What is the work like?
Make-up artists prepare hair and make-up 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 natural look for a TV presenter, to period wigs and make-up or complex special effects such as scars and prosthetics.
You could work alone, as an assistant to a senior colleague or as part of a make-up design team. Your work could include:
researching and designing make-up and hairstyles to suit the production
working to detailed notes or a rough design brief
applying 'corrective' and full make-up
hair tidying and styling
fitting wigs, hairpieces and 'bald caps'
applying prosthetic make-up to completely change a performer's appearance
keeping notes and photographs to maintain 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 make-up or beauty therapy course and getting practical experience, either as a make-up assistant or by working in a beauty salon.
You would find it useful start with NVQ levels 2 and 3 or other certificates/diplomas in general beauty and hair, but you should also ideally take a specialised media make-up course, such as:
BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Production Arts (Make-up)
VTCT Level 3 Diploma in Theatre 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.
Check with colleges and universities about entry requirements. See the related profiles for information about training in general hairdressing and beauty therapy.
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 through getting involved in activities such as amateur theatre or student film, theatre or fashion shows. You could also try to find paid or unpaid work experience with established make-up artists.
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 make-up or hair 'daily', doing hair and make-up for extras in crowd scenes.
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 receive training at the start of your career from Film and Television Freelance Training (FT2) Design First, an apprenticeship-style programme for trainees in the make-up/hair, props, art and wardrobe departments.
Places with FT2 are limited and the selection process is tough. To apply for a place as a trainee make-up artist, you should be aged 18 or over and be qualified to at least NVQ Level 2 in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy . See FT2's website for more details.
Broadcasters and regional screen agencies may offer other new entrant schemes from time to time, such as BBC Design Vision. Contact Skillset Careers for information on any 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.
See 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?
Hairdressing and Beauty Industry Authority (HABIA)
Oxford House
Sixth Avenue
Sky Business Park
Robin Hood Airport
Doncaster
DN9 3GG
http://www.habia.orgInternational Therapy Examination Council (ITEC)
4 Heathfield Terrace
Chiswick
London
W4 4JE
Tel: 020 8994 4141
http://www.itecworld.co.ukFT2 Film and Television Freelance Training
Warwick House
Warwick Street
London
W1R 5RA
http://www.ft2.org.ukBroadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU)
373-377 Clapham Road
London
SW9 9BT
http://www.bectu.org.ukNational Association of Screen Makeup and Hair Artists (NASMAH)
68 Sarsfield Road
Perivale
Middlesex
UB6 7AG
http://www.nasmah.co.ukVocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT)
3rd Floor
Eastleigh House
Upper Market Street
Eastleigh
Hampshire
SO50 9FD
Tel: 023 8068 4500
http://www.vtct.org.ukSkillset Careers
Tel: 08080 300 900 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Tel: 0808 100 8094 for Scotland
http://www.skillset.org/careersSkillset
Focus Point
21 Caledonian Road
London
N1 9GB
http://www.skillset.org 
