Is Kathak only about footwork and dancing skills? I believe there is another dimension that dancers pay attention to, which makes their performance truly outstanding. And that is- their MAKEUP!
Good makeup, hairstyle, and costume play a pivotal role in enhancing their look. These elements help dancers create a more expressive narrative.
Are you also a Kathak dancer who needs some help with makeup? Do not worry. I got you! In this article, I have discussed ‘how to apply Kathak makeup properly’ to make your performance more lively! I have discussed how to apply this makeup for kids, women, and male dancers in today’s times. You will also read about how this makeup has evolved over the years.
Trust me, you will be able to do makeup all by yourself! You don’t need to take help from a makeup artist or any other person every time for your look. So, let us begin and learn more about it in detail:
How To Do Kathak Makeup?
This makeup varies slightly according to the type of dancer (women, men, and children) or their role. But the basic steps of makeup remain the same! First, we will discuss the common steps to do for Kathak makeup.
Common Steps
I have divided it into three simple steps: skin preparation, eye glam, and face makeup. Ensure you use products that are suitable for your skin type!
This will hardly take 15-20 minutes if you follow all the steps properly:
Skin Preparation
Take 4-5 drops of a cleanser on a cotton swab. Gently wipe your face and neck with it for a thorough cleaning.
Take a blob of moisturizer and apply it evenly to your face and neck. Moisturizing helps to avoid chapping of makeup for longer hours.
Take 3-4 drops of suitable primer as needed. Apply it evenly on the face and neck. It helps to create a base to make your makeup last longer!
Dancers mostly choose heavy or cream-based foundation for stage performances. Ensure you use a foundation shade that suits your skin tone! Apply thin coats of foundation layers to avoid a heavy and cakey appearance. Coat edges your hairline, jawline, and neck for a flawless and natural appeal.
Secret tip: Use a matte foundation to control the shine of makeup and get a smooth complexion. You can use tinted moisturizers or BB/CC creams too for similar results.
Use a beauty blender or a wedge-shaped makeup sponge to blend these foundation coats on your skin. This makes your skin appear even-toned under stage lights.
Use a concealer to cover dark circles under your eyes and eyelids, acne spots, blemishes, or dark lines near your lips. Use a makeup brush to spread the concealer evenly.
After setting foundation and concealer, apply compact or makeup setting powder evenly on your face and neck. Your skin should not look greasy under stage lights. A good compact powder can make your skin appear illuminated. It also helps to reduce the sweat during performance.
We have prepped our skin for further makeup! Let us see what we have to do next.
Eye Makeup
Choose an eye shadow with a neutral shade. This shade should complement the skin tone of the eyelids. Using a small makeup brush, apply it evenly in a ‘C-shape’ on your eyelids. This creates a base for your eye makeup.
Now, choose a slightly darker shade than the previous shade. It defines your crease. Use a fluffy brush to blend it into a ‘C-shape’. Normally, gold, red, or brown eyeshadows are used to get a bold look in Kathak makeup.
Lastly, we need to highlight the overall look of your eye makeup. Choose a light and shimmery shade suiting the previous darker shade. Apply it on your brow bone and inner corner of the eyelid using a small, fluffy brush.
Blend the eyeshadows evenly using a small makeup sponge for a seamless look.
Bold eye makeup enhances the dancer’s eye movements- Bhav during Kathak performance.
Choose a dark eye kohl/ Kajal. Apply it on your upper and lower lash lines. Make two to three strokes to make it appear bold and heavy.
Now, apply liner on your upper and lower eyelids in a winged shape. This highlights your eye makeup.
Kathak dancers must have a dramatic look. Some dancers have naturally thin or small lashes. Kathak makeup should look bold. If you are also one of those, stick false lashes on your natural lashes.
Use small tweezers to stick the false eyelash strips on your eyelids. Put these lashes right near the line of your eyeliner. Use an eyelash curler to give them a curvy effect.
To enhance the look of your eyelashes, use two to three strokes of mascara. It thickens and darkens the lashes so your eyes appear bigger and more expressive.
If you have thin eyebrows, use an eyebrow pencil with the same shade to match them. Apply light strokes using eyebrow pencil to outline your brows. Start from the inner brow. Ensure you are doing hair-like strokes for a natural look.
Define the arch and tail of your eyebrows with smaller and finer strokes. Now, use an eyebrow brush to blend the color. You can also use eyebrow gel for extra hold or to get a more defined look.
Add a small amount of highlight to the inner corner of your eyes. It makes the eyes pop under stage lights.
Face Makeup
Kathak makeup has darker counters and shimmery highlights on cheekbones for a dramatic look!
Apply dots of blush on your cheekbones and jawline. Prefer pink, red, or maroon shade for blush. Spread blush color evenly on these areas using a contour brush. Applying blush helps to add a noticeable element to the face and makes facial expressions pop out under stage lights.
Moisturise your lips with a light layer of lip balm. Use dark red or maroon lipstick to add a dramatic look to your lips. Apply a matching shade of lip liner to enhance the look of lip color.
These dark shades enhance various facial expressions, especially when you smile or frown during your kathak performance.
Set your makeup using a suitable makeup spray. This makes your makeup last longer for hours.
Finally, put a maroon or red bindi at the center of your forehead! Use an oval, diamond, or circular-shaped bindi!
Quick tip: Keep compact powder or blotting papers with you for quick touch-ups before your performance.
Kathak Makeup For Kids
Most of the steps in the above makeup guide are the same for kids.
BUT, you have to remember a few points while doing it:
Kathak makeup for kids should look age-appropriate.
Always use a mild primer or baby powder that is safe for the child’s skin.
