Makeup Artists Colleges

The Right Choice for You?

Trying to decide on the career you want to pursue can be an intimidating task for anyone. You are likely concerned about the cost and quality of the education that you will receive. In addition, you may wonder what opportunities will be available to you once you finish your schooling.

Job opportunities for makeup artists are good, but the competition can be fierce. The best chance for landing a great job will go to those who are licensed to provide a wide range of services or specialties. Some examples of specialties include:

• High fashion and runway makeup
• Wedding makeup
• Airbrush techniques
• Makeup for women of color
• Photography makeup
• Special effects makeup

A great way to "test drive" a career in makeup artistry is to take a few courses at your local community college. For a reasonable price you can take classes in:

• Color theory
• Makeup techniques for photography
• Stage makeup

After completing a few courses you be able to judge if a further search for makeup artists colleges is the right choice for you.

Determining Factors

One thing to consider is finances. Can you pay for your own schooling? Reputable makeup artists colleges can range in price from $4000 to $10,000 or more. Your best bet is to find a college that is accredited.

Accredited colleges have been approved by state or federal agencies as providers of education that meet a predetermined standard. Schools that do not meet these standards may not properly equip students for the licensing they need in the field of work they have chosen. Always check out a school's accreditation, as well as the accrediting agency, before decided to spend your hard earned money on their courses.

Another advantage of accredited colleges is that many of them can offer financial aid. As you gather information from various makeup artists colleges, be sure to inquire about the availability of financial aid, whether it be in the form of student loans, grants or a combination of both.

The next criteria will be the type of makeup artistry you are interested in pursuing. Makeup artists colleges frequently offer different courses of study depending on the career path that you have chosen.

Carefully examine the course outline and talk to a school counselor if possible to determine the best course of study to reach your goals. It is a good idea to compare course outlines from different makeup artists colleges to ensure that the education you will be receiving meets your individual needs and expectations.

Makeup Artists Colleges

When you enroll in the college of your choice, expect to start your education learning some of the following skills:

Tools of the trade.

• Basic makeup artistry
• Fundamentals of makeup application
• Skin care
• Airbrush artistry

Even if you already feel skilled in some of these areas, you will be getting a solid foundation for building more advanced skills and techniques. Once you have completed your course of study you will likely be able secure a job in the makeup artistry industry. Some schools may even offer job placement assistance. Expect though, to continue updating your education though classes and seminars throughout your career. As trends change, so do makeup techniques and you will want to stay on the cutting edge if you want to be at the top of your field.

Now that you know the basics of makeup artists colleges, here are a few colleges for you to consider as you begin your search:

• If your interest is in special effects and movie makeup, Tom Savini's Special Effects Makeup Program offers a 16-month program covering:
  • Makeup Application
  • Mold Making and Casting
  • Animation Fabrication
  • Exhibit and Display Design

• Elegance International (EI) was the first accredited professional school of makeup in the United States. Since the beginning in 1966 they have taught students the skills and techniques necessary to succeed in the highly competitive makeup industry.

In addition to the basic courses, EI also offers advanced and continuing education courses for their graduates. No matter the area of expertise that you plan to pursue, EI has the course for you.

• Founded in 1978, the Soma School of Makeup Art is registered and approved by Ontario's Ministry of Education and Training. Their programs include Extensive Makeup Design and Makeup and Fashion Image. In addition, they offer workshops such as Airbrush and Small Business. With graduates from around the world, Soma School of Makeup may be just what you are looking for.