“How do you usually wear your hair and makeup?” This is the first question I ask actors when they sit down in my chair. As a headshot hair and makeup artist for more than 10 years, I’ve worked with countless actors and received a range of answers to this question. Some are very particular but many shrug and say something along the lines of, “I don’t know.”
My follow up question is usually, “What type of characters do you play?” From there, we can tailor the looks to fit their type. It can seem like an afterthought to some, but I encourage actors to be as mindful of their hair and makeup choices as they are about their wardrobe. We all know that the perfect outfit can get you into character, so why stop below the neck? You don’t have to be a professional makeup artist to execute a look that expresses what you want.
It’s important to make sure your features aren’t being overshadowed by makeup, but subtle adjustments can be made to suit your character. For example, stay away from heavy, dark eye makeup—you don’t want the audient to notice the makeup over the emotion. On the flipside, keeping eyeliner to only the outer edges of your eyes will open and
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