Wearing Make-up In Kendo

[Lee-chan-92]

I was just wondering if anyone knew any foundation that would last the entire session of kendo.
I also do Aikido, and i dont want my foundation rubbing off on someone's gi T^T
I'm 17 and have pretty oily skin, so could someone answer my question?

PS
Please only reply with an answer if you know from experience, not from what the advertisements say
Thank you very much!!! ^-^
:wink:

[ArcticBlizzard]

I don't have an answer for you (don't want you rubbing boy/man products on your face, you could end up growing a moustache :grin:) , I do however have a question;
Why wear make up at all when doing kendo (and spending a great amount of time in your men).

[nikozamo]

from my experience in kendo... maybe will be better if you can avoid to use any kind of cosmetic or something like that because:
- sweat and make-up sometimes it's not a good mix
- nobody uses make-up at kendo... at least in all the dojos i've visited in my kendo life.
- you should visit a dermatologist and see if he/she can give you pills or something like that.

[atgm]

Don't worry about the makeup or how you look. I doubt anyone will notice oily skin in kendo behind a men, much less when everyone's covered in sweat and concentrating on their own kendo. Anything you put on your face will probably dissolve in sweat and get in your eyes, which is no fun at all. Just make sure to wash your face well with a cleanser whenever you get home.

Some days I style my hair with wax, but I always wash it out before I go to kendo because there's no point in having hair thick with the stuff under men, the wax would horrendous if it mixed with sweat and got into my eyes, and my dojo's pretty traditional, so I'd feel like a cad walking in with styled hair for whatever reason.

[Lee-chan-92]

Well I like makeup, and im a begginer so im not really wearing men or anything.
And btw my normal stuff held just fine in aikido, so maybe i dont need to worry XDD

[Lee-chan-92]

Sorry if i'm kinda mean sounding, im just tired. x.x
And I kinda have a complex about my skin, so i like to wear at least a bit of makeup. and i did notice the other ladies were not wearing makeup either, but hey. I like at least a little.
lol

[atgm]

Well, then it's something to keep in mind when you do start wearing bogu. Ultimately, it IS your decision, all we can do is give our opinions. From personal experience, I tend to get a lot sweatier doing kendo than I ever did doing aikido -- and at least in aikido, I could rub my eyes or scratch my face.

[Tort-Speed]

Hi and welcome to Kendo; cool that you're doing both that and Aikido! Anyhow, what other females are doing: in my nearby Kendo dojo, neither I nor the other female wear makeup nor do any females in the Tokyo dojo. But right after practice, they really apply it and emerge from the ladies' changing room like Cinderella - that's an option, I think, sort of like Before and After so the fellows will see just how
lovely they (you) can be...comparisons can make us look better! But if not wearing a "men" yet and you feel you'd like to look nice all the way, you could try waterproof makeup. Here it's advertised as being for swimmers and surfers: I've used it to cover blotches sometimes,
rubbing a damp sponge across the dry makeup in the compact (sometimes the compact has a bottom, separate area for the sponge where it can dry out); sometimes the sponge needs be bought separately from the compact with the make-up in it.
It will resist perspiration but if you really sweat (probably not til in full bogu anyway), and you wipe your face especially with something white, some may rub off.

[Casey]

I wear makeup of some form even when mountain biking. (In face I have subtle permanenet eyeliner on both upper and lower lids. Yes, I know; so vain.) ;) And backpacking. Mother always said "just because you're in the middle of nowhere that's no reason to let yourself go". lol

Seriously, here's a thought: maybe you could opt for a stay-on (swimproof) eyeliner, a bit heavier than normal - it will give the illusion of mascara and show up your eyes.

I have yet to find a base face makeup that stays on really well while sweating. \:(

[annoraderenart@]

Foundation is a lost cause. However, lipstick can help if your get dehydrated and find your self licking your lips too much. I would choose a muted color. There is no point in making your face and breathing easy for someone to read. Someone told me that some samurai would wear makeup to hide fatigue.... Was this true?

