Why NOW is a great time to become a freelance makeup artist & hair stylist

There are million different reasons why you might be considering pursuing a career as a professional makeup artist or freelance hair stylist. But did you realize that right now is actually and incredible time to take action and make that dream a reality? If you stumbled on this blog, and are one of those people pondering the idea of attending a Makeup Artistry or Hair Styling School, like Alchemy Beauty Academy, we want to give you some insight as to why NOW just may be the perfect time to kickstart your career in beauty. Your interest in the makeup industry and freelance hairstyling can lead you to a very promising career, and we have gathered a few reasons why it’s an ideal career path to pursue right now.

Feel More Motivated in Your Career

It’s hard to feel motivated in your work if you aren’t enjoying it. This is especially true during this unprecedented time over the last couple of years. So many folks have begun to re-evaluate what matters most to them, and switching careers is at an all time high. Most people work better and are able to be the best versions of themselves if they’re inspired by the work they’re accomplishing. The last thing you want to do is keep working in a career you feel no passion for because you’re sure to get burnt out. You’ll get more done and feel proud of what you’re doing in a career that’s right for you. If you have had this lingering dream of pursuing a career in beauty but the timing never felt right, why not take the leap now!

This revelation of people en masse pursuing a career that better suits them is two pronged: For one, this has lead to a mass exodus of those who were merely in the beauty industry as hobbyists, as well as those who were in it for the wrong reasons. Leaving a huge demand for pros who are truly devoted to their beauty businesses.

And secondly: this craving you are feeling for something that better aligns with your vision for your life just may be the push you needed to pursue what you are really passionate about! The beauty industry needs more motivated artists who have the skills required to succeed, and the dedication necessary to take this career seriously.

More Time for Your Education

We understand that it’s a big commitment to start a new career. You might even be worried that this isn’t the right time to switch jobs, especially one that requires training despite how much you may want to. But now is the perfect opportunity to do just that! With many people working from home and having more flexible schedules, you can have more time set aside for pursuing your education. You might as well utilize any new found flexibility to start learning skills that can benefit your future. We also acknowledge that some of you out there may have been affected by cutbacks at your current jobs with hours being cut or positions being completely eliminated. Perhaps you could take that as a sign that is the time to invest in yourself and your future by starting that training program you have had your eye on.

"Change can be scary, but you know what's scarier? Allowing fear to stop you from growing, evolving, and progressing." -Mandy Hale

We have even updated our schedule to give our students more flexibility while they are studying with us. Starting in 2022 our students will have less days per week to commit to so you can potentially start working in the industry before you even finish classes or just have more time off with family and friends. Perhaps you will continue working your current job before making the official leap with your new career, whatever it is you decide to do with the days you have off from class each week, it was important to us to offer the most flexibility for our students. But don't worry- no lost hours of training by going down from holding classes 4 days a week to 3. Each class day will be a little longer to accommodate our full curriculum- so that means same amount of training with less days for you to commit to!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The Opportunities are Endless

The great thing about makeup artistry & freelance hair styling is that you can work anywhere. Although we are based in San Diego and cater our curriculum to those most interested in working in Southern California, with a job in beauty, the whole world is open to you. You can work anywhere because makeup artists and hair stylists are needed everywhere.

And when we say they are needed WE MEAN IT! The post-pandemic beauty boom has definitely begun. With weddings and events at an all time high, there is a huge demand for more beauty pros... especially those with training. Clients are no longer willing to take any risks with potentially unsanitary artists or those who don't know what they are doing. And it has been projected that this influx will continue through at least 2024, meaning that new artists with proper training can really hit the ground running over the next few years. The demand for makeup artists and hair stylists to work their magic is soaring. For example, brides-to-be will likely be hunting for available for hair & makeup artists and finding out how many of them are already booked solid for the next year (or even years), and you could be the one that not only gets the booking, but also saves the day for them!!

Plus, couples are getting super creative and having Thursday night ceremonies or Friday afternoon ceremonies just because of the amount of people getting married this year and the lack of available venues and vendors to meet the demand on strictly weekends. Meaning more opportunities to fill your calendar with bookings than ever before. And this isn’t just good news for bridal artists… there is a huge demand for retail artists, print artists who specialize in branding shoots & headshots, artists who provide private lessons, and the entertainment industry is coming back bigger and stronger than ever before!

There is Always Room for Growth

Makeup artists & freelance hair stylists don’t live routine lifestyles. Each season brings new trends so you constantly have the ability to grow. As soon as monotony kicks in, then you can develop your skills and learn something new. It is an industry that is ever changing and that is one of the things we love about it! Are you feeling stuck in your current career with nowhere to go? Each day feels the same as the last and there is no potential for you to move up to bigger and better opportunities? That will never be the case for you as a beauty pro! There is always more to learn and master, and there are always new facets of your business to potentially pursue. This career will continuously challenge and excite you as everyday is different from the last. At Alchemy we truly encourage our students to carve out their own path and find their place in the industry that will be the most fulfilling. We do this by opening our students eyes to the range of different types of work out there and giving you a taste of what it is like to work in each avenue of the industry so you can find what feels right for you. We also try to instill an abundance mindset in all of our graduates so that you can continue to see opportunities for growth long after you finish your training.

