Some Nigerian make-up artists have blamed the popularity of the YouTube tutorial videos as reasons for reduced clientele and remuneration.
The artists, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, said that they had taken to training new entrants in the industry to make more money.
According to them, jobs do not come as often as they used to due to the easy access of potential clients to tutorial videos on YouTube.
NAN reports that there had been a surge in the number of make-up tutorial videos on video-sharing platforms such as YouTube and Instagram, with huge following.
Safia Usman of House of Safia said the competition in the industry is too stiff, adding that video tutorials are not helping matters, as anyone could visit YouTube channels.
“The industry is saturated. Make-up artists have to think of more ways to put their works out, as competition is stiff.
“I must confess it’s really affecting make-up client base, alongside YouTube, as anybody can just watch make-up tutorials there,” Usman said.
She noted that although YouTube might not teach the professional tricks and touches to the viewers, it does guide people through applying their own make-up, thus decreasing their reliance on the artists.
Annette Okojie of Annestouch said that there were too many make-up artists in the same geographical location, leading most times to a tussle.
She noted that training was the best way to receive returns on investment, as make-up equipment were very expensive to let waste away.
“You have students that you teach from time to time and if the odds are okay, you get clients for face beats.
“There is money in teaching. Imagine you collect N20,000 per person for two-week training and you trained 10 people.
“That gives you N200,000 which you may not make from clients in those two weeks as jobs don’t come all the time,” Okojie said.
She noted that although the competition was stiff, serious-minded make-up artists could succeed if they carved a niche for themselves.
“Not everyone who learns make-up opens a studio. Some use the knowledge to beat their own faces. Ladies want to look good. There’s enough space for everyone to win,” Okojie said.
However, some other make-up artists said that YouTube tutorial videos could help to increase their client base and the number of students that register for professional training.
Nina Chima of Nina Special Beauty said that there are remarkable differences between professional makeup artists and online-trained practitioners, which leave money-making opportunities to the professionals.
“There is a difference between a professional makeup artist and YouTube-trained, and there is market for everybody; YouTube tutorials help us to get the students.
“After watching the videos, if people have questions, they come to us and we train them; depending on the artist, more money can come from teaching.
“Training is a good way to make money and is quicker because not everybody can afford the makeup,” Chima said.
According to her, the industry is capital intensive, and most clients may not be able to afford the price, leading artists to devise other means of making money.
Chima said that artists diversify into sales of make-up products; trend influencing and tutorials, to augment the high cost of quality make up products.
