Each week on Dancing With the Stars, celebs and their pro-dance partners' two-step, tango and waltz their way across the dance floor with pristine hair and unmoveable makeup.
The reason the lipstick refuses to smudge and every hair remains in place, of course, is down to the work of two seasoned experts: hair stylist Carolann Mcguirk and make-up artist Mary Drummond.
We caught up with the pros behind the scenes to find out what it takes to create camera-ready looks, what Irish products they're loving, and how they've enjoyed working with iconic drag queen Panti Bliss.
Dancing with the Stars is a huge production, so Carolann and Mary generally receive the list of celebrity contenders and pro-dancers about six weeks before the show kicks off in order to figure out who they'll be working with each and what each person will need.
One contender of particular interest to them this year was, of course, drag queen legend Panti Bliss aka Rory O'Neill. Ultimately, although the ladies are free to help with touch-ups, they all agreed to leave her to her own devices - after all, she has no shortage of wigs and make-up at home.
"He [Rory] has developed that look, it's his brand, it's his image, and he is the best person to do that," says Mary. "We'll help him if he needs any help at all, but he manages beautifully and he's doing a super job."
"He sort of a little unit all to himself in the corner there," she smiles, "so he works away there and it takes him about two hours, so we just help if he needs help."
"There's very little work that I have to do," agrees Carolann, "he has someone making his wigs for him, and they do an amazing job, and he does his own make-up.
"Really, we just do touch-ups if there's a hair out of place or anything, but he is really a pro. I think we're probably learning from him, and he's also a gentleman, so we're having a great time working with him. He's part of hair and make-up, never mind the dancing!"
Speaking on the products she uses each Sunday, make-up artist Mary says she has a broad range of products at her disposal, each of which has withstood the stress, sweat, and tears of a show-stopping performance.
"I try and use an awful lot of the Irish brands," says Mary. "I think it's really important and they're holding their own against the international brands. I use Ayu, I use SOSU, I use Aimee Connolly - I use all of those girls' [brands], and they're fantastic to use. I'd really go to them first and look at their ranges."
Every year on Dancing with the Stars, the glam team behind the scenes will see a handful of the male contestants go on a transformative journey. At first, they may complain about the need for fake tan and foundation, but by the end, most are happy to sit in the chair and let Mary and her team work their magic.
"If they're already working in TV, they have their TV face and for the first couple of weeks you do that look that they like," says Mary. "But then, by week three or week four, they're saying 'give me some more colour', you know? They trust the system, they trust you, and they trust that no one is going to look bad. I mean, it's in our interest to make everybody look pretty."
"It's the same with the guys, they get used to having bronzer on them, they get used to having fake tan. It may not have been in their stratosphere before, and then all of a sudden it's every week they're doing this. They get to know that this can be [their] friend.
"And also, if the girls are very bronzed the guys understand that they want to be bronzed so they don't look ill beside them," she smiles.
"The boys are ridiculously funny," adds Carolann. "In the beginning they're [not into it] and now they're queuing up to get in. You can see the competition between them, which is fantastic because they're going with it."
"I think this year is a very strong year with the boys," she says.
In order to keep every hair in place for a day of interviews, social media, rehearsals, and performances, Carolann and her team's work day begins at 8am and won't stop until the show has come to a close that evening.
"We have three different sprays that we use," she explains, noting that the team has certain sprays for throughout the day - including interviews and dress rehearsals - and a special freeze spray before the live performance.
As well as looking after the celebs, Carolann and her team have to get the professional dancers ready for their group dances as well as their celeb performance. Last week, she had just eight and a half minutes to switch Karen Byrne's sleek high-pony out for tumbling soft curls.
While Carolann says that Movie Week is always a big undertaking for her team, Mary says she's looking forward to something that's still under wraps:
"I think we're doing something big for orchestra night this year, which is exciting," she smiles.
Watch Dancing with the Stars every Sunday on RTÉ One or watch it back on RTÉ Player.
