With her fearsome makeup and super cool swag, Harley Quinn from the Suicide Squad is already set to be the go-to costume of the year, so naturally, we had to get involved. And believe it or not, with the right tools this ghoulish look is easier to achieve at home than you might think. To talk us through the makeup routine, we sat down with professional hair and makeup artist Alice Howlett, who in a few short steps taught us exactly how to get it right on fright night. Here’s her top tips…
By Rebecca Hoffnung
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1 Stage 1: go pale, without caking on the makeup
‘Complexion is key with this look’ explains Alice, ‘so to make yourself look suitably pale, apply a couple of coats of white face paint to your face and neck.’ You don't want to look too caked, so keep it light, or if you're going for the more natural look, just use a foundation that's a shade or two lighter than your skin tone. ‘Once your skin base is complete, draw your eyebrows in with a black brow pencil or face paint. Harley is known for her striking brows so don't be afraid to go all out!’ explains Alice.
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2 Stage 2: mess up your eye makeup application
Harley's eye makeup consists of one eye red and one blue, which you can easily achieve with eyeshadow or face paint. Alice used the Kryolan Aqua Colour Face Paint Palette. ‘Start by blending out the colour on each eyelid and then bring it down to the cheeks in a few streaky lines to get a crying effect,’ explains Alice. ‘Then apply eyeliner around the eyes and smudge it out to give added definition. Finish this off with a healthy dose of black mascara, and if you really want to amp up the look (it’s Halloween – you might as well bring out the big guns!), add a pair of false lashes.’
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3 Stage 3: pick the right red lipstick
Smudged red lips are another key feature to Harley’s edgy look. It’s important to look for a deeper blood red shade of lipstick, and to keep the colour matte – stay away from anything too glossy. Mac’s Ruby Woo lipstick is perfect for this. ‘After application, all you need to do is use a finger to smudge it out’ explains Alice; ‘try sticking to just one or two smudges to keep some definition on the rest of the lips. It's really that simple!’
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4 Stage 4: steady your hand for the final details
Harley’s character also has a couple of small tattoos on her face including a black heart near her right eye, and the word ‘ROTTEN’ written on her cheek. Both of these require somewhat of a steady hand, so when drawing in these finishing details be sure to use a fine brush or very thin, sharp liner. ‘Don’t be afraid to get creative with this look or go all out with colour,’ explains Alice; ‘there are lots of different variations of it, so try experimenting with a different colour combination or even throw in some glitter.’ And importantly, don’t stress about keeping things too neat – the beauty of this look is that it doesn’t have to be perfect.
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5 Stage 5: nail Harley's hair with her signature dip-dyed bunches
The final and most distinct stage of your Harley Quinn transformation has to be the hair. Styled into two blonde pigtails dipped in red and blue dye to match the makeup, you can either do what we did and go down the easy route by buying a wig on eBay (£15 well spent if you ask us) or try a temporary dye job yourself. If you’ve already got blonde hair then you’re halfway there – simply buy some wash out coloured hair spray, apply it to the ends of your hair and you’re good to go. If you’re brunette and don’t fancy wearing a wig all night, short of dying your hair there are other options. ‘The look is so recognisable that a bit of hair chalk or spray will make you look like Harley Quinn despite not having the blonde locks,’ explains Alice; ‘and to really complete the look, don't forget to pull two strands of hair out at the front, carry around a novelty baseball bat and some bubblegum to chew on in true Harley fashion!’ And there you have it. Harley Quinn in 5 easy steps.
If you want the look but can’t be bothered with the DIY, why not put yourself in the hands of the experts?
FAQs
How do you create Harley Quinn’s pale complexion at home?
You can get Harley Quinn’s pale look by applying a couple of coats of white face paint to your face and neck. For a more natural effect, choose a foundation that’s one or two shades lighter than your skin tone. Striking black brows using a brow pencil or face paint complete the base.
What makeup do you need for Harley Quinn’s eye look?
You need red and blue eyeshadow or face paint to create Harley Quinn’s mismatched eyes. Blend each color on a different eyelid and drag it down your cheeks for a streaky, crying effect. Add eyeliner, smudge it out for definition, and finish with black mascara or false lashes.
Which lipstick is best for Harley Quinn’s red lips?
A matte, deep blood red lipstick like Mac’s Ruby Woo is perfect for Harley Quinn’s signature lips. After application, smudge the lipstick with your finger—just one or two smudges keep the lips defined but edgy.
How do you add Harley Quinn’s tattoos to your face?
Use a fine brush or thin, sharp liner to draw a black heart near your right eye and the word ‘ROTTEN’ on your cheek. These small details help finish the look and give it Harley’s recognisable style. Don’t worry about making them perfect, as the look is meant to be a bit messy.
What’s the easiest way to get Harley Quinn’s dip-dyed hair?
The quickest option is to buy a blonde wig and spray the ends with red and blue wash out hair spray. If you already have blonde hair, temporary colored sprays work well. Even if you have brunette hair, adding colored hair chalk or spray gives the effect without permanent dye.