Charlotte is the proud owner of her very own hair and makeup business, A Date With Charlotte. From bridal to editorial, to film and television, and everything in-between – Charlotte’s extensive makeup training allows her to provide a wide variety of services that cater to ALL types of clientele!
Her extensive resume includes working for Prada, L’Oreal, and even the cast of the hit show, Glee! A developer of educational programs, Charlotte has even been awarded Best Makeup Educator of the Year by the Australian Industry Makeup Awards.
Planning to book makeup jobs this year? Then you’ll want to AVOID making these 8 critical mistakes!
Etiquette During Makeup Jobs
Experience teaches all. As a professional makeup artist, there’s a certain etiquette you always need to follow. This etiquette will help you ensure that you always provide clients with a safe and professional service. Over the years, I’ve learned quite a few things that I definitely recommend not doing during makeup jobs. Though some of them might seem like little things, I promise you that they make a big difference… and not in a good way!
Whenever you take on makeup jobs with clients, it’s important to remember that how you present yourself is EVERYTHING! The right impression can turn a one-time client into a devoted customer for life. The wrong impression, on the other hand, can result in a negative review that hurts your reputation.
We all have our sins. Sometimes, we don’t realize that these ‘sins’ can bother other people. Thus, it’s important to be mindful and avoid these mistakes during your makeup jobs. This way, you’ll better your chances of getting booked by your clients again in the future.
8 Sins You Shouldn’t Commit During Makeup Jobs
Sin #1: Having pointy nails
In my opinion, this is the number one thing to avoid when doing makeup jobs! Applying makeup with long, pointy nails can be dangerous. For instance, you could harm your client by accidentally poking or scratching their skin.
Often, you’ll be required to use your hands to apply makeup on the face or body. Even if you’re used to wearing long nails, they can be quite inconvenient in this kind of scenario. Wearing long nails can also be unsanitary. After all, there’s a better chance that product build-up and/or bacteria will get stuck underneath your nails.
For this reason, clean, rounded short nails are the recommended shape to wear during makeup jobs.
Sin #2: Improper wardrobe
By this, I specifically mean:
- High heels;
- Uncomfortable clothing;
- And/or colorful clothes.
During most makeup jobs, you’ll be standing on your feet for hours. If you happen to be working on set, you could be on your feet for most of the day. Sometimes, you’ll need to literally run on set. Therefore, wearing comfortable clothes and shoes is a MOST! Ideally, you should be able to move easily. This way, you can be ready whenever you’re called for emergency touch-ups.
Closed-toe shoes and a convenient outfit are what you need to wear at work. Now technically, there’s no ‘mandatory’ uniform for makeup artists. That being said, there’s an industry understanding that makeup artists working in a studio tend to usually wear all black. There are several reasons for this.
Firstly, if you’re on set, you can be in the eye line of the actor. Bright colors can distract the eyes, which is the last thing you want to have happened. These days, cameras are so advanced that you could even be caught by the lens if you were standing by in the corner of the room.
Secondly, when working with makeup products, you can quickly get dirty. If your bright, colorful clothes look smudged, they won’t come off as overly professional. Black clothing, however, will naturally mask a lot of the flyaway debris.
Lastly, bright colors can also reflect on the complexion of your clients and mislead you when choosing your colors for makeup jobs.
Sin #3: Wearing full glam makeup
Unless you’re sporting your very own signature style, or your private clients come to get this specific look, I would recommend wearing a clean and fresh application while doing makeup jobs. You never know what your client is looking for. If they don’t want a full glam look, seeing it on you might overwhelm or intimidate them.
Sin #4: Smoking at makeup jobs
Avoid this as MUCH as you can! If you do choose to have a cigarette or puff on your vape during breaks, make sure you have gum and perfume handy. I used to be a heavy smoker, so I know it’s hard!
But now that I’ve stopped, I can actually smell when someone else smokes. I don’t say this to judge, but solely so that you’re aware: to non-smokers, the smell of second-hand smoke is disgusting. Since you’re working up close and personal with your client’s face, that odor can quickly become overwhelming.
As a makeup artist, personal hygiene is extremely important. So, always make sure you smell and look your best!
Sin #5: Being too chatty
Often, we’re the first person that clients or talents are spending time with before their big moment, wedding, live TV show, performance, etc. As such, it’s really important to make the person in your chair feel as relaxed as possible by the time they leave.
Asking too many questions – or questions that are too personal – is not always appropriate. In most cases, you won’t know the personal situation of the person sitting in front of you. Certain questions can quickly put them off, even if you don’t mean for them to. Instead, I recommend letting your client drive the conversation.
Most importantly, if the person DOESN’T want to speak, don’t force it! It’s not meant to be a slight against you. Often, your client’s lack of communication simply means that they might want to relax or focus, prior to a stressful time.
Sin #6: Acting like too much of a fan
The reality is: if your goal is to work as a celebrity makeup artist, then you eventually will meet famous people! But when you work with these stars, you NEED to act with professionalism at all times. Importantly, you have to remember that when they book makeup jobs with you, they want to be treated as a person.
Celebrities are often rushed by fans everywhere they go; getting requests for photos or autographs. This can become quite tiresome for them at times. As such, you should refrain from this same sort of behavior. It’s often seen as inappropriate and unprofessional. Of course, saying to someone that you love his/her work is fine! Just try to avoid the big fan moment during makeup jobs!
Sin #7: Being lazy with makeup sanitization
In my opinion, this is one of the most important sins to avoid committing! Under no circumstance can you skip important, hygienic steps. Cross-contamination, allergies, and negative skin reactions are real risks that we can expose our clients to during makeup jobs.
This is especially a threat if we’re not being careful with sanitizing procedures. Cleaning your brushes and products thoroughly is a must. If your client reacts or catches a virus because you didn’t properly sanitize your makeup items, it can (and likely will) cost you your career!
Sin #8: Being late to makeup jobs
I’ll make this as clear as humanly possible: you CANNOT be late! Full stop. It doesn’t matter if it’s just been 5 minutes – don’t do it. Oftentimes, makeup artists are the ones who get the day started. Our clients have a whole whack of others things they need to do once their appointment is done. Being late can impact the whole schedule of their day.
If you’re working on set, the consequences are even direr. If you’re late, the production might have to pay extra hours to the talent and crew who were there on time… I’ll let you imagine the result of this situation! Needless to say, don’t expect them to call you for any other makeup jobs again!
Working on Makeup Jobs: My Final Thoughts
As for makeup artists, we are very lucky to work in an industry that is both entertaining and – most of the time – relaxed. The downside, though, is that a chilled environment can sometimes lead us to be a bit less cautious if we’re not careful. Even if you are not caught in the act, your clients WILL notice these sins… and probably won’t want to book with you again.
This is why it’s important to maintain the right etiquette for all makeup jobs! Being irreproachable is not always easy, but being professional is accessible to anyone! Start by avoiding these 8 sins during your makeup jobs. Then make sure to always smile, exude positivity, and do the best work you can. So long as you do this, you’ll definitely have a successful career!
