Hairdressers and Makeup Artists Struggle as Screenwriters and Actors Strike
The ongoing strike by American screenwriters and actors is not only affecting the entertainment industry but also impacting the lives of many professionals who work behind the scenes to make the stars shine. From New York to Los Angeles, hairdressers and makeup artists are feeling the brunt of the strike, with their appointment books empty and their savings accounts dwindling.
Matthew Monzon, a celebrity hairdresser in New York, has been styling the likes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Brooke Shields, Keri Russell, and Anna Kendrick since 1997. However, with the screenwriters and actors on strike, Monzon is facing financial hardship. While he has been able to cover his rent and health insurance payments so far, his bank account is running low. Despite his own struggles, Monzon supports the movement, stating, “I want the actors and the writers to get what they deserve.”
The impact of the strike extends beyond hairdressers and makeup artists and affects the entire entertainment ecosystem, including costume designers, manicurists, stylists, and more. Negotiations between studio bosses and screenwriters have resumed but progress has been slow.
Rebecca Restrepo, a makeup artist from Queens, used to have a bustling schedule, moving between TV studios and hotels with her 60-pound suitcases of makeup and lighting equipment. However, since July, she has seen zero work. Restrepo mentioned that her industry was already struggling due to the pandemic, which caused a year and a half without work. Now, the strike is further exacerbating their financial woes, with Restrepo saying, “it’s killing all of us.”
Many beauty professionals work independently with the support of agencies that manage their client lists and schedules. These artists often transitioned from the fashion industry to Hollywood and describe their work as adaptive art. However, they now face an increasingly competitive field, challenging working conditions, and uncertainty about the future of their profession. The rise of Instagram filters and self-proclaimed makeup artists has made the industry feel like “the Wild West,” according to Restrepo.
Matin Maulawizada, a makeup artist with 26 years of experience in New York, has observed a significant decrease in pay rates since the advent of streaming platforms. At 59 years old, Maulawizada hopes to join the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild to benefit from negotiated standards with production studios and Broadway theaters. He has also launched an Instagram initiative called the “beauty4beautyproject” to support professionals impacted by the strikes.
Marco Santini, a hairstylist for celebrities like Jessica Chastain, Lucy Liu, and Uma Thurman, is concerned about the future of his profession. He believes that artificial intelligence will render hairdressers obsolete, stating, “When you have an avatar, you don’t need a hairdresser.”
As negotiations continue, professionals in the beauty industry anxiously await a resolution that will safeguard their livelihoods and address their concerns about fair pay and the evolution of the industry.
