(Part 2) Top products from r/Drag

Hey! I was totally in this situation 6 months ago. Figuring out technique is a sort of "figure it out as you go" situation and tons of videos on youtube can help you figure it out. What I can help you with is your purchases. Figuring out what you'll need is extremely overwhelming, so here's a dirty rundown of what I've gathered so far:

1. Starting off can be pricey, so I highly recommend starting off buying cheaper make-up until you figure out your vibe. You really don't need the expensive stuff to look good, and make-up in stores like Sephora and Ulta are EXTREMELY expensive relative to how much you will be using vs. their price. That being said, amazon is your girl. Mehron has extremely cheap foundations on Amazon and they last forever (at least they did for me) - attached is my main shade, but you can look through the color options they have to guess your base/contour/highlight. I've only gone through one entire stick of my base foundation (which I use the most) since i've bought my base make up. I HIGHLY recommend in investing in beauty blenders and not brushes when it comes to foundation because i've found that beauty blenders make looks come out a lot more polished. (Not to say that good looks can't come out of brushes, I've just found blenders to be a lot easier to work with.
   
2. Once you have painted your foundation in a way you're happy with, use light layers of setting powder to set it down. Remember that although the more powder you use will have it last longer, the more cakey you'll come out. Also keep in mind that the powder will soften colors, so don't expect the foundation to be as intense as it was before you put the powder on.
   
3. Colored eyeshadow can be really tough when you don't know what colors work for you. This is the palette I highly recommend getting based on it's color variety and price. Mind you, some of the colors came in cracked, but if you press them down without mixing them into the other pots, they are deff still usable. Remember that you'll need a lot of brushes if you want to experiment with different shades. Elf brushes found at any general store (Target for example) typically go for a dollar each, so stock up on those so you have room for experimentation. I'd recommend around 10 or so just to be able to play around.
   
4. EYELINER. I personally love a sharp thick liner, so I primarily get some cheap liquid liner and cover it with black eyeshadow to make it POP. (This can also be applied to any part of painting - If you want it to really POP (I cannot stress this enough) start with a liquid or cream material and cover it with it's powdered equivalent. Any cheap elf liquid liner will do. If you're not really focused on a sharp liner, go for pencil because it's generally easier to apply.
   
5. Eyebrows - Not sure what your eyebrows are like, but trust me when I say that they're one of the biggest inconveniences when it come to painting your face. If your brows are thick, I highly suggest investing in a multipack of glue sticks. Gluing techniques vary among queens, but I tend to apply a heavy layer of glue, smooth out as much as I possibly can as fast as I can before the glue gets tacky and dry with a hairdryer. After the glue is almost dry, I apply a light layer of setting powder (DO NOT GO OVERBOARD, because your brows WILL come out crunchy). After this initial layer, continue layers of glue and LIGHT powder until they're fully blocked. Be sure that they're completely dry before you continue on to the next layer or else the tackiness will cause them to break (and you'll have to start all over). Honestly I'd say shave them off if you have the ability to do so and don't mind what you look like browless as boy.
   
6. CLEAN UP. Cleaning up is one of the things I dread most about drag. You'll need some stuff to clean both your face and materials. When it comes to removing make up, wet wipes feel nice, but are (again) pricey. If you're on a budget, cotton rounds and micellar water should do the trick just fine. When it comes to your materials (blenders and brushes) I don't care what anyone says. Dish soap and hot water will ALWAYS remove makeup quickly. Don't use any specialized brush cleansers until you feel comfortable enough to invest in quality brushes.
   
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   Again, you don't need EVERYTHING listed above, but for my personal complete look, I require everything I mentioned. Starting off, I blew about around 300 dollars, so save money when you can. When queens joke about how they spent a lot of money to look "this" cheap, they really aren't lying. ALSO, don't be discouraged if you don't have the coin. There are tons of other resources available out there and if possible, you can always slowly acquire items over time.
   
   ​
   
   Good luck! ✨

Most of the tutorials I know of are purely makeup tutorials, but every queen dresses differently.

