Freelance Hair/Makeup~Steps Towards?

I'd like to practice Freelance Hair and Makeup as a side job and perhaps grow it into a business but I'm not sure how to start. I am building a portfolio but I don't know if I'm supposed to be liscensed somehow. [huh] I am hearing mixed things about it. I don't really have any interest in Color/Cutting, at this time. Nor do I have the money for cosmetology school. I'd just like to do the fun part! haha.

I typed in 'freelance' under the search box but nothing similar came up so if this subject has been approached before on this board, just show me the way!

I do freelance hair and makeup in California, I am a licensed Cosmetologist and Esthetician. You really have to go to your Board of Barbering and Cosmetology for your state to see if it is legal in your state to simply style hair without a license. If you are in TN I believe this is the website for it http://tn.gov/commerce/boards/cosmo/index.shtml. As a whole there are really no restrictions on doing makeup on others.

I got started by doing makeup and hair for friends when they went to special events and gave them my cards. If someone commented on their hair and makeup they gave them my card. I also got in good with local wedding planners or popular wedding locations that gave me leads. If you can pair up with photographers in your area that are like minded and do shoots for them for some copies of their photographs for your portfolio. Soon that leads from head shots to paying modeling gigs. And lastly is really put yourself together when you go out and about, even to the grocery store, many people come up and comment me on something and I am quick to give them my card and a smile, which has lead to more special events.

Hopefully that helps a bit and good luck with it!

Thanks so much!

I'll bet that you need a license to do that in every state. Back when I was selling Mary Kay to help pay for cosmetology school, the MK people told me the reason the MK parties with each lady applying her own make-up developed because state laws required one to be licensed if she were to apply make-up to someone else's skin, but no license to guide the customer on applying it to her own skin. Some states (the ones I've lived in, don't know about others) have the same requirements for salesladies who work at the cosmetic counters in department stores. As for hair, even if your just doing blow-outs and up-dos, you need to be licensed in the states I've lived in.

That kinda sucks. Thanks though. Wish I had the time and money to go to school...ah well.

So I guess if I'm gonna do hair/makeup, no money can exchange hands and no business cards. Hmmmm

LisaFreemontSt said:

That kinda sucks. Thanks though. Wish I had the time and money to go to school...ah well.

So I guess if I'm gonna do hair/makeup, no money can exchange hands and no business cards. Hmmmm

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Well, if it's an accredited school, you can get loans. In most states, it's 18 months full time and many school have night classes, but that takes longer. It's a good, solid career. Once you have a license, you can go just about anywhere in the US (California has different standards and no reciprocity). If you're looking for a career, not just a job, I would recommend it.

kamikat said:

Well, if it's an accredited school, you can get loans. In most states, it's 18 months full time and many school have night classes, but that takes longer. It's a good, solid career. Once you have a license, you can go just about anywhere in the US (California has different standards and no reciprocity). If you're looking for a career, not just a job, I would recommend it.

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My kids are 9,5, and 2. ANd we live a long way from the nearest school so I just don't know if it's feasible for me to consider right now. But I'm 34, so I know I need to 'get on it', if I want to try this out. I know I don't want to work at a typical hair salon, cutting and coloring etc. It's just not of interest to me. But I wouldnt mind doing those things sometimes.

I am also in Tn, i have a friend that is a freelance hair & MUA, will ask her for you

Please do, Blondie! Thanks so much. That is what I am having difficulty with, finding what is necessary for my state.

Nice topic,
I'm a hairdresser and would love to do vintage styling, but I'm really in the cut'collor busines.

after 10 years now it somethimes isn't what I hoped for.
I think the styling is the most fun part of it

Antje said:

after 10 years now it somethimes isn't what I hoped for.
I think the styling is the most fun part of it

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It used to be my dream to be a makeup artist and hairdresser, but after I started assisting in salons and beginning the training, I realized it was not at all what I thought it would be - Especially the colleagues. I backed out and found a career I'm better suited for!

Lisa, I don't even live in the USA, but I talked to a lot of people in the business about makeup, both freelance and employed. I gathered some info that applies to anyone, anywhere.
Freelancing is hardest to get started, because aside from needing an impressive portfolio and a big-name diploma, you need to have a reputation. Building a rep in anything can take years to complete. That's why its helpful, at first, to hang around trade shows and such with a stack of business cards. Word-of-mouth will do a lot at first as well, so take jobs from, and offer services to, absolutely anyone you can.
Absolutely no-one I spoke to said there was anything easy about it - In fact, most to all of them considered giving up before things got rolling.

If it's something you're passionate about, then go for it - Sell yourself, and stay determined.

I currently run my own bridal beauty business on top of being a freelance makeup artist. I've done shoots for magazines, commercials, red carpet, etc.

What part of the freelancing world are you looking to get into? The reason I ask is because if you are interested in doing bridal (that's what generally pays the most, especially when you are just getting started and can't demand the top full-day and half-day rates the other more senior and established artists in your area charge) then you should probably check your state board and see what the regulations are like some of the ladies brought up.

In California, they have an entertainment industry clause which allows one to apply makeup and style hair (not cut, color or use any chemicals in the hair that one would do in the salon) on set of any production or shoot, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the states that have started offering film industry incentives like Michigan and Louisiana will adopt something similar.
You should definitely check on that.

Now, if you want to get into bridal, what I would suggest doing is getting a website with pictures of your work on other brides (Even if you team up with a photographer and shoot "mock" weddings) and then leave advertising materials in stores that cater to brides and advertising on free sources like craigslist and backpage. If you can afford it, advertising on google will definitely get you leads.

What you must do in order to not "get in trouble" is to give each bride a lipstick and/or a powder when you do their makeup. That way if by some stroke of bad luck you happen to have to report to state board or something, you can tell them that you charged $XX for the powder and lipstick, and the makeup application was complimentary. This is how makeup counters get away with unlicensed salespeople applying makeup on customers.

If you are looking to getting into maybe the music video scene (lots of country stars in Nashville) or offering your services to models and/or their agencies, then you must find photographers who would be willing to shoot for a trade to get your portfolio started. Make sure they give you hi-res files for pictures so that you can print them out to the industry standard of 9x12!

I would recommend visiting www.makeupartistchat.com and www.modelmayhem.com and just reading all the information they have in their FAQ's then sign up and connect with other makeup artists and photographers in your area. You can maybe even find a senior artist who would be willing to have you as their assistant and you can learn about on-set etiquette and how to work in the business.

It's not easy being a freelancer, especially in these economic times, but if you have another source of income coming in and the drive, you can definitely make it work.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!!

Thank you SO much! Invaluable advice! Yes, I really dont want to have to be liscensed. haha.