12 Must Know Tips And Hacks For Dancers

For most people, everything is not always perfect and you do not have everything you need at your disposal all the time. That is why knowing a few good hacks can come in very handy. Here are 12 must know tips and hacks for dancers that will help you in a pinch.

 1. If your hair is curly, you can get a very smooth slick look at the crown without a flat iron.

• Wet or wash your hair
• Use a T-shirt instead of a towel to reduce frizz
• Blot the water out of your hair by squeezing the T-shirt around your hair rather than rubbing it
• Put in leave in conditioner (or regular conditioner that is diluted with water)
• Comb your hair with a fine tooth comb while it is still wet
• Pull it back in a tight bun
• Twist the rest of your hair into tight ringlets
• Sit under a hair dryer for 10 mins or dry with a blower dryer with the air blowing in the same direction as the strands of hair
• For many people, heat is not even necessary as long as you have the time and patience to let your hair dry on its own
• Your hair will dry straight and very shiny

2. Wear old socks on the outside of your shoes if you are practicing on a wooden or laminate floor that is not properly cushioned for dancing, or on a floor that has wet or sticky spots.

• Choose thick winter socks or sports socks
• Leave the heel exposed to give you some traction
• The socks will provide some cushion to protect your knees, and will also protect  the soles of your shoes

3. Socks are also great for storing and transporting patent leather or metallic leather shoes. Shoes with rhinestone can be wrapped in a satin hair cap from the drugstore.

• Put one shoe in each sock to prevent damage to the finish
• The satin for rhinestoned shoes is best since most socks are made from material that will catch on the stones (A satin cap is also great for protecting your ballroom hair style if you sleep in it)

4. Break in new dance shoes faster with a blow dryer.

• Heat the inside of each shoe with a with a dryer
• Also heat a pair of thick socks with the dryer
• When you have the shoes and socks on, heat any area with hammer toes or bunions, where the shoe may be tighter than the rest
• Wear the shoes with the socks on for at least 20 mins while walking, standing  or preferably dancing (sitting will not do it)
• Satin shoes will take longer to break in so you might need to do this a few times

5. Use coconut oil or petroleum jelly on a cotton swab to remove make-up.

• Both work quickly to break down the make-up
• Wash your face after and you skin will feel very soft

6.  Get rid of or prevent blackheads, with a gentle exfoliate of baking soda.

• Add just enough water to the baking soda to make the mixture creamy,
• Leave it on until it dries
• Then rinse off and moisturize

7.  Keep clear glitter polish on hand for quick manicure touch ups at comps.

• If you get chips or lose some nail colour due to hairspray, the glitter will hide the imperfections

8. Use plain water to reduce static on your costume.

• Wet your hands and rub them on your legs and the material
• You do not need to get the costume wet, the moisture on your hands will be enough, but you may need to repeat a couple of times if the static is very bad or you have a lot of material to deal with
• Dryer sheets are also great to have on hand and can be used the same way

9.  Spray your hair pins with hairspray before putting them in your hair, to make them stay in place longer.

• If you have fine hair, and pins tend to slip, this is especially helpful
• Put the pins on paper or a towel before spraying to prevent possible damage or stickiness on surfaces

10. If you run out of eyebrow gel, a small amount of lip balm will work.

• You can also use hairspray on your brows to keep them in place
• Do not put the product directly on the brow, put the balm or hairspray on small brush (such as an old mascara brush) or a fine-tooth comb, then apply it to your brows

11. Dry nail polish faster with Ice Water or Hairspray

• Dip your nails into ice water after you finish polishing them.
• Leave for just a few seconds and it will help to set the polish
• When using hairspray, make sure to use an aerosol spray and keep it 12 inches/30 centimeters away from your nails when you spray.

12. Use deodorant and powder to prevent foot blisters

• Spray the deodorant on the inside of your shoes
• Then dust lightly with power to reduce blisters
• This a good practice for anyone who does not wear hose when dancing

Author: Miss P
Photography: Egorich.ca DanceSport
Exclusively for Dance Comp Review