I'd say these are the big requirements:

-Wig (preferably a big one). Go to a wig store and buy a decent one (I'd start with something like this or this (lace-fronts are usually the best).

-Dance tights (some queens wear up to 5 or 6 tights at a time - this helps shape your body more like a female's because it covers the padding).

-Padding: get a piece of thick foam (something like this) and use either a safety blade or an electric turkey/meat carver to saw out something like the shape of an inverted comma (for your hips). The leggings/tights will cover this up.

-Padded bra (or fake breasts) - remember to contour (and obviously shave) your chest to outline your breast areas (if they're going to be showing)

-Fake/costume jewelry - silver or gold, pick one and stick with it for any one particular outfit. I'm not sure where you're located, but everyone in Los Angeles goes to Santee Alley to get their costume jewelry, but I'm sure there are a million places online to get them too (Etsy, for instance).

-Heels. You'll probably want to start with 4-inch or less if you've never walked in them before. Practice walking in them a lot. A huge telltale sign that a queen is new is when they're all done up, but they're half slumped-over walking because they can't properly walk in heels.

I'd say that your first step should be to go get a pair of heels and practice walking in them. I see people out in West Hollywood on a daily basis dressed completely as a man, but wearing heels to practice. It's not as easy as it might look, especially for a guy.


Unfortunately, drag isn't a cheap hobby (or career). If you don't have a bunch of money to throw at it, go bargain-basement hunting online. The good news is that most places will put large sized shoes on sale, since they're harder to sell.

Most new queens start out with a corset-based outfit, but it's not a requirement. If you're a bigger guy, it might help shape you closer to a woman's body type.

Hope that helps! (This advice is from the husband of a drag queen, so it's second-hand, but if you have specific questions, I'll be happy to ask my husband for more info).

Sorry for the delay in replying! So I got the brushes from this link: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I3VHKVK/ and this link: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EWBYUDU/ for a great variety of basic eye and face brushes. Paid about 16 bucks total, and that should still be the price! The bristles on the first set are so dense that I needed a separate dusting brush for brushing off loose powder/finishing my foundation beat, and luckily i already had one. If you don't, this one looks excellent: https://smile.amazon.com/EcoTools-Sustainable-Materials-Synthetic-Packaging/dp/B001KYVLSU/

As far as wigs are concerned, I look at wigs marketed to both white women and women of color, since they both have different, excellent attributes. If you want something silky and smooth that you can style yoursef, do a search for K'ryssma wigs and pay attention to the reviews! I got this one: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XJ3BGJC/, and it was gorgeous. Needed some work on the hairline (I plucked out some of the hair from the lace so the hairline looked more natural). K'ryssma wigs are machine made and come in a wide range of styles. The one I got had a LOT of hair, which was great! I was looking for a base wig to stack on and style myself, so the straight/slightly wavy style was perfect for me.

Many of the wigs for black women's hair have phenomenal texture (like straightened kinky hair) which gives them great body and fullness. Not as much movement, but not everyone needs that! The one I got for myself was the NEESHA wig (tons of YouTube reviews! this one is very popular) at this link:https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01B3GZTBO/. Haven't tried to stye it yet, and the lace is quite stiff/hard but this wig has a TON of hair.

BEFORE YOU BUY A WIG decide if you are going to try to style it yourself or if you need one that's mostly good right out of the box. That way you can avoid ending up with a wig you can't use without buying a ton of other styling products. Check out onlinekyne on YouTube--he has a ton of styling and baby queen tutorials, and isn't so experienced that his stuff is intimidating to watch. I also watch Mr. Villberg's wig transformation tutorials for ideas.

That's all I have time for now, but I will try to get back to you later today with more info! Best of luck, and let me know if you have any other questions!

https://www.amazon.com/Mehron-Paradise-Paint-Palettes-Colors/dp/B00886JONC

You can buy these individually as well for like $8. They paint on like water colors, and they wash out SUPER easily. I used to use colored cream makeup, but I had to wash my beard like 8 times before it all came out. The product I linked is AMAZING.

