Makeup Artist Schools in New York

If you live in or near New York and you want to learn more about makeup, you are VERY lucky! New York is one of the best states in the country to learn about makeup and/or become a makeup artist, and there are plenty of makeup artist schools in New York to choose from.

On the page below, we'll discuss the various types of makeup training available to you, have a super-quick discussion about beauty licensing, and then provide a list of all the makeup schools you can attend. ​

Different Types of Makeup Artist Training​

If you'd like to become a full-time, professional makeup artist--or if you'd simply like to learn more about makeup artistry--here are your training options:

Makeup Schools. This is, perhaps, the most effective way to train to become a makeup artist. The makeup schools in New York prepare students with career-specific skills, such as:​

Many of these schools are located in Manhattan, but there are a few others on Long Island and upstate.

There's only one catch: makeup schools in New York (and especially makeup schools in New York City) can be *VERY* pricey. It's not uncommon for a full-time program that lasts five to twelve months to cost $12,000 to $25,000. That is a LOT of money! That said, if you're serious about makeup, instruction from a makeup artist school is probably the best instruction you can buy.

Cosmetology Schools. Whereas there are only a few makeup artistry schools, there are many, many cosmetology schools (aka beauty schools, aka hairstyling schools) in New York state. They provide a solid beauty education, and expose students to most aspects of the beauty business, including:​

Cosmetology schools don't go into too much detail about any of the topics they teach; instead, they give you the basics, and provide a base for you to grow your skills.

Here's a question you may be wondering: why would someone who wants to start a career in the makeup arts want to attend a cosmetology school, if makeup is such a small part of the curriculum?

There are three reasons why a cosmetology degree can be a really, really good idea:

1--After you graduate from a cosmetology program, you'll be able to get a cosmetology license and work in any beauty salon in the state. You won't be able to get a cosmetology license if you graduate from a makeup-only type school. A cosmetology license can be very useful, and we'll talk more about licensing in one of the sections below.

2--Having a cosmetology license will help you stand out among other makeup artists--especially when you're vying for the same jobs. Jobs for makeup artists can be scarce, and if you can do makeup and hair, and another applicant can only makeup, you'll have a competitive advantage.

3--Training is much, much cheaper! Schooling is almost always worth it, but student loans can be an awful burden.

Makeup Classes and Workshops. These types of instructional workshops are an incredible way to gain knowledge quickly. They're short-term--most only last a single day or a couple of days--and they're a lot more affordable than schools: a single program may cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000. The topics can be very specific (such as how to be a wedding makeup artist, or how to work with flash photography) or very broad (such as "general makeup").

You can check for workshops in larger metropolitan areas, such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Bronx, Rochester, Albany, Syracuse, Hempstead, Brookhaven, Oyster Bay, and Buffalo. They're usually held in conference centers or hotels or colleges, and some may even be located in larger beauty salons.

Sites such as EventBrite, Yelp, CourseHorse, GigSalad, and Thumbtack will tell you if there are workshops in your area.

Private Coaching. Instead of signing up for a class, simply reach out to a working makeup artist in your area, and ask about private lessons. This is a super-fantastic option, because you can cater it to your own wishes. Plus, if you get a bunch of friends to come with you, it can be super fun.

Pro-tip: It can be difficult to get a sought-after fashion makeup artist to give private lessons--their time is usually very expensive!--so a much better bet is to contact local wedding makeup artists. Often times, they're just as talented and capable as fashion makeup artists, and they really know the trade.

Blogs and Tutorials. If we asked you how many beauty blogs there are, how many would you guess? 10,000? 100,000?​

Wrong!

The answer is a bazillion. Seriously. We spend a LOT of time online reviewing beauty blogs and beauty tutorials, and there is a mind-boggling number of beauty blogs out there. How you ended up on our beauty blog is kind of a miracle 🙂

As you probably know, there are some pretty lousy tutorials out there, but there are also some AMAZING ones. We've collected a lot of the amazing ones for you, so take a look. You'll still have to practice on real-live human beings, but you'll be introduced to new techniques and application styles.

So Which Type of Schooling Is Best For You? Here's what we recommend: if you're interested in makeup as a hobby, workshops and private lessons are your best bet. If you want to become a professional, on-the-job makeup artist, you should look at the makeup schools in New York, as well as the cosmetology schools in your area.

A Quick Guide To Licensing​

If you take the leap and decide to start a career as a makeup artist, will you need a license to practice?

We consulted the "Cosmetology" page of the New York Division of Licensing Services, and we could not find any rules or regulations related to the licensing of makeup artists. Also, we know of many makeup artists-- who work at various makeup counters, or who are self-employed and work with actors, models, brides, and so on--who do not have any kind of license. New York may, eventually, decide to get more strict about makeup licensing, but they seem to be kind of relaxed for the time being.

HOWEVER--if you want to work in any spa or salon in New York, you WILL need to get a cosmetology license.

In other words, if you want to do freelance makeup--do weddings, TV and film, fashion shows, and so on--it seems that you don't need a makeup license. If you want to work in a beauty salon or beauty spa--doing makeup, hair, or anything else--you will need to go to a cosmetology school or esthetician school and get a license.

So should you get a license? If you are 100% that you want to become a freelance makeup artist, it looks like you don't need one. However, having a license is never a bad thing (for the reasons we stated above), and it can open a lot of career opportunities for you. It's up to you.

Our advice is to look at all your options. Find cosmetology schools in your area, and contact full-time makeup schools and ask about their prices, classes, and so on. Gather all the information you can, and make an informed decision.

Special Effects Makeup Schools In New York​

So far, we've talked mostly about fashion makeup. If you want to get involved in special effects makeup--aka SFX makeup--where can you go?

You're in luck! There are a few FANTASTIC special effects makeup schools in Manhattan (as well as a few in New Jersey, surprisingly!). We've listed them and their contact information below.

Makeup Schools and Training Programs

If you want to study makeup, New York and California are the places to be. Here's a full list of the makeup artist schools in New York: