It takes a special kind of person to become a makeup artist – an outgoing personality, a great deal of patience, and sheer talent are just a few of the qualities needed. As experience increases, so do skills, helping makeup artists make the right choices when it comes to products and shades.
From a client’s perspective, it may seem all one-sided. But don’t be fooled – there are a number of things that your makeup artist wishes you knew. Read on and keep these 6 things in mind when you have your makeup done professionally!
1. Don’t worry about offending them
To have a successful career in makeup, professionals need thick skin. Makeup artists are, by nature, outgoing people that don’t take criticism personally. They realize that their clients might not always love the first application they do, or that they may have concerns and suggestions. And not only is this expected, it’s welcomed!
Your makeup artist takes a great deal of pride in creating a look that makes you look and feel your very best, so know that they are open to feedback from you as they work!
Now, that’s not to say that you should be harshly critical (remember that your makeup artist has your best interests at heart!), but don’t be afraid to speak up during the makeup application. If something doesn’t seem right or if you don’t like something, mention it!
2. Visual aids are helpful
If you’ve hired a makeup artist for an upcoming event, you likely have a vision of the look you want. However, it’s not always easy to articulate ideas, even for a professional – your makeup artist may interpret your idea differently, and this could end in disappointment for both of you.
Gathering a few visual aids will be extremely helpful for your makeup artist. These can include magazine photos, print-outs from websites, or even copies of a Pinterest board that you created! Anything visual will help your makeup artist truly understand the look that you’re dying to recreate, and there is a much better chance of it being exactly what you want!
3. Keep your hands off their tools
We totally get it – you’re sitting in the chair while your makeup artist is grabbing a coffee, and you spot a selection of gorgeous MAC Pigments in their kit. You can’t resist having a peek, and that includes picking the products up and potentially even opening them up.
Don’t do it!
For makeup artists, their makeup kit is sacred space. This isn’t just because these products are expensive (and they are!), they also don’t know if you have clean hands. As tempting as it is to admire and touch their collection of makeup goodies, makeup artists would really appreciate it if you kept your ogling to just ooh-ing and ahh-ing.
Think about it – you wouldn’t appreciate someone coming into your home and putting their fingerprints all over your personal belongings – especially when those belongings need to be kept completely clean for other clients!
4. Be respectful of their time
This is a big one. Makeup artists work extremely hard to build their client base, reputation, and skill set, and often support themselves solely through freelance makeup jobs.
They depend on paying clients like you to support themselves and keep their makeup business thriving. So when you book an appointment with them, you have responsibilities. If you’re going to be late, be sure to contact them as soon as possible to let them know. Or, if you have to cancel the appointment, be as courteous as you can in advising them – try to do it as far in advance as possible.
This allows your makeup artist to schedule another appointment in the time that has freed up, so they won’t lose out on business. A good rule of thumb is to try and put yourself in your makeup artist’s shoes and treat them as you would like to be treated, which leads us to our next point…
5. Don’t expect any discounts
Savvy freelance makeup artists know how important contracts are when working with clients. A contract binds the both of you to a specific set of rules (and fees), so that once the makeup application is complete, there is little or no wiggle room for discounts. Keep in mind that it is difficult for your makeup artist to turn down a request for a discount. It takes a real people person to have a successful career in makeup, so it’s difficult for them to put their foot down with a valuable client.
However, makeup is a business, and like any service, it costs money. Being both mindful of this and respectful of the contract you agreed on will ensure you maintain a great relationship with your makeup artist, and who knows…they may even offer you a discount in the future for being such a great customer!
6. Don’t tell them how to do their job
The last point on our list is a tough one! As the client, we’re sure that you’re going into your makeup appointment with a great deal of enthusiasm and excitement – after all, who doesn’t love sitting back and letting a makeup artist work their magic?
Your makeup artist will love your positive attitude and energy, but this can move into another territory – and you may not even realize you’re doing it. If you’re familiar with different beauty tips, you may find yourself telling your makeup artist how they should be creating your look, and disagreeing with their techniques. If there is only one piece of advice that you take away from this list, let it be this one: never tell a makeup artist how they should do their job!
Completing makeup artist classes has taught her the absolute best practices in the industry. Plus, your makeup artist probably has a makeup artistry certification that shows off her skills and knowledge.
Let them show you what they’re capable of, and trust that you’re in good hands!
