What It's Really Like to Attend a School for Makeup

Prospective students naturally wonder what it's really like to attend a school for makeup. This is the first step towards an exciting career in the makeup industry.

You may have a specialization in mind, such as weddings, or want to complete the program before you decide if you want to specialize. In either case, a school for makeup will provide the knowledge and skills you need.

Programs at makeup schools are often categorized as a specified number of hours, for instance, 192 or 600 clock hours. You can expect that daytime classes will be Monday to Friday, morning and afternoon. Evening or part-time classes may not be every evening but, rather, up to 3 nights per week.

Consistent attendance is strictly enforced at many makeup schools. Students absent from class for more than the permitted number of days set by the school may be discharged from the program. You may be able to make up missed class time at some schools, while others do not have this option.

The actual format of a school day may vary from school to school but, generally, you may expect a mixture of theory and hands-on practice. You may spend 50 percent of your time focusing on theory and the remainder on practical training. The actual percentages will differ from school to school.

While hands-on experience with makeup techniques is crucial, a solid foundation in theory is vital to proper application of various methods of applications. Theory may be taught with the aid of textbooks, lectures, and demonstrations. Some schools utilize video instruction. Typically, theory is taught in a traditional classroom setting.

After the theory groundwork is laid down, the practical application of what you have learned is put into play. How a school sets up the facilities for practical application can vary. Most have an on-site lab where you practice your techniques on other students or models. The school might give you the next day's agenda and require you bring a model; however, this is not the usual practice.

Labs and on-site shops are available to students during class hours and most makeup schools permit students to access labs outside of classroom hours. The school may encourage you to bring models for after-class practice. Your instructor may assign projects for completion outside of classroom hours. In this case, the lab at the school is available for use. Open lab sessions might be scheduled for you to practice any of the techniques you feel you need to work on.

If you are attending a well-known makeup school in a larger metropolitan area, you may have the opportunity to participate in a student clinic. The student clinic invites the public to come in for makeup applications giving students a chance to put their theory and practical knowledge to work. Instructors supervise at student clinics.

You might be assigned projects that involve team work or working solely. This is beneficial as it mimics a typical day in the life of makeup artist. Artists commonly work with crews, especially in the entertainment and glamour fields, and special occasion makeup artists (weddings, graduation) often coordinate with hairstylists.

A Certificate is issued after graduation provided you have met attendance criteria, completed all assignments, engaged in class activities successfully, written and participated in all examinations and achieved a predetermined score. A common minimum passing grade is 75 percent.

Attending a makeup school program is intense. Course content is highly concentrated and programs are often designed for 6 months or less. If you are aware of what it's really like to attend a school for makeup beforehand, you will be prepared to successfully complete your studies.