So You Call Yourself a Makeup Artist?

If you love makeup, and you aspire to make a career out of cosmetics,  you need to educate yourself. No one makes it big in this industry without putting in the work, and that includes investing in classes to enhance your skills, and to help expand your network.

The type of curriculum you choose will depend on a number of factors including: location, types of courses offered, cost, and duration of the program. I’ve already mentioned (in a previous post) that I am choosing Make Up First School of Makeup Artistry to learn more about things I haven’t mastered yet (i.e. theatrical/special effects/clinical), as it meets my criteria (it is one of the schools that stands out in the industry). If you are in either the New York City or Los Angeles areas, you can certainly check out other top schools like Cinema Makeup School, Make-Up Designory, and CHICSTUDIOS. Some cosmetic brands like Make Up For Ever and MAC offer coursework designed to teach and impart knowledge, as well as workshops and other educational events. If you can’t enroll in the schools and programs mentioned above, check with your local area schools, but do your research first. Find out how many graduates are working artists. Talk to students in the program, meet instructors,  and find out what you are getting for your money. The school must be able to teach you how to do makeup on women of color, those with skin disorders, as well as best business practices.

Nowadays, anyone with a camera on their mobile device, a few brushes, sponges, and cheap makeup palettes can jump on YouTube or Instagram and do “tutorials” about makeup application. There are some legitimate MUAs who use social media to show techniques, but many so-called MUAs on social media are not properly educated on techniques, sanitation, and skin-care.

If these folks can only do makeup on themselves, charge $20 for a makeover, use questionable products (or cheaply made cosmetics), and make all of their clients look the same, then they are not makeup artists.  Aside from “practice, practice, practice”, the best thing an aspiring artist can do is invest in an education.

Until next time,

Tiffany