In the makeup industry, not everything is all about theories because practicality is a must. Some skills are innate in others, but it may be acquired through proper training as well. Having the right skill set will bring you further in this career. but you have to be wise as a makeup artist. You may say you already have the skills, but it won’t hurt to double check what you may be missing.
Take our list as a positive nudge for you to become a better makeup artist. There are endless skills a person could have that are also important in their profession, but here’s something to name a few:
- Communication skills
- Working under pressure
- Time Management
- Hairstyling skills
- Detail Orientation
1. COMMUNICATING CLEARLY WITH CLIENTS
This is important even before having your client sit before you. Communication is already key for you to book a client. You must always be on top of your emails, phone calls, or text messages – whichever way you and your clients prefer to connect. You want it for them to have an easy experience booking you so they will have you in mind for future opportunities. On your end, you also want a stress-free job so initiating clear communication and being responsive will certainly be helpful.
On the job, you must still be able to carry good communication skills. You can’t keep quiet the whole time you’re doing makeup just because you feel like you know what you’re doing. Yes, you may already know what you are doing but your client does not. They will appreciate letting them know answers to their questions regarding the makeup you are doing on them. It’s also helpful if you are able to give them directions so you can apply makeup faster and easier.
2. WORKING WITH GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
Preparations are always the most stressful before a shoot, performance, or event. That nerve-wracking pressure when you have a deadline to meet but you aren’t sure if you are going to make it – IT’S CRAZY! But know how to breathe in and breathe out. You don’t want to scare your client by letting them see you panic. Don’t be all over the place just trying to finish a makeup look because to no surprise, this can slow your progress even more. Be calm and know how to act accordingly.
Deadlines are always present in any job. Makeup artists have their own fair share of target dates and times too. Have the impression of being able to work under any work condition. Be professional. Nothing more, nothing less.
3. TIME ORGANIZATION
As a makeup artist, you are in charge of your own time. You get to choose which days work and don’t work for you. But this is not the same when you already booked someone for a certain day and someone comes along with greater pay so you cancel your prior client for a better opportunity. Never, in a million years, do that to a client.
One thing to also remember is to take note of the time you use in applying your client’s makeup. No one certainly wants to sit down for a hundred hours to have their makeup done. Do it as fast as you can while still paying attention to detail. You also want to be on time for your next client, if you have any! So always start on time so you can end on time. Even when your client’s late, some still expect you to finish on the time you specified when first communicated.
4. HAIRSTYLING SKILLS
This is not necessary but it is important. These days, clients tend to look for professional artists who can do both hair and makeup since this saves them the time and the money. It’s also much easier to connect with one person who’s going to render you all the services you need. In reality, people also tend to see trust you even more when you have this skill.
It’s also going to be an advantage for you as an individual because this actually earns you more money. You get to charge for doing makeup and another for doing hair. As a freelancer, this is helpful. For sure, you will get booked more often rather than when you only possess one skill.
5. ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Clients want their wing sharp, and their smokey eye completely smoked out. Anybody will be able to notice details you miss, especially that makeup is visual. Makeup being applied on the face also doesn’t help when you are not very keen with details.
Detail orientation is highly important to us as a makeup school. We want to be able to produce graduates who are humble in noticing their mistakes, apart from knowing that they can do great too. Acknowledging that your red lip isn’t as perfect or that your eyebrows are not completely filled in help in knowing where you can improve. Practice makes perfect, as they always say!
