COSTUMES, HAIR& MAKEUP
Anoteon brands:
Whydotheyhave towearmakeup anyway?
Stage lights are super bright, and they completely wash out your dancer’s face They obliterate the shadows that would naturally fall on a dancer’s face, which makes their faces look flat Without stage make-up their facial expressions won’t be visible to the audience and judges Although it can feel weird putting so much makeup on such young dancers, we promise you that it is a necessary component of competing onstage It's the only way to see their faces (and their personalities and emotions) once they're onstage
Please follow the instructions and tutorials, and don't skimp on product. This is for stage - not for everyday life Bright cheeks, lots of mascara and a strong lip are the name of the game As your dancer gets older, their makeup should evolve as well, and by the time they are teens, a full face of makeup, including foundation, contour, blush & highlight are expected. At some point you will likely also want to consider false eyelashes
In the beginning, with young dancers, you can focus on rosy cheeks, pink lips, and sparkly eyes If the eyeliner is too much for them, then skip it, and focus on mascara.
It doesn’t take long for them to get used to it, and as long as you ’ re calm and positive about the whole experience, they’ll pick up on your vibes and be excited too. Similarly, your stress and annoyance can rub off, and make them so cranky and dramatic
Planfor Success
If you’re rushing, everything will go wrong
On rehearsal and competition day please be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to complete makeup. Everyone’s emotions are high on competition day, and your own patience will probably be pretty thin This is made worse by feeling like you have to rush
Your dancer probably won’t sit still the whole time, and will probably whine about something (most likely something that you think is sooooo not a big deal) And let's face it - you'll probably mess something up and have to start over By leaving extra time, it allows you both to take a break from each other if you need it
Need help?
Makeup Tutorial Video
This video shows the process for a Mini or Junior dancer YouTube links are provided throughout this guide for more advanced and mature makeup techniques
MakeupProducts &Application
Foundation
Makeup needs something to stick to, so foundation or BB cream is necessary. Younger, sensitive skin may do better with a BB cream (a blend of moisturizer and foundation that is less harsh), instead of a full coverage foundation. It’s totally your choice. Either way, be sure to choose a shade that matches skin tone and blend it into the neck The idea is to create a base for the rest of the makeup - not to change your skin tone It is highly recommended that older dancers choose foundation with a satin or matte formula
Products
BrandSuggestions
BB Cream CoverGirl Clean Matte BB Cream
BB Cream Maybelline NY Dream Fresh BB Cream
Foundation L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation
Foundation Revlon ColourStay Foundation
Foundation CoverGirl Outlast Foundation
Concealer L’Oreal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer
Concealer e l f Cosmetics 16 Hour Camo Concealer
Purchase:
1 foundation or BB cream product
1 concealer (optional)
MakeupProducts &Application
Powders
Set your foundation with a translucent powder Use a fluffy brush or a powder puff, and pat it all over the face. Loose or pressed powder will work. Whatever you prefer.
Intermediate, Teen and Senior dancers should also invest in a bronzer to contour the cheekbones, jawline and temples You may also want to use a highlighter on the cheekbones and nose You could also purchase a full contour/highlight palette which will give you multiple shades to choose from.
