Question:

Do you have any advice for how to become a professional makeup artist? I don’t know where to begin!

Answer:

To all of you gorgeous ladies who dream of becoming a professional makeup artist… I recommend several things. There’s no ONE real answer so I encourage you to explore and figure out what works for you.

First of all, you should apply makeup to anything that is not nailed down! You can ask your friends and family if you can do makeovers on them… Everyone LOVES being pampered. Go for it! It will be a fun and relaxing experiment for EVERYONE involved! You have nothing to lose!

I invite you to watch my product demo videos in the Mally TV section of the site. They are my gift to you! I show you the same super-secret beauty techniques that I’ve used on my gorgeous celeb clients for years. They are the exact same techniques that I use to teach my own artists. The videos are just like having a one-on-one sesh with me to teach you!!! (Classes are great, although I myself did not take any classes. MAC has a really great program, if you are interested in that method.)

Next, you should try to work at the cosmetics counter of your favorite brand. This allows you to practice, practice, practice! Familiarize yourself with new (and classic) products and how they are best applied. You really need to love and be passionate about your beauty arsenal. Perfecting your techniques and colors on real, everyday women is what its ALL about, baby! It will be the key to your success.

Your first goal, no matter what steps you take, is to be comfortable with your techniques and styles for a variety of looks and women. You should try to take into consideration different skin tones, hair colors, eye colors and facial structures. This will save you!!!

Once you are comfortable and confident, you should try to hook up with a local photographer to see how your looks translate to media. This will give you an idea about how lighting will affect your work. In the long run, this photographer will be your ally - he/she can help with building your portfolio and will eventually be able to recommend you and your work! YAY!

Lastly, the most important thing to remember is that being a makeup artist is primarily a business and not just about being an artist. You should treat it with the respect that you treat any and all of your finances. The biggest mistake that you can make, after you have put all of the hard work into your name as a makeup artist, is to forget the business part. Keeping track of your jobs: customers, dates, invoices, business purchases, rates, income and expenditure will be the difference between success and failure. You can do it! Work it! Rock it! Believe in yourself!