Career Counselling for Make-Up Artist

Before Googling “how to become a Make-Up Artist”, one must understand what a Career as Make-Up artist entails. Like any artist, the job of a Make-Up Artist is to showcase his/her art, except that in this case, the canvas is the human body. A make-up artist enhances the features of his/her clients and makes them more comfortable in their skin. A lot of people struggle with using make-up and yet aspire to look more attractive and presentable. That is where a makeup artist walks in. From print to digital media, from news channels to the fashion industry, the demand for a Make-Up Artist is huge. Apart from this, make-up artists are integral to the creation of prosthetics for films, television and theatrical performances.

Education

Being a good make-up artist depends on your Make-up artistry skills. There are institutes where one can get trained as a make-up artist.

Some of the most popular institutes in India include:

• Lakme Academy
• VLCC Institute of Beauty and Nutrition
• Dr. Paul’s Institute of Cosmetology
• Habib’s Hair & Beauty Salon & Academy
• First Foundation PRO

These institutes not only provide you with a certificate but also teach you the technicalities of using make-up adeptly. However, with the advent of the internet people can also avail such courses online. A lot of people also resort to YouTube Videos and Experimenting with products at home. The cons of the last option are you have only your practical work to show in your portfolio. You will also lack letters of recommendation that an institute might provide you with. Hence building your recognition would take longer.

Skills

• Know your tools– The first skill required to be a Make-up Artist is to know how to wield your brushes and knowing your products. A Make-Up artist should know by heart what product would go best with a particular skin type and what look would go best with a particular face and at a particular occasion.
• Communication– Your communicative skills should be on point while dealing with a client. This would not only build a healthy and proper bond with him/her but would also enable you to understand your client’s needs and preferences.
• Passion– You have to love your job. As there are no fixed hours and sometimes the number of clients fluctuate, you have to have the zeal for your work to keep going in the industry.
• Marketing– You must have the proper Marketing skilled to build your reputation and credibility. Goodwill goes a long way. Use your social media handle to publicise your work as much as possible.
• Professionalism– Let your work do the talking. Be punctual and try to accommodate the client’s preference, and try professionally putting your opinions. It helps build your credibility.

Positives

Your work will speak for itself. The income is decent, especially for bridal make-ups. The pay is amazing for shoots, especially in movies and it also gives you a lot of exposure. You get to meet new people. Most of the work for Make-Up Artists take place at different venues. If you are in the Glamour industry as a part of their make-up crew, you get to travel to shooting destinations in different parts of India and abroad.

Challenges

The struggle lies in the initial stage when you are trying to get your name out in the world. It takes a long to build your name and reputation. If you are planning to start your line of makeup-studios, it is not only a huge investment but might take years to accomplish the first milestone. It takes tremendous hard work and patience. Even though Bridal Make-Ups amount for a good paycheck, the work is Seasonal and you might have to practice other forms of make-up artistry too. There might also be multiple instances where you might have to deal with whimsical clients.

A Day

The work might be hectic. You can have multiple bookings in one day. You have to spend ample amount of time with your client until perfection with each look is achieved. There are no fixed hours and a day’s work depends on the number of clients you have in a day. Travelling is an integral part if you are associated with the glamour industry or media. You get to meet new people and if you really love your job, it is sure to pay off.

How to get into Make-Up Artistry?

After reading the above, if you find yourself inclined towards becoming a Make-Up Artist, invest in a Career Plan. It would be good to consult a Career Advisor who would help you decide where Make-Artistry is your passion or a mere infatuation. Once that is established, you are ready to proceed to the next step.

Begin by Researching the best institutes or platforms that suit your requirement and be sure not to be hasty about it. Key points of research would include:

• Courses offered
• Notable Alumni
• Placement (if available)
• Cost of the chosen course
• Mentors and Teachers
• Future Prospects

Be diligent in your learning process. Take professional consultations and keep practicing your art and always remember to bring your work out into to public eye in order to attract better job offers.