REQUEST or SHARE: SHARE

Item Description: Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive

Size(s): N/A

Price range / Price: $10-$15

Applicable Locations? (i.e. Online; Local supermaket): I think some drugstores sell it but I don't see it often on shelves. I usually buy mine online.

Provide a photo link or the online listing: https://www.amazon.com/Revlon-Precision-Lash-Adhesive-0-17/dp/B003TTB4SG

Extra tid-bits: I know Duo lash glue is kind of the go-to. I hate Duo though. When I used it, my lashes would always fall off, and the glue stung my eyelids really badly. This Revlon stuff is great. You have to give it time to get sticky before you put on the lash, but once it's on, it stays there. I've never lost a lash with this stuff. The brush also makes it really easy to apply precisely.

Anyways, I'm not trying to sway anyone away from Duo if it works well for you, but if you're like me and Duo doesn't cut it for whatever reason, this stuff is definitely worth a try.

Illamasqua eyebrow cake in Thunder + Angled brush

Translucent setting powder

Milk of Magnesia (Use it as a primer, trust me)

I also echo the call for TV Paint Sticks, they're my super lovely, angel babies.

The perennial #101, for a softer look

Thanks! I've been using this super cheap palette from amazon, I'm surprised with how great it is https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B001C6H6F8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have an oily face, and I've never thought of it as being a particularly negative thing, Raven has constant shine going out of drag, and she believes that her skin looks great and young because of it! That being said, for every day wear (which is important for practicing subtlety) I use powder foundation. For drag I use Revlon's Colorstay for normal/dry skin because the oily skin version is a nightmare in an open mouth bottle that's impossible to get at. Watch for the clear cap, if its black plastic(that's the oily skin version), RUN. After applying in three colors and blending, I bake it with pounds of translucent fragrance free (shit is STRONG smelling otherwise) Coty Powder. That's how I base my face, anyway. Once I've refined everything, bronzed and blushed, I hairspray it all down with GOT2B Glued hairspray. I need to invest in a setting spray, hairspray probably isn't good for me at all.

I use the Coastal Scents Professional Camouflage Concealer Palette. I use contouring sponges something like this, moistened a bit. For full coverage, I use liquid concealer (a darker tone, and one that matches my skin) to cover broader areas and blend the contoured areas. Once the blending is complete, I use Tarte Smoothe Operator Clay Finishing Powder. I love it because it's superfine and gives a really even finish, and sucks up oil. However, keep in mind that mineral products will produce flash-back in photos. This is true for all of them, not just powder. You may want to try Smashbox products, as they're made to be studio makeup.

Get this book: https://www.amazon.com/Comedy-Writing-Secrets-Best-Selling-Think/dp/1582973571
Honestly, it's terrific!

I'm in Australia and use a blue gluestick, but if you're in the US I've seen a lot of queens using the Elmers purple sticks. I buy the smallest size so that it's not much wider than my brow, so less clean up haha. https://www.amazon.com/Elmers-Disappearing-Purple-Washable-0-21-ounce/dp/B00143UIC2

3M's vinyl tape is awesome. It's got a bit of stretch to it, so you can really get everything high and tight, but because of the stretch it doesn't pull itself off throughout wear - and holds as well, if not better, than duct tape. Doesn't tend to sweat off, either.

It's been an industry standard for as long as I can recall. I know Willam from RPDR used to sell it as "Tuck Tape" if that holds any weight for you.

The cheapest I've found is still the Capezio on Amazon for $19.29. As far as a gaff, I really don't know. I tend to go the clear duct tape route.

One good starter set is by Coastal Scents: Coastal Scents 22 Piece Brush Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UBN5AQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zWPnxbE9YWPEX

I used good old-fashioned RIT dye: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AQ72E6A/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the one I use.

i've been using an elmer's washable gel glue stick , i'm figuring it being not the purple one doesn't change much..?