Are you a make-up artist???

[emsyj]

Just wondered as have seen a couple of people on here mention they are make-up artists so if anyone is out there, can you tell me where you trained, how long it took you to feel confident doing make-up and how much work there is out there for a freelancer (looking to do bridal/occasion hair & make-up).

I am doing a course at the moment but it's not very good so I want to save some £££ and go to the School of Makeup in Stockport (as I live in the north west so can commute there) - anyone been or know much about it? It seems to have a good reputation and there are a few working bridal hair & make up artists in my area who say on their websites that they trained there.

Any info or guidance much appreciated, thanks

Stockport college used to do make-up, I am assuming it's not the same place! Would probably be cheaper but maybe over a longer period.
Otherwise, I think makeup companies do short courses too, virgin vie if they are still going? Depends how much training you feel you need, if you already have a flair for it and quite good knowledge then maybe you don't need to do a long course?
You can practise on me if you wish! I am in the north and getting married next year.

School of Make Up is a private school that just do media hair & make-up, they're not a big college doing other courses and they're not govt funded so it's quite expensive - not the same place I don't think!

I really want a full-on course as I have no knowledge of hair styling at all and although I am quite good at doing my own make-up it's totally different doing it on someone else and I really do want to be good.

Whereabouts are you? I am on the Wirral

I'm in Manchester and totally beauty obsessed if you want a practise? ;) bit far probably, i understand...

Have you looked at pixie woo on youtube? they do make-up tutorials, and are fantastic, not really bridal but great for practising different looks!

I studied at Glauca Rossi in London. Very expensive but very good. Glauca herself is a battle axe and if she likes you, then you have a better chance of succeeding.

It's a tough industry to crack. I did a few fashion shows, editorials before having babies but it's tough to make money. However, if you are good and can crack the local market for weddings you can make some good cash.

If you can, try and find a good local artist and see is they would be interested in teaching you. You'll need to find a face to makeup for the lessons but it would be a cheaper and good way to learn.

I trained at Brushstroke at Shepperton Studios 17 years ago. I did 2 courses there and they were quite expensive, even though they were only 6 weeks or so. They covered a comprehensive range of techniques but not in enormous depth. I think that's pretty much the case with a lot of the private courses as they are generally only 2-3 months long. I learned a lot of stuff by assisting established make up artists and just practicing and trying out new ideas from magazines etc. I also learned a lot by working part time for MAC for a few years earlier on in my career. You can learn so much by working alongside other artists as they have ideas and techniques that may not have occurred to you working on your own. They also have training days every 3 months which are very helpful.

Pixiwoo do courses as well as online tutorials, which I suspect are pretty good. Not very local to you though.

Are you looking to concentrate specifically on bridal make up or do you want to get involved in Fashion/Commercial/Advertising stuff as well? I would say the two require kind of different approaches when it comes to training (especially for hair). If you are looking to do a bit of everything I know a couple of really good make up artists in the Manchester area who you could contact for advice on training etc. If you would like their details PM me.

Thanks for the replies, I am looking to focus really on bridal work as I wouldn't want to do the unsocial hours and travel involved in media/fashion work now that I have DD. I don't need to make a huge amount of money, if I could end up with about £100 a week that would be brilliant - I am not aiming to earn megabucks (altho it would be nice!)

I don't mind paying ££ for a course if it's really good, but you have confirmed my suspicions that I would need to do lots and lots of practice on the side. This is what I am finding hard because I already work 4 days, go to night school and am doing professional exams, oh and I have recently started my own business so I work most weekends too. ((sigh)) Can anyone sort out adding 3 or 4 hours to each day, please? Then I might stand a chance of getting somewhere!!!

Well, you can earn more than £100 for a wedding, especially if there are bridesmaids/mum/MIL etc.

I remember from a while back that you sell 50s style wedding dresses, is that right? If so, you could teach yourself through tutorials, research and as much practice each week on friends as you would spend doing a course each week just focussing on 50s styles and then you could market yourself as a 'package' for vintage weddings to your dress clients. Is that worth a thought?

Yes that's me! I had thought it would be an idea to focus on a particular 'look' but to be honest I am finding it very different (and much harder than I expected) to put make up on other people. It is nothing like doing my own face I should have realised. That said, I do love it and really really want to learn and be good at it, I just think I will need proper tuition - plus it is much easier to get the time to do it when it's a fixed slot each week and I have to go somewhere and focus on nothing else for the allotted time. I don't feel I am getting as much instruction as I would like at the moment.

Yes, it does take a bit of getting used to putting make up on other people. Especially the mascara!

I'm afraid I don't know much about training in the North so can't recommend anywhere personally. I'm based in London.

I know, I poked one of the other girls on my course right in the eye TWICE - but she was very nice about it .

What course are you doing at the moment? Do you not feel that's enough? I think loads of practice rather than being taught is what is going to get you really good. Like blending colours to get the perfect base is prob hardest thing? I know what you mean about doing someone else, much harder than doing your own! I think you prob need to have exceptional knowledge of products too so buy magazines and chat to staff at counters. Obviously you don't want to spend all your earnings replenishing your kit so will have to reign yourself in sometimes! (i love makeup!) I'm in Preston but getting married in Manchester, we are hoping to move there soon if someone would just buy our house!

Emsyj, if you have time to work part time at all at the moment, now is a good time to try and get christmas temp work at somewhere like MAC or BB. I only did 2 days a week there, that was plenty. When you work for a Lauder company you get 60% off all the Lauder brands, as well as freebies from the brand you work at, which is a great way of building up your kit!

If you are struggling with mascara application try getting hold of a MAC 205 brush - it's a tiny fan shaped brush and it makes mascara application really easy. You can brush it on from the top and then underneath, pushing the lashes upwards. Amazing for doing pale lashes too as you can get right into the roots. Also v good for painting the tops of lashes after a make up change to get rid of powder drop on the mascara. You can only get it from the Pro shop in Soho though (Mail Order or on counter) so you won't find it on the normal website.

Some really good advice here and as the other MAUs have said really. But you can't expect to be marvellous from the onset and really practise is the key. The stuff I learnt on my (extortionate) course was useful but I only really started to learn once I began working / doing wk experience.

One thing about the place you do your training is that they might help you get work.

A lot is technique, which will come, a bit is vision (knowing what will look best) and a huge amount is the ability to make people feel relaxed in your hands.

Even experienced makeup artists have sticky moments. When I am doing models/ brides non stop my mascara and false eyelash sticking on technique gets really good and fast. When I have been covering up spots and powdering noses and not much else, my mascara technique is not so good. The other day I was at work and someone tipped a pot of wig lace glue over a dancer. We all have our moments!

Thanks for all the input, it is really useful. I would love to work on a make-up counter but I am struggling for time really - I work 4 days a week and I have brides coming to try dresses on every Saturday and Sunday (which is good, business is pretty brisk at the moment) so it leaves Wednesday.

I think my plan is to stick with my current day job until we (hopefully) have another baby, then once I am on maternity leave again I will do another course and try to practice more and maybe look to return to work to a counter job rather than my present job.

The course I'm doing is the VTCT Level 2 Certificate in Cosmetic Make-up. The first 5 sessions were all about eyelash perming and lash & brow tinting!!!

I will ask DH to pick up the MAC mascara brush next time he is in London, thanks! He goes down about twice a month.

Interesting thread.

Can you shop in the MAC Pro store even if you're not a registered mua?

Yes, of course. I'm not sure how it works with mail order as the pro stuff is not on the website but you can certainly go in the store. It's the one on Fouberts Place, off Carnaby St.