[rfoxmich]

Now perfume.. I remember practicing in a dojo where one woman didn't like the smell of kendo so she liberally sprinkled her gi with perfume.

[bellatrix]

I'm slightly confused as to why you'd want to wear makeup during kendo.
If it's to look nice, then I'd have to say that I honestly don't think anyone would be watching you and thinking "wow, she doesn't look polished for practice".
If it's because you honestly have bad skin or something (?), then get some acne wipes and keep them in your kendo bag. But makeup? I have visions of sweaty raccoon eyes, and it's not looking so good. I wear a bit of makeup daily and I always take it off before practice.

[Bokushingu]

Oily skin? wash your face with cold water instead of hot. or wash your face with warm water and then rinse with cold water afterwards.

[b8amack]

There's one woman at my dojang who wears makeup. Although I think that's more to do with coming straight to practice from work, and often a little late. Never seems to run or anything...

[Raindrop]

Make-up in Kendo... this is really my own opinion and I don't mean to be harsh, but if you are concerned with trivialities such as makeup then your ego is still hindering your progression in Kendo. :3 At least that's how I see it.

Outside of Kendo I wear makeup, no problem, but inside the Dojo I try not to bring any worldly things such as make-up or cell phones or MP3 players. A Dojo isn't High School or the Mall :P

[Lee-chan-92]

Hahahahaha i always keep my makeup rather natural looking anyhow.
It's been working for me in my martial arts anyway lol right after practice I rinse my face with some cold water to get the sweat off >.<

[GothMelancolia]

Ever since I’ve started practicing with bogu I sweat allot so every time I forget to remove the make-up (I wear a little make-up at work) I can feel every little piece of that “natural make-up” in my eyes and it stings :mad: allot...not to mention I stained my beautiful clean tenugui with it :(…so….I wash my face every time before practice and remove every little bit of make-up.
Lipstick may be ok (but a neutral color) because it won’t come off and it keeps your lips moist even if you dehydrate. But nothing else that can go with the sweat and in your eyes.
Now …..no one sais you can’t have your make-up kit with you and apply something AFTER the practice :D

[MartialArtsGirl]

Hahahahaha i always keep my makeup rather natural looking anyhow.
It's been working for me in my martial arts anyway lol right after practice I rinse my face with some cold water to get the sweat off >.<

Yeah, but...well correct me if I'm wrong (anyone else who does Aikido, that is) but from the little tiny bit of Aikido I tried, I gather that you really don't sweat much in that martial arts.

When you're not in bogu, you don't sweat much either. Plus your not getting as physically exhausted. But when you get into bogu and start wearing men, not only is it extremely hot, but you get worn out fast. You will sweat rivers.

I think you need to get over your fear of being seen as not beautiful. Usually that's a psychological fear, at least in my experience.

It's ok to have periods of your life where you don't have on make up! I also just don't think it's very practical in bogu.

[krys]

When you're not in bogu, you don't sweat much either. Plus your not getting as physically exhausted.Depends on exercises you perform. Also on a person. So you may sweat lots and lots without bogu.

[Raindrop]

I think you need to get over your fear of being seen as not beautiful. Usually that's a psychological fear, at least in my experience.


Yes, and that's kind of it, though, isn't it? This fear of how others see us, based on superfical things. Kendo helps you grow stronger mentally. When you do kendo, you should let go of all superficial things that make you an individual (at least my idea of Kendo, I know this differs for a lot between people). You should not stand out by anything other than your actual kendo, especially when you're still a beginner. If you hold onto things like makeup or the way your hair looks inside the dojo it'll limit your own development when it comes to budo. (feel free to discuss :cheeky:)

[ReKru]

If you hold onto things like makeup or the way your hair looks inside the dojo it'll limit your own development when it comes to budo. (feel free to discuss :cheeky:)

Samurai did use makeup on the Battlefield. :D
For Kendo, the red paint inside of the mengane should be sufficient to give you a lively complexion (until you throw up, wich should be done with the utmost grace). :D

[GothMelancolia]

