New Zealand Certificate in Makeup Artistry

A qualification in makeup artistry is the first step to making your dreams come true. The industry is highly creative and technical, with a wide range of career opportunities available worldwide to qualified makeup artists.

This 40 week course at our Christchurch campus will take learners with an interest in makeup and basic special effects and provide skills to design and competently apply makeup for special events, fashion, TV, film and live performances, and provide complementary services such as photography and hairstyling. You’ll graduate prepared for a job with a top cosmetic house or to work as an entry level makeup artist.

If you’re looking for an all-encompassing makeup programme, this is it. On graduating, you'll receive the New Zealand Certificate in Makeup Artistry (Level 4).

Basic Skills

This course begins by providing you with core skills in relevant health, safety and hygiene practices including first aid. Then moves onto design of face charts, tools and equipment, skin type analysis and disorders, face shapes, preparing clients skin, basic nail care, colour theory, concealing and corrective techniques, flawless foundation application and contouring. You will cover a range of fashion beauty makeup looks including natural, glamour and creative artistry techniques as well as HDTV and basic hair styling using a variety of hot styling tools and blow drying. This is complimented by knowledge of how to document your own hair and makeup work using a DSLR camera in an outdoor setting and in our professional photographic studio.

Character and Period Looks

During this course you learn how to create hair and makeup for stage including character creations and stage aging, lace front wig fitting, hair braiding and body art. We look at Te Tiriti O Waitangi and cultural awareness within the beauty industry. You will also learn how to recreate the original hair and makeup styles for the decades from 1900 to 1980 followed by creating modern hair and makeup interpretations inspired by these decades. Students have the opportunity to hear from a variety of industry-related guest speakers.

Special Effects & Prosthetics

This course covers special effects trauma and burns using professional industry-based products, bald cap making and application to create a natural, skull and a fantasy character, nose casting and molding and prosthetic application to create a character as well as creative airbrushing. Through this course you will also be able to learn about festival and children's face-painting.

Film, TV Performance & Special Events

Students cover the basics of script continuity for film and TV, bridal hair up styling and makeup as well as avant-garde and editorial hair and makeup. This course also includes Cirque du Soleil makeup as well as modern interpretations of historical hair and makeup styles. We discuss working in different retail settings and cover the core hair and makeup skills to prepare you for your move into the industry. The programme finishes with a photographic exhibition of student work which is open to the public.

Skills for Small Business

Learn skills in marketing and financial processes for running a small business. This course includes skills for small business including file management, proof sheets, creating a blog, business cards, photo editing for makeup artists, job seeking skills, financial records, marketing, quotes, invoices, statements, insurance and tax requirements. It is completed with students putting together a professional portfolio to showcase their hair and makeup work.

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