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Put Your Best Drag Face Forward During Pride Week: We've Got Pro Tips

 Drag Queens Behind the Scenes
Drag Queens Behind the Scenes
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NORTH PARK — Happy Pride Week, Chicago.

As preparations for Sunday's Pride Parade kick into high gear, the pros shared tips on how to put your best drag face forward during the upcoming festivities.

Meet Lady Ivory, Krissy Feetface and Toyota Corona, who all recently took part in a "Drag Queens Behind the Scenes" Q&A hosted by the Albany Park Branch Library.

The afternoon event, aimed largely at teens, was a bit of an eye-opener for the trio.

"They usually don't let us out during the day," Toyota joked.

All of the queens are relatively new to Chicago's drag scene — at four years, Ivory has been at it the longest — and had plenty of advice for novices, including how to break into performing.

Unlike New York's "catty" scene, Chicago's drag community is incredibly supportive and welcoming, the queens agreed.

"Going to shows, watching girls, being present is key," Ivory said.

For those with aspirations of becoming the next RuPaul, Toyota warned: "Less than 10 queens can call it their full-time job."

Instead, be prepared to start out by taking free gigs (or accepting drinks as payment) before working up to hosting jobs, she said.

Lady Ivory demonstrates how to paint on a drag face. [All photos DNAinfo/Patty Wetli]

Drag makeup, which Krissy likened to painting, takes years to perfect.

The best way to learn is to soak up tips from other queens and copy the technique of girls you admire, she said.

Ivory recommended YouTube makeup tutorials, as well.

"Nobody sat me down and taught me — it was a lot of watching," Ivory said. "I'm still experimenting. My face is constantly evolving."

Here's how to draw outside the lines.

• Glitter. Glitter. Glitter.

It almost goes without saying, but we'll let Krissy say it anyway: "Glitter is a drag queen's best friend. Glitter hides everything."

Makeup starting to sweat off? Add glitter.

Eyebrows drawn on crooked? Glitter.

Didn't get a particularly close beard shave? Glitter.

• Speaking of Beards....

Shave right before applying makeup for the smoothest canvas, Ivory said.

It can take multiple layers of foundation to achieve the illusion of a whisker-less face (not to mention contouring to soften the jaw line) which can become an expensive proposition. 

"It's hundreds of dollars," Ivory said of her makeup investment.

Halfway there.

Blending is key — and so is technique, she said.

"Never rub your makeup, always pat," Ivory said.

Toyota's routine also includes an application of Milk of Magnesia under her foundation to help control sweating and calm the skin.

"We torture our faces," she said.

The darker the beard, the harder it is to cover up which is why "A lot of queens are like, 'Screw that, I'm a dude'" and let their facial hair show through, Toyota said.

Heavy brows pose a similar challenge.

Ivory tames hers with glue, which is a point of contention among queens, Toyota said.

"We have friends who shave their eyebrows off," she said.

"Which is terrifying," Ivory added.

Hands Off

Applying makeup — up to a two-hour process — is only half the battle. Painting a face that will stay on is the other.

"You've got to get used to not being able to touch your face. Ever," Toyota said.

Got an itch? Don't scratch it.

"I remember one of the first times I was in drag, I forgot," Ivory said. "I scratched my face and I had three lines down my face."

The Eyes Have It

It took Ivory two years to hit upon the shape she wanted for her eyes.

"Eye makeup, to me, is one of the hardest things to learn because it's all about symmetry," she said.

One side of the face always seems more difficult than the other when it comes to painting, Ivory said.

Start with the more challenging side first, she advised, and it will be easier to match on the other side.

Lash Is More

Completed face, just add wig.

"Lashes are my favorite part about makeup," Ivory said. "They really finish the look."

Kim Chi, a Chicago queen featured on "RuPaul's Drag Race," is known for layering on as many as 20 pairs of false lashes.

Ivory applies a modest-by-comparison four pairs, using hair bonding glue to solidify the look.

"Be very careful," she warned of the glue. "I've definitely got my lids stuck together."

• From Cinderella to Pumpkin

Be sure to scrape everything off at the end of the night, Ivory advised.

"Don't fall asleep with your makeup on," she said. "I know girls who do that and I'm like, 'How is your face not a giant pimple?'"

The Pride Parade kicks off at noon Sunday at Montrose Avenue and Broadway.

Learning to walk in high heels ... that's a whole separate topic.

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