Make up

nrityam · Post by **nrityam** » 30 Apr 2009, 23:45

I would appreciate if anyone can post any tips/tricks for Bharatanatyam make-up (especially for US stage as the lighting is different than in Inida)

thanks

poonmahe · Post by **poonmahe** » 01 May 2009, 19:16

I would also be interested in learning any tips for do' s and don't dos for boys make up for Bharatnatyam.

Thanks

ardhanariswar · Post by **ardhanariswar** » 03 May 2009, 06:21

This is a bunch of stuff that I've heard from my dancer friends.

Hair should be "dirty" before the performance. If its washed the day of, hair spray it a lot to make it "dirty". That's the best way to make the hair jewelery not slide off. Black thread is a nifty and invisible way to secure things in the hair.

Stage lighting is always different for every venue. But the trend I'm seeing is to apply blush all over the face and make it really red. The stage lighting will pale the color and normalize it. Don't forget to follow through with the make up on the neck and below. It would look weird to only have the face done up and have everything else not match.

Personally, I'm not a fan of overly done make up on men. Eyeliner is good for both eyes and defining the eyebrows. Minimal foundation and blush. Lip color is a little unnecessary, or go for something natural toned and matte (not shiny) in texture. Think Kalakshetra.

sahi_s · Post by **sahi_s** » 12 May 2009, 21:58

There are a few tips, depending on what you're looking for.

Woman's hair: I know a lot of mothers struggle with this, because kids often cut their hair short or straighten it until it's silky. If you or someone have bangs or layers or find that when you try to braid the hair it falls out/won't all stay in the braid, try this --

Work with the hair in two sections, as if you were making pig tails. Just take the hair along the side of the face, with the bangs/short layers. First, apply a gel (about quarter sized amount), and brush it through. Then apply hairspray, also brushing it through. (The brushing is important! It causes the strands to stick together). Then french braid it until the layers are all kept within the french braid. Tie it off with a small elastic (I use the no-pain thin plastic ones, no wider than a thumb and about 2 mm in thickness). Do this on both sides. It's simple and no hassle.

Make up: I agree with the last poster about the makeup. The lights will absolutely wash you out more. Make sure you apply first the base stick, then more of the orange mi-fi pancake than you think is necessary. It should give you a slightly orange tinge. Make sure you put enough powder to set the make up - I like to use Ben Nye's powder, which has no tinge.

If you don't have Indian Mi-Fi makeup for your concealer/base/pancake or have access to obtaining it, try using Ben Nye - it is fantastic.

You still need to use blush after all this! A bright pink WILL NOT work. It just makes you overly pink without adding any real color. Make sure its a bit darker/redder, but not too much.

Also, make sure the lipstick is a dark red with slight brown tones. It should NOT have purple tones in it NOR should it be BRIGHT red. Both look silly on stage with Indian skin.

lol4512 · Post by **lol4512** » 13 Jun 2009, 11:33

hi i know this is not make up tips/tricks but for chutti and the head set there's a trick.
for it to stay on and having it not to falls of on stage etc you braid small part of the hair with the black strand of wool which should be attached to the chutti and than do the braid.