Jedi Personal Hygene Suggestions ;-)

[Darcu RyMal]

Ok, while I know this may not be a particularly pleasant topic, it's definitely relative to costuming.

Q1:
What are some techniques everyone uses to "smell nice" during a con? Obviously, use plenty of antiperspirant/deodorant, but anything special folks do to help the natural tendency throughout a day of costuming at a con?

I'm pretty new at the costuming bit, but could certainly understand this being an issue.

Q2:
What's the best way to handle costume laundry while spending multiple days costuming at a con? Just wearing my stuff around the house can get pretty warm, and I'm just guessing that most people don't have their costumes cleaned from day-to-day at a con.

The only magic word I can think of is "Fabreeze"! Stuff works wonders.

Anyway, all help is appreciated, and the sarcasm may now ensue...

[Jauhzmynn Enz]

It depends on weather. Dry arid areas not as much sweating, humid places like Atlanta or Mami, LOTS of sweating. Unless you want the jedi garb to stick to you and you've a muscle bound physic to show off. Well.. I can'tr stop ya'.;-)

For me, I get cold quickly in the a/c environs of the buildings and don't sweat a lot. My layers actually I'm VERY happy for.:-D

Q1 Answer: Ideas to keep cool

.
1.hide underneath a/cs vents for the cold air to reduce sweating.
2.drink VERY,very cold iced beverages.Water, coffee, tea real jucies. Frozen, even better.
3. If costume is made from natural fabrics they breath good. if not, get something called Under Armour for Heat. It's made to keep you cool. If you get the fitted tank/or T shirt it'll not add bulk to the layers.

I'm using the UnderArmour shirts as a base for under tunics and only adding the longer sleeves and modifly the neck.

Here's Under Armour's website
www.underarmour.com



Q2 Answer: Laundering. freashing up

1. Yes fabreeze.:-) THE best stuff some bloak's made up. Gotta' love 'em.:-D A cheaper versiobnn works jsut as well at the name brand fabreeze. Easier on your wallet too.

2.Most hotels have coin-operated washer/dryers sets where you can wash the jedi gear in a pinch. Many times I wash my stuf before leaving the con so I don't have to struggle with dirty smelly laundry back ghome. They'er clean and all I need to do is reiron and hang up.;-)

3. If you've only one set of tunics, use the fabreeze on them inside and out, spray liberally, hang up to dry over night. Maybe hit ''em again with another fabreese applciaition before you sleep fpr the night.

[Kryy Jacobi]

Thanks for the tips! I'm also doing my first con in two weeks and I only have one costume, but I may just wear it the Saturday.

Of course my friend that's going has borrowed THREE Starfleet costumes from one of her students, and I can't let her show me up.

Since Jedi wear the same thing all the time (and it looks to me like Mace wore the same tunic over at least a three year span between AOTC and ROTS , although I may be wrong) I don't guess it would be tacky to wear the same thing two days in a row. Just might be a little strong...

Helpful tips, and thanks for bringing it up. ;D

[Starkindler (The Naked Jedi)]

perhaps the slight addition of cologne or perfume to the outer garment would help also...........we could market a Jedi-Shave or 'Eau de Force for just such situations....?

Seriously though, a little dab or two on a tunic or cloak can also help with the issue.

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

Febreeze Febreeze Febreeze

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

Shower in the morning, deodorant and I have a different outfit for each day.

[Drago Lørdist]

usually as far as sweating goes the many layers of my tunic actually cut down on the outside smell as far as my experiences go. I use febreeze when I can't wash it or wear another costume.

[Olos Nay]

1 costume a day is the way to go.

If you can't, maybe change just the undersuit or something.... You could have 1 set of tunic/tabbards/cloak/whatever, but 2-3 undertunic. (I like to match and mix anyway)

Also, you can wash at the hotel, or use their cleaning services. There's febreeze, and you can try to reduce your sweat. I won't say to use antiperspirant as it is tought to cause cancer, but at least use deodorant and try to reduce your body heat with several cool beverages.

Also keep in mind that you don't have to be in the same costume 24h/day...

Remember one thing - the Jedi costume is one of the less sweaty costume in SW costuming... think of people in Vader outside on a sunny afternoon...

[JediKai]

What Ani said. At times when I haven't had a new full set of Jedi garb for each day, I made sure I had enough under tunics so I could at least wear a new one each day. If you've only got one, febreeze and then hang it so it can get some air, rather than in the closet. If the hotel room has a secure balcony, hang it outside to air out.

