Health and safety for makeup artists

When starting up your new business as a makeup artist, the most important aspect is to be aware of the health and safety requirements concerning both you and your client. Health and safety for makeup artists and clients come first at all times.

Cross Contamination

This is the most important aspect of your work as a bridal makeup artist.  You must ask your bride to inform you of any infections such as conjunctivitis, cold sores, impetigo, boils, and stiesor shingles. This will aid you in managing any risk. Some of these conditions are contagious and could therefore contaminate your entire kit and could also mean you could infect others.

Makeup should be avoided if your bride has any of these problems. In case it is a trial, change the date to allow for the bride to recover. If on the day of the wedding your bride is suffering from any of these things, you must ask her to provide her own makeup. If you use only disposable tools, you will avoid any cross-contamination.

Another point to consider is that if you are suffering from any of these conditions yourself, great care must be taken not to use any of your tools or makeup from your kit on yourself.  Do not touch your face or the infected area while with your bride and carry and use your hand sanitizer frequently.  It is imperative to keep your hands clean and to use clean makeup brushes, disposable mascara wands, cotton pads, etc.

Clean Kit

1. In between every client, you must clean your makeup brushes. Always carry a makeup brush cleanser or use an antibacterial soap & hot water to thoroughly cleanse the brushes.
2. Eye shadows and blushers can be cleaned by the use of spray-on alcohol that dries quickly to sanitize them.
3. Lipsticks, eyeliners, and lip liners can be cleaned by using a hot, wet cotton pad and wiping down the lipstick, taking off the first layer of color. You can then sterilize with an anti-bacterial spray.
4. Pencil tools such as liners for eyes and lips can simply be sharpened (using a pencil sharpener) taking away the first layer and resulting in a clean fresh layer ready for the next client.

The lifespan of Makeup Products

Be vigilant and check the lifespan of your makeup products. Out-of-date makeup can cause skin reactions and will be very obvious to your client by its smell.

All cream-based products will expire eventually although most have a year lifespan. Check your lipsticks, glosses, cream shadows, cream liners, foundations, and concealers regularly. Mascaras however need to be changed every 2 months.  Powder-based products such as blushers, powders, and eye shadows can last much longer. They are not liquid based and therefore don’t require preservatives to keep them fresh. Keep them clean with an antibacterial spray as described above.

Other equipment

Be wary of using heated tools!

If you do hair as well as makeup, using heated tools is one of the biggest dangers.  It is extremely important to take your time in blow-drying, curling, or straightening hair. Taking it slowly and concentrating can mean avoiding accidents, as you don't want to singe the bride!

It is also important to make sure there are no trailing cables or leads for you or your bride to trip over.

 The Dress

Never touch 'the dress'.  It is highly unlikely that you would be asked to iron the wedding dress. You are not employed to do that, but it has been known!  If asked – politely decline!  If asked to do any touch-ups once the bride is dressed, make sure she and the dress are properly protected from any makeup fallout.

Sometimes you may be asked to help a bride get into her dress. If this is something you feel you would like to assist with, thoroughly wash your hands before you do so. Make sure you have no remnants of products on the back of your hand or arms.

Insurance

All makeup artists should carry insurance to protect themselves, their kit, and their clients. You can obtain this from various companies such as ABT, BABTAC, and Salon Gold (UK). Insurance plays a major role in the health and safety of makeup artists.