Dream of becoming a certified makeup artist, but not sure which online makeup course is the best fit for you? Today, QC Makeup Academy‘s Student Ambassador, Paula Alleyne, is here to help guide you on the right path!
Paula is a graduate of QC’s Master Makeup Artistry Course. Her business, PAULA MONIQUE, specializes in bridal, editorial, and special occasions makeup. Connect with Paula directly in the QC Virtual Classroom on Facebook!Â
A Little About Me
Hi, everyone! My name is Paula Alleyne. Some of you may be aware who I am from previous blog articles. But for those of you who are new to the QC family, I am a Student Ambassador for the school. I completed my training in the Master Makeup Artistry Course and enjoyed every minute of it! I’m also from the lovely Caribbean island of Barbados.
In this article, I’ll be providing insight as to how you can go about finding the best online makeup course for YOU. Together, we’ll compare online vs. in-person training, as well as review 3 red flags to watch out for when searching for an online institution. Lastly, I’ll also highlight some of the reasons why QC Makeup Academy worked for me – and why their online training will be the right fit for you, too!
In-Person vs. Online Makeup Courses
If you’re brand-new to online training, I totally understand the initial reservations you might have about enrolling in an online makeup course. I’ll be honest: at first, I wasn’t 100% sold on the idea of learning professional makeup artistry online either. It actually took me quite some time to finally take the step and register in the Master Makeup Artistry Course with QC Makeup Academy.
To me, truly learning makeup had to be a hands-on experience! It couldn’t just be about reading tips, seeing makeup looks, and then mimicking them. At the end of the day, that sort of training would make me feel as though I didn’t get my money’s worth.
Before I decided to register for an online makeup course, I looked around for a brick-and-mortar school. But honestly, I found it challenging to find consistent evening classes. Furthermore, I couldn’t find a local, in-person program that offered in-depth information on makeup artistry.
(And yes, I said evening classes, because I also have a full-time job. Chances are, many of you looking for a makeup course are in the exact same boat.)
As such, I knew from the very beginning that whatever course I signed up for had to be flexible. It needed to be at a pace I could actually manage. After looking for in-person training, I started looking online to see what was available instead.
Finding the Best Online Makeup Course: 3 Red Flags to Watch Out For
Sometimes, the easiest way to know what to look for in an online makeup course is to know what you need to be avoiding. With that in mind, I found quite a number of 3 shady red flags while doing my own research. If you encounter any of the following 3 scenarios, my biggest piece of advice is: RUN AWAY!
This will not be the best online makeup course for you if…
1. The online makeup school has mostly negative reviews – or no reviews at all.
This is a big one! Because you haven’t yet experienced what it’s like to be a student of the given institution, reviews of other people’s experiences can tell you all you need to know. When I was researching online makeup schools, I specifically made sure to look for each school’s reviews.
As I searched, I discovered that there were some course reviews from organizations where students were disappointed with the lack of depth of information. They’d paid hundreds – sometimes thousands – of dollars to only get basic knowledge. As a result, this left them feeling cheated.
So, if you’re looking into an online makeup course and find that the majority of its reviews are negative, it’s probably something you should consider before enrolling in it. Similarly, if you find an online school and can’t seem to find authentic, real reviews anywhere, this is also a sign that their makeup courses aren’t very legit.
Want to hear why people are raving about QC Makeup Academy’s online makeup courses? Click here to read over 200 5-star reviews on Facebook!
2. The school has little to no online presence.
Ask yourself: does the organization appear legit? Does this online makeup school have a solid website? Moreover, does this website clearly provide their tuition fees, payment plans, course curriculum, contact info, etc.? Do they proudly showcase a strong student presence and offer a reliable Support Team?
Or do you have to go all “detective” in order to track all of this information down?
If a school’s website seems vague and lacks information on course content, this is a bad sign. If the information they DO provide is vague, don’t be surprised if the content you receive once you pay is also vague and unprofessional. Additionally, do a bit of digging to see if this school is active on social media. The more active they are, the more legit the institution is!
3. The online makeup school isn’t properly accredited or recognized.
Does the institution appear to be well known? This recognition can come either from its courses being accredited, other organizations and brands acknowledging the institution, or reviewing the staff/tutors associated with the institution.
Fun Fact: QC Makeup Academy holds a solid A+ ranking with the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, all of their online courses and certifications are internationally-recognized!
Finding The Best Online Makeup Course: Why You Should Enroll with QC Makeup Academy
Speaking from experience, QC Makeup Academy passes ALL of these areas of concern! It was easy for me to see student reviews of the institution. These reviews covered everything from course experiences, to student and graduate success stories, to positive feedback on social media. I even found unboxing videos where students proudly showed off the makeup kits they received as part of their training!
On top of this, QC’s website is solid; providing great information on course content, tutors, payment options, and user support. I spent time reviewing video extracts of their course content and topics offered within the course manuals. Furthermore, I was comforted to see the school networking with established makeup brands. As a QC student, you’re actually entitled to a LOT of different makeup discounts!
Another awesome perk is that once you enroll in one course, all of QC’s other courses are available to you at 50% off. Add on top of that the fact that this school offers monthly promotional discounts, competitive pricing, and low monthly payments plans, and it’s clear that this is a school who cares about giving students the best education at the most affordable price.
In addition to all the above, all of QC’s tutors are highly recognized and established in their fields. If you’d like to read more about them (and I highly recommend doing so), you can read all of the tutor profiles here!
Knowing Your Career Goals
The single most effective way to find the best online makeup course for YOU is to first understand what your career goals are. What kind of makeup artist do you want to be? Which areas of the beauty industry do you want to focus on and/or specialize in? Do you want this to be a full-time career, a part-time job, a passion project, etc.?
Only once you know the answers to all of these questions can you then find the training that can best help you achieve your goals!
As you embark upon the online makeup courses offered by QC Makeup Academy, you’re inspired to think about these future goals. You’re encouraged to start the process of turning them from mere dreams to an actual plan of action. Furthermore, QC’s training makes you ponder the type(s) of makeup application you gravitate to most – whether it be special effects, bridal, theatrical, etc.
I found that the Master Makeup Artistry Course offered foundational education in bridal, television, and editorial makeup. At the same time, it also included areas such as SFX and theater makeup. So, if you’re relatively new to this journey and want to get trained in all of these fields, the MMA Course is the best way to go! Personally, being exposed to these various specialties provided a great platform on which I could build upon and specialize my skill-set on a long-term basis.
The Journey of Self-Discovery
As you complete your assignments, you’ll begin to know which areas come naturally to you. You’ll discover which you enjoy most, and which ones are a bit trickier for you to master. In addition to learning your natural style, you may also find interest in unexpected areas, too.
For example, I love to do more clean, classic looks. This type of makeup works well within the bridal and editorial areas of the industry. However, I also thoroughly enjoyed creating fake bruises and fantasy characters. These were areas I would not have typically engaged in – but I’m certainly glad I did!
How to Find the Best Online Makeup Course: My Final Thoughts
To sum it up, taking the leap to pursue an online education with QC Makeup Academy was great for me. Having completed my training, I can say with confidence that QC offered the best online makeup course to align with my career goals… and it’ll offer the same for you, too!
To those of you out there who are looking for online makeup education, take your time. There’s no rush! In fact, it’s better to be patience and certain, then impatient and disappointed. Remember to find as much information as you can, from student/graduate reviews to social media investigating. Whichever school you decide to enroll in, make sure it’s as legitimate and professional as QC Makeup Academy is.
Ultimately, only YOU can truly know which online makeup course is the best one for you. So long as you follow your heart and trust your instincts, everything will be just fine! 💕
