Dance Competition & Pageant Services
With an extensive background in stage performances, and where our brand gets its name from, we proudly offer Makeup and Hair services for live performances like Irish Dance, Theater and Pageant.s
Whether you need pre-show prep, quick changes, continuity support, or full backstage styling services, The Backstage Stylist brings professional skill and steady hands so your cast looks and performs their best.
Contact us to book backstage services with Genn Shaughnessy.
What We Offer
Bring award-winning artistry and precision to your production with The Backstage Stylist. Led by double Master Stylist and award-winning makeup artist Genn Shaughnessy, our backstage services deliver professional makeup, hair, wardrobe, lashes, brows, and skin prep tailored to the fast pace of live performance, film, and fashion.
What we provide:
Expert makeup application and quick-change touch-ups designed for stage lighting and high-resolution cameras
Skilled hair styling, wig application, and rapid restyling between scenes
Lash and brow design to enhance expression from every seat and shot
Skin prep and maintenance for long-run comfort and flawless continuity
-
Specializing in bold, camera-ready makeup for Irish dance competitions, live stage performances, and pageants, The Backstage Stylist delivers show-stopping looks that stand up under the heat of lights and the scrutiny of judges and cameras. With expert techniques in contouring, color correction, lash and brow shaping, and long-wear formulation, we create polished, expressive makeup that enhances your features and reads clearly from the wings to the front row.
We offer competition-ready makeup tailored to Irish dance: strong definition for performance movement, durable formulas to resist sweat and quick changes, and precise applications that maintain expression through high-energy routines.
Stage and theater makeup designed for visibility: strategic highlighting and shading to define features under stage lights, color balancing for different lighting setups, and finishes that reduce shine while keeping skin life-like on camera.
Pageant and screen makeup with refined glamour: flawless base work, custom lip and eye looks, and finishing touches that photograph beautifully for headshots, portraits, and broadcast.
Skin prep and long-wear solutions: thorough skin prep and products chosen for longevity, comfort, and quick touch-up between rounds.
Why choose The Backstage Stylist:
Experienced in live performance environments and camera work.
Fast, reliable service for quick changes and tight schedules.
Neutral, polished aesthetic that enhances your natural features while delivering the dramatic impact required for competition and performance settings.
Based in Albany, NY, serving dance teams, performers, and pageant contestants with professional makeup, hair, wardrobe, lashes, brows, and skin prep all around the Northeast.
Look remarkable. Perform confidently. Impress judges and audiences alike — The Backstage Stylist makes your stage makeup a winning advantage. Contact us to book team or individual services for your next competition, performance, or pageant.
-
Lashes and brows that stay flawless under intense lights, heat, and sweat — made for dance competitions and pageants.
Long-wear adhesives and waterproof formulas designed to hold through high-energy performances and long competition days.
Lightweight, breathable lash strips or cluster extensions that feel secure without weighing you down.
Sweat-resistant brow shaping and tinting that maintain definition under stage lights and during physical routines.
Custom styling to complement your stage makeup and facial structure, ensuring lashes and brows read clearly from every angle.
-
Hair & Wig Styling — Backstage & On Location
Professional hair and wig styling for dance competitions, live performances, and pageants. Services are designed to withstand high-energy movement, bright lights, and long days while maintaining a polished, camera-ready finish.
Services Offered
Competition hair styling: secure, stage-friendly styles (buns, slicked ponytails, pin curls, sculpted updos) engineered to stay put through choreography and quick changes.
On-location & backstage support: real-time touch-ups if needed, re-pinning, hairspray and product applications, bobby pin/wig supply, and rapid re-styling between sets.
Custom stage looks: period styles, character wigs, texture work, and theatrical finishes to match costume and lighting.
Hair reinforcement & longevity: professional adhesive, wig tape, wig glue application and removal, along with safe methods to protect natural hair.
Quick-change assistance: fast, efficient styling to meet tight turnaround times during competitions or shows.
Team services: multi-performer styling for dance studios, pageant teams, and production crews — organized and time-managed for smooth backstage flow.
Why choose us
Stage-tested techniques that hold through sweat, spins, and long performance hours.
Attention to camera and stage lighting — styles crafted to read well from the audience and on video.
Professional, discreet backstage presence with quick problem-solving and minimal disruption to performers.
Flexible on-location service: we come to the venue and work within the production schedule.
What to prepare
Hair clean and free of heavy oils or conditioners (unless requested otherwise).
Any wig pieces, hairpieces, or special accessories labeled and brought in a secure case, unless you supply your own.
Reference photos or inspiration for the desired look.
Time slots scheduled per performer to ensure prompt turnaround.
Why choose us:
Led by Genn Shaughnessy: double Master Stylist with award-winning makeup credentials and extensive backstage experience
Efficient, calm, and detail-focused team accustomed to tight schedules and high-pressure environments
Services customized for the needs of theater, film, television, photoshoots, and live events
Reliable on-site support to ensure consistent looks across performances and scenes
Booking & Rates
Rates vary by service type, number of performers, travel distance, and event duration.
Minimums apply for on-location bookings and for large teams.
Contact to discuss event details, availability, and a customized quote.
For reliable backstage and on-location hair and wig styling that keeps performers confident and camera-ready, book The Backstage Stylist.
What our clients are saying
