Overview of Growing a Career as a Makeup Artist

A makeup artist is a beauty professional who specializes in the transformation of his/her clients through the application of makeup. This can include beautification makeup, or even costume makeup. A highly trained makeup artist has the ability to correctly chose and apply makeup to suit a range of different skin types, as well as the best makeup application to highlight aspects of a person’s face and/or body in specific areas. For example, a makeup artist who is working for a modeling agency will apply specific makeup techniques and styles that will best suit the lighting and/or location the shoot will be in. Regardless of the reasoning behind makeup, a successful makeup artist will be able to work under a range of conditions and have multiple techniques available in their skill set.

How much does a makeup artist make?

Like many industries, a beauty professional gets a salary based on their experience, skills, location, client base and training. In the beauty industry, it is possible to have several qualifications within the field from hair removal to massage and everything in between. Generally, the more qualifications you have, the more opportunity for higher income you have. For a highly experienced beauty professional, it is not uncommon to make around $40,000 a year.

There are different employment options for beauty professionals, with the two most common being professionals that work in salons, and those who work privately. These two options require specific regulations, so it is important to conduct research into each to find the best option for your career. While this profession has been typically a female-only industry in the past, the call for male beauticians is on the rise. This may be associated to the increasing number of internet-famous beauticians online and the fan base that they are accumulating. Regardless of the reasoning, gender equality is an essential element to all professions.

Requirements for a Makeup Artist

Research is the most important step to undertake when you are beginning any new career. One of the essential things to consider are the legal requirements for becoming a makeup artist. This includes conducting thorough research into important aspects such as licensing and certification to ensure you are covered and providing the best service to your clients as possible. This is going to change depending on your own personal circumstances, so make sure you are specific in your inquiries. This can be an overwhelming process, and it may determine the path that you choose to take, whether it be working within an established business, or starting your own business. It is always best to ensure that you have an adequate support system in place to help you understand the requirements of the profession moving forward such as online communities.

Growing Your Career as a Makeup Artist

Generally speaking, it is a requirement for all makeup artists to receive industry-specific training before they can begin their career, either as a process within a larger course, or as a standalone course. Even when this is not required by individual state requirements, as a rapidly growing industry, it may be beneficial to expand your qualifications past those minimal requirements anyway. This will not only boost your knowledge and skills as an artist, but also help you to attain work as you stand above the rest of your peers in your qualifications and help your job readiness. Networking communities and associations are another great method in which to grow as an artist. Industry-specific communities such as these offer insight into trade secrets, as well as provide opportunities to grow one’s business opportunities. These types of groups exist to allow industry-specific professionals to build one another up in a competitive world, creating a sense of community that come together to support one another in your day to day work and share in celebrating each other’s successes as industry professionals in the field of beauty.

Search through the resources below to begin your journey into your dream job!

Location(s):