Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
I've always bruised easily, especially on my legs. I am headed to audition/check out clubs tomorrow!
Butt,:P I just noticed a 2 inch bruise on the back of my thigh and of course several small ones on my knees/shins which is my normal. (no idea where they are from, maybe the gym?) Any advice?
Well, I've already tried Arnica; it seems to help speed up healing a little. I've heard from several places that Vitamin K (dark leafy greens) and Vitamin C can help prevent bruises. I take a fancy multivitamin and have been eating super healthy getting in dancer shape for the last 2 months. I'm not anemic, I was tested recently.
I just read some interesting tips from "Dr. Weil" () Some I had never heard of for bruises: bilberry extract, Pycnogenol, and bromelain. I'm curious, has anyone tried these? I've heard elsewhere bilberry is great for your skin, but I haven't tried it yet.
So at this point, for tomorrow's audition, I'm going to have to try to cover up, and try to prevent them in the future. Would it be best to put regular make-up on them, buy special body cover up or just try to buy some 'dancer' stockings (which will make pole work near impossible for me)? I'm going to an upscale club and a mid-tier as a backup. Any leg bruise makeup tips? Or you think the lights will be forgiving enough in most clubs that it won't really matter? Sorry for the long post, I'm so frustrated, I've tried to be so careful all week but I bruise like a peach! I seriously have considered wearing shin guards during the day under my jeans! :D Any input appreciated, thanks!!!!
~MichelleVos
Re: Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
This place is so huge!!!! I thought I searched for this but, apparently much has been covered here, , and here .... But hey, I'm still interested, does anyone have any makeup application tips or ideas other than arnica? What works for you?
~MichelleVos
Re: Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MichelleVos
(dark leafy greens) and Vitamin C can help prevent bruises.
This description here sounds like a dietary aid for iron absorption. Iron is commonly found in green leafy vegetables and using vitamin C aids in iron absorption. I don't know the science behind it, but your skin toughens up over time and you will eventually stop bruising unless you are learning new moves. In the meantime you could try taking iron as a dietary supplement to help prevent future bruising. I also read somewhere that drinking pineapple juice helps with bruise prevention since it's got a compound that prevents that sort of thing.
Re: Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
other than eating a healthy diet with plenty of iron, rubbing vitamin K on the bruise helps. and wearing thigh highs to aid in kind of slipping instead of grinding your poor bones on the stage, or thigh high boots ( those help the most, esp with knee bruises!). they also help cover bruising. but honestly, with the black lights going, i don't think a lot of customers notice little bruises here and there.
your skin will absolutely toughen up, just give it a bit. its amazing just how much your body will acclimate to it all.
as for covering the bruises up with makeup, it really depends how big they are, and where they are. you could do a self tanner that doesn't rub off, because i think a lot of customers would be more turned off by getting makeup all over their clothes than a girl with some bruises on her legs.
Re: Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
As self-tanners go, lotions have always worked better for me than spray-ons, which I could not seem to get on even no matter what I did. Just apply it long enough b4 performing that you do not grease up everything you touch, or the bruises you get from the pole may be the least of your problems. Simone is right, if you are esp pale (like me -- I am so white I practically glow in the dark) then adding a little colour will make your skin tone appear more even & maybe provide a little camouflage.
Simone also beat me to the boots suggestion. Tall boots w/ a few layers of cushy over-the-knee socks work wonders for protecting both your skin & your joints. The other ladies are also right in that your skin will eventually toughen up for the most part, & if floor work is adding to the problem, simply stay off your knees as much as possible. When crawling on the stage, place your weight on your hands & the fronts of your platforms instead of on your knees/shins. Keep your knees & lower legs just barely off the floor & your nudity + wacky stage lighting will ensure customers will not notice a difference. I figured this out looking for ways to take sm of the stress off my knees.
If customers comment on the bruises, I have made jokes abt them like 'The pole tries to beat me up!' 'The pole & I have a love-hate relationship. You saw how much I love it since I can't stay off of it(if they have already seen me onstage) but *point to bruises* I don't know that it's mutual!' Making the customer laugh is always helpful towards closing your sale, & you may even get sm sympathy tips!
Re: Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
Thank-you ladies for all the great advice!!! I've been taking iron, but I might step it up w/ the vitamins for absorption a bit and look into the knee socks/boots thing if we are allowed to wear them. I was also worried about getting make-up everywhere so I think I'll skip it. Once I start making money I'm going to try a spray tan, I've been trying to lay out and just tan my legs for now (I know it's bad in the long run, but I wear sunscreen everywhere else/use an umbrella & hat). I can never get the at home tanners on evenly and they always turn orange on me! Loreal worked best, but then it got scaly and uneven after a day or two....
Anyways, it's so nice to hear that bruising is is a normal thing, it helps to ease my nerves! I'm going to head out for a run to try and get psyched for my audition today. So nice that this forum exists. :)
Re: Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
If you take iron tablets the best way for absorption is to take it on on empty stomach with a glass of orange juice. Unfortunately a side affect of iron is am upset stomach so it can be taken with food if necessary. Don't take it with dairy since that decreases absorption by more than half I think.
Re: Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
A little extra iron goes a long way OP. Idk what will work for you, I border on anaemic so I take 2 iron pills a day normally, then 3 when I am on my period, & the pills are low-dose. Just my $.02.
Re: Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
Do you have a shop in your area that specializes in theatrical makeup? Maybe a high-end costume or wig shop? Try to find a makeup counter staffed by a person with lots of experience covering bruises and tattoos. I don't know your skin tone so I can't really give specialized advice. The best thing is to watch a professional cover the bruise, then copy what she did. When I have a nasty bruise, I put yellow concealer only on the purple parts, then powder foundation on the whole area. I set it with freezing spray, and repeat if necessary. It is highly unlikely that the shades/textures of makeup that work on your face will work on your legs.
As for stockings, fence nets do a good job of blurring flaws without impeding pole work.
Re: Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
azaleanola
When I have a nasty bruise, I put yellow concealer only on the purple parts, then powder foundation on the whole area. I set it with freezing spray, and repeat if necessary. It is highly unlikely that the shades/textures of makeup that work on your face will work on your legs.
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I remember reading sm where that for covering bruises you really need three different bases. The article used the colour wheel as a reference, using a yellow base to cover the purple bruises, red to cover green, etc in order to cancel out the bruis's appearance.
Re: Bruised legs: cover up or prevention tips?
^I'm just lucky that when I have a tan only the purple shows up. Lord knows I already spend enough time doing my makeup.