[Darcu RyMal]

Wow! Thanks for all the great replies to this thread. As this is my first actual costume, I'll have to get to work on some additional under tunics once CIV is over. That way I will be able to switch-out on a daily basis when costuming for multiple days.

Olos: Good point you make about all the other, much hotter costumes that will be attending. I couldn't imagine doing a Vader or Wookie in crazy hot weather!

That said, I would eventually like to give a trooper or fett costume a try someday. I'm sure they'll be very hot, as well.

Anyway, I'll take all these great suggestions under advisement so we don't constantly hear...

"What an incredible smell you've discovered..."

Thanks again!!!

[Ani-Chay Pinn]

Actually, according to online weather forecasts, the weather in LA next week isn't supposed to be too bad; sunny with lows in the high 50's, low 60's, and highs in the mid 70's. That's pretty good for Jedi costumes.

[obiwanron]

That's really good news. I'm still debateing wheather or not I am going to take my Royal Guard costume. I'm wavering because I thought it would be very hot in the helmet as well as wearing two full length robes. Plus it's a long way to ship a fragile helmet.
But not to worry. My Jedi costume will be there.

[Obi-1]

Being a musician there are times where I will have to wear the same suit or tux for sometimes days on end and on a hot stage for a good amount of time sometimes for two three hour periods a day. Beleive me, stage lights make the area they illuminate more like Tatooine than a respectable enviroment for performance.

My best advice to you would be to wear under garments that will soak up any sweat and smell that you might encounter. Much like what has already been suggested (underarmour and under tunics) an undershirt or washable undertunic will mean that the part of the costume that touches your body directly will be clean. Jedi have an advantage here as the pants you purchase may be machine washable. Same goes for your undertunic.

The other suggestion, and this can be key, is to shed as much as possible, whenever possible. So if you go to lunch, dinner or even back to your hotel room for a short time ditch the robe and as much of the overtunic as possible. Most Jedi opt to not even wear the robe for most cons but I have a more traditional view in that you never saw Jedi wandering the temple or in public without robes unless they left without them (Obi-Wan should have gone back for the robe instead of jumping through the window ). Regaurdless you just need to get as much of it off you for as long as you can. If the tunic and undertunic are given 45 minutes to air out in your hotel room before you head back down to the con then fresh air was hitting it for that much more time. Spay a little fabreeze on it just before you hang it up for that amount of time and you will be even more in the clear.

As for undertunic or undershirts I would prefer both or an undertunic that can be washed. This is key because while you can get away with wearing the same suitcoat (or in your case outer tunic) for a couple days you can't wear something that has made direct contact withyour body. My typical tuxedo for a performance consists of a thick undershirt and a dress shirt I can machine wash. When I get home those go into the laundry hamper and the suit immediately gets to air out and gets a odor iliminator sprayed onto it.

If you need to use a considerable amount ot fabreeze but can't because you don't want to reek of "Morning Sunshine" then I would suggest something like Zero Odor (http://www.zeroodor.com/) it is supposed to lack a smell completely and I know some who swear by this stuff.

[Leda EmBorr]

They don't say what is... it sounds alot like the way ozone works. We use ozone to neutralize smoke odors in homes after fires.

Actually, Walmart sells a spray product called Ozium that is supposed to neutralize odors in stuff... It's in the automotive section.

[Xana]

My first Dragon*Con I only had one costume that I wore for 3 days. Mynn and I sat in the laundry room while I washed my inner tunic, pants and what not after day 2. Hey, I had no idea what I was getting into, so Leda and I showed up with one costume each. Remember, Leda? lol!

For CIII I had 3 costumes, but wore my Ki-Adi Mundi style costume twice. The inner tunic is gauze, so I brought along a small bottle of Woolite and hand washed it in the sink. Then I blow dried it some and let it sit flat all scrunched up on the counter. The next morning it was dry enough to wear.

Those were two things I did that worked other than wearing a different costume each day. Either Leda or Cal tried Febreeze on one of my tunics at D*C and I didn't like it too much. So for CIII I tried Woolite/hand washing just inner tunics and it worked better for me. Just another option that worked for me! That's all you really need to wash. Pants/leggings can you can have a couple pairs of if they are easy to find.