Lovers of fashion, cosmetics and The Devil Wears Prada should rejoice, because the beauty and fashion industry is one that has been catapulted into the spotlight.  The industry requires a fair bit of creative flair, some customer service skills and a passion for helping people look and feel their best.

From stylist, designer, makeup artist or tattoo artist, there are so many places the beauty and fashion industry can take ya.

WILL IT SUIT ME?

Solid knowledge, creative flair and practical ability in the industry will get you far. But a lot of jobs require you to work directly with clients, so you’re gonna need to enjoy meeting people and providing top notch service.

You will also need a proactive attitude to stay ahead of the game with trends changing at the drop of a hat, evolutionary technology and new treatments. 

If you consider yourself as something with their finger on the pulse or perhaps fancy yourself as a bit of a trendsetter, the beauty and fashion industry may be your cup of tea. 

HOW CAN I GET THERE?

A lot of the industry is unregulated. There are plenty of legends out there in the industry with their own businesses that worked their wee’ bums off to build from the ground up without a qualification or degree. Take Ellie and her clothing business shuturp that has sky-rocketed.

But it doesn’t hurt to have some qualifications. And thankfully, there’s plenty of options to build on self-taught techniques or other training. Hell, even Youtube can help you out.

But if you’re looking for a formal qualification, TAFE, a bunch of universities and even some private institutions offer courses and degrees that can get ya sorted for whatever you fancy. 

If you’re looking for a more hands on approach, we reckon TAFE is a great place to start. You’ll get qualified and receive practical experience through an apprenticeship. 

WHAT SKILLS WILL I LEARN?

When you’re not busy setting the next trend, you’ll be picking up on a tonne of skills like:

• A good eye for detail.
• Understanding of texture, colour and quality fabrics.
• Strong visualisation skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The quality of certain brands .
• Detail orientation.
• Time management.
• Styling.

Whether it be as a tattoo artist, make-up artist or hair stylist, there are so many opportunities out there in the beauty and fashion industry. And no two days will be the same, with trends evolving, new clients and new endeavours, you’re bound to be kept on your toes.