Overview of the role
Hair and make-up designers ensure presenters, and all other contributors appearing on camera, look their very best on the show. They collaborate with production designers and work alongside the costume department to create an overall style and look that is appropriate for the programme being made. They research, sketch and may create mood boards to communicate suggested colours, textures and styles.
On big budget productions with large casts, hair and make-up designers recruit teams of hair stylists and make-up artists to ensure all hair and make-up is done on time. On smaller productions, they may work alone and do both jobs themselves, or with an assistant. Once shooting starts, they are often on set to touch up hair and make-up.
Many hair and make-up designers form close relationships with presenters, celebrities and production teams and work with them on all their productions and other commercial work they may undertake. They are usually freelance unless attached to large in-house art departments.
Core responsibilities
These core responsibilities are provided as a guide and are not exhaustive. The exact responsibilities in a particular job will vary depending on the scale / budget band / genre of production.
- Agree the look and style required for the production with the production designer, costume designer and director
- Ascertain what will be required in terms of team and also what stock and equipment will be needed for the duration of production
- Work with the line producer to determine budget for hair and make-up team members if required
- Produce mood boards, drawings and guides for the overall look of the production
- Put together designs for the individual hair and make-up of key talent
- Discuss with the location manager the locations planned for the production and any specific requirements or potential issues
- Consider health and safety legislation, policies and guidelines for the production and ensure the team are up to speed with all health and safety procedures and requirements in make-up rooms or trucks and on-set
- Identify any specialist requirements, such as prosthetics, wigs, facial, contact lenses or teeth, and ensure external suppliers are contracted in time with budgets and costings agreed
- Make advance contact where possible with key talent as an introduction and to discuss any requirements they may have and any potential issues, such as allergies or specific product requirements
- On productions with large casts assign talent / contributors to each member of the hair and make-up team
- Ensure required stock is available including spares of anything that is crucial or could potentially run out
- Instruct the hair and make-up assistant(s) to prepare continuity sheets with photographs and clear notes for talent / contributors
- Establish budgeting and staffing / labour spreadsheets and liaise with the production accounts team for suitable systems that may already be in place
- Manage and sign-off petty cash as required for the purchase of products and supplies and staff timesheets
- Oversee the hair and make-up assistant in the creation of stock, equipment and materials spreadsheets and the responsible storage of products in accordance with health and safety guidelines
- Review call-sheets with the production team to ensure call times allow enough time to carry out hair and make-up
- Check the call-sheet and schedule noting any last-minute changes
- Ensure everything has been prepped and is ready for the day ahead including cleaned and prepped work stations or areas
- Ensure all members of the hair and make-up team know who and what they are responsible for on the day
- Be ready on-set or location to touch-up or alter hair and make-up as required
- Ensure the hair and make-up assistant documents and photographs the looks for talent / presenters for continuity purposes
- At the end of the day oversee the clean-up of work-stations, products and kits
Skills
Check out role specific skills, transferable skills and attributes for the role of hair and make-up designer.
- Interpreting the brief: hair and make-up brief interpretation and design, design realisation and implementation
- Styling hair: work with every type of hair, including wigs, extensions and facial hair, and be able to use hair accessories, products and equipment, have an eye for detail and an ability to work fast
- Make-up: understand colour, shading, skin tone and texture, use make-up both for dramatic effect and simply to enhance features, hide blemishes and address skin problems; ensure make-up looks good under lights and doesn’t run. Consider entire appearances including hands, nails and any visible skin
- Product knowledge: be up to date and able to use the latest products and equipment safely and effectively, understand allergies, how to test and what to do should a client react adversely
- Build relationships: work well with others, listen and respond to the needs of presenters, talent and contributors, be trustworthy. Have good relationships with PR and brands who may supply products
- Organisation: hire and manage multiple teams, schedules and budgets, often working on a number of different projects at the same time. Work to tight deadlines and ensure the department works efficiently and to the best of their ability
- Communication: communicate the hair and make-up department’s requirements to others, ensuring good communication at all times within the department and with talent and celebrities
- Leadership and team management: lead the department to perform the tasks required and uphold the standards expected
- Negotiation: agreeing rates, budgets and resources with producers and accounts
- Teamwork: collaboration within own department and with others
- Problem-solving: dealing with obstacles or issues that may arise, finding solutions and contingency planning
- Time management: have the ability to work to pre-determined deadlines
- Adaptability: have the ability to deal with ever-changing schedules and be able to adapt accordingly
- Resilience and enthusiasm: adapt positively to changing work priorities and patterns, ensuring deadlines continue to be met. Proactive and explores new ideas and non-standard ways of working which will enhance and deliver the best results for the production
- Ethics and integrity: honest and principled in all of their actions and interactions. Respectful and inclusive of others, and meets the ethical requirements of their profession
- Flexibility: willing to both listen and learn and to accept changing priorities and working requirements and has the flexibility to maintain high standards in a changing production environment