Why Don’t a Lot of Makeup Artists Teach? And Why That’s Okay
It’s a question people often ask:The short answer? Not every makeup artist wants to teach, is trained to teach, oreven should teach.Here’s why that’s perfectly okay—and even important for the industry. 1. Teaching Is a Separate SkillJust because someone is a talented artist doesn’t mean they’re automatically a goodteacher. Teaching requires breaking techniques into clear steps. It involves explainingwhy you do things, not just what you do. It means adapting to different learning styles.Many incredible artists are highly intuitive or visual. They might do things from musclememory that are hard to verbalize. And that’s okay—they’re focused on doing, notteaching. 2️. Protecting Their Unique StyleSome artists have signature styles, techniques, or product combinations that set themapart in their market. They’ve spent years (sometimes decades) developing thosesecrets. Not everyone wants to give them away for free—or even at all. This isn’t“gatekeeping” out of spite. It’s protecting their brand, business, and competitive edge.Just as a chef might not share their signature recipe, a makeup artist is entitled to keeptheir artistry proprietary. 3️. Time and Business PrioritiesTeaching is a different business model. It takes time to plan classes or workshops. Itrequires organizing materials, models, marketing, and logistics. It can involvecertification, insurance, and liability. Some artists simply want to focus on serving theirclients. Their joy is in transforming faces, not managing classes. 4️. Energy and PersonalityLet’s be honest: teaching isn’t for everyone. It takes patience, enthusiasm, andcommunication. It can be emotionally draining—especially for introverts or highlydetail-focused artists. Some makeup artists love the quiet, focused artistry of one-onone work. Pushing them to teach would make them (and their students) miserable! 5️. Demand vs. SupplyNot every client base wants lessons. Many clients prefer to pay for professionalapplication for big events. Others want one-time lessons, but not at the frequency that makes teaching a full-time service. Artists often decide to focus where the demand is strongest—and for many, that’s booking appointments, not classes. Why It’s Okay Not to TeachThere’s a myth that “real professionals should want to teach.”But the truth is: Being a teacher is a choice and a calling, not a requirement.Artists are allowed to choose how they share their talent. Clients benefit from artistswho are laser-focused on providing great service. Those who do choose to teach oftendo it brilliantly and passionately—because it’s voluntary, not forced. The best part?There are artists who love to teach—and they make fantastic educators! They runmasterclasses and one-on-one lessons. They share tutorials online. They nurture thenext generation of talent. But for those who don’t? That’s just as valid.I’m proud to do both. I love transforming clients for their most important moments andsharing my expertise with those who want to learn. Whether you’re looking to book aprofessional makeup session or learn the skills yourself, I’d be honoured to help youlook and feel your very best.