Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild (IATSE Local 706)

Overview

The Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild, operating as IATSE Local 706, is the union representing make-up artists, hair stylists, and special effects make-up artists working in motion pictures, television, and commercials in the United States. Founded in 1937 and headquartered in Burbank, California, Local 706 covers the full range of make-up and hair department work on union productions, from the department head (key make-up artist or key hair stylist) through additional artists, body make-up artists, and daily hires.

The Guild's jurisdiction spans conventional beauty and grooming make-up through advanced prosthetic, creature, and special effects make-up work. The specialization divide between beauty make-up (which requires artistry and product knowledge) and prosthetic and effects make-up (which requires sculptural and fabrication skills) creates distinct career tracks within a single Local. Local 706 covers both communities under its collective agreement.

The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) runs from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2027, negotiated between IATSE Local 706 and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The 2024 agreement unified make-up and hair stylist rates at the same classification levels, eliminating the historical pay gap between the two crafts. Hair Stylist Department Heads now earn identical rates to Make-up Department Heads.

Membership Requirements and Qualification

Local 706 membership is earned through documented work experience, not through open application or apprenticeship programs. There are no shortcuts, no internship pathways, and no school-to-membership pipelines. Prospective members must track their own work history through Contract Services (CSATF) at csatf.org.

Roster Membership (Industry Experience Roster - IER) is required to work on productions covered by the IATSE Basic Agreement within Los Angeles County. Three paths qualify:

1. "60-60-60" Method: Work 60 days per year for 3 different years (not necessarily consecutive) within the last 5 years on non-union productions in LA County, paid at least minimum wage for 8-hour days. All work must take place in Los Angeles County.

1. Off-Roster Hire / Organized Production: Work 30 union days within a 365-day period on one or more signatory productions in Los Angeles County. This path applies when a non-union show organizes (flips) to union status.

1. Star-Waiver: Work 60 days total on a single union project where the producer has obtained a Star-Waiver from Local 706. The producer must demonstrate the applicant's previous work history with the "Star" on 3 different projects.

Non-Roster Membership covers artists working under contracts outside the Basic Agreement, including commercials, network television (daytime news, sports, talk shows, soap operas), theater, and theme parks. Non-Roster qualification requires 30 days of union work within a 12-month period under the relevant agreement (AICP for commercials, signatory network companies for broadcast, etc.).

Additional requirements for all applicants:

• Hair Stylists must hold a valid California Cosmetology License (a barbering license alone does not qualify)
• Make-Up Artists must pass a colorblindness test administered through Contract Services
• All applicants must complete CSATF Safety Pass and Harassment Prevention training
• Government-issued ID and I-9 form required

Initiation Fees and Dues (2025)

Initiation fees vary by classification and pathway:

50% of the initiation fee is due with the application. The remaining 50% is due within 6 months. Quarterly dues are based on the member's classification rate. Members also pay IATSE Per Capita fees and contributions to the Death Benefit Fund.

For context, the $8,000 initiation fee for a Film/TV Make-Up Artist is among the highest in the IATSE local system, reflecting the specialized nature of the craft and the earning potential at department head rates.

Wage Minimums (2024-2027 CBA)

The CBA increased wage minimums by 7% effective August 4, 2024, by an additional 4% effective August 3, 2025, and by an additional 3.5% effective August 2, 2026. These increases are compounded. Key studio minimum rates for Schedule A (daily employment, 8-hour minimum call):

Weekly rates (Schedule C, 54-hour weekly guarantee, 5 consecutive days, 9-hour minimum call) for August 2025 through August 2026:

A 3% reduction applies to Wage Schedule #2 rates for certain production types. The full wage schedules are published in the 2024-27 Local 706 Wage Rates PDF. Producers should consult these documents directly when budgeting a signatory production.

Craft Categories and Classifications

Local 706 organizes its membership by classification, each with distinct minimum rates:

• Department Heads (Occ. Code 5700/5741): Key make-up artists and key hair stylists who carry overall department responsibility, including supervising continuity and coordinating with the director and DP on performer presentation. This is the highest classification with corresponding minimum rates.
• Assistant Department Heads / Foremen (Occ. Code 5702/5742): Second-in-command responsible for managing additional artists and maintaining workflow.
• Make-up Artists / Hair Stylists (Occ. Code 5721/5751): Journey-level artists performing the core make-up and hair work.
• Trainees (Occ. Code 5722/5752): Entry-level classification working under supervision of journey-level artists.
• Body Make-Up Artists: Handle body make-up for exposed skin areas, a separate classification with its own rate structure.
• Special Effects Make-Up Artists: Work on prosthetics, animatronics, and creature effects. These artists often have extensive backgrounds in sculpture, mold-making, and silicone fabrication that go well beyond conventional make-up training.

Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards

Local 706 presents annual Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards recognizing outstanding achievement in make-up and hair styling across theatrical features, television drama, comedy series, and limited series. The awards span conventional make-up and hair alongside special effects make-up, prosthetics, and period/character design categories. The 14th annual awards ceremony is scheduled with submissions opening September 21, 2025. These awards are peer-voted by Guild members, making them recognition from working make-up and hair professionals rather than a general industry electorate.

Notable Members and Leadership

Julie Socash has served as President of IATSE Local 706 since 2019. She previously held the Vice President position from 2013 through 2018. The current Executive Board includes Vice President Elena Arroy and Secretary-Treasurer Teresa Owen Velazquez. The Guild represents over 2,300 make-up artists and hair stylists across film, television, commercials, music videos, and live theater.

Howard J. Smit was a founding member of Local 706 in 1937 and served 2 terms as local president. He worked on The Wizard of Oz (1939) and The Birds (1963). Smit led the campaign that convinced the Academy to create an Oscar for makeup, first awarded in 1982 to Rick Baker for An American Werewolf in London. He also secured pension, health, and welfare benefits for members in the 1950s and mandatory screen credit in the 1980s.

Leonard Engelman (1941 to 2024) was a celebrated make-up artist who worked with Cher for 33 years, plus Michelle Pfeiffer, Meg Ryan, and Sylvester Stallone. He won 3 MUAHS Guild Awards and received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. Engelman served as Business Representative and Executive Board member. He was the first Governor of the Academy's Makeup and Hairstyling Branch and created the annual Makeup and Hairstyling Symposium.

Benefits Breakdown

Local 706 members receive health insurance and pension benefits through the Motion Picture Industry Health Plan (MPIPHP) and the IATSE National Benefit Fund. Members accumulate qualifying hours on union productions to earn and maintain health coverage. The plan includes medical, dental, and vision insurance through providers like Anthem Blue Cross and Health Net.

Pension benefits accrue through credited hours worked on signatory productions. Members can qualify for retirement benefits based on age and total credited hours. The plan also includes an Individual Account Plan (an annuity) and retiree health coverage for those who meet vesting requirements.

Additional benefits include the Death Benefit Fund, which provides a payout to designated beneficiaries. Members also access the IATSE Emergency Relief Fund during industry shutdowns or personal hardship. The Guild publishes The Artisan, a quarterly magazine covering craft techniques, member profiles, and industry trends. Members can attend panels, workshops, and training sessions organized by the Guild.

Contract enforcement is a core benefit. The Guild represents members in disputes over wage theft, misclassification, and contract violations. If a producer fails to pay minimum rates or overtime, the Guild can file grievances and pursue collection. This protection applies only to work performed under signatory productions.

How Initiation and Eligibility Actually Works in Practice

The practical path to Local 706 membership usually begins on non-union sets. A make-up artist or hair stylist works non-union jobs in Los Angeles County for several years, tracking every day worked through Contract Services (CSATF). The "60-60-60" method requires 60 days per year across 3 separate years within a 5-year window. This is the most common path but requires patience and consistent work.

The off-roster hire path is faster but depends on a production organizing (flipping) to union status. When a show flips, any make-up artist or hair stylist who worked 30 union days in the prior 365-day period qualifies for the Industry Experience Roster. This path is less predictable because it depends on a production's decision to go union.

The Star-Waiver path applies when a specific performer requests a particular artist. The producer must obtain a waiver from Local 706 and demonstrate the artist's prior work with that performer on 3 different projects. The artist must then work 60 days on that single union project. This path is rare and depends on established relationships with high-profile talent.

The practical decision of when to join depends on work volume. Artists who work primarily on non-union productions do not need union membership. However, once an artist qualifies, joining becomes necessary to continue working on union shows. The $8,000 initiation fee for Film/TV Make-Up Artists is a significant upfront cost. Many members pay 50% with their application and 50% within 6 months.

Hair stylists must hold a valid California Cosmetology License before applying. Make-up artists must pass a colorblindness test through Contract Services. All applicants must complete Safety Pass and Harassment Prevention training. These requirements mean that planning ahead is essential, as licensing and training can take weeks or months to complete.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For productions, the make-up and hair department is an early-preparation department with significant pre-production work in character design, screen tests, and prosthetic fabrication. A make-up department head earning the current minimum of $635.84/day ($4,057.56/week) under Schedule A represents a baseline cost, not a top rate. Experienced department heads on major studio productions earn well above minimum.

For genre and horror productions, special effects make-up budgets are frequently underestimated. A single prosthetic character can require 4 to 8 weeks of pre-production fabrication time, including sculpting, mold-making, silicone casting, and application testing. On-set application of full prosthetic makeup can take 3 to 6 hours per performer per day, requiring dedicated artists at Local 706 minimum rates. A production with 3 prosthetic characters needing daily application needs a minimum of 3 dedicated SFX make-up artists plus the department head, at weekly rates of $3,709.26 per artist minimum (August 2025 through August 2026).

For non-union productions considering organizing, once a production flips to union status, any make-up artist or hair stylist who worked 30 days prior to the flip qualifies for IER placement and must join Local 706. Producers should factor initiation fees and union wage scales into their budget when evaluating whether to organize.

The off-Roster hiring process allows signatory companies to hire individuals not yet on the Industry Experience Roster, but only after confirming that all available Roster members have been offered the position. This pathway exists for productions that need specific talent not yet on the Roster.

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See Also

For the broader IATSE structure within which Local 706 operates, see IATSE in this directory. For the Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards, see the Film Awards Directory. For estimating crew costs including make-up and hair department labor, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator. For official membership information and application details, visit local706.org/how-to-join-local-706.