It is an exciting time to be a makeup artist in Vermont. What may have started with winter sports resorts offering full spa services – which is just as popular as ever in places like Stowe – has now evolved into what may be the next big thing: wellness tourism. No matter the season, tourists are flocking to Vermont to go on hikes during the day while looking forward to luxurious spa treatments in the evening.
This latest craze is just one of the things helping to create new business opportunities for makeup artists in Vermont. Besides going into nature to ski or hike, tourists and natives alike also use the state’s scenic backdrop as an ideal wedding location.
For its size, Vermont has a vibrant movie production, theatre, and performing arts community, along with plenty of stylish neighborhood boutiques – all of which rely on the skills of talented makeup artists.
In most cases, becoming a makeup artist in Vermont means earning a license issued by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation in cooperation with the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. However, there are a few instances where you are not required to have a license to practice as a makeup artist in Vermont:
- If you work in retail cosmetic store
- If you work in your clients’ homes
- If you work in the theatrical or performing arts industries
- If you are volunteering as a makeup artist and do not receive compensation for your work
Even if you are not required to have a license, you can still give yourself a competitive edge and greater business opportunities by attending makeup artist school and meeting the requirements to earn one.
How to Become a Makeup Artist in Vermont
If the duties you plan to perform as a makeup artist require you to have a license, you will have your choice of the following two credentials. These will both allow you to work as a makeup artist in Vermont:
- Esthetician License – requires the completion of 600 hours of approved classes or 800-1,200 hours in an approved apprenticeship. As a licensed esthetician you can provide the following services:
- Makeup application
- Massage, cleanses, and stimulation of your clients’ scalp, face, or neck
- Beautifying treatments for your clients with cosmetic preparations, lotions, creams, tonics, or other cosmetic preparations
- Cosmetologist License – requires the completion of 1,500 hours of approved classes or 2,000-3,000 hours in an approved apprenticeship. As a cosmetologist you can provide your clients with services associated with any of the following professional occupational classes:
- Esthetician – including makeup services
- Hair stylists and hair dressers
- Manicurists and pedicurists
Makeup Artist Schools in Vermont
Whichever license you choose to pursue, your classes specific to makeup artistry will include similar content:
- Makeup techniques and services
- Eyebrow hair removal and arching
- Mask therapies
- Chemical peels and exfoliation
- Microdermabrasion
- Sanitation and sterilization procedures
- Professional ethics
To be eligible for licensure, you must earn your education from a cosmetology school or apprentice who is licensed by the Vermont Office of Professional Regulation. You can find a list of licensed schools – both for cosmetologists and estheticians – by searching the Office’s license verification website for under the License Type heading, “School of Cosmetology.” Licensed schools are located in the cities of:
- Barre
- Essex Junction
- Williston
- South Burlington
Once you complete your required education you will also need to pass a general State Law Exam, as well as practical and theory exams that are tailored to your specific area of licensure.
Finding a Job as a Makeup Artist in Vermont
The following industries represent the majority of makeup artist employers in Vermont:
Salons and Day Spas in Vermont
Working at any of these locations requires you to have either an esthetician or cosmetology license:
- Makeup Artist Etc in Williston
- Salon Mario Russo at Stowe Mountain Lodge in Stowe
- Stephen and Burns in Burlington
- O’Briens Salon in Burlington
- Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa in Stowe
- Indigo in Burlington
- Essex Resort Spa in Essex Junction
- Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe
Cosmetic Companies in Vermont
- Macy’s Burlington Town Center
- Avon in Bristol
- Kohl’s in South Burlington
- Specialty Retailers in Brattleboro
- Intrawest at the Stratton Mountain Resort
Vermont’s Top Theaters and Performing Arts Companies
You may find that your career path will allow you to work with some of Vermont’s best known theatre and performing arts companies:
- Lyric Theatre Company
- Vermont Theatre Company in Brattleboro
- Montpelier Theatre Guild
- The New England Youth Theater in Brattleboro
Film Production in Vermont
Vermont has a long history of film production in its territory that dates back to classic Alfred Hitchcock productions. You can check with any of the following locally-based companies for details about openings for makeup artist jobs:
- Vermont Films in Brattleboro
- Kingdom County Productions in Barnett
- Verde Group Films in Burlington
- Wondermind Pictures in Burlington
You may recognize Vermont backdrops in any of these movies:
- The Trouble with Harry
- What Lies Beneath
- Beetlejuice
- Cider House Rules
State Support for Makeup Artist Industries
The State of Vermont, along with local municipalities, also play an important role in attracting business for makeup artists. Tourism is an obvious example, and so are festivals and events such as:
- Attractions and performances that take place at the Church Street Marketplace in Burlington
- Green Mountain Film Festival in Montpellier
- Women’s Film Festival in Brattleboro
- Shakespeare in the Park in Brattleboro