Many salons, spas, and other businesses require their makeup artist employees to have a cosmetology license or i of the other beauty practitioner licenses. But what if you don't want to be employed, what if y'all desire to be your own boss and become a Freelance Makeup Creative person? As a lawyer, you need to be licensed to practice the law. Information technology'south the aforementioned for engineers, social workers, nurses, architects, etc. So, where are Makeup Artists in this?

Offset 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 need a cosmetology, esthetician, or hairdresser/barber license. When you need such a beauty license is regulated past each state. Allow Jen's story be a cautionary tale. Thus, if you are unsure, the best advice we can give is to contact the cosmetology board of your land and inquire about the license requirements for your specific situation. You can find the contact data for your state hither: Beauty Licenses per Country.

We know that this is very unsatisfying advice and so nosotros contacted every state board to discover out if at that place are any common rules applicable to most states.

This is what nosotros wrote:

It is ofttimes said that a freelance Makeup Creative person doesn't need a Cosmetology license. However, I've heard from some Makeup Artists that they were required to have a beauty (cosmetology/esthetician) license from their land to lawfully exercise business as freelance Makeup Artists. I hold that a cosmetology license is always a good investment in terms of didactics, simply I could not notice out whether it is mandatory for freelance Makeup Artists in your country.
Could you help me out with this question?

We are posting this hither to be transparent nigh what we asked because the situation is non always very articulate in every state. In general, we can sort the answers into 4 categories.

i. No license needed nether certain conditions

In other words, yous by and large demand a license to apply makeup unless 1 of the below-listed exceptions applies. This is the state of affairs in most states.

Exception i: Media and theatrical makeup work

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

Arizona Country Board of Cosmetology

Exception ii: Retail

If there is a fee or exchange, then you must possess a cosmetology or esthetics license to apply makeup.  If you will be providing complimentary facials (with no strings attached: such equally working at cosmetic counters in stores), or working for theater or tv or movies, and so you lot do not demand to possess a license.

NYS Department of Country, Division of Licensing Services

Exception3: Military or Doctors

"Nevada statute NRS 644.025 defines the practise 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 law under NRS 644.190 and NRS 644.460 which cover working on a motion moving-picture show or like product, retailers, photographers, doctors, war machine and other exemptions."

Nevada State Lath of Cosmetology

Exception 4: Unpaid piece of work

"It would depend, there are some exceptions in the law.
7319.  The following persons are exempt from this chapter:
…(d) Persons engaged in whatever practice within its telescopic 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 not require a license in parentheses):

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

2. Yous always need a license for makeup application

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

To provide "make-upward" services in the Land of Alaska requires you concord an agile/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
  • Due north Carolina*
  • N Dakota
  • S Carolina
  • West Virginia

*Unpaid work may be exempt, but non if it happens in a business setting, east.m. in retail.

** Hairdressing is exempt, You can utilize for a Hairdresser Courtesy License to work on a idiot box, film, or stage production.

3. You don't need a license for makeup awarding

Yes, there are indeed some states that obviously don't require any license for the application of makeup:

From Washington (Professional person Licensing Back up Services) nosotros received this response:

At this time makeup artists are not regulated in Washington land and they are not required to take 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 important for united states of america to have at least some written reference. In some cases we would get an reply, 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 talk over 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 found at www.michigan.gov/cosmetology.  Nonetheless, y'all may wish to wait at the department of definitions under MCL 339.1201, in particular, the definition of peel care services nether MCL 339.1201(q)."
In other cases, I think, I am merely not smart plenty to understand what that means:
Per Virginia Code § 54.1-701.10. Exemptions., "persons whose activities are confined solely to applying make-upwardly, including such activities that are ancillary to applying make-up" are exempt from regulation and licensing by this Board.
Does information technology hateful this lath does non regulate it, and some other board 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 you are just applying makeup? I would ask a legal professional to
If you lot oasis't found your country among the first three categories  so nosotros are sorry to disappoint y'all. Equally soon as we get boosted information, we will add it to this mail service. If you have additional information, please let the states know in the comments.
What was expressed in the response of Michigan'southward Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is very valid for us: We cannot provide legal advice nor are attempting to. Don't rely on the data presented here and ever consult professionals with regards to your situation. Although the information presented in this mail service is based on responses we received from the various country boards, it is quite possible that information technology is wrong, non complete or has inverse at the fourth dimension when you read this post. Please besides notation that this post just discusses beauty professional licenses and not other licenses required to operate your business.