makeup is an exciting tool in theatrical makeup. Use bold eyeshadows, eyeliner, and mascara to make the eyes stand out. For even more drama, false eyelashes can add significant impact as well as bending gender.

Realistic or Theatrical? Whichever form you choose the most important action to take is to practice.

Have fun with it - remember, you’re never stuck with anything you create. Only YOU get to say what your Drag King persona expression is.

Xx

Danica Lani

The King Coach

P.S. Wanna be a Drag King? Learn how to become a Drag King. Click here to join the Kings of Joy community

Hello handsome, 🌈 I'm Danica Lani, also known as The King Coach. I'm here to empower you in your exploration of gender, sexuality, and performance. I have proudly mentored and choreographed 112 first-time Drag Kings since December 2020. Welcome to the joyous community of Kings of Joy, where we uplift and celebrate each other every step of the way! 🎉🤩 Let's embark on this Drag King journey together! 🤗💖 #KingsOfJoy