Makeup Artist Schools in Kentucky

If you'd like to learn about makeup and/or become a makeup artist, there are a couple different ways you can make that happen. Here are five different ways you develop your makeup application skills if you'd like to become a working makeup artist (or if you'd simply like to learn more about makeup!).

Makeup Artist Schools in Kentucky

1. Attend a School That Specializes in Makeup Application. These makeup schools provide a very in-depth look into what it takes to become a makeup artist, and teach a wide range of skills. You'll learn how to construct your own professional makeup kit, work with photographers and models, build a portfolio, and apply makeup to a wide range of skin tones and facial structures. Programs at a makeup artist school usually last anywhere from a half-a-year to a year, and they can get pretty pricey: some programs cost $7,500 or so, and some of the more expensive ones cost $15,000 or more. There are only a couple of schools in the United States that teach makeup and only makeup, but luckily one of them may be near you! We've listed the makeup artist school in Kentucky below (along with other schools that you might be interested in).

2. Attend a Cosmetology School. This is, perhaps, the most popular option, for a couple of different reasons: 1) there are cosmetology schools all over the place, 2) classes are usually reasonably priced, and 3) after you finished classes, you'll be able to get a cosmetology license and work in a salon (which is not the case for a makeup school--they teach you how to be freelance makeup artists). The only down side is that you won't focus *solely* on makeup. Instead, you'll learn how to color and style hair, how to beautify the skin, how to do nails, how to run a salon, and so on. Having a broader beauty education is usually a plus, and going to cosmetology school if you want to become a makeup artist can be a really wise decision.

3. Attend Private Workshops. Workshops (sometimes called "intensives") are another great option. Makeup artists will rent out a studio space and give specific classes that only last a day or two. The topics may be broad (like a class on "how to apply makeup") or very specific (like a class on "smoky eye tutorials" or "how to run a small makeup business"). The cost is usually reasonable and ranges anywhere from $100 to $1,000 (if the course is longer than a few days). Intensives are more likely to take place in an urban area or a metropolitan area, so check for upcoming makeup events in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green, and Owensboro.

4. Get Private Instruction from a Working Makeup Artist. If you want to save some money, you can skip school and reach out to makeup artists in your area (or in the nearest urban area). Many makeup artists--particularly ones who make most of their money doing bridal work--love to give lessons during the week, because it brings them some extra cash. So get on the phone and reach out to your local MUA. We love this option, because everybody--you and your local makeup artist--benefit!

5. Scour the Internet! There is so, so, so much makeup instruction on the internet, it's crazy (and, of course, there's our site, which is pretty fabulous). You won't be able to practice on real live people if you're online, but you will be able to see what other makeup lovers are doing, and that will definitely open your eyes to new ideas and practices.

MUA Career Titles​

​So, you've always dreamed of being a makeup artist. You may be wondering, what kind of work to makeup artists actually do?

Here's a quick list of career options.​

  • Bridal makeup is a fantastic way to make a living. With so many women getting married (some of them more than once!), bridal makeup artistry is becoming VERY popular. It can be a great full-time career, but it can also be a great way to make some extra cash on the weekends.
  • Cinema makeup is very competitive--like, very competitive--but it's pretty glamorous. These are the people who make sure actors and television personalities look good on screen. Most of the work is in California and New York, but there are a surprising number of independent films and television programs filmed in every single state.
  • Fashion makeup is another glamorous way to make a living doing makeup. Whereas a lot of cinematic makeup is done on the coasts, fashion makeup artists are needed everywhere. Every big city has fashion shows and runway events, and fashion makeup artists make sure that models like amazing. They also do photo shoots for magazines, businesses, and makeup companies.
  • Salon makeup is perhaps the most stable way to make a living doing makeup. As a salon makeup artist, you'll have a wide range of responsibilities, from doing hair and nails to makeup application. You'll need a license to work in a salon, and we'll talk more about that below.
  • "Business" makeup is another way to actually make some money doing makeup. We often forget that makeup companies are huge, multi-national corporations, and they need talented and creative people to create interesting new products, advertise those products, and then go store-to-store teaching people how to use those products.

Beauty Licenses In Kentucky

We mentioned in the last section that you'll need to get a license if you want to do makeup in certain situations. Here are the details, as of the time we published this post:​

  • If you want to do makeup in a business establishment like a day spa, medical spa, or beauty salon, you'll need a license. You can get a cosmetology license or an esthetician license by attending a cosmetology school or esthetician school, and then taking the state licensing exam.
  • Many people who do freelance makeup artistry--that is, they don't work in a salon, but instead visit private clients like brides, models, actors, etc--don't have a license. They probably should, technically, but many do not, and Kentucky has been pretty relaxed about making private makeup artists prove that they're licensed.

The laws related to the beauty industry changed frequently, so you'll need to visit the website of the Kentucky Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists to get updated information.

Cosmetology Careers vs. Makeup Careers​

We realize there's a LOT of information on this page. So what's the right choice for you?

