Makeup mirror with lights: January 2013

Makeup is an important part of our daily lives. We spend time choosing it, applying it, observing other women's makeup, touching it up during the day. Of course we're going to have dreams about it. The question is, what do these dreams mean?

First, remember that everyone's dream symbology is going to be different. Our symbols are personal. They reflect our individual lives and concerns. So the first thing to do after you remember a dream, is to write it down in detail. Then, on a separate page, write out the symbols one by one, and decide what each means to you.

\" Makeup Mirror \"

Janine's Dream

Dreams About Makeup - What Do They Mean?

Janine dreams that her eye makeup is running. She takes the symbols apart and looks at them in the context of her life. She might journal:

Eyes: I don't like people to look me in the eye, or stare at me. I don't stare at people. Eyes, to me, look into the soul - and I don't want anyone getting that close.

Eye makeup: I love eye makeup. It's creative, it makes me look good. But especially it takes the emphasis away from my eyes and more onto my makeup, and my looks as a whole.

Running: Leaving, getting out, being uncomfortable.

Janine's dream seems to be saying that she's feeling vulnerable. Someone is making her feel self-conscious. She doesn't want people to know too much about her - perhaps a co-worker has gotten too close to her, and the social interactions are difficult for her.

You see how we take the dream apart, and then put it back together again with a meaning that can help us in our lives? Perhaps highlighting Janine's social discomfort makes her aware that she is closing herself off too much and missing out on friendships, or even romance. Only Janine can know for sure.

Working With Your Own Dreams

What about your dreams? To get you going, here are some makeup dream symbols to work with. Be sure to change the traditional meanings to reflect your own life.

Hair: Our beliefs; our thoughts.

Lips: Our speech, how we talk to people, what we want to say. Closed lips might mean that we don't want to speak on a certain subject.

Eyebrows: Can often refer to our intuitive side.

Eyes: How we are looking at a particular issue in our lives.

Blow drying hair: Sometimes dream symbols work in puns. This could mean that you are "blown away" by something.

How To Remember That Dream Lipstick!

The most important task for us dreamers, is to keep a dream journal. Most of our important dreams - or at least the ones we're more likely to remember - occur just before waking. So remembering dreams is a matter of having your journal and a pen right there by the bed. When waking up, don't move too much or get up before writing in your journal, because moving around will make us forget the dream.

Even if you don't remember the whole dream, write down as much as you can. Fragments work well, or even just key words. These will help you remember your dream later, if you choose to write out the whole thing.

After writing out whatever part of the dream you remember, go through it and pick out the symbols, as illustrated earlier. You might uncover some fascinating things about yourself that you didn't know in your waking life.

Dreams About Makeup - What Do They Mean?

Suzann is a technical writer and copy editor, with many pieces published both for the web and in hard copy. A graduate of Northwestern University, she runs the website My Makeup Mirror. [http://www.MyMakeupMirror.com]

Before considering a career as a makeup artist, you must do field research. That's the primary way to avoid pitfalls. Is there room in your geographical area for another makeup artist? What is the competition like? Are you willing to travel for, say, a wedding? How far? Is your car dependable? If you don't want to travel, is your city big enough for you to get the client base you need?

Also get the scoop on pay in your area. It will vary, even in one town, depending on your clientele. Working for a wedding planner, you will make more than working for a mall photography shop. Find out what the highest and lowest income opportunities are.

\" Makeup Mirror \"

Freelance or Corporate: Perks and Pitfalls

How to Become A Professional Makeup Artist

If your research gives you a green light, the next step is to decide between the freelance life and the employee life.

Working for a company, perhaps being a sales rep for your favorite cosmetics brand, or being the on-call makeup artist for a film production company, you can count on a regular paycheck and perhaps even benefits.

Joining the growing group of freelancers, you'll need to spend at least 50% of your work day on marketing yourself.

Licensing

In either case - freelance or corporate - the next step is to become accredited.

Get the information on the legal, health, and educational certification required by your state, county, or town. Take classes from an accredited beauty school (many have generous scholarship programs).

How to Get Work

Now you're ready for the most critical part of becoming a professional makeup artist: marketing yourself.

If you want to work for a company, you can send resumes to spas, beauty salons, and specific cosmetic companies. Once you get a job, you are on your way to a career. You can make contacts, work your way up in the organization, acquire mentors, and get that most magical benefit of all - experience. If you get a job with a specific cosmetic company, they may require you to take additional classes focusing on their products. Usually they will pay for that.

A plum job with great pay would be one with a special effects makeup company that does film and television work. Getting that job will require additional training, lots of pavement pounding, and living in the right city. L.A., Atlanta, Chicago, and New York are important film industry hubs. Other cities, like Austin, Texas, attract film professionals, but these people often bring their own makeup artists with them.

Choosing the freelance route means that self-promotion becomes a way of life. But once you reach a point where you have a little bit of paying work, you'll find that word of mouth will exponentially increase your customer base.

Freelancing: Special Considerations

As a freelance makeup artist, you can approach wedding planners, photography studios, film production companies, ad agencies, and theatrical groups. Make sure, too, that all talent agencies in your area know about you.

You're creative - that's one reason you're going into the makeup profession. And you can use that creative mind to make a list of marketing ideas. Here are a few to get you going:

Print up business cards and always have them on you. Leave them with everyone you meet during the day.

Join a networking group. These groups are extremely effective. You'll meet perhaps once a month either for lunch or happy hour (some troopers have breakfast meetings!), and there will usually be an agenda, followed by a social time of mingling. Some networking groups are free, some charge a fee. If you're just starting your networking experience, definitely join the free groups. You will have to pay for your meal and drinks, though.

Walk tall and exude success. It always shows. Read books on your own. Study magazines. Try makeup techniques on your friends and read makeup sites on the Internet. Get your confidence up as high as it will go!

Make a list of all your contacts. You have more than you realize. Friends, your accountant, your church or social groups, the shopkeepers you see regularly. Don't worry, you're not going to hassle these people. But you can send them a cute postcard announcing the opening of your new makeup business.

Which brings us to the next item. Print up some eye-catching postcards (you can do it on your computer), and send them out. Always have extras so you can send them to new people as you meet them.

Get yourself to any and all beauty-related events in your area. Whether it's a trade show, a trunk show, a store opening, or a book signing, be there with your business cards.

Put up a website. It's easy, even if you've never done it before. Today, a website is more important than a business card! See Website - Do It Yourself to get started.

Design and print up a resume-type introduction that you can give to the local spa directors and wedding planners. It must be unique - not bland like a business resume - and colorful. Use your imagination. Make it irresistible.

Today's Freelance Makeup Artist Needs:

The other requirement of being a freelancer is that you'll have to stock your own makeup kit. This is an investment, and if you make money, chances are you'll be able to deduct the costs of your cosmetics.

Many women are going "green" these days, so be sure your makeup kit is filled with earth-friendly, skin-friendly, and non-animal tested products. If you want to specialize and use only vegan products, you could use that as a compelling marketing tool.

Being "known" for a unique niche is also a great way to catch business. You could specialize in makeovers, anti-aging looks, head shots for actors (although many actors prefer to do their own makeup), or runway and catalog makeup for models.

Whether you apply to work for a company or go freelance, remember: there is no guarantee that you will immediately earn enough money to live on. Go into the process with enough money saved up to keep you in the black for at least six to twelve months. And decide ahead of time how long you're willing to go without clients. Market your services with an organized plan, and be persistent.

Going into the makeup artist business can be an awesome life change - financially and emotionally. Do it with care, do it with intelligence, do it with a plan - and you could be living your dream.

How to Become A Professional Makeup Artist