A career as a makeup artist can too often be misconstrued as unattainable and reserved for a few elite people that work closely with celebrities as they head out on the red carpet. The truth is that careers in personal appearance, including makeup artistry, are growing exceptionally quickly. Makeup artists in Indiana can find employment with theater companies, at beauty salons, and cosmetic retailers, just to name a few options.
Working as a makeup artist allows you to exert your own creative process into your career. You will often be able to work as your own boss, or on a freelance basis if you so choose. Even in your day-to-day work, you will have to be creative in accentuating the natural beauty of your clients.
Indiana’s Department of Workforce Development projects that between 2008 and 2018, the growth in the number of personal appearance jobs, including makeup artists, will be around 26%.
Makeup Artist Education and Exam Requirements for Licensure
The Indiana Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners does not have a specific license for makeup artists, but you must still complete some sort of schooling before you can legally work as a makeup artist in the state. You have two options for licensure that will allow you to work as a makeup artist: either a cosmetologist or esthetician license.
Cosmetologist license
If you decide to pursue a cosmetologist license, you must fulfill these requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Complete at least the 10th grade
- Complete a minimum of 1,500 hours of education from an approved cosmetology school
- Submit an application for licensure as a cosmetologist
- Include a $40 application fee
- Include a current passport sized photograph
Esthetician license
In order to become a licensed esthetician, you need to complete these requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Completed at least 10th grade
- Complete a minimum of 700 hours of esthetician education at an approved beauty school
- Submit an application for an esthetician license
- Include a $40 application fee
- Include a current passport sized photograph
There are quite a few Board approved schools in Indiana that will round out your beauty education. While enrolled in one of these programs, you will be instructed on a myriad of subjects that will prepare you for work as a makeup artist. In addition to makeup application, you will have the opportunity to learn about nail care, styling hair, and healthy skin care practices. This knowledge will supplement your training as a makeup artist and give you extra skills that will be useful during your career.
Career Opportunities in Makeup Artistry in Indiana
There are a number of career routes that you can take as a makeup artist after you have become licensed. One of the ways to earn experience as a makeup artist is to work for a cosmetic company both selling and demonstrating makeup application for costumers. Cosmetic companies love to have makeup artists working in their stores, as they are experts in the field and can explain every aspect of the product to customers.
Another career option that you could pursue is working in luxury retail. For example, Saks Fifth Avenue in Indianapolis is a company that employs trained makeup artists to help sell their cosmetics while also providing the services of a makeup artist for their costumers. Many luxury retailers offer the same types of jobs to trained makeup artists and other beauty professionals.
Many theater companies, television stations, and other entertainment companies in Indiana also employ makeup artists. Some of your options for this type of work include:
- The Indiana Repertory Theatre, Indianapolis
- Lynchpin Pictures, Fort Wayne
- The Cardinal Stage Company, Bloomington
- Beverly Boy Productions, Indianapolis