Many salons, spas, and other businesses require their makeup artist employees to have a cosmetology license or ane of the other beauty practitioner licenses. But what if you don't want to be employed, what if you want to exist your ain dominate and become a Freelance Makeup Artist? Every bit a lawyer, you lot need to be licensed to practise the law. It'southward the aforementioned for engineers, social workers, nurses, architects, etc. So, where are Makeup Artists in this?

Showtime of all, in that location is no Freelance Makeup Artist or general Makeup Artist license. If a professional license is required, depending on what you lot do, you'll either need a cosmetology, esthetician, or hairdresser/hairdresser license. When you need such a dazzler license is regulated past each state. Permit Jen's story be a cautionary tale. Thus, if yous are unsure, the best advice we tin give is to contact the cosmetology lath of your state and ask about the license requirements for your specific situation. You can find the contact data for your state here: Beauty Licenses per State.

We know that this is very unsatisfying advice and and so we contacted every country lath to find out if at that place are any common rules applicable to near states.

This is what we wrote:

Information technology is often said that a freelance Makeup Artist doesn't demand a Cosmetology license. Still, I've heard from some Makeup Artists that they were required to have a beauty (cosmetology/esthetician) license from their state to lawfully do business every bit freelance Makeup Artists. I hold that a cosmetology license is always a good investment in terms of didactics, only I could not find out whether it is mandatory for freelance Makeup Artists in your state.
Could you assistance me out with this question?

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

1. No license needed under certain conditions

In other words, yous generally need a license to employ makeup unless one of the below-listed exceptions applies. This is the situation in near states.

Exception 1: Media and theatrical makeup work

"Yes, 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 Board of Cosmetology

Exception ii: Retail

If there is a fee or commutation, then y'all must possess a cosmetology or esthetics license to apply makeup.  If you will exist providing costless facials (with no strings attached: such as working at cosmetic counters in stores), or working for theater or television or movies, and then you do not need to possess a license.

NYS Department of Country, Division of Licensing Services

Exception3: Military machine 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 past licensed cosmetologists or aestheticians in Nevada. There are some exemptions gear up forth in the police force nether NRS 644.190 and NRS 644.460 which cover working on a motility motion-picture show or similar production, retailers, photographers, doctors, military and other exemptions."

Nevada State Board of Cosmetology

Exception 4: Unpaid work

"It would depend, there are some exceptions in the law.
7319.  The post-obit persons are exempt from this affiliate:
…(d) Persons engaged in whatever practice within its telescopic when washed outside of a licensed institution, without bounty…."

California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology

Here is the listing 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 practice)
  • 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)

ii. You e'er demand a license for makeup application

These states don't specify any exemptions, consequently, you demand to accept a license regardless.

To provide "brand-up" services in the Land of Alaska requires y'all hold an active/current Esthetician license issued by the Alaska Board of Barbers & Hairdressers.

Alaska Board of Barbers & Hairdressers

States in this category are:

  • Alabama*
  • Alaska**
  • Colorado
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Missouri
  • N Carolina*
  • Northward Dakota
  • South Carolina
  • Due west Virginia

*Unpaid work may be exempt, only not if it happens in a business setting, e.g. in retail.

** Hairdressing is exempt, You can apply for a Hairdresser Courtesy License to work on a telly, motion picture, or phase production.

three. You lot don't need a license for makeup application

Yeah, there are indeed some states that manifestly don't crave any license for the application of makeup:

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

At this time makeup artists are not regulated in Washington state 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 usa 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 communication and yous 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, every bit amended, which tin can be establish at www.michigan.gov/cosmetology.  Nevertheless, yous may wish to look at the department of definitions nether MCL 339.1201, in item, the definition of pare care services under MCL 339.1201(q)."
In other cases, I recall, I am but not smart enough to understand what that means:
Per Virginia Code § 54.one-701.10. Exemptions., "persons whose activities are confined solely to applying make-upwardly, including such activities that are ancillary to applying brand-upward" are exempt from regulation and licensing by this Board.
Does it mean this lath does not regulate information technology, and another board does? In some cases I got bounced around between different departments , which all claimed not to be responsible. Or do yous actually not need a license in Virginia if y'all are just applying makeup? I would inquire a legal professional to
If yous haven't establish your state amongst the start 3 categories  and then we are sorry to disappoint you. As soon as we get boosted data, nosotros will add it to this mail. If y'all take additional information, delight let us know in the comments.
What was expressed in the response of Michigan'due south Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is very valid for us: Nosotros cannot provide legal advice nor are attempting to. Don't rely on the information presented here and always consult professionals with regards to your situation. Although the data presented in this post is based on responses we received from the various state boards, it is quite possible that information technology is wrong, not complete or has changed at the time when you read this mail service. Please also notation that this postal service but discusses beauty professional licenses and non other licenses required to operate your business organization.