Sarah Cavanagh

These days, there are more aspiring makeup artists in the beauty industry than ever before. With the convenience of social media and online shopping, most people can begin trying to make a name for themselves without ever having to leave the house. But if you’re wondering how to become a makeup artist, then you need to know something very important:

A passion for makeup will not be enough to get your foot in the door.

A genuine love of the craft is essential, yes. But this alone won’t allow you to launch an actual career in the field – at least not very successfully, anyway. Think about it: if loving making were all it took to become a makeup artist, everyone and their grandmother would be working in this industry.

The fact is, there are additional skills you’ll absolutely need to have if you want this endeavor to be sustainable for the long-run. In order to best set yourself up for prosperity, we’ve compiled a list of the most important Do’s and Don’ts to follow throughout your journey.

Let’s check them out!

DO: Learn from a Real Makeup Expert

I don’t mean learning makeup from a YouTube influencer. This is not the same as a reputable makeup education. While plenty of online MUAs know their stuff, there are also just as many who don’t. Their technique might be incorrect. They may be very good at applying certain types of makeup to their own faces, they might also have no idea how to work on the face of another.

You, as an aspiring makeup artist, could unknowingly be picking up all the wrong habits.

The best and most effective way to learn proper technique, theory, and application is to train with a real-working industry professional. So, enroll in a course! Receiving a legitimate makeup education will mean that you’ll also earn an actual certification once you graduate. This is guaranteed to look great on your resume and increase your chances of booking clients in the future.

DON’T: Skimp on Business Training

If you truly want a life-long career as an MUA, then business training is a must. Perhaps you dream of being an entrepreneur and starting your very own business. Maybe your aspiration is to work at a makeup counter, or represent a major brand, or join a salon team. How can you do your best work if you have no idea what goes on behind the scenes?

For instance, do you know how to do the following:

• Conduct a client consultation?
• Market and promote yourself, both online and in-person?
• Define your target market?
• Build a solid brand for yourself and your business?
• Put together a strong portfolio?
• Develop your own website?
• Research into your various competition?
• Maintain a professional demeanor at all times?
• Write air-tight contracts?

If you’ve answered “no” to any of these questions, then business training will be your best friend!

DO: Get as Much Experience as You Can

In the beginning, it may be difficult to find jobs with brand new clients. This is simply because you need to build your resume and portfolio first. Luckily, there are tons of ways you can do that!

In addition to practicing on yourself, find friends and family who would be willing to be your model. Try to find people of different ages and genders, who have different skin types and skin tones. It’s essential that you learn how to properly apply makeup on more than one type of face.

Styled photoshoots and collaborations are another awesome option, too. Not only will you be refining your skills; you’ll also be actively building your network and potentially getting some really great material for your portfolio!

Lastly, never forget the value of continued learning. Even after you obtain a certification, there will always be more courses you can take, so you can add to your qualifications and discover new areas of the industry. The more training you get, the better you’re going to look in the eyes of potential clients!

DON’T: Have a Bad Attitude

In the beauty industry, a lousy attitude is one of the quickest ways to tank your career before it’s even started. Go into things with an open mind. Be willing to accept constructive criticism, always treat your clients with respect, embrace the fact that you’ll always have room to grow, and never assume that this job is an easy one.

If you’re perpetually radiating negativity, the people around you will notice. That will be the reputation you establish for yourself. Ask yourself: would YOU want to work with someone like that?

Remember, you’re doing this because you love it! Yes, being a makeup artist is challenging… but it’s also meant to be a lot of fun. So, enjoy the ride!

DO: Invest in Your Makeup Products

To become a makeup artist, you’ll need to build a professional makeup kit to use when working with clients. While this won’t always come cheap, trust us: it’s worth the investment. Remember: you can build it as you grow. There’s no need for you to have absolutely everything right off the bat.

Start by creating a list of the must-have products you want in your makeup kit. Then research online and see what sort of prices you can buy them for. While certain products are worth the extra pennies, there are also plenty of cosmetics and tools that you can get for a lower price.

Want a seriously useful tip? There are tons of drugstore brands that are just as good as their expensive counterparts. For even more budget-friendly suggestions, check out this helpful article.

DON’T: Go into Anything Unprepared

This is just good life advice in general. But if you’re wondering how to become a makeup artist and find true success, this might be the most important lesson in this list!

The more information you have, and the more legwork you put in, the better off you’ll be when the time comes to put things into action. For instance, make sure you do TONS of research before enrolling in any makeup courses. Ensure that the school in question is:

• Properly accredited
• Has positive reviews
• Offers content-rich courses with plenty of hands-on training
• Employs tutors who actually work within the industry

The same thing can be said about your professional makeup kit. Never invest in a product until you’ve read up on it, know its ingredients, and trust that it’ll be valuable to you.

Lastly, but just as importantly: always be as prepared as possible for any consultations and appointments you have with clients. Have all of your tools ready to go, and compile any and every question you’d like to ask them. As the professional, it’s your job to know what you’re doing. The last thing you want to do is give your client the impression that they’re working with an amateur.

