Makeup Artist

Makeup artists are professionals who, besides working in prosthetic design, are also skilled in general makeup application. They are well versed in makeup and beauty products, and they use their creativity to transform their clients and produce the desired result physically. Makeup artists work in different industries, including cosmetics, the fashion industry and entertainment. They work as part of a team or work independently.

Responsibilities

• Understanding how different make up materials and application methods work under differing lighting styles, setting and physical features. 
• Reading the scripts and consulting with the film director to create the look that matches the characters of a play, movie or show
• Working with costume and set designers and stylists to ensure consistency.
• Collaborating with the client to achieve different looks for different settings
• Removing the applied makeup after serving its purpose, for example, on film sets.
• Understanding and updating their information on the health and legal issues guiding their work.
• Stay updated on the new trends of makeup or prosthetic design in the industry.

Qualifications

Make-up artists have at least a high school diploma or GED. Some have undergraduate degrees in related fields such as theatre or film, while others have studied cosmetology. They are expected to know how lighting and photography affects appearances and may therefore benefit from specialized classes on these subjects. They may be required to have licensing, although regulations around this vary by state. They ought to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, be creative and artistic, as well as bold and innovative. 

History of the industry

The use of makeup and cosmetics can be traced back to 4,000 BC when ancient Egyptians decorated their eyes using kohl to create a dramatic effect. The use of natural ingredients to enhance beauty later caught on across different cultures, until the later 19th and early 20thcentury when the practice built a career path for women. Overtime, the beauty industry has grown to focus on broader needs besides general beauty enhancement and has also expanded to include men in the field. 

How to become

Step 1: Get the certification 

The process of attaining a certification in this field varies from one state to another, and you are advised to review your state laws to understand the specific requirements for your state. Most of the training programs will take around 6 months and for a full state licensure, you may need about two years. 

Step 2: Gain experience and build a portfolio

After completing your training, the next step is to get experience through performing jobs that you’d perform as a makeup artist. You can volunteer or take an internship in a beauty salon, a local theatre production, a cosmetic store, or even assist a freelance makeup artist. 

Through your training and your internship/volunteering, you need to create a portfolio. This is where photography skills come in handy, as the before and after pictures will help you create a collection that reveals your skills.

Step3. Seek a job or become a freelancer 

You can submit your portfolio to potential employers or use it to get clients to start you off on your freelancing career. 

Here are some resources to help you explore the field: 

Choosing a Makeup School. Top 40 beauty programs in the world

Scholarships: 

The Joe Francis Haircare Scholarship Foundation - https://www.joefrancis.com/apply

The Rosy Salon Software Scholarship - https://www.probeauty.org/education/scholarships/scholarship-details#rosy-salon

Beauty Changes Lives - https://beautychangeslives.org/esthetics-student/

YouTube Videos: 

Day in the Life of a Makeup Student at University : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmaQ1tzbs-4

A Day In The Life Of A Freelance Mua : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFngyVMlhFU