Before beauty influencers dominated our feeds and every makeup technique had a name, learning how to do makeup often involved a lot of trial and error. Today, however, YouTube tutorials, TikTok videos, and social media creators have made beauty education more accessible than ever.
For many women, the journey to mastering makeup was about finding creators whose content felt relatable, practising consistently, and developing a personal style over time. We asked a few women how they learned to do their makeup, and their answers reveal a common theme: there is no single path to becoming good at it.
“I watched YouTube”
For 27-year-old Toke, YouTube was the ultimate beauty school.
“I watched YouTube. Dinmma Umeh and Uche Natori‘s channels helped a lot.”
Like many beauty enthusiasts, she learned foundational techniques by following creators whose content broke down makeup in a way that was easy to understand and replicate.
“I learned before I even bought products”
Deborah, 23, spent time consuming beauty content long before she owned any makeup herself.
“I began to watch a lot of beauty TikTok even when I hadn’t bought products. So when I finally got products, I already knew what to use and where to use it.”
For her, learning started with observation. By the time she was ready to build a makeup collection, she already had a solid understanding of application techniques.
“The learning never stops”
Bisi, 31, initially took a professional makeup class but quickly realised her real education would happen outside the classroom.
“I paid for a makeup class and went just three times. Then I figured out my own way. With makeup, there’s continuous learning, so I just keep looking at other people’s work.”
Her experience highlights an important truth about beauty: trends evolve, techniques change, and even experienced makeup lovers are constantly learning.
“I experimented until I found my style”
For 19-year-old Bolu, creativity played a huge role in her beauty journey.
“I bought products and just started to experiment until I found my own style. I have an artistic background already, so it was easy.”
Rather than following strict rules, she approached makeup as an art form, allowing her personal preferences and creativity to shape her technique.
“Beauty creators changed everything”
Esther, 22, laughs when she thinks about her early makeup days.
“I used to carry the worst type of face out there, lol. Then I started to watch some Nigerian beauty MUAs like Glam by Omoye and Bibyonce.“
Like many others, discovering talented beauty creators helped her improve her skills and gain confidence in her makeup application.
Whether through YouTube tutorials, TikTok videos, professional classes, or simple experimentation, one thing is clear: learning makeup is a journey. There is no perfect formula, only practice, patience, and a willingness to keep trying. And thanks to the wealth of beauty content available online today, finding your makeup style has never been easier.