Ashburton College
Make-up Artist Kaitoi Whakapaipai Kanohi
Make-up artists apply make-up to enhance or alter people's appearances.
Make-up artists may do some or all of the following:
- consult with clients about the look they want
- read scripts and research the background to historic film or television productions
- write make-up sheets explaining what make-up look should be applied
- put make-up on clients and style their hair for special occasions and performances
- clean and sanitise their brushes and equipment
- make facial and body moulds (prosthetics) for actors to wear
- sell cosmetics
- create social media make-up demos, or give make-up lessons in person.
Physical Requirements
Make-up artists need:
- clear speech and good hearing
- normal colour vision
- good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses)
- good hand-eye co-ordination
- the ability to spend long hours on their feet.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for make-up artists includes:
- work as a beauty therapist, beautician or hairdresser
- work at a cosmetic counter, or other customer or retail work
- paid or voluntary make-up work for theatre or film.
Personal Qualities
Make-up artists need to be:
- able to relate to people from a range of cultures and backgrounds
- adaptable and good at solving problems
- good listeners
- accurate, with good attention to detail
- reliable and organised
- able to work well in a team
- motivated, with initiative.
Skills
Make-up artists need to have:
- knowledge of different types of skin and hair, and how to work with them
- knowledge of hygiene and how to avoid spreading infections
- an understanding of make-up, the latest styles and colours, and how to apply them
- basic hairstyling skills
- an understanding of camera and lighting techniques
- research skills, so they can make sure they use the correct make-up style for actors' needs
- sales skills.
Make-up artists who are self-employed also need business, marketing and social media skills.
Conditions
Make-up artists:
- may work long or irregular hours, including early mornings, weekends and evenings if they are working in television or film, or normal retail hours if they work in a store
- work in hair and beauty salons, stores, clients' homes, dressing rooms, film studios and on location
- may work in stressful conditions with short deadlines, or outdoors in all weather conditions
- may travel locally, nationally or internationally.
Subject Recommendations
No specific secondary education is required for this job. However, design and visual communication (graphics), media studies and drama are useful.
Make-up artists may progress to:
- set up their own business
- become make-up designers, who create the overall make-up look for films, television commercials, fashion shows or make-up collections.
Make-up artists who work in retail stores and hair and beauty salons may move into managerial or training roles.
Make-up artists may specialise in:
- hairdressing and wig application
- prosthetics – casting facial and body moulds for costumes
- video tutorials
- body painting.
Years Of Training
<1 year of training usually required.There are no specific requirements for becoming a make-up artist. However, you may find it useful to have:
- a certificate or diploma from a polytechnic or make-up school
- a portfolio showing your make-up ideas and style.
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