A Little Glimpse of My Life

Hair, Makeup, and Accessories
One of the final decisions to make about competition prep involves the styling of hair, the application of makeup, and the selection of accessories. All three combine to finish off the total package of a phenomenal physique and months of hard work. Considering  this, adequate time should be invested into the determination of these areas.

Hair
When considering competition hair, remember the key is to standout while on stage, while still looking your best. You want to look like yourself and feel beautiful. If you don’t feel comfortable and confident, it will certainly show on stage. When selecting hair styles consult with a stylist about color and cuts that accent your features. The short hair has been the trend for the past two years and many girls have attempted it, but not to their best interest. It may look good in public, but on stage it appears different. If you want layers or longer hair, experiment with hair pieces; everyone wears them now and the methods of putting them in can range from inexpensive do it yourself clip-ons for $50 to long term bonding and weaving methods ranging from $300-$1000+. Go to beauty supply stores and play with wigs and hair pieces or browse through hair magazines for interesting styles. Put your suit on and play with different styles to see what works best for you. Don’t get too overwhelmed, and remember, if all else fails, keep it simple and neat. Leave the edgy extravagance for another show. When you get pictures back from your initial show evaluate your hair and see if it works. If not, keep experimenting until you achieve the look you want. Remember, the worst thing you can do is wait until the day of the show to try and decide on a hair style. You have enough going on that day and your hair shouldn’t be another obstacle.

Makeup
As much I did not believe this when I first started competing, a professional makeup job makes all the difference in the world. Or at least knowing how to apply stage make up is the key. What looks like a lot of make up in the mirror is usually perfect for the stage. Remember the lights drown you out, so everything has to be overly dramatic to appear “normal” on stage. The joke with makeup is if you feel like a clown, your makeup is usually perfect.  If you do not know how to properly apply stage makeup, then take classes, or solicit the help of a friend who is knowledgeable. You can go to makeup counters in the mall and ask them to teach you how to achieve the look you desire. Other competitors backstage at shows are usually pretty nice about helping others apply makeup as well. As far as color, it is really about personal preference and what brings out your natural features. Many girls like to match their eye shadow to their suit color, while others go for smoky eyes, or natural finishes. Experiment and solicit feedback from others. One very important tip to remember is to make sure your competition color and foundation blend well together once on your skin. This means you may have to use a slightly darker foundation than normal. DO NOT use competition color on your face. It gives the appearance of a dirty face on stage and can easily cost you the competition. The last thing you want is for it to appear as though your body and head are two completely different entities.  

Accessories
The use of jewelry is a way to bring everything together. The rule of thumb I use is this: if your suit has a lot of “bling”, go with simple jewelry. If your suit is plain, spice it up with fancier jewelry. Although some ladies opt for real diamonds, most purchase bracelets, necklaces, and earrings in sets or alone for $8-$50 depending on what you want to spend. Many free standing stores in the malls or flea markets carry the “blingy” stage jewelry at very reasonable prices. You can also try teenage clothing stores which often carry the same thing at affordable prices. And if the jewelry breaks, loses stones, or is misplaced, you don’t have to panic about a lost fortune. Some girls opt for bracelets and earrings only, while others wear both plus necklaces and anklets. Have fun with it and let the jewelry represent your sense to style.

When combined, your hair, makeup, and accessories should all be selected to accent your features and give that final touch of elegance that you bring to the stage. You’ve worked out and dieted for several months, purchased the right posing suit, applied the perfect touch of competition color, and are glowing with radiance on stage. Enjoy your time on stage and moments in the spotlight…you’ve earned it. Now go out there, and quarter turn and pose your way to victory! Best of luck to you!

This entry was posted on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 9:48 am and is filed under Training, Other, Reflections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.