Education / Costume, hair & make-up
Learn the care and detail behind screen appearance.
Entry roleThe overview
Hair and make-up trainees support experienced colleagues while learning how the department works on a film or television production.
Assigned work depends on existing ability and confidence. Some trainees bring salon or other practical experience; others are developing foundational skills. The role is a supervised introduction, with tasks chosen by the team rather than a licence to apply unfamiliar products or techniques to performers.
Preparation and support tasks take place around the department’s work with cast.
Your route in
Develop relevant practical training and seek supervised screen-industry trainee work.
Show work you have permission to photograph and explain the techniques you personally carried out.
Learn appropriate hygiene and product-use procedures through proper training. Ask what a production expects rather than improvising on a performer.
Look for supervised opportunities and show how you take feedback, prepare carefully and treat people respectfully.
Trainee and junior experience can develop towards artist roles, with further specialist training for areas such as prosthetics.
Try it yourself
Prepare a paper continuity record for a fictional character across two scenes. Describe the appearance and questions you would ask before recreating it.
Check that the record is specific, respects privacy and does not substitute for practical training or product-safety knowledge.
This is an introduction to UK film and scripted TV, rather than a complete job specification. Grades and responsibilities vary by production.
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