The Queen's Gambit Makeup and Hair Tutorials

Have you watched it yet? The Queen’s Gambit is a 7-part mini-series on Netflix that became a “word of mouth” hit after debuting last October. Not only was it a fantastic show, but it also provided a glimpse into the eclectic fashion, style, and decor of the 1960s. Need a little mid-week pick-me-up? Try this easy, Queen’s Gambit makeup and hair tutorial!

How to Get the Beth Harmon Look

The Queen’s Gambit might be a Netflix show about how an orphaned girl became a chess prodigy but it’s also a nod to the style and trends of the 1960s. I loved watching the main character Beth Harmon evolve over the seven episodes. As she grew physically and emotionally, her confidence and maturity increased and so did her budget for cute midi dresses and trench coats. Her short red bob and bold winged eyeliner may have you wanting to bring these styles into 2021. So please, allow me to help you do just that…

The Queen’s Gambit Eye Makeup

For this makeup look, I want to focus primarily on lips and eyes.

For eyes:

The stunning actress who plays Beth Harmon, Anya Taylor-Joy, has very wide-set eyes. In order to recreate this look, you want to concentrate on applying your eyeshadow boldly to the middle to the outer edges of your eyelid. To keep with the theme of the 60s, I chose eyeshadow colours in red and orange hues from the Catrice “Badass Bae” palette.

The real key here is that you need a really, bold winged eyeliner. You want to exaggerate this look, so don’t be afraid of going really dramatic. If you aren’t skilled in creating a winged look, try the Cat Eye Stamp double-sided eyeliner from Lyda Beauty. First, stamp the outer corner of your eye with the triangle-shaped stamp. Next, using the felted tip side of the pen, start at the inner corner of your eye and draw a skinny line along your lashes. Gradually increase your line-height to meet the top corner of your stamp, then use the pen to fill that thick line into your lashes. This may sound tricky but it’s actually quite easy so I’ve included a photo of my stamp and outline below to help guide you. Use your eyelash curler and apply a double coat of mascara to finish.

For lips:

The character of Beth Harmon has a strong cupid’s bow, meaning that the “v” shape of her upper lip is very defined. To replicate this, use a red lip pencil to first outline your lips, concentrating on that deep “v”. Compliment the hues of your eyeshadow with this orange-red lip colour from RealHer called “I am Fierce”. Fitting isn’t it? Finish your look with pink blush, defined eyebrows, and a translucent powder.

Lyda Beauty Cleopatra Cat Eye Stamp in Bold/Black

Catrice Eyeshadow Palette in BADASS BAE

RealHER Moisturizing Lipstick in I Am Fierce/Hot Red

The Queen’s Gambit Hair Tutorial

Alright, so clearly I’m not going to become a short-haired redhead for this post but it is possible to get an old-school glamourous look without doing anything drastic. After washing your hair, do a deep side-part. Add mousse to your roots and blow-dry while finger combing your hair up and away from your face to add volume. After finishing with a round brush, add loose curls with a wand or curling iron. For more detailed instructions, I followed the Glam Curls steps from my previous blog post to set the foundations of this hairstyle.

Now, take the front piece of your hair and create a wave by allowing your bangs to fall low down your forehead, sweeping just over or on top of your eyebrow. Then while keeping the hair loose, pull the hair halfway back up and lightly secure with a bobby pin. It’s easy, just follow the photo below! Easy right?

Beth Harmon Fashion

If you also loved the fashion in this show, I have linked my turtleneck grid sweater dress from Chicwish for you, and it’s currently on sale for $39! I chose this dress in true homage to Beth Harmon because the grid pattern made me think of a chessboard. It is also available in a black, white, or grey sweater and would look great with a pair of pleated slacks. Or snag it in a rabato belted coat.