Have you perfected that smokey eye you've been craving for a long time? Can you tell which lipstick would look good on someone with a quick look at their complexion? If you have a good aesthetic sense and want to use your talent and creativity to make others beautiful, becoming a makeup artist might be the career for you. Find out what it takes to make your way into the world of makeup artists.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Develop the Makeup Artist Skills
Step 1. Develop your skills
Practice putting on your own make-up or making up your friends to develop your technique and perfect your touch. Remember that even if you are fabulous wearing your own makeup, doing someone else's makeup requires a whole other set of fine motor skills and coordination.
- Practice making up people with different skin colors, different face shapes and eye colors, and even different ages. Find people with light, medium, olive and dark skin. It will help you develop a set of skills that will allow you to work with a broader spectrum of clients.
- Experiment with different makeup brands. Many makeup artists prefer certain makeup brands over others, due to the quality of the final result. Also try experimenting with different textures like liquid or powder foundation, and learn which ones are best suited for certain skin types (dry or oily skin, for example).
- Use different types of brushes, makeup wands, and other tools. Make up brushes have different shapes, sizes and textures.
Step 2. Familiarize yourself with the various "looks"
Read magazines, browse fashion blogs, watch movies, go to the theater and pay attention to the different trends and styles of face make-up. It is important to be able to create the look requested by the client, and to be updated on the latest beauty trends, in order to be able to recommend the best look that suits his needs.
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Learn the difference between daytime and evening makeup. Keep these guidelines in mind:
- In general, daytime makeup should be minimalist; stick to the rosy colors on the lips, and choose a color that is no more than two shades lighter or darker than the natural color of the lips. Eye makeup should be discreet, neutral mascara and eyeshadow.
- Evening make-up can be more eye-catching, with accentuated eyes or lips (never both) and well-defined cheeks.
- Another timeless look is having beautiful red lips and very little or no makeup. Learn to use which red tips look good on different skin types. For example, those with olive skin look good with wine-colored lips, while those with very light skin are enhanced by orange tones.
- Often customers will ask you to recreate the look a star wore at an awards ceremony or in a magazine. You have to learn the technical language of the industry so that you can make your client's wish come true.
Method 2 of 3: Get Training and Experience
Step 1. Enroll in a makeup school
Many will still hire you even without such a school, but if you have the time and money, it is worth learning the techniques from those who have been in this industry for years.
- The curriculum varies by school, but usually covers the basic skills of ceremonial makeup and more advanced ones such as stage makeup. Remember that while courses help, they can't replace practice, experimentation, and natural talent.
- Consider the idea of becoming a beautician, it will give you an advantage over your potential competitors.
- Decide in which fields of the make-up world you would like to work in to determine which courses can be most useful to you.
Step 2. Find a job in perfumeries in shopping centers
You will have the opportunity to hone your skills and work on hundreds of people with different complexions, styles and expectations. Best of all, you'll get paid to hone your skills.
- In-store experience is useful for applying for positions in real perfumeries, since your job will also be to sell cosmetic products, not just that of make-up artist.
- Positions in beauty salons or spas may require more experience, but don't hesitate to apply if you're interested.
- If finding a job is difficult, try an internship. Go to your favorite spa and ask if there are any internship or apprenticeship programs, making it clear that you are super intent on gaining experience in the field in the world of make-up.
Method 3 of 3: Build your Career
Step 1. Choose an industry
Do you want to work for film and TV actors, or with models and musicians? Do you want to open your own business by participating in weddings or events in your city? When you decide which way to go, start building your "brand," making yourself known as a specialist in a given area of the makeup world.
- Fashion, theater, special effects, brides, and stage makeup are some of the fields you might enter.
- Network with stylists and makeup artists in your field. Look for internships or collaborations to start attending the environment.
- Be creative with collaborations. Ask a friend who's shooting a music video if they need a make-up artist, or offer to do your colleague's make-up on her wedding day. You will hone your skills and at the same time you will start making a name for yourself.
Step 2. Create a portfolio
A portfolio allows you to showcase your talent to potential clients and employers. It should contain photos of your best work and reflect your unique style and skills.
- Invest in a professional camera or hire a photographer to put it together. The qualities of photos can enhance or demean a portfolio.
- You will need models to show your talent. While they don't necessarily have to be professional, find people you like to make up and have faces that match your style. You might include before and after photos of your models.
- Consider creating an online portfolio (blog or website) in addition to the printed one. The advantage of an online portfolio is that it reaches a wider audience and can be promoted through various social networks.
- Your portfolio, whether printed or online, must reflect the brand you are creating. Your best and most creative works must be highlighted at the beginning of the book, so that potential customers can get a first, immediate impression of your unique talent.
Step 3. Sell yourself
Whether you want to get a full time job with a particular company or work as a freelancer on different projects, start marketing yourself to spread the word that you are looking for a job as a make-up artist.
- Do some research in your area to see if there are any positions available, and bring your resume and portfolio to the interview.
- At the beginning of your career you will have to do a lot of free work, in order to enrich your portfolio.
- Consider the trade for print working with the models, that is, offering to do their make-up for free in exchange for seeing your name appear among the professionals who participated in the realization of the photo shoot.
- Use word of mouth to build a reputation. Ask friends and family if they want to hire you for important occasions such as weddings, parties or other formal situations.
