Many queens in NYC and beyond whip their hair back and forth and still look fabulous thanks to this queen… Pennsylvania native, one half a dynamic drag duo in studio and life, and Best Hair Design Glam nominee… Diana Dash!
Thotyssey: Hi Diana, thanks for chatting with us on this chilly Sunday! How is 2024 so far for you?
Diana Dash: Hi there, thank you for having me! So far 2024 has been restful. I started 2024 in drag looking and feeling better than I ever have, and that feels like it set a good tone for the year for me. I’ve been getting work done in my studio, but mostly been playing housewife and spending quality time with my cat, Spencer.
You’re well-known for styling and designing wigs for other queens, but do you get a chance to perform in drag yourself as often as you’d like?
When I moved to NYC in 2017, I had already been doing drag for a few years, and had been performing regularly in and around my hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I assumed I would keep that momentum up when I moved to the city, but I ended up focusing more on creating looks and going to parties rather than performing. I have had a good amount of opportunities here to perform in drag, but it never really stuck like my wig styling has. Part of that is because I wasn’t always in the best mental health to say yes to things when I moved here. I wasted a lot of opportunities standing in my own way and being immature.
Back in 2022 Jazz[-mint] and I hosted a weekly show at a bar in Williamsburg that really challenged us to pump out new looks and performances on a tight turnaround, which was incredibly difficult but also incredibly rewarding. Our show “Mad Dash” at the since-closed bar Wilson Lives is definitely one of my proudest achievements. I’ve now made peace with only performing in drag here and there, when the moment is right. I’m able to put a lot more of myself into the few performances that I do, which tends to work better for my creative process anyway.
Is there a typical type of wig styling that you like to work with… as in, does your work have signature looks?
There might be a few details that set my wigs apart and could be considered signature, but I end up doing such a broad range of styles since most of my work is commission based. It’s difficult to nail down a signature like that… hopefully people would say polished! durable? creative? I don’t know.
What is something that drag queens do to their wigs that’s bad, or that annoys you when you notice they’re doing it?
I think you can make styled wigs last years and years if you care for them properly. And I feel that because of the high demand for new new new, people aren’t putting a lot of emphasis on maintaining and giving that style longevity. Custom styled wigs are not cheap, and if you are a drag queen or any wig wearing performer, I do think it would benefit you a lot to learn the very basics of wig styling and maintenance. It’s interesting to see how the trend of wigs these days is really speaking to wig wearers who do not have the time or interest in doing any maintenance to a wig; using gels, glues and even resin to basically make a hair helmet that will never move. It’s a great solution and one I often use, but it’s not the only solution. And that’s also assuming the initial styling was done well, lol!
Are there a lot of times when you and your life partner Jazzmint, who is a fashion designer, are simultaneously working with the same client?
It’s happened a few times! We do sometimes have the same clients, which is really convenient and flattering. We most recently did a full look for our friend Milk who was doing an ice skating show. I was just taking about this recently with Jazz; we need to start marketing hair and outfit combos! Full House of Dash experience. Bring your own shoes though–no Dash cobbler, yet.
Congrats on your Glam nomination for Best Hair Design, by the way! Were you pleased to receive that?
Yeah, it’s always nice to know that your work is on people’s minds. I was nominated the first year I moved here when I had barely done any wig work (don’t know how that happened) and then I hadn’t been nominated since, so it feels good to know my work is gaining some notoriety within the NYC scene. I’m very grateful to be nominated alongside friends and people that I really admire, who deserve some recognition for their hair work. I do think there are quite a few people that I would add to that list such as my dear friend Perfidia who has been styling iconic hair for drag queens and performers in NYC since before I was born, but sadly I don’t have that power.
She’s a legend! Anything you wanna add?
Just a big thank you to anyone and everyone who has ever commissioned me, recommended me, or supported me in any way. I am so grateful I get to live in a city that I love, do what I love and get paid for it.
Amazing! Okay, lastly: Drag Race! Who have you enjoyed “meeting” these first two eps, whose team are you on…. and who has the best hair so far, lol?
I got to work on a few wigs for Plasma, which automatically makes her one of my favs! I’m also very drawn to Sapphira, especially being a Philly girl, love me a PA queen, but I think Nymphia Wind is my top choice–and has had the best hair so far. I mean that banana hair alone wins her that title.
It’s pretty tasty! Thanks, Diana!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Diana Dash’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Thotyssey 