Exploring Your Options: The Best Pathways to Becoming a Makeup Artist
So you’ve committed to your dream of becoming a make-up Artist so what’s the best way to learn?
While practicing on friends and family and advertising yourself on social media can certainly help you gain some experience and exposure as a makeup artist, it may not be enough to teach you everything you need to know to become a professional. This is where qualifications can play a crucial role.
Lets take a look at what qualifications you need to become a makeup artist:
NVQs
A NVQ is the most intense qualification that develops your skills for the working environment. You will have to demonstrate your knowledge and skills learnt to be successful.
A NVQ IN MAKEUP ARTISTRY is perfect for a structured curriculum that is taught over particular length of time.
The benefits of NVQs are:
A recognised makeup qualification
You’ll be trained by professionals who have lots of industry experience
You’ll be ready to work straight away
An NVQ will cover all of the below:
Airbrushing
Face and body art
Special FX - perfect for Halloween, film and theatre
Fashion & photography makeup - showing you how to work behind the camera under different lighting and filters
Customer service, managing time, appointments and difficult situations, running a business / salon
Occasion Makeup
Health & safety
It’s always worth checking if your course provider provides you with any products or kit, this will usually cost extra but helpful to have a basic kit to start with. Some courses may offer funding so worth doing your research and looking in to this.
ACCREDITED MAKEUP COURSES
These tend to be the most convenient, up to date as often are taught / provided by professional working make-up artists. Some companies provide online training so you can complete the makeup artist training in the comfort of your own home in your own time, your training provider should still offer support and be on hand if you need to ask questions, plus they should critique your case studies in order to issue your makeup artist qualification.
Accredited courses usually take less time to complete, meaning you can go out to work quicker and insurances will accept these as adequate qualifications and proof of training.
The benefits of accredited courses
Health and safety
Demonstrations of various current makeup looks to suit bridal, occasion, film and photography, natural and glam
Customer service, time management, appointment prep, retaining customers
Social media support
Industry guidance
Step by step instructions
Support and advice from industry professional
Downloadable content
It’s always worth checking if your course provider provides you with any products or kit, this will usually cost extra but helpful to have a basic kit to start with. Some courses may offer funding so worth doing your research and looking in to this.
If you are interested in accredited makeup courses, be sure to check out my in-person and online makeup course options. My in-person makeup courses provide hands-on training and personalised instruction to help you develop your skills, while my online courses offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace from anywhere in the world. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned makeup artist, my courses are designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in the industry.
NO QUALIFICATIONS
Unless you want to be a doctor or lawyer, you can start a career in many professions without any qualifications — and makeup artistry is one of them!
However it’s important to develop your skills, practice makes perfect, practice on friends family and eventual clients. Becoming a profession makeup artist is a process so be patient, research, learn from peers, watch videos, take advice. You can build your portfolios and learn on the job, as long as you are determined and committed to your venture and prepared to sell yourself! Remember you have to build a professional make-up kit which can be costly but again do your research, I have also written a blog on all my recommendations!
WHAT OPTION WILL YOU CHOOSE?
Different routes suit different people, if you have the confidence to go out there and do it go for it! Don’t take no for an answer, anything is possible and anything you put your mind to can be achieved. There is so much information out there, your network is everything so tap in to it, be open minded and follow your dreams!