Learning Makeup in Stages

Have you let your children practice their grooming skills? Are they learning to wear makeup? Are you letting them try to figure it out ? Summer is the best time, not the first week of school. If they are in middle school or higher, they should already know how to have good hygiene and do their own hair; now they need to learn the art of makeup application.

I am always asked, "When should I let my child wear makeup?" I believe make up should be given in steps. I think a lot of little girls wear lip gloss even as early as 2nd or 3rd grade just for fun or to keep their lips from chapping. But I think eye and face makeup should be reserved till their 6th grade year or 12 years old. This is when they can actually learn. I suggest during their 6th grade year they learn to wear mascara and lip gloss or lip stick. Nothing more. These makeup tools seem to be the most tedious and take a steady hand. Mastering these saves their skin against other make ups and helps them start without looking like clowns.

During 7th and 8th grade years, I suggest you take them to a makeup artist. You can go to the makeup counters in the mall or invite a Mary Kay lady. Just someone with the color palette and an expert eye to help your child get the right makeup from the start. Make sure you learn their skin tone and what colors look best with their hair color and eye color.

Having a professional to do it the first time will save you money in the long run This professional should teach them basic grooming along with the makeup application. They should also avoid over purchasing make up because you tried something that didn't look good.

I think glitter, bronzers, and complicated ombre lips, eyes, or face contouring should be learned in high school (9th through 12th grade). Junior high is not the time to figure out all the extreme and complicated techniques.

The techniques and makeup take time and a steady hand. They have only been wearing make up for a few years and are still figuring it out. Let them practice in Summer. Be honest with your children. If it doesn't look great , tell them. Don't lie because you want to spare their feelings; this just encourages bad techniques and behavior that you will need to correct later.

Make sure you teach your children to WASH THEIR FACE. Hair and makeup catch envorimental toxins and keep them on your face and in your hair. If you sleep with your makeup on, you will age faster. Just teach them right from the beginning, then you don't have to worry about it later. Nothing is worse than going through your awkward stage in college.

(This content is part of our Tami's Tips Collection)