Health and Safety - MakeUp Artist

Health and Safety as a Make Up Artist

It is important to look after your personal hygiene. If you wouldnt do it on yourself you shouldnt do it on a client, it is deemed as unprofessional. Also, it is important to look after your own posture and the way you hold yourself when working on clients.

Posture:

- As a make up aritst you will be working long hours and be on your feet most of the day, consideration to yout own posture should be taken into account.

- Poor posture could result in ireversable back problems, stiff joints and trapped nerves which will effect you later on in life.

-Do not stretch or lean across the client

-Keep weight evenly distributed across both feet

-Adjust the make up chair accordingly to redcuce bending too much.

- Keep shoulder back where possible to avoid hunching over.

Work Area:

- Your work area should be disinfected prior to any application of make up. A paper towel should cover the work area surface so that there is no cross contamination of products on surfaces.

- Waste disposed off properly.

Hands; tools of the trade:

- Some artists use their hands as tools on clients face. It is important to keep your nails short and wash your hands regularly. Soap and water should be used where possible. Always keep a packet of baby wipes and hand sanitizer handy in your kit for on the go.

Brushes; Backbone of your kit:

- It is good to look after your brushes properly. It is advised to wash your brushes properly atleast 2-3 times a week, using both shampoo and conditioner. This stops the brushes from building up too much product.

- Between clients it is good to use a watered down IPA so it is not so harsh on the skin. IPA is good for cleaning brushes as it has a 99.9% kill rate for bacteria. It is best to use on foundation/face brushes and also lip brushes. This is because these types of brushes hold the most bascteria.

- IPA is extremly flammable so should be used with caution. Also, it has a very strong smell.

Double dipping = Cross-contamination:

- NEVER double dip this causes cross contamination of products.

- Always use a spatula when picking up products.

- Remove cream products with a spatula including concelaers and lipsticks.

- Sanitize all palettes and spatulas. Spray with IPA and wipe clean to stop the spread of infections and bacteria.

Between Client Sanitize Brushes:

- Between clients it is important to sanitize brushes as each client has different levels of the condition of their skin.

- By ensuring you spend 5 mins cleaning your brushes in between client it stops the spread of bacteria. Disinfecting them can ensure you are giving each client the same clean, proffessional application.

- Also gives the product the exact colour when applied.

Contra-Indications - Client Safety:

- By consulting the clkient prior to make upn application can rule out any harmful skin problems that could effect the well being of you and more importantly your client.

- Cold sores, Infectious sores such as impetgio, Cuts, wounds, Conjuctivitis/styes, Allergies to products, sunburn, eczema, recent chemical peels.

- check with client prior to application. Have Public Liability Cover to cover your own back and explain fully the risk to carry on.

- use disposable equioment, such as spoolies, wands, and sanitize brushes after each application so that the basteria doesnt house insde the bristles.

- SAnitize everything after application.

References:

http://www.phoebetaylor.com/how-to-good-hygiene-practice-for-makeup-artists/

(accessed 29/12/15)

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=buCV40tP5V0C&pg=PA26&lpg=PA26&dq=make+up+artist+posture&source=bl&ots=p24a6zmLux&sig=LpzCSIC0aZ3k8Ysl-ClCqmT8LfM&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjgp_iwgMDJAhVBGhQKHWoqAa4Q6AEIIzAA#v=onepage&q=make%20up%20artist%20posture&f=false

(Accessed 3/12/15)