Good Income

As a freelance makeup artist and hair stylist, you have control over how much money you can make. Granted becoming a successful makeup artist or hair stylist, like any career path, requires patience. Building your brand and gaining a reputation can take time…so get started now! As time goes on, you will become more comfortable and confident in your abilities and that will show in how you market and price yourself. If you get started now, you are one step closer at developing a brand name for yourself and reaching those goals you have laid out for yourself, so don’t delay!

As with most careers, a makeup artist’s salary will range depending on their education, location, and experience. This means you may really benefit from attending a makeup school and getting hands-on hair styling training to gain the skills and know-how necessary for a career in this field. If you graduate from an academy and can show proof that you’ve completed a certificate program, you’re on the right path to higher income.

To get a better idea of how much makeup artists make, it is helpful to know the national average salary, the different types of makeup artistry you can pursue, and how you can maximize your profits as an artist.

Makeup Artist Salary Range

The national average salary for a makeup artist is around $47,500 annually as of 2020. Makeup artists can boost their wage to $95,000 depending on their education, certifications, location, and which type of makeup artist they decide to become.

Makeup Artist Career Outlook

"The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a lot of job growth in the beauty field over the next few years.”

What Salaries Do Different Types of Hair & Makeup Artists Earn?

The wide range of options for a makeup artist and hair stylist also creates various income opportunities associated with different career paths. To determine why some make more than others, let's take a look at some common makeup artist career paths and the national average of the associated salaries...

Film & Television Hair & Makeup Artists

Film and TV makeup artists may be among the highest-paid in this field, but their average salary range can vary widely.

They typically are required to work long hours. Artists in this field make about $15,000 to $92,000 a year.

Print & Performance Hair & Makeup Artists

Theatrical performance makeup artists may provide similar services to those on TV and in film and will be working with similar people, albeit in a stage environment. And Print Artists find themselves working on a range of projects with the purpose of creating beautiful images. These artists make an average of $40,000 to $60,000 a year.

Bridal Hair & Makeup Artists

Bridal makeup artists will provide makeup services to the bride and bridal parties. Bridal makeup artists must be available for scheduling specific dates. These makeup artists make on average $30,000 to $55,000 a year as a solo artist with more income opportunities for those who run a team of artists. If you are a dual artist providing both hair & makeup services for weddings the average raises to $35,000 to $65,000 a year on average.

Salon & Spa Makeup Artists

These professionals will be required to obtain a license from the State Board of Cosmetology following their training at a school for Cosmetology or Esthetics. Spa and salon makeup artists can earn $23,000 to $62,000 a year.

Beauty Counter Makeup Artists

A retail makeup artist on average makes between $20,000 to $44,000 a year. This career path also has the lowest overhead expenses of all of those we mentioned.

Ways to Increase a Makeup Artist Salary

It may be the case that you don’t live in the highest-paying location for a makeup artist (San Diego for instance tends to fall somewhere in the upper middle range whereas LA is much higher), or even that you do and would just like to make a little more. If you don’t want to move, but still want to make more as a beauty pro, you have several options. To make more in the makeup artistry & hair styling field you can...

• Evaluate your skills: Examining your skills will shed light on your blind spots and can help you improve your craft. You might discover different techniques or areas you are spending too much time on, and free up time for more clients. It also may prompt you to adjust your pricing for your services.

• Additional training: Taking additional makeup or hair courses can expand your horizons. Learning new makeup techniques and applications can help you make the shift toward a higher-paying makeup artistry career. Adding hair services or expanding your styling skills can essentially double your potential earnings.

• Networking: Using social media to connect with potential clients, keeping a close community of fellow artists, and going to events can help you keep your finger on the pulse of your industry. Networking can help you collaborate with other artists, grow your list of clientele, and learn new cutting edge techniques to make you stand out.

• Improve/Update your portfolio: If you don’t have one, you absolutely must create one. Or if you have not kept it updated, now is the time. Creating (or updating) your portfolio will help show your most recent work off to clients. Showcase your strengths as an artist and make sure you have a portfolio that truly reflects the level of work that you do. Check out our post dedicated to the importance of a professional portfolio

Find out which program we offer might be the best fit for you! Take our free Alchemist Quiz

Certificate programs At ALCHEMY BEAUTY ACADEMY

Are you ready to take the leap now and become a makeup artist or freelance hair stylist? The first thing you’ll need to do is get some training. Alchemy Beauty Academy's Certificate Programs teach students both the fundamentals and advanced techniques to master the latest industry trends. Contact us at (858)255-8056 for more information on our Programs and upcoming start dates. Or click here to request our brochure to learn more.