Demand for makeup artists is growing throughout the United States, and is projected to continue growing for years to come. Makeup artists aren’t just needed in huge cities with a blooming entertainment scene; there are positions for makeup artists opening up in cities of all sizes across the country.
Pursuing a career as a makeup artist will allow you to infuse your days with creativity and passion, assisting customers with all their beauty service requirements and questions. As a makeup artist, you will have the opportunity to work as a stylist or beautician, in cosmetic sales, for theater companies, at a salon, or as a freelance makeup artist.
Becoming a Licensed Makeup Artist in Iowa
The state of Iowa doesn’t specifically license makeup artists, but you must have cosmetologist or esthetician license before working as a makeup artist in the state. Both of these licenses will require you to attend a school approved by the Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences, although the amount of schooling differs depending on your training.
Cosmetologist license requirements
If you decide to be trained as a cosmetologist, you will have to fulfill these requirements:
- Complete a cosmetology training program from a Board approved school
- The program must be at least 2,100 hours long
- Must provide proof of graduation
- Submit an application for licensure to the Board
- Includes a $60 application fee
- Pass the NIC (National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmology) examination with at least a 75%
Cosmetology training will not only teach you about the application and properties of makeup, but also nail, hair, and skin care. This extra training will give you supplemental skills that can help you as you move forward in your career and expand the job options that you have.
Esthetician license requirements
Before working as an esthetician, you must complete these steps:
- Finish an esthetician training program at a school approved by the Board
- Your program must be at least 600 hours long
- Provide proof of graduation
- Submit an application for licensure to the Board
- Include a $60 application fee with the application
- Pass the NIC examination with at least a 75%
Estheticians are trained in skin care, including the application of makeup. The training process is much shorter if you choose to pursue a career as an esthetician, but you will have less all-around training in the beauty field.
Maintaining Licensure
In order to keep working as a makeup artist, you must work to maintain your licensure throughout your career. This includes renewing your license through the Iowa Board of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences and completing the necessary continuing education requirements. The steps for maintaining licensure for both cosmetology and esthetician licensees are the same:
- Licenses must be renewed every two years
- Licensure period lasts from April 1st – March 31st two years later
- There is a $60 renewal fee
- You must complete at least 8 hours of continuing education during this time period
- A minimum of 4 of these hours must be in your licensure discipline
- A minimum of 2 hours must cover Iowa cosmetology law, rules, and sanitation
- You do not need to complete any continuing education for your first renewal period
Beginning your Career in Makeup Artistry in Iowa
There are a wide number of makeup artist jobs that you will be able to pursue once you have become a licensed cosmetologist or esthetician in Iowa. The broadest of these options is working as a stylist or makeup sales associate for a company like Avon. These jobs will put you in the position to work as a makeup artist while also learning the sales side of the industry. You will have to be creative, show initiative, and work well with people in order to best serve customers in the combined retail and service role that you will embody.
Iowa also has a number of salons and beauty establishments that will give you a different kind of opportunity to work as a makeup artist. In Ames, Iowa, there is the aptly named The Salon in Ames, where you could have the opportunity to teach your customers about makeup application and artistry. In Des Moines, there is Vanity & Glamour Cosmetics, which specializes in makeup application exclusively and is home to a number of talented makeup artists that you can learn from.