15 Memes That Teach You About Contouring

Contouring paints the world with shades that give it more than just a lovely sheen or gloss. Contouring takes the world, spins it on a dozen different brushes, then comes out at the other end looking fresh as fish, fierce, and fabulous. For your information, contouring is not for the girl who isn't really into makeup and it's not for the girl who doesn't have at least thirty minutes to spend on her face. This is not for the get up and go girl, not for the natural mama, and surely not for those who think they want to dabble a little in makeup. Contouring is hardcore, like seriously hardcore. So if words like blending, primer, and highlighting sound more like art school terms to you than words associated with makeup, it might not be for you. It could be for you, though, because contouring is an art. It's literally painting on your face, using light and shadow to get a desired effect -so all art school students might want to apply should they be called. But contouring is not gym or hot weather friendly, it must be washed off before sleeping, and it will, without a doubt, change your face, or at least the way you see your face, forever. Once you contour, it's like there's no going back.

15 The Face Swap

This is just one example of many. But if you just google contouring, you will see tons of video tutorials by girls who start out with one face and end up becoming an entirely different chick. This is real. This is how deep contouring is. You'd better be ready for it. You'd better be ready to see yourself change from your normal state to a contoured state like you've never seen before. If you're into costume design, Halloween, and role play -contouring just might be your bag, lady. It's worth a try. A warning, you will never look at your plain face in the same way again. That might be a good or a bad thing, but whatever the case may be, just know you took a road that cannot be returned from. You've seen both the darkness and the light. And both have helped you contour the hell outta your face. Welcome to contouring 101.

14 Girl, you better blend

One of the biggest secrets of contouring is blending. This requires patience, it requires an eye for detail, it requires circular brush strokes, it requires good lighting -it also requires all kinds of blending tools. This is not your basic brush anymore ladies. Don't think eyeshadow and blush brush. That is old school and that will not come close to cutting it for the level you require for contouring. You will need several types of sponges, one may or may not look like an egg. You will need a different brush for each separate makeup application. You will need brush cleaning solution because they will get cakey and gummy and that's no way to contour; contouring does not want dirty applicators of any kind. This is an investment, in your face, but also in your self-confidence. If you're not willing to go all the way in, just stay home, boo.

13 Gender Switching

Contouring ain't a joke. Here's something you should know -centuries ago men were performing as women on the stage and in courtyards, then along came drag. It seems men have been playing our parts forever and, perhaps, doing a better job. Have you not seen how über feminine some drag queens are? They make some women feel some kind of way about their own femininity. But that's a whole other discussion, this issue of gender. Contouring can take you to higher heights, it can take you into some territories you didn't even know existed. You can flip-flop, you can become one gender and then the other in a matter of a few hours. You can contour your way onto the other side. So ladies, you can see what it's like to be male for the day or simply up your female game, all by the grace of contouring.

12 Yes, men contour, too, so what

Contouring is not just for us, ladies. Men are getting all the way into it. And the results are remarkable; equally as remarkable as they are for women. As previously stated, men have been slipping on our shoes and dresses for centuries. And with makeup being so on point these days, they can even slip on our faces better than we can. But this is not about switching genders, this is about making the most of your own face and contouring yourself so hard that you become flawless and on fleek both at the same time. Men are here to get in on the fun, too, ladies. So hold your contouring brushes high and cheers to the fact that this is something we can enjoy together, gendered and genderless. This is for all the boys and girls. And it's for those who want to take their face to Photoshop levels.

11 Contouring is not for everyone

First of all, don't feel bad if you're not drawn to contouring or even if you were drawn to it, and you realized it wasn't for you. Contouring is not for everyone. And it doesn't mean you are ugly either. Those who think contouring is strictly for less than average chicks clearly doesn't know how to see the beauty in every living creature. That person is sad. So don't feel bad if you contour, enjoy the hell out of it, are good at it, and it boosts your self-esteem. Good for you, girl. Whatever floats your boat because you're the one steering and it's your boat, you bought it, you can take it anywhere you want to go. For those who are desperate to contour but are yet to master even the basics despite multiple tries, it might be worth your time to visit a specialist because even after watching a dozen contouring videos, it's no clearer how you should be contouring your exact face. Find what works for you and go with that. Let everything else fade away. Or let it all blend into the background.

10 Contouring can go wrong

While, like any skill, contouring surely can be mastered, it's not easy to know what can and might happen in those beginning stages. Without the right information and tools, things could go horribly wrong. And as the internet and Instagram have shown us, they often times do go wrong. So go slowly. Take your time. There's no rush when it comes to contouring. Don't leave the house with a contoured face unless you've been given approval from an expert or you've seen what your face looks like in natural lighting. Don't risk it. You might traumatize yourself and those around you. This is the rule of better safe than sorry. Take some selfies in good light should no resources be available to you. Send to friends, ask for their honest opinion, listen closely. If there is even a hint of negativity when it comes to your contouring job, wash off and start again. Be warned, things can go very wrong.

9 Contouring should not make you a clone

There seems to be a standard or a template when it comes to contouring. I don't want to name names, but I'm pretty sure we all know who got the trend moving at ridiculous speeds. And now because of her, everyone wants to look like her. This is not contouring's goal. Contouring does not want to make a clone out of you, it wants to take your assets and make them shine and sparkle all the way to celestial levels. You do not have to fall victim to the clone face. You have a face, it's yours and it's unique -even if you're a twin, the face you were born with should be worn with pride and joy. So go ahead and paint that face away into another unique face of your choosing, but remember that imitating will get you nowhere in the contouring game. If you should feel compelled to copy, do it minimally and stick to the contouring status that makes your unique face into its own unique face that's been contoured all the way out.

