Stay a step ahead of the competition

Neha Sharma interviews Samantha Kochhar, hair and make-up expert.

How did you become a make-up expert?

I have been in the hair and beauty business from the age of 11, studying and working under my mother Blossom Kochhar.

I started training myself in hair and went on to make-up and aesthetics by the age of 14. I was a trained teacher and then started working in fashion and films in my teens. I have trained over a 100 students in professional make-up.

What does it take to be a make-up artist?

A creative bent of mind — you are like an artist, and your canvas is the face — and a solid foundation from a good make-up school. Physically, it’s a taxing job with long hours of standing up, and you also end up travelling a lot.

After training, how should one go about looking for work?

Start floating your portfolio, meet photographers and co-ordinators, assist other make-up and hair artists. For a steady job, get in touch with cosmetics companies that need make-up artists at their shops to sell their products.

What can one expect as s/he moves up the ladder?

Competition! There is always someone new entering the industry who will work for a lower price, for longer hours. So keep yourself updated, always stay one step ahead, be professional at all times.

What is a typical day like?

Hectic when we are working. Otherwise, there are days when you can chill. Some days we start very early in the morning or it gets quite late at times.

What is the advantage of being in the profession? Or the problems?

We meet a lot of interesting celebrities, fashion people. We travel. The money we make is good. But this is an industry where a lot of rubbish can happen, too! You need to have strong moral principles.

Author: HT Horizons

Date:6th Jan., 2010

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