The Ultimate Guide For Aspiring Makeup Artists

Hi everyone,

No doubt, becoming a makeup artist can seem like an endless challenge. After all, there are so many different tools and techniques out there that it can be difficult to know where to start. Despite this, if you’re willing to do the work, then there’s no reason why you can’t achieve your dream. However, if you are just starting your journey within the industry, getting from where you are now to where you want to be will not be easy. 

The makeup industry is vast, and there are many different options available to you depending on your skill set and the types of images that you’re shooting. Depending on your goals, you can choose to become a freelance makeup artist, an entrepreneur, or even a freelance photographer. It is a highly demanding market to place yourself within but it is also one that provides its benefactors with an endless amount of variety in terms of job opportunities and responsibilities. Here are some things you’ll need to know if you want to succeed, no matter what sector of the market you choose to enter.

Hygiene 

If you’re setting out to be a makeup artist, then you should first learn the basics of makeup artistry. To make it far in the industry it would be best to start at what is probably the most basic yet fundamental area of the work, hygiene. A few examples of basic hygiene practices include:

• Always wash your hands and try to use a spatula or something other than your hands when applying products. 
• Keeping your desks/work area tidy to both look presentable for customers and avoid any contamination between products
• Never using products that are out of date, out of date products are likely to cause skin irritation, sensitivity, and breakouts in spots or rashes
• Cleaning your brushes regularly
• Keeping your nails cut short and your hair tied back

You should only consider moving onto the technical side of the work if you can maintain a high standard of hygiene. Without these principles, you are likely to damage your clients’ skin and ultimately fail in your artistry. If you do not have a clear understanding of hygienic practices you should not attempt to become a professional makeup artist. 

Basic Techniques 

Only with hygiene taken care of can you begin to move on to learning the fundamentals of the craft. In order to be successful in the industry you will not only need hours of practice but also a strong grasp of color theory among other skills. Other techniques often used in makeup artistry include techniques like highlighting, shading, and contouring all of these of course being strengthened with an understanding of how light interacts with various colors, shades, and skin tones. Although being versatile in your creative abilities will help you in makeup artistry, you do not necessarily need to be good at drawing or painting to be a good makeup artist. The main attributes you will need are high creativity, hard-working, and a strong sense of attention to the finer details.

In order to develop these skills and attributes it is important to work on your weakness, instead of doing only what you are good at. One of the best things you can be within this highly competitive market is flexibility. Try to avoid narrowing in on one style and expand your horizons to increase both your opportunities for work and your skill. 

Build Your Portfolio and Network

While it’s important to teach yourself the techniques of your craft, it is equally important to be able to sell yourself. This is especially true for artists who intend to build a following and acquire work through social media platforms like Instagram. Building an online portfolio through social media is an excellent way to display your work to future clients and employers. The world’s best makeup artists have learned how to gain exposure for themselves and differentiate their work from the competition in order to build a large following. Always keep on top of technological trends and maintain the technology you have. Whether you have to buy or reset iPad settings or buy a new ring light, neglecting this side of your business could seriously limit your success. 

Finding an Employer

While making a living is certainly doable as a freelance makeup artist, it is likely you are going to have to find an employer to make a decent amount of money in the industry. Because jobs within the market are highly competitive, it is likely that you will have to provide any potential employers with an in-depth portfolio of your work and a CV that sets you apart from the rest of the candidates. 

There is no right or wrong way to find an employer. Some develop niches within a market while others pride themselves on their versatility to adapt to different styles. No matter which path you take in this regard, know that first and foremost you will be judged by the quality of your work, and the only way to improve the quality of your work is through hard work.

Final Words

Although the makeup and beauty industry is highly competitive, it is one full of highly rewarding and high-paying jobs. It is worth noting that competition is also likely to increase within the next few years, with more and more people accessing resources on youtube and Instagram in order to teach themselves the craft of makeup artistry. 

Despite these facts, you can still succeed within the market, just expect the journey to be long and the road to success very hard. Learning how to harness the power of social media in building a following and gaining exposure is probably the single most important skill you will need for success, whether you intend to be a freelance artist or not. The most successful artists in the industry are not only incredibly talented, organized, and intelligent people, but they are also the most resilient and hard-working. 

For a helpful guide to help you understand how to look after both your and your clients’ skin, click here.

Thanks for stopping by,

XoXo

*This post is a collaborative post.