Pinup model Diablo Rose shares her pro vintage makeup tips

pinup model Diablo Rose

Pinup model and makeup artist Diablo Rose talks vintage makeup tips, cherry-red lipstick slicks, retro hair flicks and more in this exclusive Mookychick interview!

Everyone adores your raspberry ripple hair! Do you have any layered hair colour tips?

Thank you! I’m often asked I stop the colours from bleeding into one another when I wash my hair. I find washing my hair at a cool water temperature helps a lot. I also try to separate the colours out a little when shampooing to avoid the lather from getting mixed up.

Diablo Rose raspberry ripple hair

“I bleached my roots, including some of my outgrown black streak. Then I applied La Riche Directions in Rose Red to the streak alone and left it for 15 minutes. I then washed the hair dye out, during which the dye spread to the surrounding hair. Thus the ‘Raspberry Ripple’ hairstyle  (as it was beautifully christened on my Instagram) was created!”

The beauty of multicoloured hair is that even when it starts to fade or blend it can still look super-pretty. I like how my hair changes a bit with each wash, so if you’re willing to embrace those happy accidents then enjoy them!

Which vintage hair accessories would you love to see brought back in a big way?

I love wearing headscarves for those lazy and/or bad hair days….

Diablo Rose vintage headscarf

You can just pin your hair up any way and pop a scarf over the top and still look put together. Plus, with all the lovely prints and styles available now, it looks really cute. You can even try adding some flowers or bows to the sides to dress them up.

Diablo Rose - vintage hair snood

The snood is a cute way of keeping that hair in place! (And loads of hairspray through the rest!)

Snoods (click for Mookychick’s style guide) are also a great accessory which can get overlooked. You can wear them for both day and night as they are a classic piece, offering so many possibilities to style out your vintage hair looks.

Any pro makeup tips for getting lipstick to Just. Stay. On ?

Oh yes, when I’m at work I don’t have time to keep touching my lipstick up so I’ve got a great tip which really works. I apply my Le Keux Cosmetics Lip Paint with a brush for precise application and blot to remove any glossiness. Then with a round shadow brush I gently dab our Pin Up Powder on top. This sets everything in place and creates a really stained-in colour. Then I apply another layer of lipstick over the top for brilliantly long-lasting lipstick!

Diablo Rose’s tutorial for a perfect pinup pout

What’s an easy vintage hair tutorial for beginners?

I think victory rolls are the ones that most vintage style lovers start with, but I’m not saying they’re easy! They can be pretty annoying to start off with, but really if you stick at it and really practise you’ll get the style right. We have several beginner’s guide videos on our YouTube channel where we talk through different hair lengths step by step. I also teach one-on-one classes in our Leeds and Birmingham salons for anyone who’d like a more personal class aimed directly at their own hair length, type and texture etc. That can make a real difference to how you style hair.

Le Keux Salon Victory rolls hair tutorial for beginners – medium to long hair

What’s the quickest way to a vintage makeup look?

I think the traditional vintage make up look is lovely because because it doesn’t have to involve too many processes or products. If you break it down into a strong eyeliner flick, nicely defined brows and a slick of red lipstick it doesn’t have to get too complicated! We also have tutorials breaking down each of those steps on our ‘Le Keux Vintage Salon’ YouTube channel.

The beauty of vintage make up is that it can be worn by everybody as it’s all about the eye liner flicks and red lips! Find high pigment lipsticks that showcase the colour against all skin tones. Our own Le Keux Cosmetics Lip Paints are incredibly high pigment, so they keep that same strong colour worn by all skin tones.

Any secret tricks for lifeless hair, short or long?

Whenever a customers say their hair is ‘too thin’ or ‘too short’, I just tell them that with enough backcombing tips for gothic hair and hairspray, anything is possible! I’ve not lost a battle yet with any hair type – you just have to try things out and work with the hair to get a lovely style. Hair and make-up is all about having fun and expressing yourself. If you think creatively, you can achieve loveliness! One of my favourite products for giving fine hair a boost is a volumising spray or powder. You apply it to the roots and shake through to the ends of your hair to add a little oompf and texture. This, in turn, makes your hair more moldable and thicker before you start to style.

You love tattoos, too! Can you tell us about your tattoos?

I do indeed love tattoos! I have a fair few now, with many more plans for new ones.

Diablo Rose tattoos

Dress: Vivien of Holloway. Orchid: Rosie Alia Designs. Tattoos: Diablo’s own! See the full photoshoot on Diablo Rose’s blog

I’ve loved tattoos from my early teenage years. I see them as a lovely way to decorate my skin with all kinds of pretty things and memories. I think people can either love or hate tattoos, and some people can be quite vocal and rude about their opinions but I stand by my personal decisions. I always say to people that if you love something, then that’s really all that matters. Having the courage to be yourself and style yourself in a way that makes you happy is the most wonderful feeling in the world.

How did you end up specialising in vintage hair?

My journey into vintage hair and make-up styling was just that, a journey. I am completely self-taught and actually studied Graphic Design at university. When I graduated I did the website, ads and logos for Le Keux Vintage Salon. The salon was still in its early days and launched by my sister-boss, Lynsey Le Keux. As she became busier and the business grew I started doing make up and practised, practised and practised some more!

Pinup model Diablo Rose

I began to style hair as well, and we travelled the UK doing mobile appointments. Several years later (to cut a long story short!) we now have two salons and a cosmetics line! I didn’t see myself doing hair and make up full time but I am so thankful that this is where my life has taken me. I just adore all parts of my job!

What’s a typical working day like?

I’m the Creative Director at Le Keux Vintage Salon and Cosmetics so I have lots of different roles! A typical day involves managing the salon and bookings, doing hair and make up appointments, working on advertising and cosmetics campaigns, organising our creative shoots, editing our Pin Up Photoshoot customer images and the general day to day tasks and plans with my sister-boss Lynsey Le Keux!

I also answer questions and do my daily hair and make-up pictures and tutorials for my own pages on Instagram and Facebook under Diablo Rose.

I love how varied my days can be and enjoy taking on new creative projects and working on our brands!

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

Ooh, tricky one! I’ve been lucky to work with incredible photographers. I’ve  been featured in magazines for both my modelling and hair and makeup career, which is wonderful, and I’ve even been on the cover of a few magazines which I’m incredibly proud of!

Strange as it may sound, last year I was involved in a copyright infringement case when a company used my image on a t-shirt without permission. The outpouring of support and help from my followers was incredible. I was able to win the case through my own hard work and determination which felt like a HUGE victory.

Since then I have discovered it has also helped inspire other women to take charge of their own situations, goals and aspirations  – which is such an amazing thing to see.

So… as difficult (and bizarre) as that was, it’s led to so much positivity that will stay with me forever. I appreciate that so much!

Glitter, gloss or day-glo?

Glitter, ALWAYS glitter!

Keep up to date with Diablo Rose…

Check out Diablo Rose’s tips, tutorials and services on her Instagram, Facebook and the Le Keux Vintage Salon Youtube Channel. She posts often and beautifully!

Main photos (pink setting, blue dress):

Photography and set: Frankie and Gerry’s Retro Studio

Hair and make-up: Diablo Rose at Le Keux Vintage Salon

Wardrobe: Glamour Bunny Clothing