Use a lightweight foundation instead of a heavy, creamy matte foundation.
Children have thinner and more sensitive skin than adults. So, avoid applying heavy layers of foundation as it can lead to allergic reactions.
Set the foundation base with a suitable translucent powder.
For a dramatic Kathak look, apply eyeliner in a winged shape at the corners of their eyes.
Skip the mascara to thicken eyelids if the child is too young. For older kids, one coat of mascara is sufficient. Children rub their eyes often. Mascara can get into their eyes after rubbing, and also spoil the makeup.
Use peach or pink-colored blush for contouring the child’s cheekbones and jawline. It helps to add a natural look.
Ensure those makeup products are allergy-free, gentle, suitable for all skin types, and organic.You can watch this tutorial for more details:
Kathak Makeup For Women
For women, almost all steps are the same as the above makeup guide!
Pay attention to these important points for women’s kathak makeup:
Women can use brown, copper, or gold eyeshadows to get that dramatic look.
Some kathak artists put decorative bindis or small white dots around the main centre bindi for a more appealing look.
Women can use a dark brown or black eyebrow pencil to make their eyebrows in sharp or arched shapes. It helps to give a feminine and bold look.
Some even apply these dots above the line of their eyebrows, especially in kathak performances where Radha-Krishna and Gopis are depicted.
Women can use deep pink, maroon, magenta, or red shades in lipstick for a bolder look.
Some married women dancers also apply red sindoor on the central line of their hairline.Also, visit this video to learn more about Kathak Makeup:
Kathak Makeup For Men
Men must apply light layers of foundation to avoid a feminine look. This helps their makeup base look more natural and less cakey.
Men must avoid shaping their eyebrows with sharp or arched shapes. They can use a brown or black eyebrow pencil for a natural and masculine look.
Male dancers can use dark kohl on the upper and lower eyelids for dramatic eye glam.
They also use eyeliner in a winged shape.
Men can use combinations of red, brown, grey, blue, etc., eyeshadow shades for a bold look.
They must avoid dark red or maroon lipstick shades and lip gloss. For a masculine look, male dancers can apply light brown matte lip color.
For contouring, men can use light brown blush instead of pink or peach color. This healthy look avoids feminine appeal.
Male dancers put a Chandan tilak or red kumkum mark in the centre of their forehead.Watch this IG reel to see the overall look of men’s kathak makeup: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFulM9jSzFe/
Putting On Alta
Dancers from Kathak and other Indian classical dance forms apply a bright red dye called ‘Alta’ on their hands and feet. It draws the attention of audiences towards intricate foot moves and hand Mudras of dancers.
How To Apply Alta For Kathak?
Put a few drops of Alta in a cone applicator. Or, you can use a small brush, too
Make sure your feet and hands are clean and moisturized.
Start applying Alta from the center of your hand or foot.
Apply it to your fingers and toes.
Maintain the thickness of lines and symmetry of shapes.Learn this easy way to apply Alta!: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C70VjRONg3A/?hl=en
How It Evolved Over The Years?
In early times, they used to call Roop-Sajja or Mukh-Sajja for makeup. Like its dancing style, the kathak makeup style has also evolved throughout the years! Let us see how:
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Kathak was performed in temples. Hence, Kathak performers had a natural look with light makeup. They used thin powders and pastes of sandalwood, turmeric, Kumkum, etc., in their makeup. That makeup was focused on enhancing overall facial expressions- bhav!
They used to burn the weak soaked in sandalwood paste, ghee, almond oil, etc., and collect the soot. The soot was then converted into paste. They used this paste as a natural Kohl to apply to eye lines.
Mughal and Nawab kings focused on dramatic and entertaining kathak performances. Hence, the performers began applying dark-tinted natural pigments for rosy cheeks and bold lips.
Due to the influence of Persian culture, dancers also began applying bold and heavy kohl to their eyes for more expressiveness.
After the decline of the Mughal Empire, Kathak dancers had patronage from Nawabs and Rajput Kings. Due to their royal cultural influence, Kathak had a more theatrical look at that time.
Due to the influence of Parsi culture, kathak artists began applying heavy rouge cheeks and dark eye shadows.
British trade brought imported cosmetics to India. Dancers shifted from natural pigments to these makeup products to enhance their features.
The Hindi film industry also adapted to Western cinematic techniques. So, the kathak dancers in films shifted to darker shades to adjust their facial features in camera lights.
In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Kathak saw a golden era. Film directors hired famous Kathak dancers to choreograph songs and act in their movies.
The dancers used to apply heavy pancake foundation to showcase a defined look on black and white screens. They used to apply heavy winged eyeliner, dark lipsticks, thick mascara, and bold kohl coats to enhance their expressiveness.
FAQs
How to Apply Blush for Kathak Makeup?
Kathak dancers mostly use soft pinks, reddish, or rosy tones to complement their natural flush of cheeks. Gently smile to locate the apples of your cheeks. Move the brush in a circular motion on these apples. It should move in an upward direction towards the temples. Apply a few dots of blush on your nose tip and chin to match a natural look. Use a beauty blender to blend the blush evenly on these areas.
Conclusion
Kathak makeup is a powerful tool that enhances the overall appeal and confidence of dancers. Bold eye kohls, heavy mascara, thick eye liners, rosy cheeks, and dark lip shades make this look more dramatic. It helps to enhance different expressions and visual storytelling elements in Kathak performances. The makeup must complement your skin tone and costume!
Don’t forget to apply Alta on your hands and feet at the end of your makeup. Alta symbolizes the rich cultural heritage and traditions of Kathak! Always choose skin-friendly and organic products to maintain the skin’s health and natural glow.
