I finally made it!!!

Mahlisa · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 34 Location: New Jersey

So after days of posting at Danceforums.com I finally made it over here to Danceforums.net. For everyone that I haven't met as of yet, I'm Mahlisa.

I've been dancing all of my life, and have an online Modern Bellydance Accessory business at www.Mahlisa.com I created this accessory line due to the lack of Bellydance accessories available to performers, students and teachers of this artform.

I don't know how many times I have walked into a dance-specialty shop and could find items for any other dancer, but nothing for us, and it just annoyed me and drove me to the point of creating my own line.

Hi to everyone I met on your other site, and thanks for inviting me here!
Keep On Dancin',
Mahlisa :D

LittleCessna · Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 13

Hi Mahlisa... just went to your site and the first thing I noticed was the eye makeup on the logo. Is that you? If so, PLEASE share your makeup tips with me. I want dramatic eyes like that, but I don't know how to apply make up.

I have dark brown hair, and the colors that look best on me are deep blues, corals, browns, teals, and beyond that, I don't know.

I'm going to look at the rest of your site now.

dancersdreamland · Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 10:12 pm Post subject:

Welcome, Mahlisa! Glad to see you made it over here. Looking forward to hearing more from you!

Mahlisa · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 34 Location: New Jersey

[quote:d5509851a2="LittleCessna"]Hi Mahlisa... just went to your site and the first thing I noticed was the eye makeup on the logo. Is that you? If so, PLEASE share your makeup tips with me. I want dramatic eyes like that, but I don't know how to apply make up.

I have dark brown hair, and the colors that look best on me are deep blues, corals, browns, teals, and beyond that, I don't know.

I'm going to look at the rest of your site now.[/quote:d5509851a2]

Hi LittleCessna,
Well, it sounds like those are the colors I pretty much used. Most often I'll do my makeup myself, and sometimes other people do the makeup for me. (And yup, that was me in the picture). What I did there, and most often is started off with a white eyeshadow, and painted that onto my lower lid, then do the same to the upper portion of the eye right under the eyebrow. Then, I take a darker brown and outline the middle area in between (from the inner corner of the eye, to outer, inbetween the areas you put the white), then I make another line from the outer corner of my eye to meet this other brown line (sorry if this gets confusing, hehe). Then I just take my fingers and rub it gently to blend it all together. The blending is the most important part, b/c it should make the eyes look a bit more naturally exotic, not sooo crazy dramatic or Rocky Horror Picture Show-esque, haha.
Now that's just the eyeshadow phase, now I move onto the pencil. I take a black eyepencil, and outline my entire eye, it may take practice to get close enough to your eye without the makeup actually going into your eye. (And, when I was younger I actually made the mistake of doing my eyeliner on the lower edge/lid of my eye, and would get infections--so that's a no no). Then I like to cover that line with a black liquid eyeliner just to make the effect darker/more dramatic. Last, on the upper lid, I sometimes outline that black line with a blue eye pencil, just because my eyes are very light blue and it matches better.
Finally, for shows I put on my bhindis, but on the innermost and outtermost corners of my eyes. Now, this step should be omitted if a person is not extremely careful to remember they are there, since if you forget and rub your eye, you could potentially scratch it with this jewelry.
and I'd also suggest making sure you're ok with any new makeup you choose to use just for risk of having any allergies, or whatnot.
Hope I've been of help,
Keep on Dancin',
Mahlisa :D

Mahlisa · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 34 Location: New Jersey

[quote:0493a32c2b="dancersdreamland"]Welcome, Mahlisa! Glad to see you made it over here. Looking forward to hearing more from you![/quote:0493a32c2b]

Hi,
Sure, I'll be around! And if you get the chance come check out my messageboards!
--Mahlisa

LittleCessna · Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 13

Thank you very much for the makeup tip! I'm going to try it until I get it right. I have plenty of time before I start dancing outside of practice, so it will give me a chance to experiment.

Do you do custom orders for hip scarfs and other accessories? I'm going to need some things for this June, but I can't find what I'm looking for.

LittleCessna · Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 13

Forgot to ask you what brand of makeup you use normally. Will any type do, or is there something specific that holds up better for dancing?

Mahlisa · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 34 Location: New Jersey

Well, I really don't use a brand per se. The liquid eye stuff for the black lining, I find holds up better, it'll last all night if you don't touch your eyes. If you only use liner that usually wears off.
When others do my makeup for me, I'm sure they use a particular brand, but I never asked what it was, haha. But for myself, I just use whatever I can get myhands on that fits what I need.
If you're looking for makeup - let's say a foundation to make your skin more even-but lasts even when you're dancing/sweating, I really don't use foundation, however, before any show, I have one secret......NEUTRAGENA SELF TANNER !!!!! I love it, and it looks very natural. I usually get darker on my own anyways in the summer, but during the winter, I'll use this and it gives your skin a great tan/glow. I use medium, but it comes in light, medium and dark. And I'll do it the day before any show, but now I'm just using it all the time anyways. I don't know what I'd do if they discontinued it, haha.

As far as my products, it depends. I have more products in stock sometimes than are on the website, b/c I constantly am getting them imported from Egypt and India. So if you want you can let me know what you're looking for and I could see if I could get it, or have it already in stock? If you feel more comfortable emailing me than putting it up on here, you can send me an email at info@mahlisa.com
Talk to ya soon,
--Mahli

pr · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 1033 Location: Göteborg, Sweden

[quote:413c945f58="dancersdreamland"]Welcome, Mahlisa! Glad to see you made it over here. Looking forward to hearing more from you![/quote:413c945f58]
Ditto! :D

LittleCessna · Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 13

Mahlisa,

I've written a dance "script" for a wedding, but not sure how to pull it off. I think it's going to have to be a combination of lyrical and belly dancing in order to get the full effect of the wedding.

I have a color theme in mind, which uses 6 main colors (12 dancers: 6 male, 6 female).

I haven't found anything remotely close to what I envision for costumes and accessories, so I'm trying to find someone that can make them.

I also have to find dancers, but not quite ready yet.

Mahlisa · Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 34 Location: New Jersey

Well, let me know what you're thinking of if you get any ideas and maybe I can find them somewhere, or at least the materials and I can price out what it would be to make.