Hair & Makeup Instructions
We want all the dancers to look nice. I recognize that not all hair will do the same hairstyle! Unless Miss Rachel or
Miss V has given you a specific hairstyle you may choose bun, ponytail or braid. If your dancer’s hair is very short and
fine, just do your best. It’s a recital, and the world will not end if your dancer has the wrong hairstyle. When making a
pony tail or bun, please use an elastic band. A scrunchie is for decoration and does not have the necessary “hold”.
Flying hair is a danger to the dancer as it tends to whip across eyes in a turn.
If you have a hairpiece, it should go to right side of head, or bun, or on top of ponytail.
HAIR: It is easiest to manage hair that is damp and has gel worked through it before trying to secure back into a
bun. Never try to put dry hair up in a bun – especially with children with fine hair. Whether trying to secure bangs
back or putting up to a pony tail or braids, always work with dampened hair that has a sticky gel worked through
before combing back.
1) Bangs off the face: ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE BANGS OFF THE FACE, regardless of the hairstyle.
This is very important onstage and will require that you use the damp hair/ wet gel method described above for
short or long hair to get the bangs back. Bobby pins may be necessary; however, if the hair is wet and gel
applied, it will help to keep it sufficiently off the forehead.
The balance of hair that is down does not need the same application and may hang loosely.
2) Hair in a Bun: On very damp hair thoroughly apply a thick gel to slick the hair and make it workable. After
applying gel and with hair still damp, brush back and up and secure with hair elastic into a ponytail at the back
crown of the head. Sometimes the instructor will ask for a low bun down and at the nape of the neck, however,
commonly one wants to see the bun top when looking directly at the dancer. Then, depending upon the length
of the hair, twist in a circle around the elastic and secure all loose ends with bobby pins until there are no loose
or unsecured areas of the bun. You may need more bobby pins for areas above ears or at the nape of the
neck. Apply the headpiece or hat as instructed by the teacher. There are some nets, or bags that help with
very long hair, but for the most part the manual method above is simple and reliable. THE SECRET: Work on
very damp hair that is wet with gel. Then, let the hair dry after it has been put into the bun. Hairspray may be
necessary even if enough gel has been applied.
3) Hair ½ up ½ down: Use the same method as above for the forward part of the hair that will be pulled up into the
ponytail ONLY. Most of the time, the hair is just pulled in the ponytail and hangs with a ribbon or headpiece secured
as instructed. Let all loose hair hang without gel applied so it will look natural. You may use light hairspray if
necessary.
4) Ponytail: On very damp hair thoroughly apply a thick gel to slick the hair and make it workable. After
applying gel and with hair still damp, brush back and up and secure with a hair elastic into a ponytail at the back
crown of the head. Sometimes the instructor will ask for a low ponytail down and at the nape of the neck. Side
ponytails should be on the crown of the head on the specified side.
5) Braids: On very damp hair thoroughly apply a thick gel to slick the hair and make it workable. After applying gel
and with hair still damp, brush back and up and into braid.
Any questions regarding the method or style of hair required for your piece, please ask your instructor. The main
points to remember:
a) Hair off of face - a must
b) No loose strands of hair around face or in front of ears
c) Work with damp hair, gel, hairspray
d) Have Fun!!!
GLITTER: A little glitter in the hair looks nice if you’d like to apply some to the wet gel or hairspray. Be sure to
use the micro fine glitter or spray glitter for hair.
MAKEUP: Makeup may be applied at your discretion for children under age 12, however, under the bright
lights, facial features wash out and makeup helps the audience to see the dancer's faces more clearly. Good
stage makeup will look very exaggerated, dramatic and bold. We suggest:
1) BASE: (foundation) is not necessary for most very young children, however, if you use it yourself and are
comfortable applying a light cover, you may. Just be careful when putting a costume on, as it is easy to soil it
with foundation, etc. Use foundation only if you are comfortable with it. FOR ALL TEENS/ADULTS: Please
apply a light toned foundation as a base for your makeup. Use hypo- allergenic if necessary. Base is necessary
for mature students to even out the skin tone on the face. Apply only on full face down to but not including the
neck area. Let dry thoroughly before proceeding:
2) EYE SHADOW: Use light colored eye shadow only. Dark colors make eyes disappear. Colors are not
necessary, however, pale pastel colors in any shade will do: For example, nude to white, very light
green/blue/lilac. Go easy with browns, however, for teens and adults if you know how to apply a brown accent
line you may at the crease of eye, however be careful for dark shades on lids or up to area under brow are
inappropriate. A light highlight shadow from eyelid to eyebrow is desirable.
3) EYELINER: Please use a dark brown/black pencil liner along lower lid of eye just below where the lashes
grow on lower lid, just above lashes on upper lid. If the child is too young to handle this application, you may
omit it. For all children age 6-older, please be certain to have eyes lined.
4) EYEBROW PENCIL: Please use a medium brown pencil for eyebrows only if the hair color is very light and
looking directly at the face of the dancer the eyebrow is not clearly defined. If eyebrows are dark enough
naturally, no pencil is necessary.
5) MASCARA: Please apply thick layer of heavy black mascara to upper and lower lids, however, this may not
be tolerated by very young students and you may get by with just liner. The best I’ve found is the Covergirl in the
orange container.
TEEN/ADULT STUDENTS may apply false eyelashes for maximum effect on stage. Simply buy thick black
lashes with adhesive, trim to fit and follow instructions. It is best to practice before the day of the show!
6) BLUSH: Apply rose or coral blush to hollow of check only - NOT over the cheekbone itself: Have dancer
suck in cheeks and apply blush to area of the check that concaves. Enough blush should be applied to bring
color to shadowed soft part of the cheek leaving the area over the cheekbone light and not colored at all.
7) LIPSTICK: Bright red lipstick is the only real color that is appropriate on stage. If the costume color is bright
pink - a very deep hot pink lipstick would be a better choice. For all other costume colors, a bright red lipstick is
best. That being said, our tiny dancers look silly in bright red, so a nice rosy pink to bring out their own
sweetness is fine.