As a working makeup artist in the DC Area, I receive numerous emails monthly from aspiring makeup artists who want to break into the biz. The number one question I always get is, “Where did you go to school?”. The answer is I did not go to a “makeup school” but I did attend, as Sam Fine calls it ,The Real School of Beauty. This quote, from my fav makeup artist of all time, refers to the countless hours behind a makeup store counter assisting customers of all races, all sexes, and all ages. What Sam and I learned as cosmetic counter employees cannot be taught in any sort of makeup school. I try to tell aspiring artists that hands-on experience is the way to go if they ever want to develop their own techniques.
To sum this post up: If you want to be a makeup artist, apply for a counter position at your local department store and really learn how to put makeup on anyone that sits in your chair!
