Frequently Asked Questions
Cosmetics
Correspondence
Course
Designed by:
Synergy Media
Studios
(C)1999-2004 CCCA
Can anyone take this course?
Yes, the course is available to anyone who wants to earn a certificate in Cosmetics and
wants to do so independently. You will have one year
to complete your course of study at which point you should contact the CCCA for your
examination.
Where do I write my exam?
You will write your examination at your home. Simply follow the instructions and return
the examination within the allotted time.
Will I learn how to apply makeup?
Yes, the theory of makeup application is presented in several chapters including:
Colour Theory, Makeup and Camouflage/Paramedical Makeup. It will be up to you to put the
theoretical information in the course into practical application. You will find having a
model to work on and to practice the concepts will help you embed this knowledge. Makeup
is a subject that requires constant upgrading and practice. As you move through your
career in the Cosmetics industry you will likely have the opportunity to watch and learn
from other makeup artists and you will want to put into practice some of their ideas. The
curriculum in the CCCA Correspondence Course will provide you with an excellent base
knowledge upon which to build.
Where can I get a job?
The Cosmetics industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that is dynamic and
interesting. There are unlimited opportunities for individuals who are hard working,
disciplined, creative, entrepreneurial and have a strong desire to assist people. You must
really love working with people as that is central to our industry. There are different
opportunities that will arise and in order to be ready for them you must have a positive
attitude toward the concept of life long learning. This course is just the beginning to
your career in cosmetics but it is a great beginning. You will find a job wherever
cosmetics products are sold. The retailers of cosmetics products as well as the companies
who produce these products are constantly looking for individuals ready for a challenge.
What kind of jobs are available to me?
Upon successful completion of this course you will find that a position as a
cosmetician or a beauty advisor in a retail setting is the place to enter this industry.
Working with people in the cosmetics department of a drug, department or specialty store
is the place you will find most of our graduates. Many of them love this career so much
that they stay with the same employer for years. Others find that they want to move on to
newer and bigger challenges and may move from one retail outlet to another larger one. You
may find a particular segment of the industry is of most interest to you. For example, you
may decide that you love selling fragrance and that what you really want is to share this
knowledge with many people. Perhaps working part time is best for your life and working as
a freelance demonstrator for a manufacturer of a cosmetics line is what works for you.
There are as many opportunities in our industry as you want. The key is finding the one
that makes you happy.
Where do I get more information?
For an information package on our Correspondence Course, our Accreditation
program or for membership in the CCCA email our webmaster with your name and mailing
address.
What are some of the typical wages an esthetician can expect in certain jobs?
Wages depend on a surprisingly large quantity of variables in the esthetics industry. Ask
yourself some questions based on some
of the variables. Some of these would include:
Is the salon a large place or a small place? Things like the salon's overhead go into
determining a rate of pay. Smaller salons
have fewer and lower expenses. However, that may mean they can accommodate fewer clients,
resulting in less income being
generated. Larger salons have a much larger range of expenses. That can potentially mean
more clients, which is more income,
but the larger the salon, the larger the expenses.
Are you in a salon where the salon employs you or are you renting a room/chair/area. If
you are renting, then you are paying a
either a set monthly amount, or, you are paying a percentage of your monthly business
(possibly not the best choice if you don't
want a salon's owners to know what kind of business/income you are generating).
Is it a salon within a hair salon, or is it a salon that specifically does spa/esthetic
services only? The type of location can make a
big difference in the quantity of clients you might see. Consider a location in a place
that there aren't as many other esthetics
services available in the immediate area/locale, but also consider carefully your
demographic/client base. Opening or working in
a salon where there isn't another salon around can mean either a lot of clients, or, that
the people in that area don't have an
interest or an income to support the salon.
It's really a very hit and miss kind of industry. In asking around, most of the people I
spoke with make their real/extra money in
tips. These salaries will range depending on area and salon. Otherwise, they are employed
by the salon and work for an average
hourly rate, or, they rent their room/chair/area and generate their own business.
Your best bet as far as more information goes would be to actually do a little
fact-finding research. Choose a few locations that
are the type of salon you believe you would like to work in, and ask questions!
If you think you would like to work in a large salon that has a wide range of services,
try making an appointment with the salon
manager in a place like Civello's (Yonge & Bloor in Toronto) or The Village Spa
(Bayview Village Shopping Centre in North
York). Both of these locations offer a very large range of services (including full
service hair salons), as well as products, gift
certificates and packages for sale.
If you want to consider a smaller salon, there are tons of them out there. Choose a few in
the area(s) you might want to work
and ask them some questions.
If you want to actually start your own business, consider again the neighbourhood where
you want to be located, and ask
around. If there aren’t any estheticians in these salons, ask yourself why. It may be
due to a lack of enough business. Or, it may
be that no one has asked yet!
How much should I expect to make when beginning the new job of a makeup artist?
As far as pay goes, it will depend on several variables.
The first would be where you are working. For example, a Freelance Makeup Artist can be
paid either directly, or through the
agency that sends you to your jobs (like a hair stylist and fashion stylist for a model
would be), or, if you are working as a
Makeup Artist in an environment/venue like a store or salon - which would pay you per
client or by the hour/week.
The second variable would be your actual job. As a Makeup Artist, some companies that you
work for might call you a
Makeup Artist, but doing the exact same job in a different environment/venue might call
you a Cosmetician or Beauty Advisor.
With that job would come duties other than the basic application of makeup.
Responsibilities such as sales (which is always the
number one "duty"), inventory control, visual merchandising and display,
housekeeping, etc... So, what your job description is
will vary - along with your rate of pay.
The third variable would be your experience and knowledge/education. If Makeup Artistry is
what you want, it is an extremely
competitive industry. Therefore, people with a lot of experience tend to land jobs more
often and more easily than those without
experience. Knowledge and education can make a big difference as well. Again, depending on
what your actual job is, knowing
more than how to apply makeup makes you a much better applicant for jobs.
I do not know exactly what you would be looking for as "Makeup Artist" as the
title is very nebulous in today's industry. With a
little more information and a more detailed description as you see "Makeup
Artist" as a job goes from you, I can give you a
more conclusive answer to your question. As well, I can recommend steps to take to help
you get to where you want to go.
The CCCA Correspondence Course does not train you to in the practical application
necessary to become a Makeup Artist. The
course does however train you in the theory of Colour, Makeup, and
If you are interested in submitting questions, please click on the image link below
to email the CCCA with your request for information.
