Makeup Artist Schools in North Carolina
Many people are a little confused as to how makeup artists get their education--or how people increase their makeup skills in general! Here are the most effective ways to learn more about makeup--whether it's your goal to become a professional makeup artist, or simply enhance your skills for your own knowledge.
Makeup Artist Schools. This is a great option if you're looking to become a full-time, professional makeup artist. Makeup schools go into great detail about technique, application, and color theory (and you can check out our list of makeup artist schools in North Carolina below).
What's great is that they may also teach the "business" side of makeup artistry, and coach you on how to put together a makeup portfolio, assemble a makeup kit, and work with photographers and creative directors.
That's the good news. The bad news is that makeup schools can get veeeeeeeeeeeeeery pricey (it's not uncommon for a full-time makeup program to put you back $15,000 or more), and when you graduate, you will not be able to apply for any North Carolina state license.
Workshops, aka, "Intensives." If you live near a large metropolitan area (such as Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, Fayetteville, Greenville, Asheville, Winston-Salem, High Point, or Wilmington), chances are pretty strong that there are some makeup intensives happening in your area. These are short-term makeup classes that usually cost between $99 to $1,000, and teach a specific makeup topic, like bridal makeup, airbrush makeup, avant garde makeup, and so on. These are a great opportunity to TRAVEL!
As we mentioned, these are short-term makeup classes, so they don't happen every day. You'll have to look on sites like Yelp.com and Meetup.com and Thumbtack.com and EventBrite.com to see when classes are available near you.
Cosmetology Schools. These are appropriate if you want to become a professional makeup artist, or want to find a job in the beauty industry. Cosmetology schools are full-time institutions that teach ALL aspects of beauty: hair styling, coloring, and shaping; skin care, makeup, and waxing; and manicuring and pedicuring. Classes are offered at community colleges and private beauty schools, and costs range from a couple thousand dollars (at community colleges) to $10,000 or more (at private hairstyling schools).
While you won't get into the nitty-gritty of makeup at a cosmetology college, you will get a solid introduction to the world of beauty--AND you'll be able to apply for a license after you graduate. That can be a really important asset, so we'll talk about that a little more in one of the sections below.
Online Tutorials. No matter what your interest in makeup--whether it's to be a makeup professional or just because you love makeup--you should do some online research. There are so many online tutorials, it's crazy. As a matter of fact, it can be pretty overwhelming, so we'll put together a couple of the best online tutorials on the internet. The good thing about tutorials is that they're free; the bad news is that you'll still need to practice on real human beings!
Private Lessons. Getting 1-on-1, private lessons from a makeup professional can be INCREDIBLY helpful. Not only will you be able to request exactly the lessons you want to learn, but you'll be able to tap into the professional experience of the person you're learning from. Luckily, there are more and more freelance makeup artists opening up shop every month, so you should hopefully be able to find one near you.
If you can't find any fashion makeup artists in your area, look for bridal makeup artists. They are usually totally willing to give lessons, and they'll probably be able to tell you some pretty interesting stories. Not only that--if you find a makeup artist who is doing really well, he or she may need an assistant, and you can turn your private lessons into a job!
So which of the above options is the best for you? Well...
- If you're interested in becoming a full-time makeup artist, look into makeup artist schools and cosmetology schools. Then, after your formal education, look into intensives and private lessons.
- If you simply loooove makeup (and we all do!) and want to learn more as a hobbyist, checkout intensives and look for private coaching. You'll meet like-minded individuals and have some fun.
Beauty Industry Licenses
So, should you choose to become a makeup artist in the great state of North Carolina, will you need a license? We read every page on the website for the North Carolina Board of Cosmetology and could not find anything that discusses makeup artist licenses in the state of North Carolina. And, we know of many independent makeup artists who work at beauty counters, who do makeup at fashion shows, and who provide makeup services for weddings, who do not have any type of license.
