Is it a pro or a con to have the ability to personally advertise what you do professionally, around the clock, during and outside of working hours? The answer isn’t straightforward—it’s both. Life, after all, is a paradox.
Every day, I have the opportunity to wear a polished makeup application while working or even out in public. Of course, I also have the option to go makeup-free or to wear an imperfect application. Here’s where the tension arises: as a professional Makeup Artist, when does my personal face serve as an advertisement, and when can it take a break? If my business relies on word of mouth, it’s crucial that my appearance doesn’t work against me, whether I’m inside the walls of F.A.C.E. Makeup Artistry or simply out and about. In an industry dedicated to making people look and feel their best, maintaining a presentable, client-facing appearance feels vital. If every makeup-wearing woman (or aspiring makeup-wearer) is a potential client, they want to feel invited and inspired by the appearance they see.
Not every profession offers a built-in opportunity to market itself to a rotating audience, yet beauty professionals have this advantage. I can walk into any space and be seen by new faces who may notice my work on my own canvas—my face. This holds true for hairstylists and nail technicians too. It’s easy for someone to say, “I love your {insert feature here},” because the evidence of your skill is on display. Compare that to a massage therapist—it’s a lot harder to see that someone just received a wonderful massage.
On the flip side, not every profession carries the built-in pressure to market its work outside of business hours. Unless a photographer carries their best photo, a painter their latest canvas, or a poet their finest verse, most professionals can step away from their work and not worry about being “on.” There’s no visible clue for people to comment on, and no subtle suggestion that they should.
Is it a privilege or a burden to constantly wear your work on your face, or is it perhaps a bit of both? When does personal expression cease to be professional branding?
Photo: Rachel Houser Photography