Interested in fashion, but most of all in making others feel beautiful. Applicants must have an interest in beautiful things and pictorial expression. Since meticulous workmanship with attention to detail is required, perseverance is also a must.

They apply makeup to actors, celebrities, and models for movies, TV shows, stage performances, magazines, advertisements, fashion shows, etc. They also apply makeup to the general public at beauty salons and bridal salons. They also apply makeup to the general public at beauty salons and bridal salons. They give models and celebrities a "makeover" according to the theme of the work or event, such as "wild" or "natural. Most make-up artists belong to production companies or related companies specializing in hair and make-up, and they go to the site where they are asked to do the make-up. If they are recognized for their sense of style and skill, they may be contracted to work exclusively with famous celebrities. Some also work for cosmetics companies and are involved in the planning and development of new products.

In Europe and the United States, hair styling and makeup are neatly separated as jobs, but in Japan, it is common for one person to play two roles. Under Japanese law, one cannot cut or style hair without a beautician's license, so make-up artists who can do hair styling are valued at filming locations. A beautician's license is required.

Makeup techniques can be learned at make-up schools and cosmetology schools. Some schools offer a curriculum that enables students to obtain a beautician's license, so check with the school you choose. After graduating from a vocational school, students start as assistants in a hair and makeup production company or related company. After that, they gain more experience. Although qualifications are not required to call yourself a makeup artist, private certifications such as the "Japan Makeup Technology Examination" and the "IBF International Makeup Artist Certification Examination" are good indicators of your abilities.

Makeup is not only for fashionable purposes. Makeup artists also apply special makeup to the faces of actors in movies, on TV, and on stage to make them look different. Some Japanese artists are active in Hollywood. Another area that has been attracting attention recently is makeup related to medical treatment. Medical makeup, which uses makeup to hide congenital birthmarks or scars left by accidents or illnesses, can also be used to care for the mind. The therapeutic effect of makeup to brighten one's mood has also been proven in facilities for the elderly. The role that makeup plays in contributing to society will continue to increase.

If you work for a cosmetics company, your income is comparable to that of a regular company and your treatment is stable. If you belong to a hair and makeup company and start as an assistant, the monthly salary starts at around 150,000 yen. If you gain experience and eventually go freelance, your income will vary greatly depending on your ability.

Makeup is often needed for shows, movies, TV shoots, and other sites that require intensive work in a short period of time, and vacations tend to be irregular. The same is true whether working for a company or freelancing.

While magazine and commercial shoots are held in major cities throughout Japan, film and television shoots and fashion shows are overwhelmingly held in Tokyo, where there is a high concentration of mass media companies.

It's a chart that shows at a glance the main routes to getting a job as a makeup artist!