In film and TV drama, hair and make-up designers help actors portray their characters by using hair and make-up to create a look.
In film and TV drama, hair and make-up designers help actors portray their characters by using hair and make-up to create a look.
In pre-production, they work closely with the director to understand the style of the story. They break down the script, noting the hair and make-up requirements at each point and working out who they need to recruit to the team.
They make appointments for actors' wig fittings, prosthetic and dental appointments. They draw up notes about actors, detailing each scene’s hair and make-up changes (these notes are vital for maintaining continuity throughout the production) and work with the camera department on test shots to see how the hair and make-up looks under different lighting conditions.
During production, they are one of the first to the set in the mornings, leading the team, keeping everyone to schedule and managing the budget.
On larger features and in the USA, hair and make-up designers are two separate roles. On smaller productions, they are combined.