Younger dancers can also contour and highlight if you choose
Products
Pressed Powder
Loose Powder
Transluscent Powder
Bronzer
Highlighter
Highlighter
Pallette
Purchase:
1 Powder
BrandSuggestions
Revlon Colorstay Pressed Powder
Maybelline NY FitMe Powder
e l f Perfect Finish HD Powder
Rimmel Natural Bronzer
L’Oreal Lumi Glow Nude
Maybelline NY Master Chrome Highlighter
NYX Professional Highlight & Contour Palette
1 Bronzer (optional for Mini/Junior)
1 Highlighter (optional)
1 Palette (as an alternative to a separate bronzer and highlighter)
MakeupProducts &Application
Blush
This should be applied to the apples of the cheeks and blended up towards the temples The goal is to create a rosy look that is much more intense than normal day wear, but that doesn’t look like a 1980s straight slash of blush. Use a bright pink, (or a bright peach if that matches your skintone better)
Products BrandSuggestions
Blush Revlon Powder Blush – 014 Tickled Pink
Blush NYX Buttermelt Blush - My Butta Half OR Butta Together
Blush Quo Beauty - Pink Passion OR Sweet Peach
Purchase: 1 blush
MakeupProducts &Application
Eyeliner
Line the upper lid The line should be thicker at the outer corner, and curve upwards Older dancers should be creating a clear winged eyeliner Minis and Juniors, do the best you can with their much smaller eyelids If you choose to do line the lower lid, only do the outer corner
Need help? Click here: Gel & Brush
Need help? Click here: Liquid Liner
Products BrandSuggestions
Eyeliner Pen Maybelline Master Precise Eyeliner
Eyeliner Pen Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen
Liquid Eyeliner Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner
Liquid Eyeliner CoverGirl Perfect Point Liquid Eyeliner
Purchase: 1 black eyeliner
MakeupProducts &Application
Eyebrows
It’s also nice to have visible eyebrows onstage, lol This is a totally skippable step for many people, but for those with very fair eyebrows, filling them in (and possibly darkening them a bit) is essential. Powder, pencil or gel is fine
Products BrandSuggestions
Brow Powder Cover Girl Easy Breezy Powder Kit
Brow Pomade Maybelline New York Tattoo Studio Brow Pomade
Brow Pencil Maybelline NY Eye Studio Brow Precise
Brow Gel e l f Cosmetics Wow Brow Gel
Brow Gel NYX The Brow Glue
Purchase:
1 eyebrow product (optional depending on your particular brow situation)
MakeupProducts &Application
Eye Shadow
You will need to use three separate eyeshadow colours in order to contour the eye and bring depth and sparkle back to the eye under the harsh stage lights. You can purchase the colours separately or as part of a little pallet - whatever works for you Here is what you need:
White eyeshadow goes on the inside corner of the eyes (on the tear duct and onto the lid) and on the brow bone
A medium silver grey shadow should be used to cover the whole lid and the crease and blended up to the brow bone
A darker grey is used to contour the crease
Need help? Click here: Eye Shadow Tutorial
Products BrandSuggestions
Palette e l f Cosmetics - Everyday Smokey Palette
Palette Covergirl TruNaked Eyeshadow Palette - 820 Smoky
Palette Physician’s Formula Eyeshadow Palette - Smoky Eyes
Medium Grey NYX Prismatic Shadows - Frostbite
Dark Grey Anabelle Satin Single Eyeshadow - Cloud
White Maybelline Expertwear Eyeshadow - Vanilla
h grey sh w
MakeupProducts &Application
Lipstick - Mini/Junior/Intermediate
Apply to top and bottom lip A lipstick, or liquid lipstick is best Do not choose anything sheer or glossy Lipstick will need to be reapplied as the day goes on Please check lips before each number goes onstage **Be sure that you have a BRIGHT pink (think hot pink, fuschia or magenta) and not a pale pink Last year we saw some very pale lips
Lipstick - Teen/Senior
Apply to top and bottom lip A lipstick, lip vinyl, or lip stain is best Do not choose anything sheer or glossy. Lipstick will need to be reapplied as the day goes on. Please check lips before each number goes onstage
Red lipstick can sometimes bleed, so you may also want to begin with a lipliner to help keep it in place
Products
BrandSuggestions
Pink Lipstick Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick – Romantic
Pink Lipstick Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipstick - Coy OR Striking
Red Lipstick L’Oreal Paris Infallible Matte Liquid Lipstick - French Kiss OR Le Rouge Paris
Red Lipstick Maybelline Superstay Vinyl Ink Liquid Lipstick - Wicked
Red Lipliner NYX Professional Makeup Lip Liner Suede Matte - Kitten Heels
Red Lipliner Revlon ColorStay Lipliner - Red (675)
Purchase:
1 pink lipstick OR
1 red lipstick
1 red lip liner (optional)
AdditionalMakeup Products&Tools
Not Required But Good to Have
Everything is easier when you have the right tools It’s worth investing a few dollars into some makeup brushes (at the very least, an eyeshadow brush and a blush brush) because the little sponge applicators and tiny brushes that come in the packages just don’t really work all that well There are perfectly good brushes available at Dollarama if you are on a budget Amazon is also a great resource if you ’ re looking for something with higher quality.
