Ben Nye

No matter what colour, style and cut, hair care is of utmost importance. When using colour, high-volume chemicals are potent and if not applied or treated correctly the hair can completely fall out and be severely damaged. Be sure to invest in a hair mask to use weekly (apply more regularly if needed) to restore the hair oils and nourishment. Not all hair agrees with one product, so ask your hairdresser for a sample to try it out first, before spending a fortune unnecessarily. Hairdressers also provide wonderful hair treatments in-house to sit back and enjoy being pampered. Top brands like L’Oreal Kerastase, Redken and Schwarzkopf are worth trying.

For just about any type of face design you will need at a minimum white greasepaint foundation and a black greasepaint pencil, but of course there are many colors in between and you will probably want to try at least a few of them. The leading producers of grease makeup are Mehron and Ben Nye. Mehron grease makeup is focused on the theatrical professionals who want ease of application with good coverage. Ben Nye also appeals to the same community, although Ben Nye grease makeup is actually a cream. Grease face makeup comes in a range of forms, from palettes (generally sold as a kit), to individual liners.

Next is Snazaroo, a brand that has been on the market for quite some time and in many ways I think blazed the trail in face paint products. This is a nice product and is a probably on the less expensive end of the pricing scale. The paint refills come in a very basic package that is best transferred to a paint palette for regular use. The pigment is not as strong with this brand and calls for more water and layering to achieve a fuller look. The drying time is descent but can be a bit long do to the necessary reapplication needed for the deeper texture.