Steps
1. Achieve the look of a porcelain doll . Before you do your hair and makeup remember that the essential look of Gothic Lolita is that of a porcelain doll, with
flawless skin and perfect hair. These are surprisingly easy to come by. One day of the week (weekends are recommended since you can run around with goop on your head and not get funny looks every thirteen seconds) set up a 'spa' day.
2. Apply a conditioning mask to your hair, either something from a beauty store or home-made mayonnaise (yes, really !).
3. Comb the goop through your hair with a wide toothed comb, twist it up
on top of your head, and put either a shower cap, plastic wrap, or a
plastic shopping bag over it .
4. Massage a cleansing cream over your face (just grab a big bottle at the dollar store, the cheaper ones are usually more gentle anyhow), and let that sit for one minute . Rinse, and rub on an exfoliating scrub.
5. Set a big pot of water on the stove, let it come to a boil, take it off, and set it on a hot pad somewhere that you can sit comfortably bent over it.
6. Get a thick towel, hold your head above the bowl, and put the towel over your head. Stay like that for about 10 minutes, five if you have sensitive skin. (Do not remain so long that the steam hurts you.) Lift up the towel to let air in until the steam thins a little. If you have blackheads , take a tissue and gently rub them after you are done.
7. Take a face mask, depending on your skin type . Two good homemade kinds are 2 egg yolks with one tablespoon of olive oil (for dry skin) and one egg white whipped fluffy with one tablespoon of lemon juice (for acne prone skin) . Let these sit for twenty minutes, then rinse with cool water. Follow the directions on the bottle if it is store bought.
8. Apply toner to a damp cotton ball and sweep over your face . Let dry, then splash your face with water, and massage your face with the facial lotion of your choice. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then press tissues to your face to remove the excess. On a daily basis, wash your face twice daily using a clean washcloth (hang it up to dry after you use it, and replace it every two days).
9. Exfoliate least once a week, and at most every other day with an exfoliating scrub.
10. Get your hair trimmed. Split ends do not belong on a porcelain doll. The most popular style is long hair, with soft layers and fringe bangs. You could also leave out the layers, especially if you have straight hair. Wear your hair in a classic way that complements your face shape. Ask the person who cuts your hair if you have absolutely no idea about that.
11. Before you do your hair, fix your makeup. It's easier to apply makeup with your hair completely back and out of your face, which means a ponytail and headband. After you wash your face, rub facial lotion into your wet skin, and let dry. After five minutes, blot off the excess with tissues.
12. Create a natural base. You want a very natural look. You can forgo the wet- face-lotion bit, and add some foundation into your lotion. One tip that is really good if you don't need foundation is to take a powder based foundation in one shade lighter than your skin tone (anything else will look chalky) and apply it to your nose and the immediate area around it, forehead, and chin. Blend it outward with very clean fingers.
13. Add powder. After the foundation (or lotion), powder your skin with loose powder.
14. Move onto eyes . You're looking to get doll eyes, so precision counts big time.
Take an angled brush, and dip it into black eyeshadow, or brown if you prefer. You could really do this with any color, but darker colors are best.
15. Tap off the excess, brace the arm of your writing hand with your other hand, gently stretch the lid so you have no slack, and apply . Put it just behind your upper lashes, getting wider towards the outside corner, and thinner to the inside.
16. Re-dip and tap, then apply a thin line to the outer quarter of your lower lid, again just below the lashes, and getting wider towards the outside. Re- dip, and extend the corner of the eyeshadow a few millimeters past the corner of your eye, no more than 5 if you want a natural look.
17. Blend out with clean fingertips. Don't bother stretching out your lid when doing this, because not stretching will produce little lines that mimic eyelashes. Next, curl your eyelashes with an eyelash curler. If you're of Asian ethnicity, try a heated curler, since you tend to have very straight lashes.
18. Apply clear mascara, let this dry for a minute or two, then black, or brown if you want. A tip for blondes - very dark brown or charcoal will make your eyes stand out more, not black. For everyone else, black will make your eyes stand out more.
19. Add color. If you want a little color, go for a matte baby pink or rose if you have
warm skin, or lilac or blue if you have cool skin. To tell which you have, hold something gold and something silver next to your skin. If gold looks better, you have warm skin. If it' s silver, you have cool. Just apply a thin layer before you apply eyeliner, in about the same areas, but past it a little on your lower lids, and further up everywhere.
20. Take a powder in the same color but darker, and sweep it into the crease of your lids . Blend.
21. Prepare the cheeks . Apply either no blush, or a pink that looks good next to your skin. If you aren't sure, go to a beauty shop.
22. Don't bother defining your cheeks, unless you'd like an Aristocrat look . You're trying for a childish effect.
23. Last but not least, fix the lips . Get a soft pink that looks good on your skin, and a lip liner that matches it. Brace your arm, and follow the line of your lips.
24. Apply the lipstick . Matte lipstick is recommended, and no gloss because the
focus of your face should be your beautiful eyes. If you want a pouty look, take a light shade of shimmery eyeshadow that was recommended for your skin tone, and apply just a tiny bit to the middle of your lower lip. Voila!
25. Create the hair . There are many different styles that you can have your hair for
Lolita, the most popular being:
√ Ringlet curls. A great option if you have hair that is long, or at least shoulder length. Easily created using a curling rod, you can have small, tight curls (best for
shoulder length) or larger, looser curls (best for hair longer than shoulder length).
√ This style looks brilliant with any type of headpiece as well.
√ Straight hair. This should only be done if you have the right cut. Healthy hair, with a fringe that comes above the eyes (your eyes should not be hidden whatsoever. You spent all that time making them big and doll-like , why would you hide them?) and chin length- or longer. If your hair is not naturally straight, use flat irons.
√ Plaits. A simple, yet adorable style which is great if you are really going for a childlike effect. Can be done as either one plait (pulled back, so it falls down your back), or two plaits (one at either side). Looks great on all hair lengths.
√ Pigtails. Appropriate for short hair to shoulder-length hair, as it looks cutest this way. This hairstyle looks great with hair-accessories rather than headpieces, such as bows and cute girly clips (but keep it to a minimum. This is Lolita, not Decora!)
26. If you are having trouble choosing a style, check out a few old Victorian
pictures for inspiration .
27. Style the hair. Get a spritz bottle full of water, and evenly mist your hair. Comb
it through, and add either a little bit of mousse or leave-in conditioner, mousse
if you want volume, conditioner if you want sleekness. If you have curls, use a
diffuser at this stage. A diffuser is a hair dryer attachment that flares at the
outside edge, and has a little flat place inside. Again, ask a beauty store if you
aren't sure.
28. Turn the dryer on low warm, and lower your hair until it's resting on the
little cup . Every ten seconds or so, scrunch your hair in your hands. Dry the rest
of your hair like this.
29. Mist with setting spray. For straight hair, either just brush when dry, or
straighten with velvet covered plates. When you use rubber bands, get the fabric
coated kind with no metal connection parts.
30. Add fragrance. Choose a perfume that is flowery, playful and light. Heavier
scents are better suited to Aristocratic types.
Warnings
1. Don't use scrub if you have very bad acne! This will just inflame it even more,
and could result in scarring.
2. Follow the directions on everything. Some products have special warnings: read
them carefully.
3. If you are not good at makeup whatsoever, ask for help or get further
instruction.
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