8 There are limits to contouring

While the contouring battle reigns supreme among drag kings, queens, and celebrities and royalty, there are limits that should not be crossed. But you know how things go these days. One person starts a trend and others take it and run with it. And sometimes they try to fly with it. Don't go jumping on all the contouring bandwagons because you're a pro or you feel like being adventurous or you want to be the first to do x, y, or z. Take it easy. Breathe. Think about what you're doing first, then make a wise, informed decision. Don't go contouring everything because when it all comes down to it, the face is where it really matters. Everything else can be covered with clothing. You will thank me later for this solid advice. Contouring does not have to get extreme because it's already extreme. Leave the art alone. Let it do its thing.

7 All face shapes can apply

No matter shape or size, all people can use contouring. This has nothing to do with race or culture. It's not about weight or skin type. And it could care less about height and body type. Contouring is all about the face, darling; and that means every single face can apply. The square face and the heart-shaped one are equally as accepted as the oval and the round. In the world of contouring, everyone gets along because the ultimate goal is using geometric shapes along with high and low lights to achieve a certain effect. That has nothing to do with your shape, baby girl. So whatever face you're working with is fine with contouring. You will not be judged here. You will find a place for your face here at Palace Contour. And feel free to let others know, too, that contouring does not discriminate, so that gossip doesn't start spreading, giving contouring a bad name. Contouring is here to help all, not hurt. It should never hurt. If it does, you're doing it wrong.

6 Don't expect miracles, but don't be surprised if they happen either

Something you will learn along the way as your contouring skills become heightened and you venture into the professional realm -your expectations should neither be high nor low, but they should exist. Don't go buying all the creams and powder that one girl uses and expect them to react the same way on your own face. Sorry, boo, it doesn't work that way. It's not a potion where once it hits your face you become transformed before your very eyes. Contouring takes work and that's when the magic will truly happen. So stop thinking that all those same products that homegirl uses will work for you. They could, they very well could, but don't go into Sephora or Mac with that mindset or you will ruin everything about contouring. Contouring does not want you to feel disappointed, but it does want you to find your swing and that means you will probably have to try several styles, brands, and colors to suit your ultimate goal. Everything has its proper time, no need to rush.

5 This is professional level stuff, ladies

Do be ready to be impressed. And don't hold back your excitement. Be ready, dress to impress if you haven't already because you are about to knock the socks and pants off anyone nearby. Contouring gives drastic results. You will not believe it the first time you try it, but it's all real, well, as real as makeup is, ladies. No one is using the word permanent, clearly it's not and you shouldn't live under that guise either. This is the work of temporary magic. Keep it real. Do not lie to yourself that your contoured face has now become your real face. Let yourself know. Don't get caught up or stuck in deep. And keep those around you informed, too. Don't play any games and don't trick dudes. Keeping things 100 while under the mask of contouring is keeping your skills legit. And more importantly keeping you a woman of her word. Do that, do all of that, but first -get ready for the transformation.

4 You will feel lost sometimes and that's ok

Not every time you contour will you feel like a queen of the contour. You will have good and bad days. Let's compare this to hair days, for example. Now you have a better idea, right. So contouring is very much like that. Some days will be like the gods and goddesses crying on your eyebrow skills and sobbing all over your blending powers. Then other days you will be a flat out mess and everything must come to a full and complete stop; like you will have to pack it up and tuck it all away, take a breath, and start again later. Contouring is like learning a language, not everything comes out like you want it to or like it looks, feels, and sounds in your head. Be realistic and know that you are human. You make mistakes. And contouring is not so forgiving in the mistakes department. You've been advised.

3 The results might surprise you in strange, unusual ways

Contouring has a set of steps to follow and should you stray, even in the slightest, your results could have you scratching your head. The science of contouring is an exact one and while you should follow the techniques for your specific face and features, this does not mean that the science of contouring applies to all equally. You must be prudent and suspicious; you must stay within the lines when necessary and go out of them when called to do so. Don't think you can just put shadowing and highlights where you want and things will turn out alright. Because they won't. And you should not be so bold in this department. If you want to be creative, here is not the place, now is not the time -that's another style of makeup altogether. Please, be careful when applying your contouring lines and pay attention to the guidebooks; they are there for a reason.

2 Contouring might go in new directions

While contouring isn't exactly new, it's fairly new to the fashion scene of this century and because it's kinda new it means it's already getting old which means it will probably take off in another direction. Do not have expectations of contouring like it will only be for the girly girl or the girl who wants to dazzle them at the next big fiesta or the girl who wants to try on a different face for the sake of trying it on. Contouring might take a turn. It could be for the worse, so brace yourself. It could swing in a direction none of us expected. It could have us painting our faces to look like our favorite furry creatures rather than our bi-pedal selves because we're bored of human faces and animals are much cuter anyways. Be ready for all of that and more. When it comes to contouring, you can never be sure to which length it will go.

1 Contouring is really clown makeup disguised as fashion

Now, you can rest assured that you know more about contouring than before. This means you should also know that contouring is really clown makeup. It is a disguise. It is a costume for the face. It is a mask and a way to hide away. It is fashion because fashion does all of those things and more. If you've hopped on the contouring bandwagon just know that you are not following some novel trend, this stuff has been around and it will continue to be around. It will change because all fashion evolves. Therefore, expect to see contouring slip away and return when you are a few decades older and you can ooh and aah at the cool ways that kids are contouring in the future; and laugh about your contouring skills of yesteryear. Everything goes in cycles.