Emma Dirk

Emma Dirks is a Niagara-based wig and makeup artist, educator, and creative entrepreneur with a passion for precision, storytelling, and tiny knots. She holds a BA in Theatre from the University of Texas, where she trained in wigs and makeup. She then took her skills to Los Angeles to work across film, television, indie projects, and fashion.

In 2017, Emma joined the Wig and Makeup Department at the Shaw Festival, where she now works as a Supervisor at the Studio Theatre and Festival Theatre. She also teaches character design through makeup at Brock University and collaborates with Yellow Door Theatre Project as a hair and makeup designer.

Emma is the founder of The Art of Wig Making, a hands-on workshop series created to empower emerging artists with real-world skills, industry insight, and the confidence to build a sustainable career in the arts. She loves working with emerging artists, sharing real-world skills, industry insight, and the reminder that, yes—you can land your dream job. Sometimes all it takes is a steady hand, a little patience, and a whole lot of tiny knots.