Education · 1 of 4

The path

Learn the craft, build a portfolio, get hired on the portfolio. No licence in most of Canada.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 10 to 12

   Art and photography. Do makeup for friends, school plays and dance shows. Photograph everything.

2. 2

   Makeup school or self-taught

   6 to 12 months, or ongoing

   CMU (College of Makeup Art and Design) in Toronto and Blanche Macdonald in Vancouver run full-time diplomas covering beauty, fashion, film and special effects. Many artists learn at a counter and from online courses instead.

3. 3

   Counter or salon job

   1 to 2 years

   A beauty counter pays you to do faces all day. This is where speed and product knowledge come from.

4. 4

   Freelance and assisting

   1 to 3 years

   Assist working artists on shoots and weddings. Take small paid jobs. Build a portfolio of 10 to 20 strong looks.

5. 5

   Specialize

   Ongoing

   Bridal, editorial, film and TV, or special effects. Film work usually means joining the union local in your city.