Annie Burchard had a very distinct look when she was incarcerated in a county jail in San Diego for two years. She had tattoos, bright red hair styled in a pompadour, and a rockabilly fashion sense.

She wanted to maintain some of her style in jail, but found that would be nearly impossible without violating rules on contraband.

Still, Burchard was not deterred and found a way to express herself. She says although using state-issued property not for its intended purpose is considered contraband, most deputies understood that inmates want to feel feminine and put on makeup.

She says red M&M candies work great for lipstick, cherry Kool-Aid can be a substitute for hair dye and newspaper ink is suitable for blush.

Hear more about her beauty regimen in CBC Radio's DNTO series looking at life behind bars.

Listen to the full DNTO episode.