Makeup Artist Schools in Nevada

Have you ever wondered how makeup artists build the skills needed to become professionals?

In general, there are four ways that people learn about makeup and/or become professional makeup artists:

By attending a school dedicated to makeup artistry. If you're serious about a career as a makeup artist, going full-time to a makeup school can be a great start. There are a few makeup artist schools in Nevada, and we've listed them below.

These schools provide in-depth guidance on how to:​

There's a lot more you'll learn in a makeup school, but that's a good overview of what you'll learn and how you'll benefit from a makeup school.

The only negative aspects of a makeup-only school are 1) they're expensive--they can range anywhere from a couple thousand dollars, to $20,000 or more; and 2) when you graduate, you won't be able to apply for any kind of state license (and we'll talk about that in a second).

By attending a cosmetology school. This is another excellent option if you want to turn makeup into a full-time career. Cosmetology schools don't offer the specificity that makeup schools do; instead, they provide a wide-ranging beauty education. You'll learn: ​

While makeup is included in the curriculum, it's not the main focus of classes. That can be a benefit, however, because being a makeup artist with a cosmetology degree can help you stand out among other makeup artists when you're looking for work. Other benefits of cosmetology school are 1) you can find very affordable schools no matter where you live, and 2) when you graduate, you'll be able to get a cosmetology license. We'll talk more about that in one of the sections below.

By going to short-term workshops. If you simply want to build your makeup skills, you should look into short-term workshops. They're frequently listed on Yelp, Event Brite, Meetup, Gig Salad, and other such sites. Courses last anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, and the makeup artists who host them may teach any different type of topic, from bridal makeup to avant garde makeup. They provide a low-commitment way to get learn about makeup, and they're usually low-cost (maybe a couple hundred dollars). You can check for workshops in Las Vegas, Henderson, Reno, Sparks, Carson City, and any other metropolitan area.

By hiring a private artist for personal lessons. This can be another effective way to learn about makeup. Instead of enrolling in a school or going to a workshop, go directly to a professional who has experience in the field! Local makeup artists are usually very keen on providing lessons, because it's a great way for them to earn some extra money. You can ask them to teach you whatever it is you're interested in. If you have other friends or colleagues who are also interested in makeup, include them and try to create a makeup class for the group.​

Makeup Artist Career Options​

If you'd like to make "Professional Makeup Artist" into your career title, what are some of the ways you can do that? We detailed career options on our homepage (so definitely check that out), but here's a quick rundown. You can become a:​

There's one other type of makeup artist job we should mention, and that's a "corporate makeup artist." As you'd imagine, makeup companies hire a *LOT* of people. They need to think up new products, and then they need to advertise, market, promote, and sell those products. If you love makeup but are looking for more of a steady income (makeup artistry can be a challenging career), consider getting into the corporate side of makeup. The money is great, the hours are more even, and there are plenty of ways to get promoted (and earn more $$$!).

Nevada State Licenses​

We touched on this earlier, but it's important, so we'll go into a little more detail. If you want to work in the field of makeup artistry, do you need a license?

According to the information we found on the Nevada State Board of Cosmetology website, the state does not issue makeup artist licenses. So, here are our assumptions on the types of licenses you'll need to work:​

Please keep in mind that the state laws related to beauty careers change frequently, and you should contact that Nevada State Board of Cosmetology for any questions you have about a makeup artist career and/or licensing. They're the ones who enforce the state rules, so it's best to be on their good side!

Nevada Makeup Programs

There is one makeup artist school in Nevada, and three places that teach courses solely about makeup. They are: