CERTIFICATE IN MAKE-UP AND HAIR ARTISTRY

This full-time certification in make-up and hair artistry is suited for someone who has already trained in hair cutting and barbering. It runs alongside the Foundation course. Learn the essential skills you need to carve out a career as a professional make-up artist with our  Certificate course. You’ll cover all the areas of make-up and hair that you need to start your journey as an artist capable of working on film, TV and theatre productions.

Throughout this 12 week course, you’ll gain an understanding of the key skills required by any make-up artist, from understanding the basics of make-up application, to creating inspired period and character looks and gory special effects.  This course also includes experience working with facial hair application, body painting and hairpieces.

Our course tutors are extremely passionate about their industry, and you will learn from their endless knowledge. They have many years’ experience working on some of the best-known films and TV productions in recent years. They will introduce you to the latest products and techniques that are relevant to today’s industry, so you can be sure you will be learning from the best.

Holidays will be scheduled during your course at appropriate times.

Entry requirements: Must be aged 18+ and pass an interview. You don’t need to have any previous make-up experience as the course starts with the basics and builds from these skills. All we ask is that you have a passion and dedication to learn and can prove a certain level of artistic ability.

Course Payment: A 20% deposit is required to secure a place on this course with the full balance due 6 weeks prior to the course start date. We have several options to help fund your make-up course including interest free payment plans, bursaries and loans.

Please note that we regrettably have limited places for this course, so it is advisable to apply for your course early to avoid disappointment!

Slight changes to modules have been implemented from September 2019

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Modules

• TV and media make-up and hair

  This 12-week course is specifically designed for students who have already trained in hair cutting. On your arrival at The Iver Make up Academy in Pinewood Studios, there will be introduction sessions where you will meet the tutors and other students. As well as this, there will be a presentation of your brand-new make-up kit (included) and the products that will be used throughout the course. Health and safety procedures and an introduction to media make-up will follow to give you an overview of the first 3-week module.

  To kick off this course in make-up and hair artistry, you’ll master the techniques for applying make-up for television including foundation, concealer, highlighter, blush, eye colour and lips. So you can make the most of these skills, you’ll also be taught how to understand facial anatomy, skin colour and age giving you the versatility it takes to work in the industry.

  For the hair artistry section of this module, practical sessions give you the chance to try out the techniques you’ve learnt by putting together complete looks for TV presenters, red carpet and events. You will use hair tools including heated rollers, tongs, straighteners and dryers along with lessons in the use of hair products. To complete this comprehensive guide to TV and film hair styling, you’ll gain practical experience using hair pieces and extensions as well as creating male grooming looks.

  For more information see our Media Make-up and Hair course.

• Facial hair application

  Module 2 focuses on the industry practices of using facial hair to create characters. The application of sideburns, moustaches and full beard pieces will be practiced on top of techniques for applying stubble and laying on hair for a realistic look. By the end of this week, you’ll be able to work with all aspects of facial hair application including how to fully care for postiche. Safe removal and cleaning practices are demonstrated.

  For more information see our Facial Hair course.

• Character, SFX and prosthetic application

  During the 2 weeks allocated for module 3, you’ll be introduced to character make-up work and what it involves as well as using special effects products and prosthetics to create a variety of wound simulations. This special effects make-up module includes a guide to the health and safety procedures that should be followed when working with SFX. To create casualty effects, you’ll get hands-on practice with silicone and gelatine pieces. You will also learn how to create bruises, burns and skin diseases. A variety of frequently used industry materials will be demonstrated as part of this module too, including pro-bondo and on-skin silicone.

  For more information see our Character, SFX and Prosthetic Application course.

• Period make-up, hair and wig work

  Module 4 is the half way point of this course and individual assessments take place here to look at your progress so far.

  Over the 3 weeks allocated for this module, you will study how to create authentic period hair styles by practicing techniques for applying switches, clusters, wefts, wigs and full hair pieces. You’ll also learn how to care for wigs with washing and blocking methods. Techniques for conducting research into period work and historical looks will give you an idea of what it’s like to work in the film and TV industry.

  To put these techniques in to practice, you will undertake a series of projects focusing on the 1920s, 40s and 60s to create full hair and make-up looks. The Edwardian and Victorian era projects give you the chance to use hot rod and dowelling techniques to create different textures

  For more information see our Period Make-up, Hair and Wig Work course.

• Airbrushing and Body make-up

  This 1 week module uses the entire body as a canvas for you to design and practice Airbrushing and body art. You’ll be taught through practical sessions and will learn the best techniques for airbrushing make-up. You will also learn techniques to enhance body contours and design your own body make-up.

  For more information see our Body Make-up course.

• Theatre and performing arts

  Module 6 gives you an insight into the make-up practices used in theatre and performing arts from professionals with experience in the industry. You will take part in a performance art workshop to get first-hand experience of what it’s like to work as a professional make-up artist by creating looks for the stage. Techniques for eyebrow blocking and ageing characters along with gender change looks will be practiced to give you an insight into industry methods.

  For more information see our Theatre and Performing Arts Make-up course.

• Putting it all together and timed work

  This final module will bring together all the knowledge you have learnt during this course to give you a taste of what it’s like to work as a professional hair and make-up artist. In this last week, you will be taught continuity and script breakdown processes in addition to industry etiquette standards. All this will then be put in to practice through a crowd room simulation where you’ll complete a timed project creating hair and make-up looks that are suitable for light entertainment TV.

  Further timed projects to create facial hair, special effects and character looks will also take place which can then be photographed and added to your portfolio to demonstrate your wide range of skills.

  For more information see our Industry Ready course.

  Please note we may occasionally change the content of or course to suit the demands of the industry

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Course Tutors

Our fantastic course tutors have a huge passion for their job, and they have amassed years of experience working with the latest products and techniques used in today’s industry. Our tutors regularly work in the TV, film and fashion industry, and you will be learning from them in the friendly, informal atmosphere of our practical, hands-on training workshops. As we’re based at Pinewood Studios, our studios are right in the heart of the UK’s film industry, so there really is no better place to immerse yourself in the craft.

All our class demonstrations are projected onto an HD screen, allowing every student to have a close-up view of the action. Students are encouraged to practice all the new techniques they learn with our tutors, who will then view & assess their finished work on an HD screen under studio lighting conditions. Our tutors will then provide constructive feedback on each completed task to help students learn and improve their skills.

View our award-winning teaching team

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Included

A professional make-up and hair kit is included within the price of the course, for students to keep once they have graduated. This is worth over £2,000 and includes products and tools from MAC, Bobbi Brown, Bluebird and Kryolan. We have a large selection of wigs, facial hair and SFX materials that will be made available to you for use in our studios.

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Aftercare

Starting your professional career as a qualified make-up and hair artist

At The Iver Academy, you don’t just benefit from the best tutors in the industry; our placement agency helps students find real industry work experience and placements once they have finished their chosen course. Your placements will be relevant to the skills you have learned. This is a free service that is available to all graduates of our courses.

Visit our aftercare page for more information on the ways we can help students find vital hands-on industry experience.