Many salons, spas, and other businesses crave their makeup artist employees to have a cosmetology license or i of the other beauty practitioner licenses. Simply what if you don't want to be employed, what if y'all desire to be your own boss and become a Freelance Makeup Artist? As a lawyer, you demand to exist licensed to practice the constabulary. It's the same for engineers, social workers, nurses, architects, etc. So, where are Makeup Artists in this?

First of all, there is no Freelance Makeup Artist or general Makeup Artist license. If a professional license is required, depending on what you do, you'll either demand a cosmetology, esthetician, or hairdresser/barber license. When you demand such a beauty license is regulated by each land. Let Jen'southward story be a cautionary tale. Thus, if you lot are unsure, the best advice nosotros tin can requite is to contact the cosmetology board of your state and ask well-nigh the license requirements for your specific state of affairs. You can find the contact information for your country here: Beauty Licenses per Land.

We know that this is very unsatisfying advice and so we contacted every state board to find out if there are any common rules applicable to most states.

This is what we wrote:

It is frequently said that a freelance Makeup Artist doesn't need a Cosmetology license. However, I've heard from some Makeup Artists that they were required to have a dazzler (cosmetology/esthetician) license from their land to lawfully do business organization as freelance Makeup Artists. I concur that a cosmetology license is e'er a good investment in terms of pedagogy, but I could not observe out whether it is mandatory for freelance Makeup Artists in your state.
Could you assist me out with this question?

We are posting this here to be transparent about what we asked because the state of affairs is not always very clear in every state. In full general, we can sort the answers into four categories.

ane. No license needed under certain atmospheric condition

In other words, yous generally demand a license to apply makeup unless i of the below-listed exceptions applies. This is the state of affairs in nearly states.

Exception 1: Media and theatrical makeup work

"Aye, it is required to have either a cosmetology or aesthetic license to perform makeup services in Arizona, with the exception of media or theatrical."

Arizona State Lath of Cosmetology

Exception 2: Retail

If at that place is a fee or exchange, then you must possess a cosmetology or esthetics license to apply makeup.  If yous volition be providing complimentary facials (with no strings attached: such as working at cosmetic counters in stores), or working for theater or television or movies, so you exercise non need to possess a license.

NYS Section of State, Division of Licensing Services

Exception3: Military or Doctors

"Nevada statute NRS 644.025 defines the practice of aesthetics in Nevada. This law includes beautifying the skin with cosmetics. Makeup services may be performed by licensed cosmetologists or aestheticians in Nevada. There are some exemptions ready forth in the constabulary under NRS 644.190 and NRS 644.460 which comprehend working on a motion picture or like product, retailers, photographers, doctors, military machine and other exemptions."

Nevada State Board of Cosmetology

Exception four: Unpaid work

"It would depend, there are some exceptions in the police force.
7319.  The following persons are exempt from this chapter:
…(d) Persons engaged in any exercise within its scope when done outside of a licensed establishment, without compensation…."

California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology

Here is the list of states in this category (exceptions that non require a license in parentheses):

  • Arizona (media, theatrical)
  • California (military/doctors, theatrical, media, retail, unpaid)
  • Florida (unpaid, retail)
  • Indiana (medical, unpaid)
  • Iowa (medical settings)
  • Kansas (retail)
  • Kentucky (retail)
  • Minnesota (theatrical, media, mortuary practise)
  • Montana (theatrical, media, unpaid)
  • Nevada (theatrical, media, armed forces/doctors, retail)
  • New England (retail)
  • New York (theatrical, media, unpaid, retail)
  • Oregon (photography, theatrical)
  • Due south Dakota (retail)
  • Tennessee (retail)
  • Texas (medical profession, unpaid, theatrical, media, photography)

two. You always need a license for makeup application

These states don't specify whatever exemptions, consequently, yous demand to have a license regardless.

To provide "make-upwards" services in the State of Alaska requires you hold an active/electric current Esthetician license issued by the Alaska Board of Barbers & Hairdressers.

Alaska Lath of Barbers & Hairdressers

States in this category are:

  • Alabama*
  • Alaska**
  • Colorado
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Missouri
  • North Carolina*
  • North Dakota
  • South Carolina
  • West Virginia

*Unpaid work may exist exempt, but not if it happens in a business setting, eastward.thousand. in retail.

** Hairdressing is exempt, You can apply for a Hairdresser Courtesy License to piece of work on a television, moving-picture show, or stage production.

3. Y'all don't need a license for makeup application

Aye, there are indeed some states that apparently don't require whatever license for the application of makeup:

From Washington (Professional Licensing Support Services) we received this response:

At this time makeup artists are non regulated in Washington land and they are not required to have a cosmetology or esthetician license.

States in this category are:
  • Arkansas (unless you are working in a licensed salon)
  • Maryland
  • Washington
  • Michigan

 4. Unclear or no response

Unfortunately, for a couple of states it was impossible to get a response via email. Email was of import for us to have at least some written reference. In some cases we would get an answer, which ended up not being an reply at all:

" The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, CSCL Bureau, and its employees cannot provide legal advice and you may wish to consult an attorney to discuss legal matters pertinent to your individual situation; however, licensing requirements for cosmetologists are established in the Occupational Code, 1980 PA 299, as amended, which can be establish at www.michigan.gov/cosmetology.  Nonetheless, you may wish to look at the section of definitions under MCL 339.1201, in particular, the definition of skin care services nether MCL 339.1201(q)."
In other cases, I think, I am just not smart plenty to empathize what that means:
Per Virginia Code § 54.1-701.10. Exemptions., "persons whose activities are bars solely to applying make-up, including such activities that are ancillary to applying make-upwardly" are exempt from regulation and licensing past this Lath.
Does it hateful this board does not regulate information technology, and another lath does? In some cases I got bounced around between different departments , which all claimed not to be responsible. Or do you actually not need a license in Virginia if yous are only applying makeup? I would ask a legal professional to
If you haven't found your state among the first 3 categories  and so we are sorry to disappoint y'all. As presently as we get additional data, we will add it to this post. If you have additional information, please let united states of america know in the comments.
What was expressed in the response of Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is very valid for us: Nosotros cannot provide legal communication nor are attempting to. Don't rely on the information presented here and always consult professionals with regards to your situation. Although the information presented in this mail is based on responses nosotros received from the various country boards, information technology is quite possible that information technology is wrong, not consummate or has changed at the fourth dimension when yous read this post. Delight also notation that this postal service only discusses beauty professional licenses and not other licenses required to operate your concern.