ISU students, faculty and families fill the stands for ISU football games. Uplifting melodies wash over the sea of cardinal and gold as the band’s tunes resound. Fans stab their fists into the air as the Cyclones score a touchdown. ISU dance team members’ crimson lips spread into wide grins and their curls bounce as they cheer on the Cyclones.

Behind their smiles are hours of practices, as well as precise beauty routines. According to Toni Ugolini, open option freshman and ISU dance team member, game-day makeup and hair preparations can take 45 minutes.

“I usually don’t wear makeup or do my hair, so it takes me a lot longer to get ready for dance team performances and appearances,” Ugolini said. “I’ve had to get up around 5 a.m. for these early games.”

Long-lasting products are key to maintaining an appropriate game day appearance throughout the entirety of football games, as explained by Ugolini and Hannah Greco, junior in elementary education and ISU dance team member.

Greco uses Urban Decay’s Naked Eyeshadow Palette.

“Urban Decay is long-lasting and good quality,” Greco said. “I know it is reliable on game day.”

Katie Kirby, beauty adviser for Estee Lauder at Valley West Mall in West Des Moines, promoted the longevity of waterproof mascara in the event of rain during a football game. She also recommended applying lash primer prior to the application of mascara.

“Primer conditions lashes and makes mascara last longer,” Kirby said.

Kirby also recommended Estee Lauder’s Double Wear Maximum Cover Camouflage Makeup for its long-lasting coverage. According to Kirby, the primer works as a “camouflage” by providing maximum coverage for scars, pimples, and other blemishes. The primer is expected to hold for 12 to 16 hours. Furthermore, the primer is waterproof and contains sunscreen, recommended by Kirby for long-lasting, sweat-resistant looks needed for game-day performances.

Greco hasn’t found products that are completely long-lasting and meet the demands of a hot summer football game.

“I have yet to find a makeup product that will withstand all of the sweating from dancing throughout the game,” Greco said. “I usually wear Physicians Formula face powder. Though it might not last through the entire game, it’s the product that I have found to last the longest and look most natural.”

Jill Petersen, head coach of the ISU dance team, National Cheerleaders Association development manager and National Dance Alliance sales manager, said a natural look is a requirement for game day makeup and hair.

“We want everyone to have a performance-ready face,” Petersen said. “We don’t want any fake or overdone makeup, just the All-American spirit look.”

Petersen also gave examples of how game-day hair should look.

“We want them to come with it down and looking pretty. It can be straight or curly, but not wet or clipped back,” Petersen said. “Curled seems to be popular with most or long and straight.”

Ugolini explained the importance of following hair and makeup requirements and looking game-day ready.

“We want to look as professional and collegiate as possible,” Ugolini said.

Greco expressed the same opinion.

“It’s important to look game-day ready so that we appear collegiate,” Greco said. “Spirit squad wants to represent Iowa State positively, so we always try to do our best to look presentable, professional and well put-together.”

Looking put together, Petersen said, is what helps with confidence and pride in what the dancers do on the field each game.

“Game-day ready shows pride in what they are about to do and who they represent,” Petersen said. “Coming prepared in your look is key to showing confidence and commitment to the team.”

While dance team members are expected to abide by certain hair and makeup expectations, Petersen said she admires their inner beauty.

“We love when the girls are game-day ready and natural-looking. However, it is their beauty inside that comes out that we truly admire,” Petersen said. “When the girls come ready to go for a game, the smiles are on, the pride is in their appearance and the love of what they do is how they perform on the field.”