If you’re serious about becoming a makeup artist, you have to be ready and willing to put in the work. Success doesn’t happen overnight. But with the right mindset and a strong work ethic, trust that success WILL find its way to you and your makeup business!

Become a makeup artist and earn your certification in as little as 3-6 months! Enroll today in any of QC Makeup Academy’s wide variety of internationally-leading online courses!

If you have dreams of becoming a professional MUA and launching your very own makeup business, then you’ve come to the right place! Chances are, you’ve already completed your professional training at a reputable makeup school, or are currently in the process of completing your course. (And if you aren’t? That’s the very first – and most important – place to start!)

Once you’ve earned your certification, your next goal is likely to start your very own business. This, of course, is an awesome idea. After all, who doesn’t dream of being their own boss? The thing is, starting a makeup business isn’t the kind of decision you should leap right into. It requires time, careful planning, and serious contemplation.

Logically, before you start any sort of business, you should begin by figuring out what you want to call it. For some, this can be a bit tricky. But with our handy tips, it doesn’t have to be! Let’s take a look at the basic essentials you need to consider when it comes to choosing a name for your makeup business.

First Thing’s First…

In order to know what you want your business to be called, you need to have a thorough understanding of what you want your business to be about. Take the time to really sit down and think about what you want your brand to be. Here are a few helpful questions to consider:

• Do you specialize in any particular areas of makeup artistry (i.e. bridal, editorial, airbrush, SFX, etc.)?
• Are your services catered to a specific demographic, or are they suitable for all ages, genders, etc.?
• Do you intend to offer any additional services, such as: makeup lessons, hair or fashion styling, henna, writing for beauty blogs, etc.?
• Do you have a unique niche that can help set you apart from the competition?
• What is the overall mission of your business?
• What do you want your company values to be?

Think about some of the makeup artists you really admire. Does anything automatically come to mind as soon as you think of them – such as a color, a sound, a feeling, etc.? What would you consider their brand to be? How do they achieve this? Is there anything they could be doing differently?

Now turn the spotlight back to your own makeup business. Ideally, how will you want the world to see you and your business? Are there certain emotions, colors, images, etc. that you’d like to be associated with your brand? If so, you might be able to work that into the name of your makeup business!

Create a Short List

Inspiration can be found everywhere, so don’t rush yourself to try and think up a business name at the drop of a hat. Instead, give yourself some time to look around, get inspired, and let the creative wheels turn in your head.

Once some promising ideas start to come to you, write them down! As the list grows, you can always go back, revise it, and narrow things back down. Once you’ve finalized your short list, rank the names in order of most to least favorite.

The exciting thing about getting to pick your own business name is that you can get as creative as you want! So, don’t hesitate to explore the furthest corners of your imagination. Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:

• Proper names
• (Simple!) word games
• Words in other languages
• Synonyms
• Clichés or popular phrases
• Puns
• Names from books, mythology, or other works of fiction

5 Rules for Naming Your Makeup Business

There are plenty of ways for a business name to miss the mark, so it’s important that you do your research.

Consider some of the most memorable business names you’ve come across throughout your life. What makes them stand out to you? Why do you like them so much? Does it appeal to the targeted audience? If so, how does it achieve that?

Here are 5 rules you should absolutely abide by when naming your own business:

1 – Be original, but be relevant.

The name of your makeup business shouldn’t be a carbon copy of some other business name. At the same time, it should be able to convey to potential clients a sense of what your business does/provides.

On that note, try to avoid business names like, “Makeup by [Insert Name]”. There are far too many MUAs with that sort of name. This can easily make it difficult for your business to really shine amongst its competitors.

2 – Be mindful of the spelling.

If your business name contains a commonly misspelled word, you’re increasing your chances of potential clients struggling to find you (especially online). Similarly, consider the scope of your makeup business as a whole.

Who is your target demographic? Do you intend to remain local, or do you want your business to go global? The wording you choose in your name has an impact on these factors.

3 – Don’t overcomplicate things.

Keep it simple! Short and snappy business names are easy to remember and fun to say. Longer business names can be a mouthful, and are likelier to be forgotten. This is definitely not the impact you want your business to make!

4 – Make it internet-friendly.

The ideal scenario here is that your website can read as “www.YourBusinessName.com”. If another makeup business has already registered that domain name, you’ll need to consider alternate routes. If your business name isn’t already a registered web domain, jump on that opportunity immediately!

5 – Register your name.

On that note, it’s critical that as soon as you’ve decided on the name of your makeup business (and it isn’t already registered with another company), you get it legally registered. That way, you own it. No one can take it from you!

Yes, there will be paperwork involved, but trust me, it’ll be worth it in the long run. Plus, you’ll also eliminate the chance of accidentally using someone else’s legally-owned business name (which can make for a potentially sticky situation down the road).

When it comes to starting up your own makeup business, choosing a strong, memorable name that properly reflects your brand is an essential step towards success. So, what are you waiting for? Start brainstorming!

Haven’t earned your certification yet? Until October 16^th, 2020, enroll in QC Makeup Academy’s leading online Master Makeup Artistry Course and get our new Virtual Makeup Training – absolutely FREE!