As a creative, you have searched for various ways to express your creativity and create beauty at the same time, and you may be considering makeup artistry as your path. Having certain bigshot celebrity makeup artists as mentors further motivate you, but you are unsure if this is actually for you. The makeup industry in Nigeria is an ever-evolving industry and requires a lot of talent and perseverance. As glamorous as it seems, it is also a competitive market, but thankfully the sky is big enough for everyone to fly.
Makeup artists in Nigeria are highly creative people. If you know your craft and with the right opportunities it can pay very well. The makeup industry is one of the world’s growing markets, especially in terms of cosmetics, and holds great potential. In this industry, there is a little something for everyone, and no one has to feel left out in any way. If you are considering this on a professional level then there are things to check before you begin fully.
4 Factors To Consider Before Making The “Become A Makeup Artist In Nigeria” Decision
1. Passion
Being a makeup artist is not just about applying makeup products, it takes more than that. What differentiates the best from the rest is the passion and drive they have towards their jobs. Starting out as a makeup artist can be very rocky, and much like every other thing in life, what will keep you going in tough days to come will be your passion for the art. This is the driving force for your career and is what has made some of the big names in makeup you so admire.
2. Having The Right Tools
To be a makeup artist in Nigeria, you need the right tools and products to begin. These are the very things that make you appear professional and will make people take you seriously. This will also determine the quality of your work because making use of the wrong tools give a sloppy finished look or poor coverage overall. There are affordable makeup products and tools out there, so you don’t have to break the bank. However, it is important to invest in quality equipment as they will last a lot longer than substandard tools.
3. Practice and Consistency
Practise, practise, practise. If you want to attain some semblance of perfection (because no one is) then you need to practise often. This will help you perfect your craft and fine-tune your looks. Consistency brings about growth, and this, in turn, creates more opportunities for you in the future. This is the proof and evidence that you are as good as you claim to be.
4. What Challenges To Expect
As much as we would like to go through a life void of challenges, we can’t. Challenges make us stronger, and we learn from our sad mistakes and become better through them. There are some challenges along the way, and it’s best you prepare yourself for them.
Finance is probably one of the biggest challenges for most upcoming makeup artists out there. The struggle to raise funds to attend a decent training institute, and eventually, to get all the products you will need can be very draining. This may seem really scary, but the best advice is to start small. Build and acquire gradually because trying to get all at once will leave you in a bad financial state. If you have sponsors and can afford to get all you need at once then that’s fine. Only buy the necessities in the early stages and later on, you can add varieties. Remember not to trade quality for quantity, this will hurt your outcome and maybe your reputation in the end.
The market is also already oversaturated with a lot of artists, with everyone struggling to make a name for themselves. With this comes a lot of backlash and discouragement from the profession, with people wanting you to choose a different career path. This is where the passion earlier talked about comes in. Being prepared for this will help you, but above all, remain positive no matter the outcome.
As a newbie, not many people may trust your abilities and that’s okay. Regardless, there will be opportunities no matter how small, and what you make of them will determine your success and how far you will go. No matter how small the opportunity may seem, give it your best, you never know who is watching or taking note.
Recent world developments have made many industries uncertain about their future, and the makeup industry is not left out. With the current pandemic and guidelines put in place, it doesn’t seem so stable anymore. Economies have begun to open up, and there are measures being put in place. Despite the uncertainty of this industry in the times to come, it is still one that still gives liberation and freedom. We are advised to apply caution now and observe new social rules for our safety and that of other people around us.
So, to be or not to be a makeup artist in Nigeria is entirely up to you, but despite the recent situation of things, it is still a very lucrative industry. You could just be the very next big ‘thing’.