Guidance — HMU Equality Now

Guidance for key stakeholders

Performers

It is normal practice to have your first hair and make-up fitting on the same day as your first costume fitting. If a costume fitting has been scheduled for you but no HMU fitting request one via your agent.

This first HMU fitting is an opportunity to bond with your HMUA and/or HMU HOD. It should last 1-1.5 hours. This time includes both hair and make-up.

It is normal for a hair and make-up artist to ask for photos of your hair ahead of this first fitting, as well as a list of your preferred hair and make-up products.

For your fitting arrive with only a small amount of product in your hair.

Ask to see a mood board if one has not yet been provided.

Build a rapport with your HMUA.

Consider that they might be as nervous as you.

Agents

Take an interest in you clients hair and make-up needs. Listen to them and advocate for them.

Ensure they get a meaningful hair and make-up consultation. More and more agents are having this consultation written into their clients agreements.

Check in on them.

Know that they are likely to have had negative experiences in the past. Be a buffer and support for them.

Hair and make-up HOD’s

Be open to learning and engage a consultant to walk side by side with you and share best practice.

Engage HMUA’s who are highly skilled in afro textured hair and/or all skin tones.

Do not rely on one HMUA to cover all afro-textured hair styles.

Expand your talent pool to include artists highly skilled in barbering and locs.

Have a mood board available for performers to view in their first fitting.

Ensure you have suitable products and equipment for all hair and skin types.

Support new HMU talent in the best ways you can. Such as offering mentorships, junior positions and/or on the job training.

Ask your union and employers (where possible) to support training from an experienced training provider.

Please do not ask your HMUA’s to train others unofficially and/or for free.

Please do not ask cast to schedule and remunerate their own hair dressers/barbers.

Hair and make-up artists

Be confident in the skills and experience you have and committed to the skills and experience you would like to gain.

Ask your union, industry bodies and employers for training and support.

Engage in training before you embark on your career, in-between jobs, on the job (if officially provided) and especially if you’ve been meaning to for years.

Take an interest in afro-textured hair and its history.

Practice in your spare time, on mannequin heads, family and/or friends.

If you are already highly skilled in afro haircare and/or skincare for deeper skin tones but have no experience working in TV/Film seek out the required training and/or contacts to help build your screen career.

Build a rapport with your performers.

Consider that they might be as nervous as you.

Producers

Be knowledgable on this subject and the adverse issues that can arise for performers, HMU HOD’s and HMUA’s.

In development consider and assess the hair and make-up requirements across your production and potential cast.

Be rigorous in sourcing a hair and make-up team that can cover your perceived as well as unperceived needs.

Build a rapport with your cast and crew so that they feel comfortable in approaching you with anything you may need to know.

Check in to see how everyone is.