The same can be said about new bogu….why buy a new shinny super expensive bogu when you’re a n00b when you kendo looks bad and you won’t feel comfortable in it. (since the expensive bogu will be stiff and breaking it will be really painful)
It’s the same thing in my opinion
The only reason I wear lipstick sometimes is to protect my lips since the skin does dehydrate (is it the right word ?) really fast and I have the nasty habit of biting them (which will result in my lips bleeding –not nice habit I know)…so it’s not a question of how I look but rather how I fell.
I would wear any kind of equipment no matter how new or old is it if I feel ok during practice and I can go 100% then its fine.
For me what is important is the way I feel during practice….it doesn’t matter how I look …it’s not a question of budo….I don’t understand the concept that well.
My n00bish opinion is that if you feel ok wearing make-up and having a super complicated haircut, with green long nails then fine (except for the nails because they can hurt your partner or you can hurt yourself :p)…the important thing is to learn and concentrate on your kendo…the rest it’s just distraction.



(until you throw up, wich should be done with the utmost grace). :D
LOL yes…well I don’t know how to throw up with grace…my sempai didn’t thought me that yet….guess is a really special, complicated and advanced waza :D

[Harry Jones]

As ReKru said Samurai wore makeup, so as long as it is not affecting your own or someone else's practice negatively then what's the problem?

Sadly I think foundation is going to wear off no matter what. My tip for low maintenance sweat proof makeup is to get your eyelashes dyed. It lasts a couple of months and will never run.

Harry

[Raindrop]

As ReKru said Samurai wore makeup, so as long as it is not affecting your own or someone else's practice negatively then what's the problem?

Sadly I think foundation is going to wear off no matter what. My tip for low maintenance sweat proof makeup is to get your eyelashes dyed. It lasts a couple of months and will never run.

Harry

There isn't a "problem", just a matter of opinion. :P

And samurai didn't wear makeup so they'd look pretty (or did they... wait xD ).

The way I associate make-up in the context of this topic was more along the lines of using makeup as means to fight self-consciousnes on a superficial level. To me, Kendo is about letting go of such things. Who the heck cares if your skin is blodgy if you kick ass in jigeiko and have a rocket sashi men? To have a fully open mind in the dojo and to get the most out of the budo aspect, I try to let go of trivial distractions such as makeup or mental distraction such as "does my ass look fat in this hakama". A blank mind, a blank face, a blank everything. Just me and Kendo. At least that's my goal.

It's the same with beginner's who have trouble practicing with kiai. They're not letting go because they feel selfconscious. So to some it's strange to yell out hard infront of a group of "strangers" and others struggle with showing their unpainted face.

I'm sure there are also girls who just keep on the makeup they wore all day and just don't bother, and I'm not talking about those. Just about those who say they "couldn't" be caught dead anywhere without makeup, even in the dojo.

[MartialArtsGirl]

LOL yes…well I don’t know how to throw up with grace…my sempai didn’t thought me that yet….guess is a really special, complicated and advanced waza :D

I have not yet had the privilege of throwing up yet. Am I missing out on something?

[Raindrop]

I have not yet had the privilege of throwing up yet. Am I missing out on something?

That means you're not training hard enough!! :grin: ;)
So far I've always been fast enough with taking off men and running into the bathroom so I cannot tell you about any graceful mengane-hurls but it seems to be the "ultimate experience". Also for your audience!

[GothMelancolia]

Yuk
Not to mention the smell you’ll have to deal with every time putting the men (at least for a while)… sishhhh we have space shuttles, we have teleportation (photons whatever)…why can’t they invent the bogu that can be washed inside a washing machine :D…with LOTS of detergent :D…

[LarsCW]

I do both kendo and aikido and neither of the women seem to be using any make up. I did notice them wearing make up after practise.

I think I would get rather upset if i would have some make up rubbing off on my pristine white gi.

