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Beauticians

How to become a Make-up Artist

Uses make-up and hairstyling skills to express people's personality and image and make them look their best.

Workers in this job say vocational college (senmon gakko) is common. From job tag's survey of people in each job, who could give several answers. It shows what workers see as common, not how many workers hold each level.

How to become one

You need a hairdresser's licence to start. To become a hairdresser, you must study for at least two years on the standard daytime or evening course (at least one year on the course for those already qualified in the other profession), or at least three years on the standard correspondence course (at least one year and six months on the course for those already qualified), at a training school designated by the prefectural governor, gain the knowledge and skills needed and graduate, then pass the national hairdresser exam. After passing, you apply for a hairdresser's licence and are issued one. Since April 2018, some training schools have offered a course for people already licensed as barbers. It greatly reduces the subjects needed and shortens the study period, making it easier to qualify as a hairdresser. Most people start by working at a salon or production company that takes make-up bookings, and some gain several years of experience there before going independent and working for themselves. Sometimes two to five make-up artists set up an agency together, and some people work as assistant to a self-employed make-up artist before going independent. You need to pay attention to your language, manners and relationships with people and earn clients' trust. You also need to keep up with trends and keep working on your skills and artistic sense. Shoots can run early in the morning or late at night and may be outdoors in blazing heat or bitter cold, so fitness and looking after your health are important.

Ways in

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Make-up Artist?

You need a hairdresser's licence to start. To become a hairdresser, you must study for at least two years on the standard daytime or evening course (at least one year on the course for those already qualified in the other profession), or at least three years on the standard correspondence course (at least one year and six months on the course for those already qualified), at a training school designated by the prefectural governor, gain the knowledge and skills needed and graduate, then pass the national hairdresser exam. After passing, you apply for a hairdresser's licence and are issued one. Since April 2018, some training schools have offered a course for people already licensed as barbers. It greatly reduces the subjects needed and shortens the study period, making it easier to qualify as a hairdresser. Most people start by working at a salon or production company that takes make-up bookings, and some gain several years of experience there before going independent and working for themselves. Sometimes two to five make-up artists set up an agency together, and some people work as assistant to a self-employed make-up artist before going independent. You need to pay attention to your language, manners and relationships with people and earn clients' trust. You also need to keep up with trends and keep working on your skills and artistic sense. Shoots can run early in the morning or late at night and may be outdoors in blazing heat or bitter cold, so fitness and looking after your health are important.

How much does a Make-up Artist earn in Japan?

Average annual income in the private sector, bonus included, is ¥3,885,200 (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). The figure is for the wage survey group Barbers and hairdressers, which covers several jobs.

Do you need a degree to become a Make-up Artist?

Usually not. In this job's census occupation group, only 2% of workers are university graduates. Ways in include: Vocational college (専門学校) course: Beauty.

Will AI change the work of a Make-up Artist?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 解説系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_description_7_01.xlsx）ver.7.01 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

独立行政法人労働政策研究・研修機構（JILPT）作成 職業情報データベース 簡易版数値系ダウンロードデータ（IPD_DL_numeric_7_00.xlsx）ver.7.00 職業情報提供サイト（job tag）より2026年10月4日にダウンロード（https://shigoto.mhlw.go.jp/User/download）を加工して作成

Sources: JILPT Occupational Information Database download data via job tag (解説系 ver.7.01 and 簡易版数値系 ver.7.00, downloaded 4 October 2026), processed by Peernovo; MHLW, Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025; Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2020 Population Census; MEXT, School Basic Survey 2025; MHLW, Employment Referrals for General Workers (Hello Work statistics). Figures processed by Peernovo. English job names, translations and the matching of jobs to statistical groups, schools and degree fields by Peernovo.

Updated 4 October 2026