Makeup Artistry Schools in Indiana

Browse our directory of makeup artistry schools in Indiana, or skip ahead to learn about the state's makeup artistry licensing requirements and job outlook.

How to Become a Makeup Artist in Indiana

Do you enjoy colors and pigments, trying out new cosmetics and applying them on yourself, your friends, and your family members? If you have an artistic side to your personality, and wish to pursue a career in the beauty industry, then a career as a makeup artist in Indiana could be a great career option for you! It gives you a chance to design looks that enhance a person's natural beauty, create looks for special occasions, prepare individuals for roles and characters they will play in film, television, and stage, and even cosmetically improve a person's appearance after surgery, illness or injury.

In short, being a makeup artist is a versatile career that can take you in many different directions! Makeup artistry is taught at all schools of cosmetology, many of which are located in the state of Indiana. Some community colleges may also offer programs as well as some of the larger salons and spas. Even some of the major cosmetics houses train individuals in makeup artistry, using their brands.

State License Requirements

Indiana is a state which requires makeup artists to be licensed in order to practice. Students must complete at least 163 days of schooling in an accredited makeup artistry program to be eligible to take the licensing exam. The exam itself consists of both a theoretical (written) and practical (skills) component. Plus, you must have completed the tenth grade and be at least sixteen years of age to take the exam. When you pass the exam and pay the required fee, you will be issued your license as a makeup artist.

Education Details

In a typical program, you will start out by learning about the anatomy and physiology of skin, hair, and nails, and diseases and conditions of each. You will probably begin by observing videos of trained professionals applying makeup for different purposes, as well as seeing live instructors work on individuals with different makeup needs and goals. You will learn how to use the tools and pigments makeup artists rely upon, as well as how to sterilize and sanitize these items in accordance with Idaho state regulations. Depending upon what aspect of makeup artistry you choose to study, your training could last from a weekend workshop to six months of schooling or more.

License Renewal

In Indiana, they do not have a license regulation and renewal process for makeup artist training. However, you can choose between cosmetology and esthetician training to work legally at spas and salons in this state. An esthetician program will be shorter, with a 700 hour requirement, compared to 1,500 hours for cosmetology. Plus, an esthetician program will be more makeup focused. No matter which path you choose, you will renew every 4 years on August 1st for $40.

Indiana Makeup Artistry Careers

The average salary earned by one particular type of makeup artist: those who work in the theatrical and stage performance field, was $47,200 in 2013. That was the most recent year for which salary statistics were reported, according to O*Net. Of course, these makeup artists, as well as those who apply makeup for film and television, work in a specialized sub-area of makeup artistry and may be able to command a higher fee for their services than other makeup artists. But if you have an excellent reputation, or you specialize in makeup for weddings, or fashion and photo shoots, you can do quite well. The growth outlook for people in the hairdressing, hairstyling, and cosmetology field is expected to be about 10% in Indiana between 2016 and 2026, meaning that recent graduates should be able to find jobs in the field without too much trouble.

Working as a makeup artist: your dream is the limit and there are many directions you could choose to take your talents in. Most makeup artists work in spas and beauty salons, applying cosmetics to individual clients and teaching clients how to apply their own cosmetics. Sometimes, a client seeks a whole new look and you perform a "makeover". Other times, makeup is the final step in a day of pampering and beauty treatments, just what is needed to get them out the door looking relaxed, refreshed, and gorgeous! Some makeup artists work in department stores, often representing a particular brand of cosmetics, and performing makeovers and mini-makeovers for potential customers, using your special line of cosmetics. Other makeup artists have a desire to help individuals who, because of medical conditions, surgery, illness, or injury, no longer look or feel their best. Some of these clients need help camouflaging areas that have been disfigured, or that have lost hair due to necessary treatments. You can show them how to apply color to re-enliven their features and look healthier! Applying makeup for bridal parties is another specialty area. And applying makeup to create a character or role, or to make a television personality look his or her best, is a specialty unto itself. Applying makeup is, of course, always a one-to-one, individual, activity, so you need to be someone who enjoys interacting with people and talking with them. If you apply makeup for bridal parties or television and stage personalities, you will need to do this on location, so some travel may be involved. Because it is an activity engaged in with individuals, usually (but not always) by appointment, you should have some scheduling flexibility, although you will need to be able to work when your clients wish to engage your services which usually means some weekend and evening hours, and possibly some early morning hours. Still, if you wish to express your artistic side by helping people look and feel their best, becoming a makeup artist in the state of Indiana could be a great direction for you to take your career in!

Contact the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology