A Career as a Makeup Artist

If you’re passionate about beauty, design and working with others, a career as a makeup artist might be right for you. Makeup artists don’t just create beautiful faces--they’re professionals who’ve attended a makeup artist school. Some makeup artists even run their own businesses or have their own lines of product.

Job Description

Most states require makeup artists to be licensed if they will also be styling hair. However, most makeup artists start their careers working for makeup companies at a department store or stand-alone boutique. During this time, they become familiar with how to interact with clients and how to build a clientele.
 
A regular day on the job might include the following:
  • Fashionshoot makeup: Further in your career, you may be asked to provide makeup for an editorial or advertising campaign. You’ll work with your client to ensure their aesthetic and brand is represented.
  • Scheduling clients: If you work for yourself, you’ll have to devote a portion of each day to setting up the dates and times of future jobs and other administrative work.
  • Television makeup: Some makeup artists specialize in visual effects for television and film.
  • Wedding makeup: One of the more lucrative jobs in the makeup industry is doing makeup for a bridal party. A wedding makeup artist can make a few hundred dollars in one day.

Salary Guide

Like other careers, makeup artists earn more money as they gain more experience and more clients.
 
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median hourly wage for makeup artists in May of 2008 was $12.63.

Education, Training and Work Experience

Attending a makeup school is essential to gaining the skills and knowledge to succeed in the industry. Not interested in a traditional four-year college? Full-time makeup programs vary in length, but many are just one year long.
 
During this time, you’ll learn various aspects of the industry, including beauty and corrective makeup, television makeup and high fashion makeup. You’ll also likely "shadow" another artist or intern to gain hands-on experience.

Career Advancement

Your career path as a makeup artist will depend on the field in which you’re working. If you’re interested in editorial or advertising work, you may need to need to get an agent. If you’re interested in film work, you may have to start out as an assistant. Wedding makeup artists and special event makeup artists can usually start their career straight out of makeup artist school.

Related Associations and Groups

Whether you’re looking to enter the field for the first time or grow your clientele or experience, you may want to consider researching some of the professional groups that specialize in networking and education:
  • Makeup Artist Magazine
  • National Association of Screen Makeup Artists and Hairdressers.
 
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