Makeup Artist Schools in Minnesota

So you've decided that you want to start a career as a professional makeup artist--or, at the very least, that you want to increase your makeup expertise. Where are the places you can go to build new skills and gain proficiency?

Below we'll discuss the four places where people can develop their makeup artistry skills, talk about the licenses you may or may not need to practice, and list all the makeup schools across the state.

Where You Can Develop Your Makeup Artistry Skills

1. Makeup Artist Schools in Minnesota. These institutions teach almost everything you could ever want to know about the art of makeup. Classes dive deep into each topic, and students learn technical skills (like that actual application of makeup products) and professional skills (like the different types of makeup they'll need in a makeup kit, how to build a respectable portfolio, and how to run a small makeup business). Classes last anywhere from three months to nine months, and students graduate with a working knowledge of makeup. In many states, schools like this are rare, but Minnesota has some fantastic options, which we've listed below.

2. Cosmetology Schools in Minnesota. Instead of the "deep dive" learning that makeup schools provide, beauty schools provide a more well-rounded education, and teach all the different aspects of beauty work: styling and coloring hair, decorating and strengthening nails, cleansing and beautifying the skin, and so on. Cosmetology schools often last from six months to a year, and there are some very affordable options (community colleges, for example, are very affordable and won't put you in too much debt). The best part about beauty schools is that upon graduation, you'll be able to take the Minnesota licensing test and get a cosmetology license.

3. Intensives. These are short-term classes designed to provide students with lessons in one area of makeup. They're usually run by professional makeup artists, who rent out space in a convention center, mall, studio, etc. They're usually affordable--a couple hundred dollars--and classes never last more than a week or so. You can look for classes in Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Rochester, Bloomington, Duluth, St. Cloud, St. Louis Park, and any other locations near you.

4. Private Makeup Artist Sessions. If you've already been to cosmetology school or makeup school, private lessons can be a fantastic way to supplement your education. Instead of waiting around for a workshop to come to Minneapolis, contact a makeup artist directly and ask to pay for lessons. Because most makeup artists are looking for any kind of business opportunity available, many will say yes. The great part is that you can request specific lessons to round out your makeup knowledge.

Which Is the Right Option for Me? If you'd like to become a makeup artist, we suggest going to a cosmetology school or a makeup school. As a professional artist, you'll need a lot of skills, and you'll need to take the time to learn them correctly. Workshops and private lessons are a *fantastic* opportunity, but they're best used as a way to filling in gaps in your education, rather than being your entire education.

Makeup Licenses​

We mentioned licenses earlier. We talk more about this on the homepage (and other pages, too!), but here's a quick rundown:​

We can't find any information on the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners website that discusses licenses for makeup artists. That may change eventually, but for now, we could find anything about a makeup artist license.

As always, check with the Board of Cosmetology website if you want more information. They are the final authority when it comes to beauty careers in Minnesota, so it's good to stop by their website every once in a while!

Getting--Or Not Getting--A Cosmetology License​

Here's a question we get a lot: why would a person go to all the trouble of getting a cosmetology license, when you could simply become a freelance makeup artist without a license?

There are a couple of advantages to having a cosmetology license. First, you can work in a beauty salon. If your makeup artist business ever slows down--and if you do bridal makeup, you know that it's a seasonal business that slows down during the winter--salon work can be a stable source of income. Second, sometimes it can really help to be a well-rounded makeup artist. Let's you're working a fashion event in Minneapolis and the organizers are hiring makeup artists. If you also do hair and nails, you may have a strong edge over the other applicants. Finally--you have a lot more options! There are cosmetology schools all over Minnesota, and there are only a few makeup schools.

That said, take your time and look into all of the training options open to you. Check out cosmetology schools, makeup schools, and each training option in your area. Get a feel for your choices, and choose what's best for you!

Minnesota Makeup Training​

At our last search, there are four makeup schools in Minnesota:​