Entry Level Qualification 

10

Career Fields 

Beauty, Fitness & Wellness

For Specially Abled 

Career Entrance Exam 

No Entrance Exam

About Career 

As a Makeup Artist, you will be applying makeup to others and assisting hairdressers while preparing clients for any event (wedding, party, media events etc.) or performing artists like actors, dancers or celebrities before their performances.

You may be involved in applying makeup to actors before a stage show (theatrical productions). You may also be involved in a film set for preparing artists and film actors for their shooting schedule. You can also be responsible for preparing brides for their weddings or dancers for their stage performances. You may also have to travel to various client locations from time to time depending on the work project.

You will have to know how to use a number of tools and cosmetic products like airbrushes, setting powders/sprays, primers, concealers, makeup sponges, brushes/applicators, tweezers etc. You will also have to keep yourself updated about recent technologies and developments in the Beauty industry or emerging makeup application techniques.

For Makeup Artists, working hours and conditions vary a lot. In salons or beauty parlors, work hours are typically between 9-10 hours. In a production set/theatrical setting, etc, the working hours will be according to the show timings. For private clients (weddings, birthday parties, engagement ceremonies, special get-togethers, other public events etc.), work hours depend on the client’s requirement.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

As a Makeup Artist, you will be engaged with one or more of the following roles and responsibilities: -

1. You will apply bridal, party, casual makeup to clients or stage makeup to performing artists such as dancers, actors, models etc. for enhancing or altering their appearance.

2. You will cleanse and tone skin for preparing it before makeup application.

3. You will select required makeup shades from stock, or mix grease, oil, and coloring to achieve typical color effects.

4. You will study character descriptions, settings, and situations, for determining makeup requirements in a theatrical or feature film production.

5. You will alter or maintain applied makeup during an event or shooting as necessary.

6. You will advise, coordinate and cooperate with hair-dressers to align tasks so that the desired look is ultimately achieved.

7. You will use various related products such as setting powders/sprays, lipsticks, primers, concealers, mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, etc.

8. You will work with a variety of tools including makeup sponges, brushes/applicators, tweezers, etc.

9. You will provide makeup services for theatrical productions, movie sets, photo shoots, concerts, weddings, fashion shows, public events etc.

10. You will assist in removing applied makeup post use after performance or shooting or event etc.

Career Entry Pathway 

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – MES course for ‘Beauty Therapy and Hair Styling’ or similar courses

After Class 10, you can enroll for Modular Employable Skills (MES) course for ‘Beauty Therapy and Hair Styling – 1’ based on Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS) framework under the Ministry of Labour and Employment of India. You may follow it up with the next level ‘Beauty Therapy and Hair Styling – 2’ or similar. The total number of training hours is 500 for each level.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – NSQF Level 2 Certificate for ‘Integrated Course in Hair, Skin and Make-Up’

After Class 10, you can go for National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) Level 2 Training and Certificate program for ‘Integrated Course in Hair, Skin and Make-Up’ or similar courses. The total number of training hours is 750. You have to be at least 14 years of age for this course.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – MES course for ‘Beauty Therapy and Hair Styling’ or similar courses – work as a Make-up Artist for at least 24 months - NSQF Level 5 Certificate for ‘Bridal, Fashion and Photographic Makeup Artist’ or similar courses

After Class 10, you can enroll for Modular Employable Skills (MES) course for ‘Beauty Therapy and Hair Styling – 1’ based on Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS) framework under the Ministry of Labour and Employment of India. You may follow it up with the next level ‘Beauty Therapy and Hair Styling – 2’ or similar. The total number of training hours is 500 for each level. Then you need to work for at least 24 months as a Makeup Artist in any professional salon or beauty parlor providing commercial beauty and makeup services to customers. Then you can go for National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) Level 5 Training and Certificate program for ‘Bridal, Fashion and Photographic Makeup Artist’, ‘Senior Makeup Artist’ or similar courses.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies - training for ‘Beautician’ or similar trades at an ITI or similar institute

After Class 10, you can go for training at any Industrial Training Institute (ITI), National Skill Training Institute (NSTI), Regional Vocational Training Institute (RVTI), National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI), Industrial Training Center (ITC) or other vocational institutes for ‘Beautician’, ‘Beautician Assistant’, ‘Beauty Therapy and Personal Grooming’, ‘Beauty Culture & Hair Dressing’, or similar trades. You will sit for All India Trade Test (AITT) to get a National Trade Certificate (NTC) after this course. This exam is held twice a year in the months of February and July.

Class 10 all subjects as per scheme of studies – Class 11-12 with any subject combination as per scheme of studies - Certificate / Diploma courses in ‘Professional Makeup’ or similar

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After Class 11-12, you can go for Certificate / Diploma courses in ‘Professional Makeup’, ‘Fashion Media Makeup’, ‘Beauty and Makeup’, ‘Bridal Makeup’ or similar topics.

Required Qualification & Competencies 

After Class 10, you can go for:

1. NSQF courses.

2. MES courses.

After Class 11-12, you can go for:

1. Diploma / Certificate courses.

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED

1. You should have interests for Artistic Occupations. Artistic occupations mostly involve working with creative ideas, art and designs. These occupations involve abstract or conceptual thinking, creative self-expression and often do not follow any set processes or rules for getting things done.

2. You should have interests for Realistic Occupations. Realistic occupations involve more practical and hands-on activities than paperwork or office work. Realistic occupations often involve physical activities for getting things done using various tools and equipment. 

3. You should have knowledge of Customer Service - how to provide customer services. This includes understanding customer needs, helping customers to use products and services, answering customer queries, handling customer complaints and grievances, and evaluating customer satisfaction.

4. You should have knowledge of Fine Arts - the theories and techniques required for producing various works of fine arts such as painting, drawing, illustration, sculpture, digital art, installation art, craft, visual art, etc.

5. You will need knowledge of Creative Design - various techniques, methods, and specifications for creating and developing designs for various types of artworks.

6. You should have Critical Thinking Skills- analysis of complex situations, using of logic and reasoning to understand the situations and take appropriate actions or make interpretations and inferences.​​​​​​​

Career - Job Opportunities & Profiles 

You will get many job opportunities with salons, beauty parlors, individual Makeup Artists, celebrity Makeup Artists, makeup studios as a Makeup Artist / Makeup Assistant / Junior Makeup Artist etc.

However, generally, Makeup Artists work independently. They offer makeup services in package policy for different kinds of events and occasions including fashion shows, weddings/engagement ceremonies, theater performances, TV/film production sets, to name a few. They are hired and paid for one single session of makeup.

CAREER GROWTH

With work experience, you can grow within the Beauty industry to be a Senior Makeup Artist, Makeup Trainer, Makeup Services Internal Evaluator, Senior Prosthetic and Media Makeup Artist etc.

However, if you can set up your own makeup studio and start offering personal packages to individual clients, you can look forward to growing a huge client base within a few years of service.

Salary Offered  

If you begin your career as a Makeup Artist in a salon, you can expect an in hand salary ranging anywhere between Rs. 3,000 - 8,000 per month. Your salary will of course increase as you gain more experience in the field.

As mentioned before, Makeup Artists are booked for single sessions of makeup services. Hence, there’s plenty of scope for earning from individual clients who book Makeup Artists for private events such as marriages, kitty parties, and other events. In one sitting Makeup Artists can earn anywhere between Rs. 15,000 - Rs.50,000 and even more depending on the services offered.

MONTHLY EARNINGS IN INDIAN RUPEES

1. Entry level: 0 - 2 years of work experience  

2. Junior Level: From 1 to 12 years of work experience

3. Mid Level: From 5 to 20+ years of work experience

4. Senior Level: From 10 to 25+ years of work experience (there could be exceptions in some high-end technical, financial, engineering, creative, management, sports, and other careers; also in the near future, people will reach these levels much faster in many careers and in some careers, these levels will have no meaning as those careers will be completely tech skill driven such as even now, there is almost no level in a Cyber Security Expert’s job)

Famous Personalities 

Not Available

Work Activities 

Working directly with people – working directly with people to offer them products and services, providing assistance, etc.

Assisting and caring for people – Assisting people in availing of services; taking care of people in different situations; offering help and services to others.

Communicating with customers – Communicating with potential and existing customers of your organisation in writing, verbally or otherwise.

Developing and maintaining inter-personal relationships – Developing professional relationships with co-workers and others outside organizations and maintaining good relationships.

Creative thinking – Developing new ideas, concepts, innovative solutions to problems, newer ways of getting things done, etc.

Decision-making and problem-solving – Analysis of data and information; evaluation of alternative decisions and results of decisions; taking the right decisions and solving problems.

Providing advice and consultation with others - Giving advice or consultation with others about various issues, conceptual matters, know-hows, scientific matters, products or services.

Updating and using relevant knowledge – Keeping updated with the latest knowledge relevant to your fields of work and use of the relevant knowledge in getting things done.