The application of make-up has various
uses. It is either used to
enhance a feature or to hide it. It could also be used to radically change
one’s appearance. Done well, it can radically overhaul one’s personality. It
requires great skill and patience. An attention to detail is vital because a
minor mishap can change the entire final look. But occasionally, one meets an individual
who displays passion and virtuosity in two different worlds.
Simone Lalwani plays football at a very good level, good enough
to be part of the women’s team at FC Goa. And yes, she also enjoys applying
special effects make-up and body painting. Her interest in this kind of make-up
was piqued by the festival of Halloween. The Indo-British national, who splits
time between Goa and Mumbai, learned the basics of the art form at the Fatmu
Academy in Khar, a suburb of Mumbai. She enhanced her skill by painting on
herself in front of a mirror. This requires her to paint in reverse. She then
took a short air-brushing course to improve her skills. After this, she began
taking up bridal make-up, fashion and editorial assignments.
Commenting about why she chooses to straddle two entirely
different worlds, where one involves a lot of running and sweating and the
other requires you to stay motionless for hours, she smiles and says, “I
surprise myself at how much I love it.” During her time in the UK, she did an extended
diploma in sports education and learned the basics of make-up at The London
School of Make-up. She hopes to use that education and training sometime in the
future. Now she says her love for painting is the sole reason for taking up
Halloween make-up assignments. It lets her experiment and also allows her to
express herself as she can completely transform a person into another
character.
Simone uses different products like water-activated paints,
which are “more sheer in nature and give a skin finish”. IPA, which has 99
percent alcohol, is usually sprayed in paints. It gives a long-lasting effect
and helps the make-up look natural for features like bruises and cuts. Grease
paints with powder can also be used instead of water-activated ones.
She usually takes an order a week prior. On the previous day,
she makes the look on the plastic face mask and then lets it dry overnight.
“One can use a hair dryer as well to quickly dry the mask,” she says.
On the day of the make-up, she sticks it on her client’s face
with spirit gum and then she blends the edges with liquid latex. Last year, she
took a 31-day Halloween make-up challenge, for which she created 30 looks and
posted them on Instagram. The ‘Venom’ character look that she made took eight
hours to construct and apply, she informs.
Make-up
artists must learn important skills even before picking up a sponge or brush.
They have to assess a client’s skin type, including colouring, condition and
sensitivity. These factors determine the type and colours of make-up to use.
Learning colour principles is an intricate skill that takes into account race,
ethnicity, obvious skin colour and undertones of colour. Make-up artists must
also study a client’s bone structure to decide where and how to apply types and
colours of make-up to achieve the desired results. It’s important to be open to
experimenting with ideas and materials and have a good eye for colour. Simone
intends to continue her education and plans to go to the Cinema Makeup School
in Los Angeles, USA. She intends to try her hand angling for work in the film
industry in a year. And yes, she intends to continue playing football. Her
potential was witnessed when she was selected in the top six in this year’s
Mixed Face Awards competition in the country. Perhaps her name will one day
appear as the make-up artist in a Bollywood or Hollywood smash it.