Products Use
Eyelash Curler
Beauty Blender
Foundation Brush
Helps natural lashes to stand out against their lids
Sponge applicator to apply and blend foundation
Alternative to a Beauty Blender - applies more product to the skin
BrandSuggestions
Quo, Revlon, Wet n Wild, e l f
Quo, Real Techniques, e l f
Real Techniques, Quo, e l f
Makeup Wipes
Eye Makeup Remover
Qtips
Setting Spray
Makeup Brushes
Easily removes most products without water
Removes mascara and eyeliner without having to rub harshly at their eyes
Helps to blend, and to remove little mistakes (especially eyeliner mistakes)
Helps makeup last all day Prevents transfer to clothes and costumes Matte is better than dewy
To more easily apply & blend
Makeup Bag
Keep it all together Leave room to add additional products as your dancer gets older
They’re all the same - Simple is gentle, Equate & Quo are cheap
Any brand micellar water, or eye makeup remover
Qtip brand is the softest
NYX The Face Glue or e l f
Matte Magic
Real Techniques, Amazon brush kits, even Dollar Storethey all work
Literally any makeup bag
Whatever you want. Probably something that’s easy to clean
HighPonytail
Smooth all of the hair back into a secure ponytail at the crown of the head. The hair in the ponytail may be smoothed, or teased, depending on the number. Just like in the picture, the hair must be flat and smooth against the head There can be no bumps or flyaways It’s a good idea to use a spray bottle and fine tooth comb to scrape the hair back into the ponytail.
If there is no other hair accessory indicated on your costume checklist, then place the rhinestone hair cuff around the ponytail so that the sparkly side is facing the top. Be sure to wrap the hair tie tightly.
LowPonytail
Part the hair in the CENTER of your dancer’s head and secure it in a ponytail just above the nape of the neck with an elastic. Brush out and smooth the hair in the ponytail so that it looks neat If a side part is asked for, it will always be the LEFT side of the head
If there is no other hair accessory indicated on your costume checklist, then place the rhinestone hair cuff around the ponytail so that the sparkly side is facing the top Be sure to wrap the hair tie tightly
If a flower or an applique is indicated, it will go on the right side of the head, or on the back of the head above the ponytail Be sure to check the hair chart or your costume checklist
HighBun
Smooth all of the hair back into a secure ponytail at the crown This includes any bangs, which need to be firmly gelled, sprayed, pinned so that nothing falls out. Use a sock, or bunmaker to create a super-smooth bun, and keep it in place with as many bobby pins as you need – when you think it’s good, add a few more! The bun should be fully visible from the front. This is not a bun on the back of their head – it’s on the top
Bun makers come in a couple of different styles Right now, you can purchase them on Amazon, at Walmart or at Dollarama. They’re definitely worth the investment. You can also use a sock Here are two different methods (rolled up sock or bun-maker is interchangeable):
Help?
d 1
d 2
r accessories will be placed lose to the bun, almost tucked on the right side of the head
gle applique will be placed on ght side of the head, angled e the bun so that it wraps d the dancer's head.
A single applique may also be placed under the bun, centred between the nape of the neck and the bun
Double appliques should be placed in a similar fashion but with one on each side of the dancer's head
Be sure to check the hair chart, or your costume checklists to know which applique to use, and where to place it.
*If your dancer has very long or very thick hair, the sock bun method might not work because it creates something much too large, In that case, you can create a typical rolled bun, but please be sure that it is super smooth
LowBun
TwoPonytails
Same as the low ponytail, but make a bun You can either use your bunmaker, or just roll the hair into a bun. As always, you need to slick down any and all fly-away hairs, and ensure that the hairstyle is super sleek and neat
If a flower or an applique is needed, it will go on the right side of the head.
Low buns can be tricky with thick hair, and the bunmaker might not be the way to go
Needhelp? Click here: Low Bun Tutorial
Part the hair in the CENTER and secure it in two ponytails just behind the ears. Brush out and smooth the hair in the ponytail so that it looks neat.
This style is typically used when we are wearing hats or headbands of some sort.
Every once in a while, the ponytails will be braided, but this will always be indicated if it is needed
SuperHelpful HairTools
The right tools make everything easier.
Most of these products are readily available at Walmart, Shopper’s Drug Mart, Sally’s Beauty, and even Dollarama. Bun nets and hair wax sticks can be ordered on Amazon
Competitive CostumeDetails
Do not alter. Do not wash. Do not iron.
