Six LGBTQ icons for forever hair and beauty inspiration

Here are some of the figures who we can always rely on for ideas when it’s time to mix up our own look.

Lady Gaga

Bisexual performer Lady Gaga has been making headlines for years thanks to her fearless fashion choices — two words: meat dress. But her hair and makeup game are certainly always on point too. And now, fans can channel her aesthetic thanks to the launch of her cosmetics line: Haus Laboratories.

RuPaul

An icon of stratospheric heights! Did you know that the Drag Race star was the first ever campaign model for MAC’s Viva Glam campaign? In the decades since, his megawatt sparkle hasn’t dulled. To gauge his impact on drag queen culture — and on the beauty industry at large — all you have to do is search YouTube for a cut crease tutorial. Ready to try your hand at one of his signature looks? In his own words “You better work!”

Ruby Rose

With her pixie hair cut, visible tattoos, and smoldering stare, it’s no wonder Ruby Rose became a household name in America the moment she appeared on the TV show Orange is the New Black. However, the Aussie model had already gained prominence in her native country as a TV presenter and campaign star for Maybelline. With the perplexing ability to look both tough and chic at the same time, Ruby Rose challenged any preconceived notions of what a gay woman should look like.

Ziggy Stardust

Since he was a teenager, David Bowie’s alternative view of how men and women should look has helped shape and transform the music and performance industry. His alter ego, the character Ziggy Stardust, is a pivotal example of how he threw the rulebook out the window. With a flame-colored mullet, glitter, and Kabuki-style makeup, Ziggy Stardust paved the way for the next few generations of male performers keen to experiment with their look, no matter what their sexual orientation is.

The Blonds

You might not be familiar with David and Phillipe Blond, but chances are you’ve seen their extravagant creations on some of the LGBTQ community’s most prominent stars. The design duo’s New York-based label is also a trailblazer when it comes to defining runway beauty trends — particularly for drag and nightlife performers. Whether it’s Cleopatra-style eyeliner, 3D rhinestone nails, or two-tone hair (as rocked by Paris Hilton) or rhinestone nails, there’s nothing that these designers and their collaborators will shy away from.

Laverne Cox

Actor Laverne Cox is a tireless advocate for the trans community, who is also known and adored for her glamorous red carpet appearances. But what makes Cox an icon to so many is her down to earth nature and relatability. Find any interview with her and she’ll tell the beauty journalist that her day-to-day skincare and makeup routine all involves products from the drug store, right down to the same L’Oreal True Match foundation that she has been wearing for 17 years. Coming from someone at her level, it makes for refreshing reassurance that her glam is within everyone’s budget.