Gothic hair and makeup

Gothic hair and makeup

For my second part of the gothic horror topic, I have to create two characters, Quentin, Claudia or Mrs Laderman who already have assigned briefs, I have to create the characters relating them to a chosen TV series of my choice. I chose the American Horror Story season four the freak show , the two characters I have chosen to recreate are Mrs Laderman and Quentin . In order to help me with the hair and makeup styling I decided to research into hair and makeup which fall into the gothic category.

Gothic hair

After analysing many photographs of gothic hairstyles it is evident that majority of gothic hairstyles are dark, sometimes incorporated with a colourful stripe or highlights in the hair such as pink or neon green. Dip dying the ends of the hair a neon colour is also recognizable as a popular hairstyle in the gothic culture. Gothic hairstyles are sometimes accompanied with a full fringe.

Male gothic hairstyles are usually dark with sometimes colour incorporated into the style, Mohawk's are also popular and supported with dark eyeliner and sometimes facial piercings.

The long black hair may be considered as a little stereotypical, other hairstyles which fall into th gothic category is coloured hair, which can often be pink red purple or blue  accompanied with a normal hair cut.


Here is an example of a gothic hairstyle , It is noticeable that the hair colour in this photograph is mainly black wit a section of neon pink at the front of the hair. The hairstyle also appears to be a variety of lengths from shaven on the left hand side with the pink section of hair falling just below the shoulders.

Shiva Stoker. (unknown). group of gothic girl. Available: http://weheartit.com/entry/group/1400304. Last accessed 03/05/15.

Here is a photograph of another gothic hairstyle, it is noticeable that the hair has possibly been thickened up with hair extensions and backcombing, majority of the hair is also coloured black and accompanied with black highlights and a short full fringe which is cut just above he eye brows.

Anonymous. (unknown). synthetic hair. Available: http://www.hairfromhell.com/Synthetic-Hair-Falls(600209).htm. Last accessed 03/05/15

Here is a photograph of gothic male hair , it is noticeable that the hair is quite long and choppy. The hair I also very dark and accompanied with a long side fringe which falls over the eyes.

Anonymous. (unknown). people i want to be friends with. Available: https://www.pinterest.com/leynielavache/people-that-i-want-to-be-friends-with/. Last accessed 03/05/15. 

Gothic makeup

The gothic style of makeup usually tends to include, a pale complexion which can be traced back through many eras such as the Elizabethans and the Victorians, however the Victorian era is where the gothic style originated from. The style of eye makeup is usually quite heavy application and usually a dark tone such as a black or a purple. The lip application completes the gothic style of makeup and is a red tone or a black . 

In terms of gothic male makeup, the application is usually quite simple after analysing some images of gothic male makeup, heavy eyeliner and mascara is usually applied to the eyes and sometimes black lips I applied to the lips in order to complete the look, some male gothics also like to wear blck nail varnish.

Anonymous. (unknown). gothic makeup images. Available: http://www.thoughtyoumayask.com/picsbtqq/gothic-makeup-images/5. Last accessed 03/05/15.

Here is a photograph of male gothic style makeup, although the makeup comes across quite perfect and neat and fashion show based, it conveys the gothic element of dark eye makeup application.

Here is another photograph of gothic style makeup, the complexion is pale, the lip application is a red tone and the eye application is however quite light but accompanied with eyeliner and mascara in order to make it appear more gothic.

Anonymous. (unknown). goth hair and makeup. Available: https://www.pinterest.com/sparrowwing591/goth-hair-and-make-up/. Last accessed 03/05/15.

Here is a sketch of my interpretation of gothic hair , although it is quite unclear due to it being drawn in pencil , the sketch shows long straight hair with side fringed and hair which has been backcombed at the roots in order for it to appear thicker and bigger.

Here is my sketch of male gothic hair although it is quite unclear due to it being sketched in pencil my interpretation of male gothic hair is a side Parting with  long side fringe and hair which layers in towards the face.