FOTF Secrets....

 Booby tape & booby tape nipple covers I use regularly. This brand can be purchased online, at some supermarkets, pharmacies & most Chemist Warehouse outlets. Many outfits are not conducive to regular underwear, so booby tape is my go to. There are other brands available on the market but I like this brand due to their range of tape colours & as it’s hyper-allergenic. Most FOTF events in spring/summer I will use these products rather than risk having visible underwear. I will also use the 'Hollywood' brand nipple covers if I can't get the Booby Tape brand ones.

 Skims body suit for shape wear. I required one of these suits to flatten my bust in a dress this year. I initially tried a bust reduction ‘tube’ that was advertised online but I didn’t feel secure as it was only covering my chest and felt it could roll up, so opted towards the body suit variety. The body suit looked tiny when it arrived but did fit well and did its job, not only flattening the area I needed but made me feel incredibly toned throughout my torso. I have since had other members vouch for this brand which I purchased online from David Jones. I haven’t had much experience with shape wear other than this but have been advised by members that shapewear with straps (preferably adjustable) are great so they don’t roll down. Another member has highly recommended shape wear by Nancy Ganz.

Having a half and full length slip in nude and black are also a wardrobe staple to wear under dresses that become transparent in the light. Mum and I both recently purchased some from David Jones (online).

Seam free or invisible underwear is also wonderful under a range of fabrics. Most lingerie brands stock a range of underwear in seam free styles. I have a drawer full of bras in all sorts of styles - strapless, low cut, convertible/removable straps etc all to best fit under outfits. When buying a new outfit, see what works best and if you don’t have an adequate bra, invest in one that will do the job. If having fitted outfits made, see if the tailor/designer can fit cups into the top so you do not have to wear a bra at all!

 If you must wear a bra, have bra keepers (bra strap holder) sewn in to the underside of your dress/top straps to hold your bra straps in place. Most tailors & alteration kiosks can provide this for a minimal cost. There are also things like bra converting clips & stick on holders on the market to help contain straps.

 Hosiery & static cling is a real issue. Anti static spray is available at most supermarkets and pharmacies & is something I always pack in case my skirt fabric clings to my hosiery! Some fabrics just do not work well with hosiery so do a trial run. I’ve had to bench at least one dress that became so clingy when wearing hosiery that even the best anti static spray did not help. (I’ll save that dress for an event where hosiery is not required.)

  In regard to brands of hosiery, there are plenty available that come recommended and at different price points. I love Wolford hosiery and have had other members give this brand the thumbs up. Other members have let me know that they love Bonds and Levante for hosiery. If you are prone to putting ladders in your hosiery when putting it on, wearing a pair of white cotton gloves available from Supermarkets can be great help.

Double sided clear tape - I’ve tried many brands but have always found Hollywood tape great and available in many stores. I know of many competitors who buy unbranded clear tape in rolls and strips from eBay that they swear by with a minimal cost. With any type of adhesive product, do a skin allergy test prior to your event, especially if it is a new brand or you haven’t used a brand before. 

 Another recommendation from dancing & gymnast friends is Hold Up Body Glue available in ‘original’ & ‘premium’ formulas. The original is a hypo-allergenic skin adhesive that allows you to effortlessly keep clothing and jewellery in place where you want them. Hold Up Body Glue – Premium Formula is 30% stronger than the Original formula and is also sweat resistant for an extra strong hold during high activity. It promises no more slipping or drooping of clothing, allowing you to get on with life without having to be constantly re-adjusting, tugging and pulling-up. The glue comes in a convenient 59ml roll-on applicator and is easily applied to the skin, drying clear. Because it is a glue and not hard like some tapes, the adhesive is pliable and moves with your skin allowing greater freedom of movement without being uncomfortable or accidentally showing at the edges of your clothes. This brand is available at dance & gymnastics suppliers online. There are other brands including spray on adhesives available on the market. 

  One trick my hairdresser uses if between hair appointments to cover grey hair regrowth is to use L’Oreal’s Magic Retouch temporary root concealer. This is also great if you have thinning hair to spray on to your scalp to colour in the gaps and give the appearance of fullness. These cans are available at supermarkets & pharmacies and come in a range of colours. There are also other similar brands available. My hairdresser recommends some practice before an event to ensure you don’t create an unnatural line at your hair line (or get someone else to help apply).

   My hairdresser recommends Zala clip in hair extensions both for adding length & volume to hair. She uses these regularly on clients for up-styles. These come in a large range of colours and lengths. They apparently also have easy to use ponytail extensions in various lengths, colours and finishes that could be an easy to use trick for a contemporary look. She states that there are many other brands but these are her go to’s which are often on sale.

 Hair nets & bun covers may sound old fashioned or take you back to your younger dancing days, but these almost invisible nets that come in most natural hair shades can be a game changer on days where you are travelling long distances, it’s particularly windy or you have no option but to sleep on your up-do. Hair nets help keep styles contained and control flyaways. These nets can be found at supermarkets, pharmacies & most dance supply stores. If I have to sleep in an upstyle I usually have a hairnet pinned over my style & sleep on a silk pillow case to reduce friction.

 Using a make up primer prior to applying makeup & setting spray at the conclusion of applying makeup can keep you from major touch ups. I use the MAC brand for both of these but there are many others available on the market. The particular products I use are: MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance primer in Natural Pink & MAC Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray I also use an eyelid primer prior to applying eyeshadow. I use a lemon/yellow based lid primer to neutralise lid colour. I have also discovered a miracle in KVD’s Lock-It setting powder which I apply just before setting spray. I have highly sensitive skin and have had no reaction to these products. You may have your own favourite brands and not all products agree with all skin types, so be prepared for a process of trial & error.