However, we do know that if you want to work in a North Carolina beauty salon or North Carolina spa, you WILL need a license (either cosmetology or esthetics). So if you plan on working in a salon or spa--either as a makeup artist, cosmetologist, esthetician, or as any other kind of beauty professional--you will need to get a license.
Getting a license can be a great career decision, because it'll 1) set you apart from the other makeup artists who don't have a license, and 2) provide you with a fallback career, should your makeup career dry up or hit a rough patch.
We discuss the licensing debate quite a bit on our site, so poke around if you want more information!
North Carolina Training
There are surprisingly few makeup artist schools in North Carolina, but there is one fantastic program here...
University of North Carolina School of the Arts (costume design and makeup)
1533 South Main Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27127
(336) 770-1329
…but there aren’t any other schools dedicated *just* to teaching makeup.
But—that’s ok! Remember, MANY makeup professionals get their start at a cosmetology college, and North Carolina has some fantastic cosmetology colleges. Here’s a list we’ve put together. Take a look, and see if there are any that stand out to you.
Roanoke Chowan Community College
109 Community College Road
Ahoskie, NC 27910
(252) 862-1213
Stanly Community College
141 College Drive
Albemarle, NC 28001
(704) 982-0121
Public Randolph Community College
1003 South Fayetteville Street
Asheboro, NC 27203
(336) 610-4247
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College
340 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 254-1921
Public Alamance Community College
School of Cosmetic Art
1304 Plaza Drive
Burlington, NC 27215
(336) 506-4393
Regency Beauty Institute
9101 Kings Parade Boulevard
Charlotte, NC 28273
(704) 936-1591
The Hair Design School
4901 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28213
(704) 597-5503
Empire Beauty School
8700 Pineville-Matthews Road
Charlotte, NC 28226
(704) 544-5601
Paul Mitchell The School — Charlotte Campus
1516 Elizabeth Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28204
(704) 335-0060
V Tran Beauty Academy
804 Clanton Road
Charlotte, NC 28217
(704) 523-4834
Central Piedmont Community College
1609 Alleghany Street
Charlotte, NC 28208
(704) 330-5451
The Dooby Shop School of Cosmetology
2107 Beatties Ford
Charlotte, NC 28216
(704) 497-1697
Sampson Community College
1801 Sunset Avenue
Clinton, NC 28328
(910) 592-8081
Empire Beauty School — Concord Campus
10075 Weddington Road
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 979-3500
Vance Granville Community College — South Campus
1547 South Campus Drive
Creedmoor, NC 27522
(252) 738-3503
Surry Community College
630 South Main Street
Dobson, NC 27017
(336) 386-3200
World of Excellence Beauty College
3519 Fayetteville Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 667-0836
Regency Beauty Institute
1058 West Club Boulevard
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 627-6392
The Hair Design School
5106 North Roxboro Road
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 477-1444
College Of The Albemarle
1208 North Road Street
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
(252) 335-0821
Fayetteville Beauty College
3442 Bragg Boulevard
Fayetteville, NC 28303
(910) 487-0227
Paul Mitchell The School — Fayetteville
505A Cross Creek Mall
Fayetteville, NC 28303
910-485-6310
Fayetteville Technical Community College
223 Tallywood Shopping Center
Fayetteville, NC 28303
(910) 678-0032
Paul Mitchell The School — Gastonia
284 E. Garrison Blvd.
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 864-8723
Mitchell’s Hair Styling Academy — Goldsboro
1021 N. Spence Ave.
Goldsboro, NC 27530
(919) 778-8200
The Hair Design School
2001 East Wendover Avenue
Greensboro, NC 27405
(336) 272-2966
Empire Beauty School
1312 Bridford Parkway
Greensboro, NC 27407
(336) 252-5498
Virginia College
3740 South Holden Road
Greensboro, NC 27406
(205) 329-7913
Dudley Cosmetology University
519 South Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27406
(336) 310-0180
The London International Barber & Beauty Academy
