When Not Just Any Brush or Color Will Do: The Importance of Competition Hair and Make-up!
Now, I a
m no expert on this topic. I will be the first one to admit that I am not very knowledgeable or good with make-up and hair. I am pretty much a Chap Stick and pony tail kind of girl… easy, quick and painless. I give credit to those who know what they are doing and make it look easy.
You know which girls I am talking about. The girls that know what colors to use and what looks work for them. These are the girls that can just put a look together and it looks like a professional worked on them. Now having the knowledge and ability to put on everyday make-up and style your hair is one thing, but when it comes to competition and stage, that is a whole other level of expertise.
When I competed, one of the things I LOVED about bodybuilding was that the make-up and hair rules were simple and right up my alley – minimal make-up and hair above the shoulders. That was perfect for me! That meant my hair could go in a ponytail and that I didn't really need to fuss with any make-up and only had to worry about my tan.
And believe me, the time it took to find the right foundation to match the tan and explaining it all to the girl at the counter was more than enough time and effort put in to make up selection for me.
But that was for bodybuilding. What about the other classes? Bikini, Fitness, Figure, Physique? For those of you who follow the sport, compete in the various classes or are thinking about competing, there are many things that you need to know and/or be aware of when it comes to your overall look and the package you bring to stage that goes beyond your physique and suit.
For female competitors in Bikini, Fitness, Figure and Physique, your overall look (hair, make-up, tan, suit, etc.) is a very essential part of your stage
presentation mark. You will be judged on all of those factors stated above, as well as the poses and your routines, should your class have one. 
According to the NPC/OPA/CBBF/IFBB rules and regulations in Bikini, Fitness, Figure, and Physique, the following are just a few of the key aspects that competitors will be judged on:
Complexion
Make-up
Skin Tone
Hair
Beauty
Femininity
That being said, as a competitor in any one of those classes, you must take the time and spend the money on either finding a professional with experience to get the correct "look" for stage or 100% know what you are doing. After all, if you are going to spend all the time and effort on diet, training, posing suit and heels, why would you want to take the easy way out with your hair and make-up?
"Proper make-up selection and application is one of the most critical aspects involved in one's presentation. A competitor must learn appropriate application techniques for stage make-up, as the lighting is extremely bright and hot, and the make-up can bleed and/or wear off easily if it's not a quality brand that hasn't been applied properly." (www.bodybuilding.com)
To truly understand the importance of proper competition make-up and hair, I turned to a few experts in the industry to explain what the judges look for and what can make the difference in placing in the top 5, as well hair and make-up experts to talk about what competition application entails and why it is so important to have the correct look.
Lori-Ann Redding is a National Level Figure Competitor and an Executive member with the Ontario Physique Association, as well as a Chief Judging Official (head judge). With experience both on and off stage, Lori-Ann is able to look at competitors and judge them on a balanced playing field. According to Lori-Ann:
"Going on stage without proper stage makeup and a tan then expecting to win is like trying to sell an unfinished house and expect to receive top dollar. A person can have a beautifully built physique, but if they don’t finish the presentation unfortunately they risk which could have been a higher placing. Stage Makeup is very hard to apply and achieve that ‘wow-factor’. Professional makeup artists can be trained to apply makeup for the stage but not all are skilled or have experience in this specific area.
The stage lights are bright and often the stage is very warm, add in the competitor’s nerves and perspiration occurs which can cause the melting of normal everyday makeup. Stage makeup is bold and the application must take into consideration the items I just mentioned. The most common error is the shade of the foundation. Each category’s ‘look’ is a bit different so therefore the shade of a tan is also very important. More often than not, competitors will go on stage with very pale faces, which do not match their tanned physiques.
And the makeup is not just for the ladies’ classes, men require their faces bronzed to match their physiques as well, using the stage tan on their faces is very distracting and not recommended because it can literally blind the competitor if they start sweating and have had to walk off stage and forfeit their class judging.
Overall the judges look head to toe when assessing the competitor. They want to see a competitor who has the full package and when it is a subjective sport it is human nature to be drawn to someone who has caught your attention. Hair should be styled to flatter the overall presentation. Natural hair color without fluorescent color added is more visually appealing."
To add to the advice from Lori-Ann Redding, Alice Audet, owner of AlyCat Makeup & Hair Artistry, and co-owner Mandy Tomen, have had several first hand experiences with first-time competitors or competitors who are not fully aware of the differences of stage and everyday make-up. Alice and Mandy took the time to share their knowledge, expertise and insight on why having a professional do your hair and make-up is so important, as well as some key tips:
"You’ve worked extremely hard to be the best your body can be; sculpted, altered and adjusted to pure perfection. You have attained pure beauty and to NOT extend that beauty to your ‘front and center’ (your face), would be a shame. Although the judges are evaluating your tone and bodywork, truly they are looking at the complete package, and you have one shot to show it. This, my fitness gals, includes everything from the right suit, shoes, tan and of course your makeup and hair.
