curl1982

I am quite confident about putting on my 'normal' day makup and get compliments about it BUT I am not sure what I need (basics) when it comes to stage makup...
Also, what do you use for what? The only bit I know is that you put a foundation of blusher on your eyelids before applying the eyeshadow - Apparently that brings out the colour better and makes your eyes bigger/more expressionate...

What stage makeup do I need to get? And where can I get it in the UK??

Marya

The kind of make up you need and how it should be applied will depend on the size of the stage and the lighting. I have a great book on stage makeup and perhaps that might be the best way to go is to find a book at a library or even buy one (I use mine all the time) I imagine almost any book covering the subject would have good information.

Generally speaking, the larger the stage the more make up you will need. Stage lighting can wash you out so that normal everyday makeup is not enough.

I rarely am on a large stage but when I am I wear false eyelashes, use black eyeliner and the reddest lipstick and blush I can find. In the photos from large stage events I do not look overly made up, I look "normal" that is because distance and bright lights will cause the most made up person to look less so.

Marya

Makeda Maysa

I've been a makeup artist for five years and have been in love with makeup for many more, but I have never heard that! Then again, you learn something new every day.

I don't suggest putting blush on the lids, however, it is a good idea to layer the eye color so that it lasts and the color "pops". I would suggest beginning with a cream formula (MAC makes a great one called "Paint Pots") and then adding your powder shadows on top. A bit of sparkle in the eye region is nice, but I wouldn't cover your whole eye in it. A smokey eye is a great look and can be done in plenty of different color combinations. The most traditional is a grey or black, but I like to experiment with different colors - if you have brown eyes, try shades of plum, blue or green; if you have blue eyes, try brown or bronze. Use liner - black or brown usually works best - liquid is nice for stage, as is gel. Add false lashes - they work well onstage. Also, be sure to fill in your brows! People often forget that and having a filled brow really makes a difference - it adds a frame for the face and helps your features to stand out. You can use a pencil or a powder to fill the brows.

Make sure to wear foundation! People try to skip foundation sometimes, but I do not recommend that at all. You need to even the skin out. Apply loose powder on top to cut down the shine. If you're ready to experiment with your makeup, I would suggest using three shades of blush (all in the same color family) - the deepest shade in the hollows of the cheeks as contour, the medium shade on the apples of the cheeks and the lightest shade on the tops of the cheekbones as a highlight. If you're not ready to go that far, at least use a very bright blush (much brighter than you would wear for a normal day).

For lips, most people use some shade of red. There is a red that works well on everyone! Line the lips and then add the red. Blot and add another layer. Blot again. If you're using a bright color, apply with a brush, so that you can be precise and it doesn't wind up all over your face. I would avoid gloss if you're using a veil or similar prop - you'll wind up with it stuck to your lips.

Makeup is my other great love besides dancing, so feel free to ask any questions, if what I've said isn't clear!

Makeda

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Farasha Hanem

WHAT????

(sorry everyone, for not having read past this first post, please indulge me).

At one time I was a professional makeup artist, and unless blush formulations have changed since then, I was taught to never, ever, ever put blush in the eye area---it contains compounds that can damage your eyes!!! Besides, even if it is safe, the color shades that blush comes in will emphasize dark circles and any redness in the eye area itself. Even if you put eye shadow on top, the blush shade will change your eye shadow shade, and probably not for the better. Please, please do not wear blush anywhere near the eye area. A much better alternative is to cover the lid with either your face foundation, or with a concealer, then flick on translucent powder before shadow if you're wearing a powder shadow. If using a creme eye shadow, you can apply it right on top of the concealer. Foundation or concealer is a much better base for shadow than blusher, and will open up your eye area.

You might check beauty outlets that supply products to salons to find stage makeup. There's a product called "pan stick" foundation that stage people wear; it's a lot thicker and greasier than regular everyday foundation, and can break out your skin if you're not careful to remove all of it after a show, but it has better staying power under hot stage lights than normal foundation.

adiemus

This is the third time I've tried to post this!! Something wrong with my internet connection, so I'm going to send this then write something additional...
Page Title
This first one is an illustrated step-by-step guide for acting. I'd recommend this one if you have a slow internet connection.
Videos
This has a series of videos giving step-by-step instructions for young dancers. I've used the latin dance one before.

The JAM cosmetics are nice, otherwise I really like Kryolan. I think it's German. Minifie's (you'll find it through google) has an international mail order system, they're very good and reasonable price.

Some brief comments for makeup under stage lighting:
- you don't have to use greasepaint or pan makeup, it's very likely to give you a breakout - and you can now use basic but heavy foundation to achieve the same effect. Foundation won't slide off your face quite as easily as greasepaint or pan either, and you only need to use ordinary makeup remover to get rid of it.
- over the top it's best to use a loose powder. This sets the foundation, stops shine, and provides a bit more grip for your blusher, shading and eyeshadow. I use Kryolan loose powder, as it's quite cheap and is incredibly good at blotting perspiration!
- I use dark eyeshadow for contour shading (either side of the nose, under the cheekbone, and under my chin - no double chins for me!!)
- a light highlighting eyeshadow is great when applied using a broad brush as a highlight over the cheekbone and underneath the eyebrows
- make sure you wear bright red lipstick. Dark or bronze looks black under lights, pale lipstick makes you look dead. A lipliner helps keep the lippy on your lips and not crawling all around your mouth...!
- your blusher needs to be bright too, don't go for peach or brown, again it fades under lights.
- you NEED eyeliner, mascara even if you don't usually wear them! If you want, false eyelashes do make your eyes more defined, but if you find them uncomfortable you may find it better to just use loads of mascara (waterproof only - you don't want it to run down your cheeks!!)
- you can use blusher on your lids, but it won't do much for you - it's better to use a dark brown as contour, a lighter brown or gold over the outer lid, and highlighter (white or pearl) under the brow
- DON'T FORGET YOUR EYEBROWS!!! They need to be filled in or you'll look really weird... Use dark brown rather than black unless you have very very dark/black hair

If you're dancing in normal lighting, not on stage lighting, then you can get away with really heavy street makeup, but if you're under lights you NEED to wear so much makeup that you feel like you look like a drag queen! Sorry, but any less and you'll fade away.....!

PRACTICE well before the day, a couple of times - this stuff takes time to do, and you don't want to be rushed on the day of your performance. Once you've done it a bit, you'll get it down to a fine art, but I've danced on stage a lot and after a break of quite a few years, I still found it took me about 45 minutes to get it done.

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Tikvah

Thank you for the stage makeup advice. I've heard that a lot of dancers use MAC cosmetics because of staying power. Would you recommend MAC too, or do you have other brand recommendations?

Makeda Maysa

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The Niraja Dance Company www.thendc.net

maariku

Hmm, that is odd... My make-up artist just last week suggested using a bit of blush underneath the eyebrow for a fresher look in daily make-up.

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"[A good bellydancer] must express life, death, happiness, sorrow, love and anger, but above all she must have dignity." -Tahia Carioca,

Makeda Maysa

I agree with Farasha. I've never been taught to use blush on the eyes - the red or pink of the blush will make the eyes look bloodshot and tired. I would avoid that. For highlighting under the brow, a light-colored shadow or cream will do a lot to make you look pretty and wake.

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Reen.Blom

I like the WAKE part! I think I need a lot of that...LOL Adiemus I loove the Video links! Just wish I could do that!

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