[Want2TryKendo]

I've tried it by accident (didn't have time to take it all off) and it's a bad idea. Unless you have un-sensitive eyes (I have sensitive eyes), sweat and makeup in your eye does not feel good. Also it rubbed off on the inside of my men, and then you forget you have it on and wipe your face on your gi.. Fuhgetaboutit!

[rottunpunk]

I was just wondering if anyone knew any foundation that would last the entire session of kendo.
I also do Aikido, and i dont want my foundation rubbing off on someone's gi T^T
I'm 17 and have pretty oily skin, so could someone answer my question?

PS
Please only reply with an answer if you know from experience, not from what the advertisements say
Thank you very much!!! ^-^
:wink:

17 and you wear so much makeup
I would advise not wearing anything.
Everyone sweats and moreso in kendo
Any make up will rub off and get on your kit (and other peoples if its aiki)
I hated getting orange staines of women in judo

You will look better and have less bad skin if you dont wear it during training trust me

Also, if you go to shinza and such like heavy make up can be frowned upon

[KiraCastle]

I have actually found myself coming straight from work with make-up on to kendo. By the end of training all has worn off from. I do not think there is much choice when it comes to make-up that will last through training. Although, I have used a "spot concealer" which looks something like this: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=11423453 and it seemed to last a while longer.

But as most people say, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! hehe ^^

[UnimportantHero]

MAC liquid eyeliner will not run even with sweat. Water and steam will not even remove it unless you scrub and scrub hard. Which I suppose is the point, and it will stay on for days. But all the other eye makeups they have will still run, like the eyeshadows and so on. Soooo not much point there.

[daks]

I wear just a little bit of foundation (the stick one, I keep in my car) just to cover the red pimples if I have any - because being comfortable and confident makes a lot of difference. But seriously don't go overboard with the make up - I just use the smallest amount to lessen the redness :)

[Azyjka]

Actually I also used to wear some make-up during keiko. But when I get sweaty my white sleeves and basically most of my white gi parts get beige and that is not good! so I just decided to forget about make up. Besides... come on! we train to get better at kendo, to fight, to cross the boarders, not to look pretty!!!!!!

[alta]

I wear make-up during the day and don't take it off before practice. I sweat like a crazy person but it holds up relatively well. If you want to know specifically what I'm using, let me know and I'll PM you. (This thread is really old so maybe by now you've figured out your issues...)

It may seem silly, but I do sometimes touch up my make-up before I go to practice. For me, my body is part of my equipment. Just as I like my bogu and hakama to be neat and tidy- I like my face and body to be neat. I think we all have different perceptions of what "neat" is. For some of us it may not involve any make-up whatsoever, for others it does. (Of course, there's a difference between looking neat and looking like you're ready for the prom. But it didn't seem the poster was worried about how to keep her false eyelashes on.) I have no qualms walking around looking like a shlub, so for me, taking the effort to look put together for practice is a way of showing respect. I'm still quite new to all of this, so my approach may change over time... but, for now, this works for me.

[Evelien]

Very old thread, but it may help some others or you if you still haven't found a solution.

I used to wear makeup to Kendo as well when I first started out, out of self-consciousness. But try to get over it, you don't need makeup to be beautiful =)
I see a lot of people saying it's a distraction of kendo, but I think that when you're very self-conscious, NOT having makeup on can be more of a distraction.

If you do want to wear makeup, I suggest using a tinted moisturizer. They don't rub off as easily because they act, as the word says, as a moisturizer.
Don't use any powders, they will clog your pores while sweating.
If you really want to put something on your eyes, use a liquid eyeliner only, no mascara or pencil, those will rub off easily.
A cream blush may be helpful to give your face some colour but IMO my face gets red enough while practicing ;)
If you really want to have a made-up face you can always use a non-coloured chapstick as well, because that lightens up the face too. "Combing" your eyebrows into place may make a big difference as well ^^"

If something does get on your clothes, use a plain bar of soap on the stain before washing it. I have a white Gi and back when I used to wear makeup to practice, that always helped.

But as I said, try to find the courage to get over the thought of having to wear makeup to practice. It's just a click you have to make in your head, and you can do it ;)