Thread: Belly dance makeup and hair

I am wondering...I have seen makeup on some dancers that seems so overdone that it takes my mind off the dancing. Now, my second performance of my life will be far into the future but I was wondering what kind of techniques you use when you don't want to look like you are wearing too much lipstick?

Sometimes (please don't take this the wrong way) but some belly dancers can overdo it so much with the perms and the heavy makeup that they look a bit trashy. Just wondering if anyone can show me some pics of makeup they have used and how it has worked or not worked. Perhaps post bad makeup and then good makeup? As you can see, I'm a beginner, so I'm still feeling things out..w.:

I'm not one of the make-up experts on this board, but I will say this: The right make-up for stage performance is going to be too much for a setting where the dancer gets close to the audience. What looks best from a distance looks way overdone up close. The make-up has to fit the venue. Not everybody gets this.
Rosette

While I agree with Rosette, I also have to say that glam make up is generally considered to be the least to do whether you are dancing on a stage or on the floor of a restaurant. and a little on the heavy side at that.

Lips stick should be darker and or brighter than what you might normally wear. In real life, I probably wouldn't wear bright fire engine red. But as a dancer, ring it on! Nor would I wear eye liner which comes out to a point along the side of my eyes. But this is glam. This is make believe. For stage, I would do all of the above, but heavier and maybe a little more defined. Because you want the audience to see your expression. this means eyes, mouth. That beautiful smile!

Of course, you might not want to listen to me. I believe that if the drag queens aren't turning green, I don't have enough make up on.

{{{HUGS}}}

Lol! Tahira. I actually love drag queens.

I remember doing stage makeup for the plays I was in during High School and having it be way more than I would normally wear. When I had my first performance it was on a stage (back in December with the other class members some who were even more beginner than I am) I did wear more makeup than usual. I outlined my entire eye instead of just half and put heavy lipstick on.

I guess maybe the ones who look overdone are women whose pics were taken right before or after they were on stage?

I'm with Rosette. Stage makeup needs to be over the top in order to counterbalance bright lighting. When I'm going to be closer to my audience under more 'normal' lighting conditions, I just want a glamorous evening makeup. I may wear false eyelashes, but they're lighter ones (I've had a date stand right in front of me and say 'those are NOT fake.' He made me take them off to prove it!). My blusher will blend into my skintone, my lipstick will still be red but it'll be blotted more so it's a little more sheer.

Depending on the situation, I may wear a little glitter or something fun (haflas, for instance, are an excuse to play with stick-on gems, temporary tattoos, etc. It's playtime!!!)

Sorry, Tahira, you know I adore you, but I have to say it... the pointy eyeliner is a massive pet peeve of mine under any conditions. Every time I've seen it done, it looks like a 6-year-old trying to play with Mommy's makeup. I'm sure there are instances of doing it well -- I like the heavy retro Marilyn Monroe/Gwen Stefani/Amy Winehouse look -- but most of the bellydancers I've seen who do it don't come off that well.

But I wear eyeliner like that all the time! And have for years!

It's not "Cleopatra" style though. I used to do eyeliner that was essentially ballet theatre style (every day, in the 80s) and now I usually leave the bottom lid bare.

Hmmm... well, to clarify -- this I like


although I can't do it personally.

What I usually see is an exaggerated version of this, and I don't personally care for it.


And this in my book is right out.



YMMV

I agree with everyone else...with performance make-up, you need to go a little more bold. But it all depends of course, on the venue and the time of day of the performance. If the setting is during the day with lights on, then you certainly don't want your make-up to look like you're ready for Halloween but, you do want it to look glamorous. But if the performance is in a dim setting, then you do want to go for a little more color. Being involved in theatre in high school and part of college, we were always told to "put more on" than one would normally do for everyday (i.e. going to work, school). That's part of the fun...creating the illusion and make-believe. I have specific make-up which is just used for performance; my daily make-up is too bland for that. And since you're still trying to figure out what's best, experiment on your own with colors and the amount...use a heavy hand now and then and see what works for you.

*toot toot*
The makeup DVD booklet contains a small chapter on various types of venues and level of intensity of makeup appropriate for each.

alot of it also depends on your coloring and hair color combination. if you remember "seasons" determining what colors look best..you don't hear much about that these days... anyway, for example, a winter ( betty paige for example) can pull off much more dramatic makeup, such as dark eye makeup and red red lips than a summer or an autumn. finding colors that best suit your coloring is key

I wore the second - but with liner on the bottom as well, for my gig the other night. BUT I was dancing to Vintage rock and roll, so that and the bright blue eye shadow . . .

It all depends on the gig, as said above!

{{{HUGS}}}

LOL Boy George is copying 80s Me. Except I blended better.

The second look is really hard to wear when you're not ultra young (like that model) because it can look very harsh. When I wear makeup for stage/dance I would generally take my shadow out that far though.

I believe that stage make-up also should allow for expression to be recognizable for the audience - which means that bold is good when it comes to eyebrow liner and lipstick. When I check my makeup, I always go to the bedroom, and stand back as far as possible from the mirror, to check how it looks.

As for the three posted pictures: #2 and #3 don't look very balanced to me, without lipstick and with (in #2) hair that looks still wet after the shower. Both eye styles would probably look impressive in a different context.

I agree with steffib, look #2 needs lipstick.

I like your tip on how to look in the mirror from a distance, I will definitely do that now.

I found some great makeup looks on Youtube (search Arabic Makeup) seriously good step by step stuff on there to acheive the look you want.