3211 Yanceyville Street
Greensboro, NC 27405
(336) 375-5194
Private Mitchell’s Hair Styling Academy — Greenville
426 Arlington Boulevard
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 756-3050
Alexander Paul Institute of Hair Design
1011 A Charles Boulevard
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 375-7855
Miller-Motte College
1021 W.H. Smith Boulevard
Greenville, NC 27834
(252) 215-2045
Vance Granville Community College — Main Campus
200 Community College Road
Henderson, NC 27536
(252) 492-2061
Private Catawba Hairstyling Academy
229 First Avenue Southeast
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 327-3846
Cosmetic Arts Academy
3248 20th Avenue SE
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 466-7440
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
2855 Hickory Boulevard
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 726-2250
Coastal Carolina Community College
444 Western Blvd
Jacksonville, NC 28546
(910) 938-6191
Miller-Motte College
1291 A Hargett Street
Jacksonville, NC 28540
(910) 478-4300
Guilford Technical College
601 East Main Street
Jamestown, NC 27282
(336) 334-4822
James Sprunt Community College
133 James Sprunt Drive
Kenansville, NC 28349
(910) 296-2599
Gaston College Cosmetology
511 South Aspen Street
Lincolnton, NC 28093
(704) 748-5221
Vance Granville Community College — Franklin Campus
8100 Highway 56 West
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-1567
Robeson Community College
5160 Fayetteville Road
Lumberton, NC 28360
(910) 272-3423
Empire Beauty School
11032 East Independence Boulevard
Matthews, NC 28105
(704) 845-8033
Pinnacle Institute of Cosmetology
461 East Plaza Drive
Mooresville, NC 28115
(704) 235-0185
Catawba Valley Community College
2550 U.S. 70
Newton, NC 28658
(828) 327-7000
Sandhills Community College
3395 Airport Road
Pinehurst, NC 28374
(910) 692-6185
Sherrill’s University of Barbering and Cosmetology
2110 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 250-9979
Miller-Motte College-Raleigh
3901 Capital Boulevard #151
Raleigh, NC 27604
(866) 487-2920
Wake Technical Community College
9101 Fayetteville Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 866-5000
Paul Mitchell the School Raleigh
8551 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 789-4500
A Hair and Beauty Academy
119 Gilmer Street
Reidsville, NC 27320
(336) 932-1069
Edgecombe Community College
2009 West Wilson Street
Tarboro, NC 27886
(252) 823-5166
Nash Community College
522 North Old Carriage Road
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 443-4011
Piedmont Community College
1715 College Drive
Roxboro, NC 27573
(336) 599-1181
Johnston Community College
245 College Road
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 934-3051
Regency Barber & Beauty Academy
108 North Main Street
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-9822
(800) 985-7584
Mayland Community College
200 Mayland Lane
Spruce Pine, NC 28777
(828) 765-7351
Mitchell Community College
500 West Broad Street
Statesville, NC 28677
(704) 878-3200
Southwestern Community College
447 College Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 339-4000
Edgecombe Community College
2009 West Wilson Street
Tarboro, NC 27886
(252) 823-5166
Anson College of Cosmetology
1217 East Caswell Street
Wadesboro, NC 28170
(704) 694-6677
Vance Granville Community College — Warren Campus
210 West Ridgeway Street
Warrenton, NC 27589
(252) 257-1900
Beaufort County Community College
5337 Hwy 264 East
Washington, NC 27889
(252) 946-6194
Halifax Community College
100 College Drive
Weldon, NC 27890
(252) 536-4221
Rockingham Community College
215 Wrenn Memorial Road
Wentworth, NC 27375
(336) 342-4261
Southeastern Community College
4564 Chadbourn Highway
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 642-7141
College of Wilmington
3500 Oleander Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 763-4418
Mitchell’s Hair Styling Academy — Wilson Campus
2616 Forest Hills Road
Wilson, NC 27893
(252) 243-3158
Regency Beauty Institute – Winston-Salem Campus
588 Hanes Mall Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
(336) 714-2983
Piedmont Community College
1715 College Drive
Roxboro, NC 27573
(336) 599-1181
