The Best Dance Recital Hair Tips

Are you looking for some great ideas and tips for the best dance recital hair? Then this post all about the best dance recital hair tips is for you!

When it comes to dance recitals and performances, dancers need to be able to do a lot of different things with their hair. And sometimes doing your hair for a dance recital and dance recital hairstyles can be challenging. As a dancer that has spent years trying to perfect my dance performance hair, I have collected some of the best dance recital hair tips to share with you in this post!

You are going to learn all about the best dance recital hair essentials, dance recital hair tips, dance recital hairstyles, and more.

After reading this post you will be more prepared than ever to tackle all of your dance recital hair needs for your next dance performance.

This post is all about the best dance recital hair tips

Dance Recital Hair Tips

Dance Recital Hair Essentials

Before you get started and do your dance recital hair you need to collect a few essentials.

When getting started always check with your dance instructor or dance studio for how they want your hair to be done. Knowing this will help determine all of the dance recital hair essentials you might need.

Here are a few recital hair essentials that every dancer will need

• Hair Elastics
• Bobby Pins
• Hair Clips
• Hair Spray
• Hair Gel
• Hair Brush
• Comb
• Smoothing Brush

Here are a few other *optional* essentials you might need

• Flat Iron
• Curling Iron
• Small hair elastics
• Hair nets
• Costume hair accessories
• Additional hair products
• Donut Bun Maker
• Bun Maker

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Dance Recital Hairstyles

Now that you have all of the supplies that you need for your dance recital hair, you might need a few different hairstyle ideas.

This next section will give you a few ideas and highlight some great tutorials you can use for your next dance recital.

Classic Ballet Bun

The ballet bun is a must know hairstyle for every dance performance or recital. This style is also super easy to do.

To perfect your ballet bun recital hairstyle it is best to practice. With time and practice you can easily perfect a ballet bun in time for your next recital.

Here are some supplies you need for a ballet bun

• Hair brush
• bobby pins
• U-shaped hair pins
• Hair nets
• Hair spray
• Hair gel
• Smoothing brush

If you are looking for great tips or a tutorial for how to do a ballet bun for your dance recital, check out this video below!

Other Types of Dance Buns

In addition to the classic ballet bun, there are dozens of other bun hairstyles that you might need to do for a dance recital.

These might include a braided bun, low bun, or even double buns.

For these hairstyles you will likely need all of the same supplies you used for your ballet bun.

If you need some inspiration, check out these dance bun styles on pinterest!

Slick Back Ponytail

Another classic hairstyle for dancers is the slick backed high ponytail. While getting your hair to behave and slick back properly and finding the perfect ponytail height can be a challenge it isn’t super complicated.

This is another hairstyle that can get better over time.

There are lots of different strategies to complete your slick back dance ponytail. Some dancers like to flip their head upside down or brush your hair into the ponytail.

Here are some of the supplies you might need for your slick back ponytail

• Spray bottle of water
• Hair gel
• Hair spray
• Ponytail holders/hair elastics
• Hair brush
• Smoothing brush
• Comb

Here are some of the best tips to complete your dance recital ponytail

1. Spray your hair down with water before adding gel or hairspray
2. Use a smoothing brush or fine tooth comb to smooth out any bumps or fly aways
3. Use LOTS of gel

Half-up Half-down Hair

This style might be less common for a dance performance, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have to do it. So let (some of) your hair down and try this dance recital hairstyle that has so many gorgeous possibilities!

With a half up half down hairstyles there are a lot of different possibilities. You can try a bun half up, a ponytail, braids, and so much more.

For these styles, lots of dancers may choose to curl their hair or add some extra volume to it. Make sure you pack the right supplies to complete these hairstyles.

Here are some of the supplies you might need for a half up dance recital hairstyle

• Hair elastics
• Ponytail holders
• bobby pins
• Fine tooth comb
• Rattail comb
• Hair brush
• Curling iron
• Flat iron
• Hair spray
• Hair mousse
• Hair gel

Check out these images for some half up dance hairstyle ideas!

The French Twist

This advanced hairstyle, popularly worn by the Rockettes, can be pretty scary to do, but don’t worry the fresh twist is totally possible with lots of bobby pins and a little bit of practice.

A French twist is hard but with a little bit of practice before your next dance recital or performance you will have a hairstyle worthy of dancing on the Radio City stage!

Here are some of the supplies you want to have for a French twist

• Bobby pins
• Hair brush
• Comb
• Smoothing brush
• Spray Water Bottle
• Hair spray
• Hair Gel
• Optional hair clip or accessory

This tutorial below is super helpful and will help you complete your dance recital French twist

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Top Dance Recital Hair Tips

In this final section you will find my top dance recital hair tips that I and other dancers I know SWEAR by.

Follow these tips and I promise that you will have the best dance recital hair for your next performance!

1. Practice Your Dance Recital Hair

If you haven’t already read it in this post you need to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE your recital hair and dance hairstyles before your next performance.

You need to practice both wearing the hairstyle when dancing to make sure it works and doing the hairstyle.

Practicing will help you find the products that work best for your hair, find techniques that work, and ensure that you can dance in your chosen hairstyle.

This will also relieve a lot of stress when your performance rolls around you need to do the style for real.

2. Avoid Washing Your Hair Right Before a Performance

Every veteran dancer knows that the longer you go without washing your hair, the easier it is to style for dance.

If you absolutely have to wash your hair, be sure to build up the products you use to better shape your hair when styling it for your next dance recital.

3. Find the Products that Work for You

It is incredibly important to find the right products for your hair as a dancer. You are going to likely be using a lot of them and they need to match your hair needs.

If you know your hair doesn’t react well to a certain product, don’t use it. If you prefer smoothing conditioner over gel, try that.

Whatever you need as a dancer and for your hair type is the priority when it comes to doing your hair for dance recitals.

4. Fight the Frizz and Fly-Aways

I feel like this tip is ESSENTIAL for every dancer. As a dancer with frizzy hair, it took me years to find the best ways to work around my endless hair wisps for the perfect, smooth look.

In addition to lots of water, gel, and hair spray I recommend using a good smoothing brush and applying hair oil or leave-in conditioner before doing your recital hair to tame those pesky fly-aways.

For the small baby hairs in the back, try using some hair clips to tame those back at the base of your head.

Finally, a little extra hair spray and gel go a long way for fly-aways and frizzy hair.

5. Ask Fellow Dancers for Help

Finally, it never hurts to ask for help. Ask your dance friends, dance parents, and even your dance teachers for their best dance recital hair tips and advice.

In my experience, asking for help like this can save you a lot of time trying to find the best products, styling tips, and perfecting your hairstyles in time for your next recital.

Before you go

I hope this post has helped you prepare for your next dance recital hairstyle and has made you feel more confident in doing your hair for a dance performance.

Share your best dancer recital hair tip in the comments below!