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Grow Your Makeup Artist Career with These 4 Tips

Updated: Feb 16, 2021

Having a career in makeup artistry is multifaceted. From weddings, to television, to theater... the makeup industry is vast and ever changing. The main focus should always be to develop your skills and network as much as possible. It's like the old saying goes, "it's all about who you know!"

With that being said, here are some tips to help you expand your career:






Obtain a makeup artist position at a chain cosmetic store

Large chain cosmetic stores are a great way to start your makeup career. You'll learn a ton about makeup and the newest products on the market. You'll also be able to practice your artistry on customers which is a great way to build your confidence and skills as an artist. Working somewhere like Sephora or Ulta will also allow you to work with a diverse group of people and experts in the makeup community. These is a position where you will learn a lot about different products and will get to work with the best items on the market!






Work in a beauty salon

Salons are a great start for makeup artist’s career. Working in a salon will allow you to consistently practice and begin to build up a client base. Some salons may require you to attend cosmetology or esthetics school in your state so you can become licensed, (as salons are regulated by each state's Department of Cosmetology), but some states do not require a license to do makeup. When working in a salon there are a lot of opportunities to assist, grow and build up your portfolio! It's a great idea for anyone who is just starting as a MUA.




Work in fashion

Working in the fashion industry is great for those who do not know where to start a career as a makeup artist. Working fashion shows, fashion weeks and other events will help you network with stylists and designers, putting yourself on the map. One of the main goals for a fashion makeup artists is working on a professional level at a fashion week show. At the major fashion week events throughout the world there are opportunities to work with famous stylists, makeup artists and models that you see in some of the biggest magazines. Even working in the fashion industry on a local level can help you build the professional skills you need to work up to working on the level of a fashion week MUA! It's definitely something to consider as your building your career.




Become a freelance makeup artist

After graduating from the Online Makeup Academy of NY, this is the path that I personally chose. What is so great about this, is that your options are unlimited! You can do weddings, fashion, proms, theater... the possibilities are endless. Something to consider, is that it's a pretty large financial investment. Building your makeup kit is not cheap but luckily there are a lot of options for makeup artists to qualify for pro-cards which gives you a pretty good discount on makeup tools and supplies. With this option you are your own boss which can be very appealing to a lot of MUAs. It takes hard work and dedication, but with motivation and effort it's a wonderful career.




As you can see, there are many options for developing your career as a professional makeup artist. This industry is constantly growing and the possibilities are endless! No matter what you chose as your path, believe in yourself and keep moving forward!




Disclaimer: Hannah Lucia Makeup may receive a small portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently for entertainment purposes.






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