Beauty Consultant

Makeup Artist

What is the work like?

Make-up artists prepare make-up and hair for anyone appearing in front of a camera or a live audience in film, television, theatre, concerts, photographic shoots or fashion shows.

As a make-up artist, you could create anything from a straightforward natural look to period wigs and make-up, or special effects such as scars and prosthetics.

You could work alone, as an assistant to a senior colleague or as part of a larger hair and make-up design team. Depending on the job, your tasks might include:

• researching and designing make-up and hairstyles to suit the production
• working to detailed notes or a rough design brief
• applying 'corrective' make-up for a natural look
• hair tidying and styling
• fitting wigs, hairpieces and 'bald caps'
• applying prosthetic make-up to completely change a performer's appearance
• making notes and taking photographs to keep continuity
• standing by on set to re-do make-up and hair
• keeping work areas and equipment clean and tidy.

You would work closely with production designers, costume designers, camera and lighting crew and performers.

What qualifications and experience will employers look for?

Most make-up artists start by taking a relevant course in make-up or beauty therapy and building up their practical experience.

Specialist media make-up courses include:

• BTEC National Certificate or Diploma in Production Arts (Make-up)
• VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Theatrical and Media Make-up
• ITEC Level 3 Diploma in Fashion, Theatre and Media Make-up
• foundation degrees, BTEC HNCs/HNDs and degrees in media make-up
• intensive courses at private make-up schools.

For some of these, you may need to have taken a course in general beauty therapy and hairdressing such as an NVQ level 2 – you should check entry requirements with course providers. See the related profiles for information about entry-level courses.

As well as taking a relevant make-up course, you should also try to gain practical experience, build a portfolio of your work to show to employers, and develop a network of contacts in the industry.

You can get useful experience in various ways, such as:

• backstage in amateur theatre
• student film, theatre and photography projects
• charity or student fashion shows
• work experience with established make-up artists and photographers.
• working for yourself

Once you have built up some experience and made some contacts, your first paid work in film or TV may be as a trainee or assistant to the make-up team. You might also find casual work as a 'daily', doing the make-up and hair for extras in crowd scenes.

Click here and here to read case studies about how two successful special effects make-up artists started their careers (courtesy of Skillset).

What further training and development can I do?

You would learn and develop your skills on the job, by assisting experienced make-up artists.

You may be able to find apprenticeship-style training at the start of your career from new entrant training schemes, such as the BBC's Design Training Scheme, or schemes run by Film and Television Freelance Training (FT2). Competition for places on this type of scheme is very strong.

Contact Skillset Careers to find out about new entrant training schemes that may be available.

You should keep up to date with new make-up techniques and materials throughout your career. Short courses in specialist and prosthetic make-up are available at private make-up academies, film schools and some universities.

You could also join the National Association of Screen Make-up and Hair Artists (NASMAH) for networking and training opportunities – see NASMAH's website for details.

Visit Skillset’s website to search for media courses, and for information about how to fund your training as a freelance make-up artist.

Where can I go for more information?

Related profiles...

Costume Designer

Wardrobe Assistant

Set Designer

Image Consultant

Hairdresser

Beauty Therapist