The makeup artist and hairstylist departments, often referred to simply as hair and makeup, is part of nearly every film set, every television program irrespective of the budget and many theatrical productions, which means that for people who have the skills to get into the industry, there are many spaces available.

Here are some top tips to get involved with hair and makeup.

Whilst a hair and makeup course is not necessarily a requirement to become a hairstylist or makeup artist, many in the field do attend school to ensure they have a complete set of skills that translate onto the stage, particularly when it comes to working with wigs.

However, if you have experience in the field and a willingness to learn new skills as and when you need it, attending a specialist school may not always be required, although it often helps in interviews.

This may shock someone reading this, but many, if not most hairdressers working in the film industry have considerable experience in a hair salon, and most makeup artists have worked in beauty parlours.

The experience naturally translates very well; working with real hair and real customers will help when managing a mix of demands of film stars, producers and directors.

With that said, there are some aspects of the role, such as working with wigs, prosthetics and making people look deliberately ugly that you may not get when working in a salon.

A production assistant, or PA, is an entry-level job role in film and television, and it can help you get your foot in the door in the industry, and give you an impression of how the hair and makeup department work on set.