Skills
62 skills are associated with this occupation.
0 skills selected
Essential knowledge
0 skills
No skills in this section.
Essential skills / competences
38 skills
Optional knowledge
2 skills
Optional skills / competences
22 skills
Overview
Make-up and hair designer work is about creating make-up, hair and wig concepts for performers, then guiding how those looks are prepared, tested and maintained for a production.
In job descriptions, look for script analysis, make-up sketches, wig work, rehearsals, costume research, design documentation, performer fitting, workshop support and collaboration with artistic directors.
Explore this occupation
Open in Job ExplorerWork context
Make-up and hair designers work around performers, scripts, costumes, wigs, lighting and the practical timing of rehearsal and show calls. The role turns an artistic concept into make-up sketches, hair plans, tests, workshop notes and running instructions that can survive repeated performances.
Skills and specializations
Useful strengths include script analysis, costume research, make-up effects, wig preparation, hair techniques, lifecasts, design drawing, performer fitting and calm communication during a show. Specialization may develop around theatre, film, opera, fashion, special effects, period hair or production leadership.
Salary context
Pay context depends on production scale, design responsibility, number of performers, wig and effects complexity, rehearsal time, touring demands and whether the role designs, supervises or performs daily make-up calls.
Career paths
Common routes start in make-up artistry, hair work, costume departments, theatre workshops or film production. Later moves can lead toward head of make-up, wig designer, special-effects make-up, production design collaboration or freelance artistic work.
Good to know
Read vacancies for the production type, performer contact, rehearsal schedule and materials named. Check whether the job is mainly concept design, daily application, wig maintenance, workshop documentation, team supervision or show running.
Editorial note
This guide gives editorial career context for make-up and hair designer work. It is not official labour-market statistics or salary data.
Map overview
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Alternative labels
hair and make-up artist
hair designer & make-up artist
hair and make up designer
hair designer and make-up artist
hair & make up designer
make-up artist & hair designer
make up and hair designer
hair & make-up artist
hair & make-up designer
make up & hair designer
make up & hair artist
make-up
hair and wig designer
make up artist and hair designer
hair designer & make up artist
makeup & hair artist
make-up and hair artist
makeup and hair artist
hair & make up artist
make up artist & hair designer
hair designer and make up artist
hair and makeup artist
hair & makeup artist
wig designer
hair and make up artist
make-up artist and hair designer
make-up & hair artist
hair and wig artist
make up and hair artist
hair and make-up designer
make-up & hair designer
Occupation group
Beauticians and related workers (5142)
Source facts
| ESCO URI | http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/5dd01019-3999-4d90-bc8a-7a04b0b208b0 |
|---|---|
| ESCO code | 5142.4 |
| ISCO group | 5142 |
| Concept type | Occupation |