Harley Quinn Glam: Fun Makeup Ideas for the Bold and Fearless
At SHEGLAM, we believe makeup is just one of the many tools you have to show the world exactly who you are (or the characters you’d like to be, even just for a night). Some days, you may wake up wanting to serve a more dewy, delicate look, and other days, you may want to turn heads with your bold and fearless makeup.
When you’re in the mood to stop traffic with your makeup, we recommend a Harley Quinn glam look. In this guide, you’ll learn how to DIY this distinctive look and put your most daring foot forward.
Who Is Harley Quinn?
Before diving into how to nail a Harley Quinn makeup look, we need to clarify who exactly she is. Harley Quinn, once known as Harleen Quinzel, is a fictional character from the DC Universe. She worked as a psychologist at Arkham Asylum, where she met the Joker. After meeting one of DC’s most notorious bad boys, she became his accomplice and adopted the name Harley Quinn.
Famously brought to life by style icon Margot Robbie (and soon to be played by none other than Lady Gaga), Harley Quinn’s look is flashy and fierce. Her outfits usually feature red and black, and no look of hers is complete without her signature black choker.
With platinum blonde hair pulled into two high pigtails and more than a handful of tattoos, Harley Quinn is the definition of punk-rock chic.
What Defines a Harley Quinn Makeup Look?
Few characters in the DC and Marvel universes have a makeup look as distinctive as Harley Quinn's. Fans of the franchise would be able to spot her from a mile away, thanks to a few of the defining characteristics of this look.
Arguably the most emblematic part of her makeup look is her eyes — more specifically, her eyeshadow. Margot Robbie’s version of Harley Quinn always sported one eye with shocking red eyeshadow and the other with vibrant blue eyeshadow. To match the rips in her clothing and tears in her tights, her eyeshadow is always messy and smudged, often running down her cheeks.
Add some bold lipstick and a black heart tattoo planted in the middle of your right cheek, and you’ve got the Harley Quinn look down. Now that you have a general idea of what this look entails, you’re ready to dive into a step-by-step Harley Quinn glam guide.
How Can You Do DIY Harley Quinn Glam at Home?
The best part about Harley Quinn’s striking makeup look is that it’s not too difficult to do at home. If you’re not a makeup aficionado, don’t worry. Harley’s look is all about smudged lines, imperfect application, and a “more is more” mindset.
Regardless of whether you want to try out a toned-down version of the look for a more casual event or go all-out Harley for Halloween, all you need are a few key products and the confidence to rock it!
1. Prep Your Skin
There’s nothing worse than putting your heart into a makeup look just to see it fade a few hours later, which is why it’s so important to prep your skin before you start applying your Harley makeup.
Clean your face, and apply a primer that will give you a matte, smooth base on which to apply your foundation. Given that the eyes are such an important part of Harley’s look, don’t forget to use an eyeshadow primer like our Ready Set Eyeshadow Primer.
2. Start With Your Base
Once your face is primed with our Good Grip Hydrating Primer, it’s time to think about foundation. Harley Quinn’s skin is definitely not glowing or dewy (she doesn’t strike us as the type who’s drinking eight glasses of water a day), so make sure you go for a matte foundation.
Try to look for a foundation that is a few shades lighter than you would normally go. This will make the drama of the eye and lip colors stand out more (if you want to really commit to the look, you can use face paint).
As you apply your foundation, you don’t need to cake it on, but you should make sure there’s enough that you can build upon later. Set everything with a spray or powder, and you’re ready to go!
3. Go Big With the Brows
Although there’s nothing exceptional about Harley’s eyebrows, they are defined and dark. That said, fill in your brows with black eyeshadow using an angled brush and give them some lift with brow gel — like our Hold ‘Em Up Tinted Brow Gel.
Make sure to exaggerate and accentuate the arch so you can do all of Harley’s daring, questioning looks once you start to get into character for the night.
4. Nail the Asymmetrical Eyeshadow
Harley Quinn’s eyeshadow, the cherry on top of her makeup look, is all about asymmetry and in-your-face colors. So, to start, apply a white shadow on and around your eyes. This will create a base layer that allows the vibrant red and blue to pop.
With your base layer in place, you’re ready to start with the colors. Choose a shocking red eyeshadow to apply to your right eye. Generously brush several layers onto your lid and around your eye. Using your finger to put on the eyeshadow is a great trick to achieve the rebellious Harley look.
When your right eye is fully covered with the red eyeshadow, grab a fan brush to pull some down your cheek. You can even use a colored eyeliner or lip liner pencil to draw the “running” design down your cheek so you have a guide to follow.
Once you’re satisfied with your right eye, grab a bright blue shadow (think along the lines of the color of a blue raspberry candy), and repeat the process on your left eye.
5. Apply Your Lashes and Eyeliner
With the eyeshadow done, it’s time to turn to lashes and eyeliner. False lashes aren’t a must-have for this look, but they can help draw attention to your eyes and add to the overall drama. If false lashes aren’t your cup of tea, then layer on a few swipes of volumizing mascara (our All-In-One Volume & Length Mascara is a fan favorite) to give your real lashes a boost.
In terms of eyeliner, you’re going to want a dull black eyeliner pencil or a really soft one to achieve the Harley Quinn eyeliner smudge. Apply a thick layer of eyeliner to your top and bottom lid to define and shape your eyes.
Then, using the same pencil or an angled brush, sweep the eyeliner up and out to create a messy winged effect.
6. Paint On the Heart Tattoo
If you’re a fan of Harley Quinn, then you know her look wouldn’t be complete without her famous face tattoos. Under your right eye (go for the spot on your cheek where you would start to dab blush), draw a heart.
That may be enough for a more subtle take on Harley Quinn, but if you want to go all the way, then write “ROTTEN” in all capital letters below the heart in your best villain font.
You can use black, waterproof eyeliner or face paint for these. Make sure you pat each with a little bit of translucent powder so that they last all night long.
7. Last But Not Least… Lips!
When it comes to doing Harley’s lipstick, you have a few choices. The most recognizable lip color that she rocks in Birds of Prey is a bright red, but you can also go for a black lip and still stay true to her character.
Just like with the foundation, you should look for matte lipstick (if you want to go for the more classic red Harley lip, our Dynamatte Boom Lipstick in the shade It Takes Guts is ideal). However, before you apply your lipstick, make sure you line your lips well with red lip liner or black eyeliner, depending on what shade you’re going for.
Then, fill in your lips to get full coverage. Make sure you blot your lips between layers to ensure that they maintain their color throughout the night. As soon as your lips are really filled in, smudge one corner down by adding more product or dragging what’s there.
Remember, the name of the game is imperfection, so don’t be afraid to smudge with the back of your hand or your thumb.
Bonus Points for Hair
Although this isn’t technically a step in the makeup routine, hair is definitely a part of Harley’s glam. You can either buy a Harley Quinn wig to take your makeup to the next level or DIY her hairstyle, too.
For DIY Harley Quinn hair, part your hair down the middle and pull it into two high pigtails right above your ears using red and blue hair ties or ribbons (on the same sides as the eyeshadow, of course).
Keep a few pieces in the front to serve as bangs, and curl your hair, making sure to use a lot of hairspray to give it a somewhat frizzy, disheveled look.
Wrapping Up
You’re officially ready to put your costume together and pull off a picture-perfect Harley Quinn glam look.
If you do end up taking a photo in full Harley mode, don’t forget to share it on social media and tag us. We can’t wait to see you looking your most fabulous and fearless as Harley Quinn.