How to Get Started in the Makeup Industry

If you have an interest in getting involved in a career in cosmetology, then you have a fun, creative career choice ahead of you. Many believe that makeup is an art-form, and like any other form of art, there is a lot to learn if you want to be good at what you do.

The first thing that you should be aware of is your own appearance. People will be impressed and more confident in your abilities to do makeup on other people if they can see that you do a nice job on your own makeup. This quality is not necessarily a shallow one; of course everyone has the ability to be beautiful without makeup. However, it is a quality that will make you appear more professional and serious about your work. Would you want your makeup to be done by a makeup artist who does not even put makeup on themselves? The answer is, probably not. It is the equivalent of wearing nice clothes to a job interview; you want to appear professional and pulled together so that you will be taken seriously. Remember to always have your "best face forward," because you never know when you will meet someone who will either compliment you on your makeup, or will be interested in having their own makeup done.

Another thing to remember is that knowing the basics is key. Putting makeup on someone's unwashed and/or un-moisturized skin is a big no-no. This may seem insignificant, but it is a big deal. It is also important to remember to always clean your brushes after each client. People will remember having dirty brushes touch their face, and most will not even let you continue if they see that you are using unclean equipment. It is important to play and experiment with makeup in order to get the basics of application down, and to figure out techniques that yield the nicest results. The old adage applies: practice makes perfect.

Now, it may not be commonly known, but beauty school (depending upon which one you are applying to) is often not so easy to get in to. However, what's often even harder is to keep up with the expectations of the instructors. Again, if you do not have a grasp on the basics it will be more difficult to keep up, so the more you know before enrolling the better off you will be. However, here is something that a lot of people might not be aware of: it is not completely necessary to have a cosmetology license in order to get jobs. How is this possible? Let's discuss it.

If you are just getting started but feel that you have the talent to do makeup professionally, the question still remains of how to get yourself out there. How do you let people

know that you have the talent, and even that you do makeup at all?

The key is networking. It helps to have a portfolio of your best work created in case you are asked (because in truth you

should be asked) for examples of what you can do. The portfolio can and should include pictures of yourself with self-done makeup, and also ask a few friends if they would not mind volunteering to be models for you. Try to get a few people with varying skin tones so that you can show your range. Include in your portfolio examples of dramatic, theatrical makeup, editorial-esque makeup, and then just soft, natural everyday makeup. All of this is to show your range. The pictures do not have to be amazing; as long as they are well lit and not blurry they should be fine (since if you aren't a licensed cosmetologist, you probably will not have access to the highest quality portfolios possible). Remember, these are just to show examples and we aren't working huge-scale just yet!

Next, be sure to tell everyone that you know that you are beginning to do makeup. This will get the information out. Also, if you know anybody who is having a wedding, going to prom or some other special event, show them your portfolio and offer to do their makeup for the event for free, as long as you can take pictures of your work after you are finished. This will not only spread your name around but it will also help you to build your portfolio.

Finally, the best way to network yourself in this industry these days? YouTube. Sign up for a YouTube account, and browse some makeup tutorials. If you can figure out how to make your own videos, even with still photos and text rather than animated, do it. These are growing hugely in popularity on YouTube, and recently a talented young man who got his start on YouTube named Alex Thompson was invited to do makeup for Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls and her opening act, The Danger Ensemble. A long video of him applying Amanda Palmer's makeup can be found on his YouTube account, which I will provide a link to. As you can see, while this is a special case for a very, extremely talented young man, putting yourself out there in a place as popular as YouTube will guarantee that people will see you, see your work and you may even be invited to do makeup for a special events based upon how helpful your tutorials are.

Remember, the most important things in this industry are who you know and how you present yourself. If you can do both of these things well and have the talent, there is no reason that you will not be able to get your foot in the door of the makeup world!