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HMU Designer

Designs hair and make-up looks and leads the combined HMU team on many UK shows.

Duties

• Read the call sheet and sides before arriving
• Maintain radio/set etiquette and H&S
• Hand over notes/kit status at wrap
• Design looks with director/DoP
• Tests and ageing
• Lead artists
• Budget SFX HMU if needed

Reports to

Director / Producer

Works with

HMU artists, Prosthetic artists, Costume Designer, DoP, Production

Career path

Artist → Supervisor → Designer

Day to day

Tests with Director/DoP; book artists; approve products/prosthetics; schedule cast ready-times with ADs; protect continuity of look.

Call times

HMU call is driven by cast ready-times — often well before unit. Prosthetic/ageing and crowd days need long early prep.

What to wear

Blacks; clean hygienic kit clothes; hair tied back; soft shoes; PPE/gloves for prosthetics as needed.

Tools & kit

Personal kit (often), brushes, hygiene consumables.

Tips

Confirm title, agreement, budget band, prep/wrap and kit fee on the deal memo before accepting. We never invent Bectu figures — check bectu.org.uk ratecards / your branch.

Software

• Face chart apps
• Photoshop
• Reference boards (PureRef)
• Face chart apps / Procreate
• Photoshop / PureRef boards
• Labelled continuity photo folders
• ChatGPT for period/reference research (Designer verifies)

Bectu rate cards for this role are in the app.

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Hair & Make-up Artist

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