In short: A hair and make-up designer plans how actors look in a film or TV drama. They break the script into hair and make-up requirements, lead the team that delivers them and manage the budget. On a small production one person often covers both hair and make-up. A talking head rarely needs one; a drama with several looks does.
A hair and make-up designer plans how each actor will look on a film or TV drama and leads the team that makes that look happen. They work with the director to understand the style of the story, then break the script down into hair and make-up requirements and plan the team and the budget.
What a hair and make-up designer does on a shoot day
The hair and make-up team is usually among the first on set in the morning, and the designer leads it through the day and keeps work on schedule. Before filming the designer arranges wig fittings and prosthetic and dental appointments. During filming the designer keeps detailed continuity notes for each scene, so a look can be matched from one day to the next.
They also run test shots under the lighting the camera will use. A look that works in a corridor can fail under the lights on a set.
Who they work with
The designer works with the director, who sets the vision for the look. They coordinate with the costume designers and the camera department. On large productions they work with a chief make-up artist and a chief hairdresser, who lead separate departments. They recruit, brief and supervise hair and make-up artists, prosthetic artists and assistants, and they set up the workstations that trainees use. ScreenSkills does not state a formal reporting line for the designer.
Kit and skills
ScreenSkills lists these skills for the role:
- Hair and make-up techniques, including cutting, colouring, wigs, prosthetics and ageing.
- Knowledge of the history of hair and make-up, and the research to apply it.
- A strong eye for style.
- Communication, including putting actors at ease.
- Organisation, including scheduling, budgets and managing a team.
Prosthetics, wigs and products applied to skin need a competent person to check each application before it goes on. This is general guidance only.
How to become a hair and make-up designer
People usually come into the job from hairdressing or barbering, beauty therapy, or stage and theatre. ScreenSkills describes these routes:
- Level 3 qualifications. Examples include the VTCT Diploma in Theatrical and Media Make-up, the City and Guilds Advanced Technical Diploma in Media Make-up Artistry, and City and Guilds and VTCT hairdressing and barbering diplomas.
- Apprenticeships. The hair, make-up, prosthetics and wigs apprenticeship standard is designed for film, TV and theatre.
- Experience and portfolio. Salons, student films and amateur theatre all count. ScreenSkills calls hands-on experience and a portfolio essential.
- Short courses. Prosthetics, barbering, wig fitting and period hair styling are all offered, and some carry the ScreenSkills Select award.
- Trainee scheme. The ScreenSkills Trainee Finder helps people start as a hair and make-up trainee and build industry contacts.
Bectu, the union for workers in the creative industries, offers career development support to members, and it publishes a hair and make-up rate card that shows what the work pays.
Do you need one on a small shoot?
- A talking head or a podcast: usually no. The presenter arrives ready, and a quick touch-up can be done by the presenter or a freelancer for an hour.
- A product or beauty day with close-up lighting: one artist for the day, with a camera and lighting test before the shoot, is often enough.
- A drama with several looks, wigs or prosthetics: yes, a designer with a team.
For a drama that needs a designer, the production hires them directly. The film crew hire page covers the directing, camera, lighting, sound and editing crew Granary books for studio shoots.
Related roles
Sources
- ScreenSkills, Hair and make-up designer (film and TV drama), read 5 November 2026
- Bectu, home page, read 5 November 2026
Related guides
Questions we get asked
What does a hair and make-up designer do on a film?
They work with the director to set the look, plan the hair and make-up for each character and lead the team that delivers it. Before filming they arrange wig fittings and prosthetic appointments, and during filming they keep detailed continuity notes for each scene.
What is the difference between a hair and make-up designer and an artist?
The designer plans the look and runs the team. The artist applies and maintains the looks under the designer. On larger features the two roles are usually separate, while on smaller productions one person often covers both.
How do you become a hair and make-up designer in the UK?
Most people come from hairdressing or barbering, beauty therapy, or stage and theatre. ScreenSkills points to the hair, make-up, prosthetics and wigs apprenticeship standard, and to its Trainee Finder scheme as a way in as a trainee.
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