Regardless of what product you select, the selection of the lamps is very important. All the lamps should be the same make and model, they should be ~2700-2800K color temperature (this is about the same as most incandescent stage light lamps), and it should have a very high Color Rendering Index (CRI greater than 90, preferably greater than 95).
Buy just enough lamps to fill one mirror / lamp set-up so you can see what lumen level (NOT Wattage) of lamps you need to achieve ~100 foot-candle (~1000 LUX) at the performer's face. Buy a cheap light level meter if you don't have one.
- Incandescent lamps get hot and put a lot of heat into the dressing area -- NOT recommended. However, if you do choose this, and your mirror / light stations are portable, then purchase 'rough service' lamps so they can take the abuse of being banged around and not break the filaments.
- Fluorescent (or 'compact fluorescent' / CFL) -- NOT recommended because the glass lamps are relatively fragile and can break, and most importantly, they color rendering index (CRI) is typically terrible (less than 90).
- LED lamps run cool and are fairly durable. However, the color content of them is 'all over the place', so looking at the CRI rating of the lamp is VERY IMPORTANT. If the lamp box does not show this, avoid it.
- Unless you have dimmers attached to the make-up mirror lights, you don't need to buy 'dimmable' LED's or CFL's. This can save you money per lamp.
Be sure to establish a strict policy of turning OFF the make-up mirror lamps whenever no one is using them -- Incandescent lamps can cause fires, melt wigs, and melt dry-cleaning bags and plastic hangers. Even though you may not be using incandescent lamps, the students may eventually work in a venue that still uses them, so you want to instill the safety discipline in them now. Related to this is making sure that the students understand to never attach anything to the lamp guards or hang anything over them or from them. This is the leading cause of dressing room fires.
Also, be aware that there are special National Electric Code (NFPA 70) requirements for fixed installation of dressing room mirror lights. This affects both the type of fixture and the power switching for them. The rules have been on the books for almost a century, yet I see brand new facilities that are not designed or constructed to be in compliance. (Ya gotta be wondering who is designing these parts of the facilities . . .)
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Erich Friend
Theatre Consultant
Teqniqal Systems
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Original Message:
Sent: 08-27-2018 14:58
From: Maralie Medlin
Subject: Dressing Room Lighting/Mirrors
Hi all! I need help choosing a product for the dressing rooms of our fine arts center. What is the best option for a lighted mirror that has to plug into an outlet (the rooms weren't pre-wired for built ins)? I'm looking for a wall-mounted mirror that includes lighting OR an option for buying the items separately but without having to rewire the rooms. Does anyone have experience/suggestions?
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Maralie Medlin
Theatre Arts Educator
Gastonia, NC
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