Tag Archive for "makeup artist training classes"

Posts Tagged ‘makeup artist training classes’

How to Become a Special Effects Makeup Artist

Posted on: July 25th, 2012 by Lori No Comments

If you are interested in a competitive field with potential, then you just might want to consider becoming a special effects makeup artist. The field allows you to be creative, imaginative, and in some instances, allows you to take traditional makeup application skills far beyond the next level. Although it can be challenging to break into the special effects makeup artistry business, it is definitely a worthwhile field to pursue if doing prosthetic makeup for aged characters, scary monsters and other dramatic character transformations for theater and film sounds like a dream job to you.

The first step to launch career is to see if there is makeup artist training for special effects and prosthetic makeup in your area. This is a very niche, specialized field so those schools may be few and far between – but worth it to seek out! Certain areas like New York City and Los Angeles are known to be bustling with opportunities for special effects makeup artists because of their close ties to theater, entertainment and film. To have a truly successful career in prosthetic and special effects makeup, it might be in your best interest to relocate to these large metropolitan areas where the most potential lies, but many people have also made successful prosthetic makeup careers in other parts of the country and just travel to the sets where their skills are needed the most. But when it comes to prosthetic makeup as a career, large cities tend to have the most opportunities both for education purposes and for jobs.

Either you can start your career by honing your craft on your own, or you could opt to attend a formal makeup artist training program which can give you the foundation education and extra skills that you need to set yourself apart from the competition. If you choose to learn on your own, you will likely find a lot of special effects makeup training resources online, in books and on DVD. Some of the most predominant names in the industry were self-taught. However, if you decide to attend school, the first step is to find a makeup school in your area. This may require you to move to a different area or travel for the duration of the training, but when you find your true passion in life, it may be just what you need to take that leap. Having a formalized makeup artist education to bolster your resume and portfolio can make you more competitive when vying for the available makeup artist jobs. Take a look into courses, workshops and certifications that can help you advance your career in the right direction – talk to schools about how they can get you closer to your goal.

Regardless of your training, though, the bottom line is that your work needs to be top quality to get the best SFX makeup artist jobs you want. A prospective employer will be looking to make sure that your work is skilled, detail-oriented, realistic or believable and of the highest quality. So make sure you focus on quality rather than the quantity of credentials. After you gain the necessary experience, it is time to look for work. Special effects makeup artists are often freelancers, and begin building their careers by lending their skills to fashion shows and hair competitions, local theatre and school theater, or doing standard makeup artistry. It may take up a while to build the quantity and caliber of clientele you really want to have in your portfolio, but don’t let the journey discourage you from what you really want to do with your life. Document your work closely and display your portfolio online in an easily accessible place so people can find your work. Continue to reach out to potential employers and market yourself to build the dream SFX makeup career you always wanted.

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My Future as a Makeup Artist

Posted on: June 6th, 2012 by Beauty Schools Directory 1 Comment

Nicole Briertyis the creator and author of HelloMissNiki.com, a blog that provides product reviews, explores makeup tips and tricks, and much more. Although she has no prior cosmetology experience or education, she has learned from a variety of beauty gurus and makeup artists throughout the internet. The New Jersey based blogger has recently embarked on a career in freelance work and hopes to be a successful beauty blogger, as well as enhancing her presence on the web. Follow Nicole on Twitter @HelloMissNiki or visit her Facebook Fan Page.

There are many things in my life that I cannot remember, yet one thing I can never forget is my passion for makeup. Sometimes when I talk to people about it, I don’t think they truly understand. Sometimes I look into their eyes and I can see them thinking “just another girl who likes playing with makeup.” Well it’s more than that.

I remember being a child in Bayonne, New Jersey and eyeballing my mother’s lipstick on her dresser. From that moment I was determined to get my hands on some cosmetics. At that point in time, I obviously had no idea about the concept of makeup, except I was drawn to the colors. I must say that part of my youth fascination still lives within me. For the remainder of my childhood, I had to settle for Tinker Bell makeup, which at the time was just peachy to me!

Seventh grade is when it all began and it has been downhill from there… I got hooked! One weekend, my mother took me to CVS and bought me my first cosmetic products, from foundation and powder to eye shadows and that hideous white eyeliner that I used to wear extremely thick on my eyelids (a fad I would rather forget). I remember going to school that weekend and feeling hot. I thought all the girls envied my awesome makeup and all the boys were checking me out. Now I realize, “Eh…not so much!” I look back at photos and I really had no idea what I was doing when it came to makeup application and I certainly didn’t look as good as I thought! Those pictures are part of what inspired me today… to practice.

