Make-up Artist

• Job: Make-up Artist
• Salary: £15K - £25K+
• Working hours: Often long and flexible.
• Qualifications: Formal qualifications aren't essential but competition is fierce.

Find out more about being a make-up artist

Responsible for:

Applying make-up and styling the hair of people appearing on television. Make-up artists have to research appropriate hairstyles. They can do anything from styling supermodels to creating hideous monster faces for films.

Salary:

£15,000 - £25,000+ per year.

Working hours:

Often long and flexible, long periods of time may also be spent travelling to specific locations.

Qualifications:

The profession is usually entered through make-up or beauty therapy courses and work experience. Formal qualifications aren't essential but competition for work in the industry is fierce these days so they do help! Most new entrants to the profession have a qualification such as a BA degree, City and Guilds, HND or diploma. Having a driving licence may be necessary with the travelling that can be involved in the job.

General requirements:

Knowledge of hairstyle/make-up techniques, creativity, teamwork, able to work under pressure. Knowing the requirements of the relevant health and safety legislation and procedures is essential when dealing with different substances, materials and skin reactions. Knowledge of art or history of art can also prove helpful for some jobs. Regarding experience, working as an assistant or trainee is a good way to gain some of this expertise.

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