Your dancer’s costume has been custom-made, and should fit perfectly; if there is an issue with fit or with straps, or if something has become damaged, please let us know as soon as possible We try to check every seam, but sometimes we do miss something Please do not alter the costume in any way, or try to make adjustments yourself These are specialty fabrics and even an experienced sewer may cause damage. Do not iron costumes. Almost all costume fabric will melt. The only exception to this is if you have cotton dress shirt as part of a costume - those, of course, can be carefully ironed
At the end of the season (after recital) dancers must return: fishnet tights jewelry case containing earrings and ponytail cuff purple accessory bag
CostumeDetails &Accessories
Tights
You will be provided with one new pair of stirrup tights for the competition season If you get a hole, a run, or a stain, replacement tights cost $20 and must be purchased from the studio. Before each competition, please check your tights for runs and stains, and if there’s a problem, let us know so that they can be replaced Be sure that the tights fit well, and are pulled up all the way, not sagging down at the crotch If you need a bigger size, let us know - we always have extras
FishnetTights
Fishnet tights are being loaned to you for the season, and must be returned after the recital If something happens to your dancer’s tights while we ’ re at competition, we will provide the replacements and invoice your account once the competition is over
Earrings
Earrings are worn by female dancers for every number Make sure the earring backs are on tight (if you have clip-ons, make sure they are secure). All other jewelry, including rings, watches, necklaces, bracelets, belly rings, etc, need to be removed If your dancer has sensitive ears, and the comp earrings are irritating their skin, painting clear nail polish on the post and earring back helps quite a bit
All nail polish must be removed from the hands. We also ask that dancers do not wear fake nails for competition Please plan ahead for this detail Nails
Undergarments
Strapless/ConvertibleBra
Dancers, who require a bra, need to ensure that absolutely no bra straps are showing This will probably require the purchase of a special bra. If a strapless is not feasible for your dancer, then clear, adjustable straps are required.
Be sure to change the style of those straps to match the style of the costume This means being able to adjust the straps between camisole, crossed X, and halter to follow the style of the costume. If you cannot find a bra with adjustable straps, ask Alanna to help you - she can alter a regular bra to work
Look for a bra that has rounded cups (like the picture above left) rather than something that extends towards the straps This will provide the best versatility for staying hidden underneath costumes
Some costumes, may not require a bra as they provide enough support on their own, but this is a personal decision that each dancer can make for themselves.
MicrofiberPantiesorThong
Thin microfibre panties are the best option to make sure that they don’t bunch up or poke out of the leg holes of costumes. If your dancer is wearing a leotard then check at the leg especially, but also check the bottom of the bum With leggings and shorts, make sure that everything lays smooth
Depending on your dancer’s age, a nude microfiber thong is often the best option. It is also possible to forego underwear completely since dance tights have built-in panties, but that is obviously 100% your dancer's choice to make
For younger dancers, as long as the panties fit well, it's usually fine. Again, microfibre is a better choice than cotton, and a solid colour is definitely better than a print (you'd be surprised what shows through) It's sometimes difficult to find these very specific undergarments, but Amazon & Old Navy online are usually a good bet Sometimes Walmart has them, but not always. It's a good idea to start shopping early.
MaleDancers
Underwear
Male dancers are encouraged to wear compression-style underwear If you would like to wear a compression shirt under your costumes, that is totally up to you, but just make sure that it doesn’t show through the costume. Also be aware that coloured or black underwear sometimes shows through white or very light coloured pants Just be sure to check
Socks
Generally speaking, socks should match the shoes So black jazz shoes and black tap shoes are worn with black socks regardless what colour your dancer's pants are If your dancer's costume is shorts, check with us regarding socks. Lyrical shoes are worn barefeet
Hair
Hair should be styled, and gelled or sprayed (or both) so that it will stay in place.
If your male dancer has long hair, then it needs to be secured in a suitable manner If your dancer is comfortable with a low ponytail or a french braid, these are often the best options Feel free to talk to us if you are unsure
Makeup
Stage lights wash out facial features and make it hard for the audience to see your dancer's facial expressions Boys are not required to wear makeup, but if they are comfortable, a little blush, some mascara, and even a pinky-nude lipstick or lipbalm can help to make their facial expressions visible onstage But this isn't the hill we're going to die on. Don't push it. You know your son best Let's not make this the reason he quits dance Feel free to talk this one out with us if you feel you need to