Choosing the right course to take will help budding make-up artists get the best start in a competitive industry.
Budding Make-up Artists
Undertaking study is not the only route into the career of a professional make-up artist. However gaining a qualification as an indication of basic standards will be helpful.
The best courses for beginners are ones which cover everything. This is important for several reasons:
- Eliminating specialisms too early will be a handicap. Most make-up artists work in several areas of the industry but these choices can only be made with actual experience of screen, fashion, editorial and private work. Gaining the basic skills to work in all areas can be built into a specialism with practice. However, the reality of working in each is so different that failing to learn about some will lead to missing out.
- Evidence of basic training such as health and safety, skincare and hair skills are essential in gaining work in television and can also aid in obtaining affordable public liability insurance.
- Confidence gained from knowing simple codes of practice and application methods is essential in working in busy make-up departments or assisting established designers. As these are the usual entry points in to the industry, it helps to be prepared correctly.
Which Type of Course
Choosing the right basic course will depend on what other experience a person has.
- A degree course offers a high standard entry in to make-up artistry. It can cover all the areas of the industry as well as give time to hone skills and build contacts. For young students or for those without formal education in another area or established skills in make-up, this is a good course to consider.
- For the people who start professional make-up artistry with some experience such as make-up retail, hairdressing or fine art, taking a shorter course is a viable option. Even a very simple course can be updated at a later time. This method of learning often suits people without the means to fund several years of full time study.
Funding Make-up Training
Longer courses can be affordable for teens or those living with parents. Yet like many creative professions, make-up artistry attracts maturer candidates. As a career which puts a high emphasis on social and life skills, it is often easy for older newcomers to gain work but financial pressure will hamper this.
Make-up artistry can seem glamorous and lucrative. Tied up with celebrity culture, dreams of Hollywood and haute couture, it can seem as if the money will come quickly after qualifying. The opposite is usually true.
If a basic course is not affordable then it is always possible to find another which is. It is important to consider that it may take months or years after qualifying to build up a steady freelance income. Even good money earned will seem insufficient if pitted against huge debts.
Many local authorities run excellent colleges. These, such as Westminster Adult Education Service teach make-up and hair courses to recognized industry standard. Glamorous as the facilities of a private make-up college may be, paying a lot of money for these only makes sense if this is affordable at the time.
Workshops and Short Courses
There are many affordable workshops available. These are ideal for updating a basic course, or for adding to skills throughout a make-up career. They often cover areas such as casualty simulation, airbrushing and wigs.
- Practical workshops are available from Charles Fox and ASSIF who both specialize in skills for stage and screen.
- The London College of Fashion run short make-up courses which cover areas as diverse as hair styling and prosthetic application. Being part of the University of the Arts, these are less expensive than many private schools.
- Day workshops are ideal as a taster to see if make-up study is in fact the right choice.
Make-up Qualifications
- Certificates are not compulsory but can help to gain work or insurance. For short courses these are very useful as evidence of attendance, especially when adding to skills with specialisms such as airbrushing.
- Qualifications are non compulsory evidence of standard rather than just attendance. Recognized qualifications from the UK include the BTEC, NVQ, HND, HNC or Bachelor of Arts degree. Diplomas from private make-up schools do not have a universal standard. This means that the value of the diploma is dependent on the teaching and reputation of the school. These can be extremely high in value or fairly basic, so always research a college well before signing up to pay private fees.
Working in make-up is rewarding from the outset but taking time to choose the right training will help in gaining work quickly and staying in the industry long enough to build a solid career. Researching colleges and planning the right way to study for each individual is the best way to gain a head start in make-up.
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