Thursday August 26, 2010
By DIANA ROSLAM
Freelance makeup artist and stylist Yap Li Wei talks about the challenges she faces in the beauty and grooming industry.
At what age did you start out in this industry?
I started at 19. I am thankful that I managed to get into the industry. My SPM results weren’t good and I didn’t think I could go anywhere. On my mom’s advice, I decided to enrol myself in a makeup course at Stars Image, KLCC - the price was affordable and the time was right.
What made you want to become a makeup artist?
It gives me great satisfaction to be able to make someone look pretty. I love seeing my customer smile when I’m done applying their makeup. I’m happy as I am able to make them look glamorous and they appreciate my work.
How long was the course and what did you learn?
I studied for about half a year. It was stage makeup, bridal and the basics. We learnt about the face shape and skin colour, how to match it with different types of makeup, how to style the hair according to your face shape and how to make the eyes bigger. We also learnt how to make a face look slimmer. As students learning to be professional makeup artists, we had to buy our own makeup equipment. I spent at least RM4,000 to RM5,000, in addition to the RM3,000 for the whole course. I spent a lot because I bought quality equipment as I didn't want to risk anything bad happening to customers' skin. After finishing the course, I studied hairstyling at the London Media Academy in Britain and then I started working.
I was lucky because my lecturer and mentor, Kres, was then working as a makeup artist for magazines, advertising projects and commercials. As an experienced makeup artist who has been around for close to 20 years, he also does makeup for Hong Kong artistes when they come to Malaysia for shoots. It was overall a good experience for me as I learnt a lot, made mistakes and improved myself. I was able to follow him on jobs, where I learnt a lot and met a lot of people. Sometimes, I even did small jobs whenever he was not available. I didn’t get paid though. It was on-the-job training and an opportunity for me to learn more.
What does your family think of your job?
They are very supportive. They understand that being a makeup artist comes with a hectic schedule and odd working hours. My husband is also very supportive of my career. My mother-in-law helps me take care of my twin babies whenever I’m at work.
How long have you been in this industry and what sorts of challenges have you faced?
I have been in this industry for nine years. I think my biggest obstacle was to work on a film set. I remember when I was working on the movie, Gol & Gincu, the hours were odd and long. Sometimes we had to work for 24 hours non-stop and it continued for over a month. I was working on a contractual basis so I couldn’t work on any other job. It’s hard work, tiring and exhausting but it was also a lot of fun.
What do you like most about your job?
I like that it’s freelance. That means, I get to control and schedule my work time accordingly so that I have time to take care of my family. My time is flexible enough that I can also teach make-up and hairstyling to fashion students at Carven Academy of Fashion and New Era College, and train students alongside image consultant Wendy Lee. We train all sorts of people from hotel staff to corporate companies.
I also like that it gives me the opportunity to travel a bit. I have done a workshop and commercial print ads for MAS airline and Star Cruises. I even flew to Krabi, Thailand, for a week to work. These are experiences that I treasure very dearly.
Can you tell us what a day in your working life is like?
That depends on the type of job that I’m doing. For example, for a Chinese wedding, I need to go to the bride’s house twice in one day; at 6am to do hair and makeup and again at 4pm to 6pm to help the bride prepare for the dinner. Sometimes I am required to stay longer and help the bride especially if they have a wardrobe change.
If I’m at a shooting, I usually start at around 6.30am. It depends on how many talents they have and what types of makeup they want me to do. I usually stay until the shoot finishes.
Can you get rich by doing this job?
Yes, of course. The important thing you need to know is how to save money. If you don’t know how to save, it will be hard to sustain in this industry. As a freelance makeup artist, I need to save up in order to equip myself with the makeup tools that I need for my work.
Has the industry changed since you started?
I think the competition is more aggressive than it used to be. A lot of newcomers are charging lesser for their services compared to us (the experienced ones). I believe it depends on the quality and what kind of makeup they are using. However, these days customers want something cheap yet nice. I do think that there are more opportunities out there as compared to when I first started.
Any plans for the future?
I would love to be able to operate my own makeup and bridal shop; something modern with more accessories, more interior and DIY (do-it-yourself) weddings. I will keep on doing what I’m doing for now but I see myself moving into a more stable business with less odd hours. I want to start teaching again, too. Makeup is my passion and I would love to learn more. I would also like to work abroad in Hong Kong or Hollywood, in the movies. However, I feel that I still have a lot to learn and need to gain more experience to fulfil my dream to work internationally.
What have you gained through all your experience? Do you think local celebrities and VIPs need stylists and makeup artists?
I think that celebrities need stylists and makeup artists. They could not possibly do their own makeup because the nature of their work requires them to have different types of looks for different occasions. The professional makeup artist and stylist would know how to get them ready for all these occasions.
What do you think about professional women and their makeup in Malaysia?
I honestly think that Malaysian professionals are too busy with their work. They always opt for something easy to do and maintain. For me, personal beauty is important because it helps you build your charisma and confidence. If you don’t have time, just three basic things that you need to do; put on foundation, put some colour on your eyelids and wear lipstick to make yourself look presentable.
Many of these professionals care about how they look but they just don’t know where to start. They need to learn from someone or somewhere. I think universities should help by providing short classes on how to prepare for the workplace. They need to realise that they have natural beauty, they just need the right boost.
What is your advice to aspiring makeup artists?
There are a few things that you need to do. You need a mentor - someone whom you can look up to and learn from. There is no easy way up - you need to persevere and not give up. You need to be smart and alert, punctual, careful and understanding in terms of what the clients want. Practice makes perfect and we all learn from mistakes.
