Makeup Artistry Schools in Kentucky

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

How to Become a Makeup Artist in Kentucky

Makeup artists can perform services that are strictly cosmetic, designed to temporarily enhance an individual's appearance, or that can make a bigger difference in people's lives. There are makeup artists who work with people who have experienced illness, injury, or procedures that left them feeling less attractive. And it is the artistry of makeup specialists that create the characters we enjoy on film, stage, and television, "aging" a person, or creating a monster.

As you can see, makeup artistry is a career with considerable variability. Makeup artists work in spas and beauty salons performing the finishing touches after a day of treatments and rejuvenation procedures. They offer festive makeup looks for special occasions and events, such as weddings, photo and fashion shoots. And they are the specialists who make that television anchor man or woman look so attractive on air.

State License Requirements

The state of Kentucky does require that makeup artists in the state be licensed in order to practice. Individuals must attend an accredited institution for a minimum of 233 days of instruction. You must be at least eighteen years old. The state licensing exam consists of two parts, a theoretical or written part, and a practical, skills part. Once you pass these and pay the requisite fee, you will be issued your license.

Education Details

Makeup artistry is typically taught in schools of hair styling, hair dressing, and cosmetology, and there are several in the state of Kentucky. In school, you will learn about anatomy and physiology of skin and hair, and about enhancing facial shape and facial features using cosmetic pigments and techniques. You will learn about beauty makeup, fashion makeup, and character makeup. You will learn all about the cosmetic pigments themselves, and what goes into them, and colors. Courses will focus on the techniques and tools used for applying them. You will learn specialized makeup techniques such as air brushing, as well as makeup for the full range of situations in which makeup artistry skills are called for. You will also be taught about sterilization and sanitation procedures, and about state laws governing these procedures.

License Renewal

Unlike many states, the fee to renew your esthetician's license is higher than renewing your cosmetology license in Kentucky. The cosmetology renewal fee is $20, and the esthetician is $50 — both are due every year by July 31st. If you want to just focus on skin care, and get more time focusing on makeup, you will most likely benefit more from an esthetician program. However, if you also have a passion for hair and nails, or want to open your own salon one day, a cosmetology program may be the better way to go.

Kentucky Makeup Artistry Careers

Makeup artists in Kentucky earn an average salary of $49,243 (ZipRecruiter, 2020). How much you earn is influenced by a number of factors including length of experience, reputation, and the fees charged by the spa or salon. Career outlook for makeup artists is good. The field is expected to grow about 9% nationally from 2016 to 2026, meaning that recent graduates may be able to expect to find employment in the field without much difficulty.

As a makeup artist, you have lots of options. Most people start their careers by working at a salon, spa, or department store, creating makeup looks for clients who wish to freshen their look or desire a total makeover. If you are a makeup artist at a department store, you may be expected to sell cosmetics from a particular line or lines, as well as demonstrating the benefits of that line of cosmetics. You may do special-event makeup, creating looks for entire bridal parties, or bringing a designer's runway vision to life. You may make people up for fashion and photo shoots. All these activities need to be performed on location, so you would have to travel with your tools to provide these services. If you apply makeup for stage, film, or television, you will also need to be on set. You may specialize in applying makeup to patients whose appearance requires special attention because of illness, injury, or surgery, in which case you are performing a service that can really make a difference in how a person feels about him or herself. Your hours will vary depending upon the types of services you perform. You may work early in the morning, or during evenings and weekends. You will need to have considerable scheduling flexibility and be available to your customers when and where they need you. Still, you should be able to exert some control over your hours and make your work fit in around other aspects of your life. You should be able to work either full or part time. Makeup artistry is a people-pleasing profession in which your goal is to leave people looking and feeling better about themselves. To do well in this profession, you should genuinely like people and be friendly, have an artistic eye and a good color sense, be steady with your hands, and love making people both look and feel their best. If this describes you, then a career as a makeup artist in Kentucky could be a great career option for you!

Contact the Kentucky State Board of Makeup Artistry