Airbrush makeup is always an excellent service to add to your beauty business. Not only is it a hot commodity among clients – it’s considered a rarer service. This all means that you’ll definitely be able to stand out from the competition, increase your bookings, better your reputation, and boost your income!
While airbrush makeup is well-known in the bridal and editorial world, it’s also a staple in special effects makeup, too. So, how can you take your airbrush game to the next level? First, you’ll obviously need to master the basics. Once you’ve done that, you can then advance your skill-set by learning some truly awesome SFX airbrush techniques.
What are some of the techniques we’re talking about? Let’s have a look!
4 SFX Airbrush Makeup Techniques You Need to Know
1. Working with Stencils
Stencils can be used on the body, the face, or even particular areas such as the eyebrows. Typically, they’re made from sheets of plastic or thick paper. However, as you gain more experience, you can dabble in creating your very own.
When used correctly (and carefully), stencils offer a quick and easy way to add fine detail and flair to your SFX airbrush makeup design. If creating a character, eyebrow stencils are a popular way to completely reshape the arch, thickness, and overall look of the person’s brows. Just made sure you completely block out their natural eyebrows first!
Pro Tip: Not sure how to block out eyebrows? QC Makeup Academy’s Master Makeup Artistry Course will teach you everything you need to know!
2. Using Brighter Pigments and Unconventional Colors
Typical airbrush makeup applications will tend to rely on natural, traditional colors. But when you step into the world of special effects, airbrush makeup often maximizes its full potential when brighter, bolder pigments are used.
You’ll also have the freedom to work a lot with unconventional colors. You’ll quickly discover that it’s surprisingly easy to change a model’s skin tone to a deep purple, a brilliant blue, or a stunning green when using an airbrush machine (just to name a few examples).
Cady Heron really put it best when she said, “The limit does not exist.” 😉
Pro Tip: Just remember that when working with heavily pigmented makeup, it’s always easier to layer darker colors over lighter ones.
3. Creating Patterns
One of the most effective ways to make your SFX airbrush makeup POP is by creating some sort of pattern on the model’s skin. For example, with an airbrush machine, adding spots of varying sizes is an effortless process. Another idea is to apply airbrush makeup over a pair of lace tights of fishnet stockings, in order to create precise lines and detailed designs.
Pro Tip: Creating character makeup? You can also use airbrush makeup to develop signature patterns that are 100% unique to and consistent with the character!
4. Combining Airbrush Makeup with Different Techniques
If you truly want to dazzle your clients and leave them in awe, show them the full extent of your skills by combining airbrush makeup techniques with other fundamental techniques you’ve acquired throughout your training!
For example, why not use airbrush makeup to create a stunning, intricately-detailed makeup look – and then add some traditional eye makeup by hand? Alternately, how about combining airbrush makeup with prosthetics?
The point is, SFX airbrush makeup is a game-changer in-and-of itself. But once you realize that it can be combined with all the other techniques you know, too, there’s no stopping the kinds of looks and designs you can create! You gain access to an untapped level of creativity explored in very few other areas of makeup artistry.
Pro Tip: Never worked with prosthetics before? Learn this (and so much more) in QC’s Special FX Makeup Course!
Want to delve deeper into this, as well as learn even more about airbrush makeup? QC Makeup Academy’s online Airbrush Makeup Workshop will get you professionally trained and ready to work on clients in as little as 3-6 months!
Here are a few other perks to enrolling in this 3-unit program:
- Get digital AND physical copies of your textbooks!
- Expand your learning experience through instructional videos, quizzes, self-assessments, and more!
- Practical assignments will give you hands-on training – which you’ll do with the airbrush makeup starter kit included in your course materials!
- Your tutor will be a industry expert in airbrush makeup, with decades of experience!
- Get a full 2 years to complete your program (but feel free to finish sooner, if your schedule permits it)!
- QC’s self-paced online learning environment allows you to train from home, on your personal schedule – meaning no deadlines!
- You can connect with your fellow peers and begin building your network by joining our Virtual Classroom on Facebook!
- Upon graduation, we’ll mail you a physical certificate that demonstrates that you’ve been properly trained in airbrush makeup!
