Does music change your makeup routine?

10:23 am Tuesday, 3^rd November, 2020

VidaLaFierce

Over the last few years of doing drag (and even a little before) you’re probably not surprised that I’m pretty accustomed to putting a face of makeup on. Not only is it my job, it’s also a nice form of artistic expression and a lot of fun (apart from those times it goes a little wrong and there can be a little battle to fix it!)



I’ve talked before about how I have my own little ritual to get ready, which includes the music I put on to help get myself into the zone, so this post is almost more of a question than anything, as I’m really interested to hear what the other makeup aficionados here make of this…



I quite often play some Ru or music by other drag queens to get into the mood. Something to make me feel upbeat and utterly fabulous. Fun, flirty, high energy stuff – and it always does the trick! This week, however, I felt myself gravitating to a different style of music altogether. Through my work with the Burlesque team, I’ve become quite fond of the music of Earl Bostic, an American Jazz and Rhythm and Blues saxophonist active between 1931 and 1965. I first discovered his music with the song ‘Harlem Nocturne’ that our principal dancer uses in one of her spectacular routines. It’s a fabulous instrumental piece that evokes images of Film Noir and moody dark alleys, but with an edge of flirty, whimsical sexiness. You can’t help but sashay your hips to this! It simply demands it!



So, that was the mood I was in while I was putting my face on this last Saturday, Halloween night. I wasn’t going out and out Halloween, but I wanted something a little darker and sexier than usual and as the all the outfits were black, red or black and red, I decided I was free to pick a stronger face look as I didn’t have to worry about it matching many outfits of many colours, like I normally do.



So, the mood took me and I delved into a playlist of Earl Bostic’s music and I was surprised by how much it put me in the mood. It was like getting ready in a black and white movie! Now, I’d started out without a clear idea of where the makeup was going, but for the first time, I let the music take me where it wanted to. And take me it did.



Before I knew it, I was off on some kind of vintage eye and lip combo, but bigger. I wanted to take the beautiful precision of vintage makeup and make it darker and bolder, so I started with a bold, black cut crease and smoked it out with a dark red. Under the eyes, I smoked out with a hint of blue and then picked up the details in gold. The lip was a fabulous bold, metallic but matte statement red, with the clean lines and shaping typical of the vintage lip style. The product I’d decided for on the lip is one of my favourites (If they ever stop making it, I’m screwed). It’s a matte paint that dries so lasts the whole night without retouching and its metallic component adds a beautiful, subtle sheen that reacts to light in unusual ways, making a real impact!



All in all, I was pretty happy with this week’s makeup. Even more so, when I woke up in the morning with a near-perfect face. And that was after walking home in the rain and being so drunk I just collapsed straight into bed at 7:30am! (Always take your makeup off before bed, ignore this messy bitch!)



So, my question is: Does anyone else find that the choice of music they get ready to influences the direction the makeup takes? Do certain types of music result in a different style of makeup?



I’m really interested to see what people have to say about this one. Of course, it could just be me being crazy, or could it be that there’s some truth in it? Have you had an experience of this? Does the idea make you want to give it a go? Does Disco make you reach for rainbow colours and bright glitter? Does heavy metal make you reach for the black? I want to hear from you about what music does for you while you’re putting your face on. Or perhaps, it does nothing at all for you.



Sound off in the comments and tell us what you think! Aaaaand until next time…. You know the drill…. Stay safe, stay sane and stay…. Vidalicious!

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