For us, Halloween has become one of the most busy times of the year that we would NEVER have imagined. I know, I know… what does “Halloween Make-up” have to do with an airbrush shop? Well, on the surface it has nothing to do with it, but if you take a minute and explore further you will discover that the airbrush and the makeup industry have a lot in common. With the rising popularity of make-up shows such as Face Off and Skin Wars which feature the use of the airbrush in doing special effects makeup. These shows and others like them have just pushed the airbrush into yet one more “main stream” segment of society that has allowed artists who are willing to apply this to their business to take advantage of yet another money maker.
Lets take you back for a second to how this connection started for our studio over 30 years ago…
Cincinnati Post article from 1994 that started it all.
The article that started it all.
In the Fall of 1994 We had been in business for barely 3 years. At the time one of our artists Jodi Morgan-Byrne was also working as a make-up artist at “Glamour Shot” in one of the local Malls. Glamour Shots was a photography studio that any person could walk in and get the “Model Treatment” by getting make-up, wardrobe and professionally taken photographs. On this particular day Jodi answers the phone and it’s one of the local newspapers calling various places about ideas on Halloween makeup. So they asked her if they ever get anyone in Glamour Shots doing Halloween photoshoots. She said yes, but even better, proceeded to tell her about Anything Airbrushed and how we do Airbrushed Halloween make-up. When the conversation ended she immediately called us to tell us that the newspaper will be calling to ask questions.
Now keep in mind that up to this point we only did make-up on ourselves and close family and friends….not the general public as a whole because that was really unheard of at the time. Back then you could possibly get professional makeup at local theatrical stores or hire a professional makeup artist. But to just be able and call a place and make an appointment for make-up but the same place can also help you custom make you costume or just help with hard to find details, accessories, and props, was extremely difficult to find. However that all changed when the article hit the paper and our phone has been constantly ringing at this time of year ever since.
Offering this service has not only made us money over the years, more importantly it has given us exposure we would never have otherwise gotten and therefore has put our name out there for people to hear not only for make-up but for all things airbrushed and therefore has helped increase our everyday business.
So you are probably wondering how did we know what to do? The short answer is we didn’t, but with Jodi being a make-up artist she showed us the basics and then it was all practice, trial and error, research and repeat. These days it’s extremely easy to google “How to’s on Halloween makeup. Back in 1994….not so much.
What we have learned over the past 30 years is that we can never predict what will be popular and most of all we can never anticipate the number of things we will be asked to do that we have never done or even thought of before.
It obvious that what ever is popular in pop culture will be popular during Halloween in so shape or form but there will always be that one customer who has an idea and needs us to bring this idea to life that we could never have imagined.
So you are probably wondering how does it all work, how long does it take, how much does it cost?
The process is pretty simple. We use a variety of makeups depending on the final look and how long a person wants it to last. This entails either a water based makeup which will last a few hours to a day or an alcohol based makeup with can last a day or longer if properly cared for. If needed we will also help apply any prosthetics that you bring with you such as bald caps, horns or facial distortions. You simply just show up, sit down and relax while we transform you into anything you want. We start with applying a base foundation to help protect the skin and then the painting begins. The artists will use the airbrush primarily but also add details with traditional brush.
How long it takes really all depends on the amount of detail as well as how much of the face and body we are painting. The average face painting takes about 15-30 minutes and the average full body painting can take 1-2 hours. Again, this all depends on the amount of detail we need to add.
The cost will also vary depending on the amount of detail but the average face painting is $20.00-$30.00 and the average full body painting is between $100.00-$200.00 again all depending on the amount of detail.
As mentioned above, not only is the makeup part popular for us but we also help create costumes and help add details to existing costumes as well as help create props and backdrops for everything from the average home decoration to props for haunt businesses.
As the tri-states ONLY full service airbrush studio, we have been able to create things for customers that we ourselves would have never thought of. We often say that “our inventory is only limited by the size of our customers imagination” We couldn’t possibly think of everything we could paint because that is endless… on the other hand we don’t have to…our customers do that for us.
We would never have thought of painting an artificial leg… but we have … for a customer who wanted her leg painted for a Jimmy Buffett concert. I would never have thought of painting a tombstone or coffin but we have done those also. Not to mention the amount of shoes or batting helmets, motorcycle helmets and tanks, murals, backdrops, props of all shapes, sizes, subject matter and material and of course all types of apparel….and need I mention….Body Painting?…No other artist can do all these things except airbrush artists.
So this year for Halloween, think about what we may be able to do for you. You never know what we can do until you ask. To learn more about our Make-up Services check out our Halloween Makeup page on our website at this link Airbrushed Makeup