We advise all of our readers to gather *all* the information you can. Look at cosmetology schools near you and get a feel for their curriculum. Check Yelp and EventBrite.com to see if there are upcoming workshops you can check out. And call local MUAs to set up some one-on-one lessons. Get a deeper understanding of your training options, and then pick the one that moves you towards the career you want to have. And, don't forget--have fun with it! Doing beauty for a living is supposed to be fun :)​

​Makeup Training in Kentucky

In most states, there are absolutely zero schools that focus solely on the application of makeup. There is, however, a fantastic makeup artist school in Kentucky: 

F.A.C.E. Makeup Artistry
125 Kentucky Avenue
Paducah, KY 42003
(270) 519-1213

If you’d like to attend a beauty school, here’s a list of cosmetology schools you can attend. Remember, some world-famous makeup artists have gotten their start at cosmetology schools, so it’s definitely something you should check out!

Somerset Community College — Clinton Center
1273 KY Highway 90 West
Albany, KY 42602
(606) 387-3236

Ashland Community and Technical College
1400 College Drive
Ashland, KY 41101
(606) 326-2000

Regina Webb Academy
2425 Scottsville Road
Bowling Green, KY 42104
(270) 842-9322

Creations School of Cosmetology
212 North Main Street
Corbin, KY 40701
(606) 528-3192

Durham Beauty School
100 Fox Harbor Drive
Danville, KY 40422
(859) 236-6268

Empire Beauty School
554 Westport Road
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 872-4476

Trend Setters Academy
622B Westport Road
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
(270) 765-5243

Empire Beauty School
7285 Turfway Road
Florence, KY 41042
(859) 648-0059

Gateway Community and Technical College
500 Technology Way
Florence, KY 41042
(859) 441-4500

Michael’s College of Hair Design
7535 Burlington Pike
Florence, KY 41042
(859) 282-7333

Central Beauty College
520 Hopkinsville Street
Greenville, KY 42345
(270) 338-3200

Hazard Community and Technical College
1 Community College Drive
Hazard, KY 41701
(606) 436-5721

Paul Mitchell The School — Lexington
3644 Boston Road
Lexington, KY 40514
(859) 223-3644

Textures College of Cosmetology (aka CTE)
1163 Center Parkway
Lexington, KY 40517
(859) 278-7483

Somerset Community College — Laurel Campus
100 University Drive
London, KY 40741
(606) 877-1421

Empire Beauty School
5120 Dixie Highway
Louisville, KY 40216
(502) 410-1375

Empire Beauty School
1049 Bardstown Road
Louisville, KY 40204
(502) 410-1388

Paul Mitchell The School — Louisville
156 North Hurstbourne Parkway
Louisville, KY 40222
(502) 583-1018

Trend Setters’ Academy of Beauty Culture
7283 Dixie Highway
Louisville, KY 40258
(502) 937-6816

Trend Setters Academy
8111 Preston Highway
Louisville, KY 40219
(502) 962-7710

Southeast School of Cosmetology
356 Manchester Square Shopping Center
Manchester, KY 40962
(606) 598-7901

Bellefonte Academy of Beauty
111 West 2nd Street
Maysville, KY 41056
(606) 564-6767

Great Ambitions School of Cosmetology
1102 Paris Road
Mayfield, KY 42066
(270) 247-1530

Maysville Community and Technical College
Rowan Campus
609 Viking Drive
Morehead, KY 40351
(606) 783-1538c

Nu-Tek Academy of Beauty
153 Evans Drive
Mount Sterling, KY 40353
(859) 498-4460

Barrett & Co. School of Hair Design
973 South Main Street
Nicholasville, KY 40356
(859) 885-9136

Mr. Jim’s Beauty College
2855 West Parrish Avenue
Owensboro, KY 42301
(270) 684-3505

Kentucky Technical College — Paducah Campus
2400 Adams Street
Paducah, KY 42003
(270) 443-6692

Paducah Beauty School
124 South 4th Street
Paducah, KY 42001
(270) 442-0990

Big Sandy Community and Technical College
513 Third Street
Paintsville, KY 41240
(606) 789-5321

Southeastern Beauty Academy
1057 Broadway Street
Painstville, KY 41240
(606) 788-0091

East Kentucky Beauty College
5333 North Mayo Trail
Pikeville, KY 41501
(606) 432-3627

Regency School of Hair Design
567 North Lake Drive
Prestonburg, KY 41653
(606) 886-6457

Eastern School of Hair Design
451 Big Hill Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475
(859) 623-5472

Bellefonte Academy of Beauty
420 Belfonte Street
Russell, KY 41169
(606) 833-5446

Cumberland Beauty School
371 Langdon Street
Somerset, KY 42503
(606) 679-5088

Somerset Community College — Somerset Campus
808 Monticello Street
Somerset, KY 42501
(606) 679-8501

Bellefont Academy of Beauty
252 James E. Hannah Drive
South Shore, KY 41175
(606) 932-8159

Empire Beauty School
151 Chenoweth Lane
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 410-1387

College for Technical Education
2135 Bypass Road
Winchester, KY 40391
(859) 744-3361

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