Graduate Feature

It goes without saying that the professional world of makeup artistry is a competitive one. It seems like nowadays, there’s a makeup artist on every corner! Makeup has always had a big place in the world. From the beginning of time, women and men alike have been using it to enhance their beauty in some way.

But like with everything else, the world of makeup has evolved. It’s never been as big as it is now! One of the main reasons for this is social media and the thousands upon thousands of influencers who use it. As a result, people are encouraged to dig deep into their creative side and take a chance on this career. The younger generation is likewise becoming inspired, too.

It’s a lot more common these days for the love of makeup to eventually blossom into a professional career. Thus, more and more people are entering the beauty industry. This means that they’re also creating an abundance of competition!

That being said, don’t be intimidated by your competition. In an industry like this, there’s room for everyone. The key is knowing how to get your name out there.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do this! Okay, let me rephrase that… There WERE a lot of ways to get in your name out there. You know, before COVID.

I guess I don’t have to state the obvious elephant in the room. But just in case someone still needs to know, we are currently in the middle of a global pandemic. With the constant lockdowns and social distancing measures in place, it’s harder to showcase your skills without having anyone to physically work on.

No one ever got noticed by sitting on the sidelines. Right from the get-go, put yourself out there. Is it possible to fail? Of course – but no one has ever fully succeeded without failing at least a little first.

Get those creative juices flowing and be original. It doesn’t take much to be a copycat. I mean, really, we can all recreate something. But it takes TRUE skill and passion to be original. It’s easy to fly past posts on social media that all look the same. But how many people will stop and stare when there is something they’ve never seen before?

Make smart and meaningful connections that will expand your business and enhance it. Makeup artists are needed in a lot of different areas. Once you connect with the right people, they can share and promote your name to get you more business.

For example, it’s always a great idea to connect with a hair salon or hairstylist. This way, whenever they have a client who has a special event, they can recommend you to do their makeup. Another good networking opportunity is to find a photographer. They could be willing to promote your services to their brides. Maybe they’ll even be willing to collaborate with you on a stylized photo shoot, which will definitely help you get your work out there.

Listen, I’m not blind to the effect COVID-19 has been having on the beauty industry. Like you, I am right smack in the middle of the mess; pretty much just trying to pick up the pieces. I know we can fall into the trap of letting it all weigh us down.

But the truth is, this is not the end. When we push aside all the things we cannot do, we’ll discover that there are still many things we can do. One of the things the pandemic has taken away is our ability to socialize. Since there aren’t a whole lot of events, weddings, or large celebrations taking place, the need for professional makeup applications has decreased.

But sitting around and feeling defeated isn’t going to do you any good! Why not use this time to create awesome looks for future weddings and special events? Why not maximize your social media presence to promote these looks, so people can get hyped for the future?

You can easily create these looks on yourself. Moreover, you can use the people who are in your immediate social circle as models (so long as they agree, of course). Without having a constant flow of clients to showcase your work, now is the time to get more comfortable with allowing people to see the face behind the name.

As for makeup artists, our clients’ faces are always the focal point of our business. But it may surprise you to know that people like to put a real person behind all the social media hype. Being able to know who the person providing the service is – before booking an appointment – adds a sense of comfort and familiarity.

So, create videos where you speak about your love and passion for what you do! Express what being a makeup artist means to you and what you hope to give back to your clients. You can also create tutorials, demonstrating how you apply makeup to your own face.

I know it sounds cliché, but the beauty industry can be pretty cutthroat. Your skin must be thick to overcome every obstacle. You’ll be faced with many “no’s”, a lot of, “Can you redo this?”, and plenty of, “I don’t like that”.

How much does a makeup artist make where you’re living? This is important information to know.

In a perfect world, our careers would be based solely on what we love to do. The money would never be a factor. But the reality is, we don’t live in a world where we can work for free. So, make sure the salary is something that actually works for you!

Look online to see the different makeup artist job opportunities that are currently available in your area. For each job you find, make sure the qualifications are required. Once that’s done, research into the different makeup artists currently operating in your town/city. What sort of services do they offer? How much are they charging?

For me, seeking out my competition gave me a lot of good ideas for my own business. I was better able to determine the things I wanted to do for my own business, as well as the things I didn’t.

Yes, I know I said this already. But it’s so important that I’m going to say it again!

These days, in a world dominated by social media and influencers, there are many people who call themselves “trained” artists… but have never taken a legitimate makeup class in their life. Don’t become just another social media artist.

Take a reputable course and learn everything there is to be learned about our industry. Build your skills and knowledge, to the point that the sky becomes the limit. I’d received a makeup certificate through beauty school. At first, I thought that was enough. But once I was really in it, I realized that there was SO much I didn’t know.

Equip yourself for the world beyond the computer screen. Professional makeup artistry is, after all, done in 3-D. Trust me, you will thank yourself later! In fact, this ties into my next tip, which is…

Research into different makeup academies and make sure the one you choose is a reputable one. Go to their website and confirm their credentials. If they’re a trustworthy school, they will be accredited in some way.

Next, review their course outline(s). Make sure you’ll be learning everything that you need and want. After that, see if they’ve got any reviews from past and present students. This will help you get a feel for the kind of experience you can expect and what you could be able to accomplish.

In my case, the only other thing I needed to consider was how I was going to learn while still being a mom to my children. So, I had to make sure I was going with the best online school – one that could give me flexibility, without jeopardizing my education.

Practice makes perfect. In our industry, hands-on training is key! So, build your confidence by first believing in yourself. Once you’ve done that, start putting your craft to the test!

As soon as I could, I brought in family and friends to practice on. I made sure to get exposure to different facial structures and tones. This way, I had a variety of pictures for my portfolio! Moreover, I could expand my capabilities, which I knew would allow me to work on a much larger variety of clients in the future.

You should also create a business website, too. These things will help you to connect with people and showcase who/what you’re all about.

Pick an aesthetic that’s uninformed, appealing to the audience, and aligns with your brand. Most people gravitate to pages that have a collective look and feel. So, pick a color scheme and stick to it! Your pages should be a reflection of who you are as a person and an artist. Moreover, it should scream out to your target audience.

You want the people that visit your page to know what you specialize in, without necessarily having to read anything. I always try to share posts through my social media and website that are both professional and personal. Even a business page can be a reflection of yourself.