I loved makeup, but I became lazy for years and stuck with the same old looks, wearing the same lipstick and gloss everyday and never being adventurous. That includes not going to cosmetology school. I became so wrapped up in school, life and relationships that I figured I would never go. I would say, “Where is it going to take me?” The economy was bad and I figured I needed to be somewhere that ensured job security. Nevertheless, I passed on schooling and went to college for Arts & Graphic Design.

Years have gone by, and although I was happy, something was still missing from my life. While using StumbleUpon one night, I came across a beauty guru who changed everything for me. Julia from Miss Chievous, a Switzerland-based makeup artist who had the most incredible makeup tutorials. I watched her videos for hours on end; buying the products she used to build up my collection and eventually started doing a different look that she instructed every single morning! Granted, at times, I ran late for work, but I enjoyed waking up and experimenting with something new, no matter how wild it was. After getting to know Julia more through her videos and her blog, I learned that she never had any prior cosmetic training and that she was self-taught. Now, do not get me wrong, I am not saying you shouldn’t go to school. In fact, if I could to go tomorrow, I would jump on the opportunity! However, her lack of cosmetology education and extreme success is what inspired me to do more, to take the next step, to bring my passion to life. In late January of 2012, I became a beauty blogger and with a lot of time and practice, began taking on some freelance makeup jobs.

Everything happened so fast, and although I am not quite where I want to be yet, I feel I have become quite successful. I have met many amazing people, both with and without prior experience. We all share the same passion for cosmetics and see more than just “playing with makeup.” We see art. We see our faces as canvases and express ourselves with different techniques and colors that define who we are.

So what do I see for my future as a makeup artist? I want to be heard. I want women and men who are interested in makeup to come to me and visit my blog for advice and direction and not mind that I am educationally inexperienced. Do I still want to go to cosmetology school? Absolutely; but because I have taken my cosmetics obsession to the next step, I am not kicking myself as much for not going. I want to build up my portfolio, expand my collection and experiment more with different looks and techniques.

Without sounding too cheesy, if you are a young person who is questioning taking their passion to the next step, just go for it! For some, that might mean attending makeup artist training or cosmetology school. You only live once and you never know where it will take you! You may even win an Oscar someday or you could be the one doing celebrities makeup for Vogue magazine. You just never know!

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New Makeup Campaign: Bobbi Brown’s Pretty Powerful

Posted on: January 21st, 2010 by Beauty Schools Directory 1 Comment

On January 12th, famed makeup artist Bobbi Brown launched her newest campaign, “Pretty Powerful.” A quote from Bobbi Brown’s website talks about the inspiration behind the campaign, “This season I was inspired to ask my friends – not models – to be the faces for my new campaign. They’re pretty to begin with, but with just a few simple tweaks, they look their absolute, most confident best. That’s pretty powerful.”

Brown’s “Pretty Powerful” campaign stays in line with her philosophy of “be who you are beauty,” which means highlighting your best features, not hiding your flaws. She is also holding a “Pretty Powerful Video Contest” starting this week. You can share your “strongest” makeup look and your favorite beauty a tips – a huge opportunity for makeup school students! The prize? Three of the video contestants will be selected to win a trip to New York to get a personal makeup lesson from the Bobbi Brown! This is a big deal, as any makeup artist in training knows.

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On the Hunt for the Best Mascara

Posted on: February 4th, 2009 by Beauty Schools Directory 2 Comments

Like most women, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect mascara since I was, oh, about 13 years old. And, man, have I run the gamut! From drug store finds promising big bang for my bucks to the more expensive over-the-makeup-counter stuff, I think I’ve tried it all to get those luscious lashes I crave. Maybe some of you aspiring makeup artists attending makeup artist classes know the answer?

I’ve talked to my girlfriends about the latest products and I’ve talked to mom’s friends about the brands with staying power – still, this holy grail of makeup products has managed to elude me!

So, I recently decided to hit up the wonderful Web for more info. According to my research (which consisted of quite a fair amount of Googling) it seems that Lancome DEFINCILS is the celebrated champion. The overwhelming majority of sites lauded this mascara for having the best lengthening, volumizing and staying power around.

It comes in 4 shades: black; brown; deep brown and navy. And, it’s available at most makeup retail stores. The price of this perfection? A whopping $24. It seems a little pricey for something I have to restock every 3 months, but I’m thinking it could be worth it since mascara is my one must-wear product (if I don’t wear it, people ask me whether I’m tired or sick all day.)

When it came to less expensive mascaras, my research didn’t come up with an obvious winner. However, Maybelline Great Lash (the one that comes in the hot pink and neon green tube) and Cover Girl LashBlast both came up a bit more often than others.

So, it seems that the hunt for the perfect bargain mascara continues. In the meantime, I’m going to try Lancome DEFINCILS out. I’ll let you know how it goes.

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