So where do you begin?

The Safe Beauty Association’s goal is to ensure that SAFE BEAUTY is taught in depth in all educational establishments, across all sectors and at all levels. To be a member of the SBA, you need to be qualified as a professional makeup artist or a beauty practitioner at a recognised school with recognised qualifications. Or, you can be a student SBA member in education at a recognised school with recognised qualification. On graduation, students can upgrade their membership to full membership.

We recommend that you select your educational establishment and programme carefully considering all aspects of your needs first.

Most of the UK's major cities now have appropriate courses to varying levels and many working artists began their careers as either hairdressers or beauty therapists. In the business, the general exceptions to this rule are the model makers, sculptors and prosthetics people. Around the world, there are numerous private and public training establishments and entry will vary depending on individual schools and educational systems.

After graduation and during training, it is important to be realistic in job opportunities available and you will need to become not just a good SAFE BEAUTY qualified makeup artist, but a business too. You will be your “brand” and it will be up to you to carve out your niche, to become better and different form your contemporaries, to identify your unique selling propositions (USP’s) and to market yourself well.

It’s a really competitive market and these are the business basics.

PRODUCT (What I am selling?) (What are my USP’S?)
PRICE (at what price?)
PLACE (where I am selling this?)
PROMOTION (how do people know where to buy it?)

Have your sorted out your sales and marketing essentials?

Business card
Email and web site
Your portfolio/CV (always up to date)
References
Your public liability insurance
Your kit
You, your experience and your professionalism

There is no point in being too blinkered regarding your career at this stage. Bear in mind that if you only want to practise makeup in theatre, there are now very few production companies which can afford to employ somebody that can't dress the wigs and hair too. For this reason, a firm grounding in hair and wig work will stand you in good stead. You may also discover that when work happens to be thin on ground, hairdressing may help bring in some money.