Like prepping your workouts or diet, you need to prep your skin and hair, especially before you hit the stage when your water levels are depleted – this will show in your skin, especially under the eyes. A good moisturizer will help feed your epidermis from the outside in.
Before your spray tan, I beg you to exfoliate, dry brush and moisturize (don’t forget your lips). There is nothing worse than getting that perfect tan before your event and the next morning you start looking ‘dirty’ in some spots (cleavage is a big one). The flatter and smoother your skin, the better your tan will be, and in turn helps your makeup artist airbrush a perfect blended line from chest to face.
As for hair prep, we always say ‘don't come clean and don't come dirty,’ find that happy medium. You know your hair best. If you hav
e extremely oily hair, wash it the day before. Ideally for us is that the hair is not so oily that it becomes flat and won't hold curl or product. Super clean hair can have its problems as well; believe it or not, ‘dirty hair’ can hold a curl better than freshly cleaned hair. Avoid hair masks or heavy conditioners, as these can weigh down your curl and or volume.
It is essential that you remember that you will be on stage, where there are hot lights, nerves, cameras, media, your peers, the pros, your inspirations and the pure adrenalin of finally making it to this point; the last thing you want to worry about is ‘melting’ on stage (makeup, raccoon eyes, bleeding lipstick, streaking foundation from sweat or happy tears)! My suggestion… go to the pros!
Chances are you don’t have that kind of product, and to purchase it all for one event will be extremely expensive (hundreds more expensive than booking with a professional makeup artist). Since shows are generally one to three-day events, makeup and hair artist book fast. Most of the competitors are asked to be at the venue within the same time frame as each other so time is limited.
If you are travelling from out of town, do your research months in advance so you have more choice on your artists. An artist that has worked with the fitness girls should be able to direct you on where to get a good tan, hair extensions, lashes, etc.
As for the make-up itself, your look will most definitely be more dramatic than your everyday makeup routine and this is because when you are on stage there are a few extra factors to consider… one being the lights; they will most definitely ‘wash you out,’ and blur your definition. Look at it as competing without a tan. You need that darker more dramatic color for show time.
The other major factor is the distance from you and your judges. Your makeup should be stunning up close and still stunning at a distance. Let the makeup artist know the color of your suit. A play on color is another fun factor in the process. I would most definitely advise false lashes or lash extension; in my opinion the lashes are the cherry on the super fudge sundae (sorry girls, I know you’re dieting…). They truly pull the look together. If false lashes are too much for you to worry about or you are sensitive to them, then double up on some amazing mascara – the blacker the better!
Lips versus eyes… normally I would say, ‘No, no to tube top and mini skirt’ meaning if you’re pulling off the dramatic smoky eye, play the lip color down and vice versa… doing a red lip, go with a clean eye. However with stage makeup, that rule can be bent. So don’t be afraid of color. Remember those lights will wash you out and with your tan it can look like you have no lips unless you're smiling and showing some pearly whites.
Competitors also need to keep in mind that this will be a very long day. You will most likely be up very early and won't probably crash until late, and it is imperative that you look and feel beautiful all day. There are some amazing setting sprays for your makeup out there right now, and I personally am in love with Urban Decay’s setting spray ‘All Nighter.’ I have had clients wake up in the morning and not have to touch up a thing, they look as good as they did the day before (I don’t advise this. Please always remove your makeup before bed).
Touch up kits should include your lip color (lipstick, liner, gloss) so that you can touch up throughout the day, blotting papers to gently blot your face, some press power that matches your foundation, a mini can of hair spray and a teasing comb/brush.
Bikini, Figure, and Physique all pretty much have the same standards when it comes to makeup and hair, however there is more posing in Physique so having the hair to the side or half up is a nice touch. Your artist should be able to assess your features and guide you to the right style, whether up, down, half up, curly, wavy, or straight." (Alice & Mandy Makeup and Hair Artists from http://www.alycat.ca .)
In conclusion, as simple as it may seem, competitors need to make sure that when they are stepping on stage, they are bringing their best package in all areas and requirements in order to ensure the best possible results. Make-up and hair may seem a last minute item for some, but when it comes down to selecting the overall winner and last place, every detail counts. As much as one would like to believe that they know what they are doing, take advantage and hire a professional with experience and connections to the industry. Stepping on stage may look easy, but in the end, there is more than meets the eye.
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