What should I charge for doing makeup?

Mar 11, 2014

Kaitlin M.

That sounds like a great plan. Plus, prom only happens around 2 months out of the year (besides smaller school dances), so I'd expect your main clients to be pageant girls. I don't want to make any assumptions but from what I've seen, they have money. So honestly, try to find pageant girls first. If you do their makeup amazing, they're going to tell their friends. You might even make a guest appearance on toddlers and tiaras :)

Mar 11, 2014

Z M.

Depends how skillful you are and how long you've been doing it for. I mean if you're asking I'm guessing not too long so I'd charge around 30-35

Mar 11, 2014

Gen S.

Thats totally okay if that's what you're comfortable charging. For prom I charge 85 ($5 extra for lashes). For makeup alone I start at 65 and for hair that totally depends on the service. As for the traveling it is important to set a guideline and explain it to your client. Ex: " I charge this amount per mile."

Mar 11, 2014

Gen S.

P.s prom season is definitely where the money is. Lol

Mar 11, 2014

Kelsey L.

20

Mar 11, 2014

Autumn Hope F.

$30 for regular makeup, plus $5 for falsies, and plus $10 for hair. :)

Mar 11, 2014

Autumn Hope F.

^^^start at that, but go bigger if they want fancier things done.

Mar 11, 2014

Cy B.

I think anything less than 50 is to little you are using quality products. you do want to make a profit right? 30$ is not going to buy you the two palettes you went through doing other people make up , there is lipstick that costs 28 , not being mean hope your not taking this the wrong way but I understand you love to do make up but I bet you won't like running out of it when you are barely using it. Little look or big look every look will still consist of the basic eyeshadow lipstick blush foundation , well that's my two cents hope you don't take this the wrong way, just trying to help

Mar 11, 2014

Stephanie F.

Thanks everyone. :)

Mar 11, 2014

Bekah S.

40 for the trial 45-60 for the real thing depending on the event.

Mar 11, 2014

Antonia S.

This a great post. I too am starting out as a "freelance MUA" and I've had this same question before. I'll kinda step you through my reasoning on how I came to my price point. I am going to type a lot of extra things, so if you solely want to know the answer to your question just skip to the last paragraph! :-)
-What kind of products are you using? Are you using all things from the drugstore, all high end or a good mix of both? Like a lady above has said, even if my makeup artist was very talented I would be a little turned off that they are using all Revlon/NYX/Covergirl stuff on my face. A big thing about having your makeup done is the "pampering" and "luxurious" feeling of getting your own makeup done. You feel like a superstar sitting in that chair, and the heavy heavy use of all drugstore products detracts from that especially when your MUA artists is using all stuff you can buy at Walmart. Even though the main focus should be the artist’s skill, we live in a shallow society that cares about name brands- and for most women the only brand they know is MAC. I was interning at a salon as a makeup assistant and the head makeup artist uses Makeup Forever HD foundation. She told me that once a client asked her “What the hell is Makeup Forever? Is that bootleg MAC?” WHAT?!?!?!
Anyway, I believe use a pretty good mix of high and low end products. Things I refuse to skimp on is primers (face and eyes) and setting spray. I would also LIKE to refuse to skimp on foundation and concealer but my budget isn’t allowing that right now. I also use high end liners, eyeshadows, lipstick and glosses. My other stuff is drugstore or online brands ( like BH Cosmetics.) Don’t just use products because they are cheap. Yes, I use budget foundation and concealer but they aren’t products I wouldn’t use on myself. I actually love the foundation and concealer I have in my kit and sometimes I choose it for myself over my MAC foundation. That says a lot.
Next point is going off what Miss Jacqueline said and observing other makeup artists in your area. Hop on Instagram and check them out. Prom season is HUGE in the local makeup artist world so it’s going to be pretty competitive. A lot of “artists” in my area charge around $30-$40 for a full face with lashes and there are a few who charge more. The reason I put artists in quotations is because I personally believe there are two different types of makeup artists. Old school makeup artists (became a makeup artist before it was “popular,” usually have some form of training or schooling, learned from books and know proper theory. Basically Miss Jacqueline.  And then there are local makeup artists or “Instagram makeup artists” as I like to call them because they are always advertising their services on social networks. They have always liked makeup and decided to turn it into a career or “side job” to help pay the bills. Learned everything they know from Youtube. Doesn’t always know proper theory or terms but can do a killer eyebrow. I can not speak on behalf of the “old school makeup artists” but I am very exposed to the world of local makeup artists and it is cutthroat. It seems one out of three women is “makeup artist” nowadays.
I do not believe in “fake it til you make it.” I believe in “started from the bottom now we’re here.” I think I have a lot of skill and potential and I am a very professional young woman. But the key words right now is I am “starting out.” I am going to make mistakes and say “Hold up a second let me fix this.” Autumn’s comment above is right on the money. $30 for makeup and an extra $5 for false lashes. :-)

Mar 11, 2014

Stephanie F.

Very well said and great advice, Antonia. Thanks!

Mar 11, 2014

Antonia S.

Thank you both!

Mar 11, 2014

Stephanie F.

So I'm getting an average of $30, I think that's reasonable.