 For touch ups at the track, MAC Studio Fix pressed powder is a must have for myself & other members who have recommended. Being in a compact it is easy to carry. If you are not a fan of MAC, most make up brands have something similar.

 Apply SPF50+ moisturizer as soon as you can after your shower. Allow as much time as you can prior to starting to apply primer & make up to allow it to be absorbed by your skin. Some competitors also recommend a spray on SPF 50+ to take to the track that can be applied after makeup in addition to sunscreen on exposed skin. A brand recommended by a member is called ‘Quick Screen’ which is available at Coles & Priceline. I am a huge advocate of applying 50+ sunscreen to all exposed skin daily, not just race days. I also apply 50+ to my hands daily even in winter to avoid sun damage. There are so many brands available I recommend everyone finding face and body sunscreen brands that suit your own needs and sensitivities. I have had a few members send messages recommending ‘Airyday’ as a SPF 50+ product they use which can also be used as a primer.  

 Compeed (& other brand) blister patches are great when you already have a blister to help cushion and protect your foot. These are not so pretty to look at on stage however if not completely covered by your footwear. I buy Bandaid brand assorted plastic shapes. These are latex free and come in a variety of shapes. Being a light tan they are more closely skin toned so they more easily disappear rather than clear Bandaids & Compeed patches. I like the tiny ones to cover and protect blisters and they generally are small enough to be covered by most footwear straps. Avoiding blisters is better than treating them so use things such gel foot inserts & Compeed anti blister stick roll on, on parts of your feet prone to blisters. Wearing in your shoes is great in theory but is not fool proof.

 I’ve put this on our Instagram stories but detangling brushes meant for wet hair are great for brushing out teasing more gently. As they have thin plastic bristles they seem to glide through hair without as much breakage/hair loss. I use the ‘Tangle Teezer Large Wet Detangler brush’ available online, but there are many other sizes and brands available.

 Another tip from our Instagram stories is to use Sard Super Power soaker to get impossible to remove stains out of whites. I’ve had MANY members vouch for this & have personally tried every product and service on the market including drycleaning, old fashioned soaking for days on end with other products, sprays, soaps and scrubbing with plenty of force but this product is a game changer. Before using this soaker I even had clothes professionally altered to remove stains (think stubborn grime on the hem of a white dress). Follow the instructions on the pack for amazing results!

  Leather colour change. I have had MANY members swear by the Angelus leather dye & paint products. There are other products available but this brand has been recommended by multiple members. Apparently, the trick is to carefully follow the instructions and don’t miss out on any of the preparatory steps. I have tried to do this myself but admit I am useless with my hands and every attempt ended badly. Instead I have taken shoes to a bag spa to colour change. Some cobblers also offer this service. It’s much more costly to get a professional to colour change leather so if you can possibly do it yourself, try!

   Use nail polish/varnish to quickly change the colour of earrings. I’ve even heard of people successfully using it to change the colour of their high heeled sandals!

 On the subject of colour changing, changing the colour of an outfit or garment is possible and a great way to give new life to a previously worn garment! I have researched this in the past and have been recommended an Australian business called ‘Cullachange’ who dye all sorts of fabrics. They recommend for best results going to a darker colour. Some dry cleaners also offer dying services. You can also dye clothing at home with products such a RIT dyes, but I would practice with something inexpensive before committing to colour changing a more expensive garment. Remember that dying works better on some fabrics more than others. Do your research.

  Consider throwing in some fringe pins/ripple pins into your clutch along with your Bobby pins. It’s amazing what these versatile pins can do to hold on millinery & hairstyles!

 However you tan, whether it be by a professional spray tan or at home tan, making sure you get as much of your previous tan off before you apply a new one is important so your tan is not blotchy. I use a few things to remove my tan 

1. My Glow 2 tan removal mitt is amazing! You can literally see your tan coming off before your eyes. This can be purchased online 

2. I also use a Bondi Sands exfoliating mitt to prepare my skin before my tan. I also use this to remove tan as for some reason both of my mitts seem to work differently (this may be just in my head) so once I’ve used one mitt I’ll go over with the other. 

3. For stubborn tan removal I use the Bondi Sands Tan Eraser foam

If you can’t possibly get off all of your old tan before getting a new one, try to concentrate on the areas that are most visible, such as you feet/ankles, legs/knees, arms & around your decolatage/neck. If you have your face tanned then tan will naturally come off faster due to make up remover & washing. I’m also extremely impatient with tanning so prefer to get professional spray tans that can be washed off after 1 hour. If I must, at home tanning foams do a great job but I get ones that can be washed off in as little as 3 hours. During spring carnival I can get as many as two spray tans a week (Tuesday & Friday) so I’ve got my tan application and removal down to a fine art. 

  Hair washing can also become an issue during back to back race days and functions. If you’re doing your own hair, experiment with what works for you depending on your hair type. If using a hairdresser, speak to them about what they would prefer based on your hair type. As an example: my hair does not get oily & becomes very shiny/slippery once washed. My hairdresser asks me to wash my hair at the latest the night before (preferably 2 nights before) an event so it is not too shiny. She also asks me not to straighten my hair so I have some volume. If I have events where my hair is styled every day, she asks me not to wash my hair between events as it is easier for her to style dirty/with product in it. Your hairdresser may have different instructions for you however due to the type and length of your hair, so ask! I’ve even had a hairdresser tell me to use very little conditioner prior to an up-style, so do ask.