If you value creativity, individuality, a rapidly moving work environment, and helping bring out the natural beauty of your clients, then becoming a makeup artist may be the perfect career for you. By becoming part of the growing beauty and wellness industry in Wyoming, you will be able to take advantage of the many opportunities available in makeup artistry.
According to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, the number of jobs in the beauty industry, including jobs for makeup artists, will increase between 4.5% and 6.3% between the years 2012 and 2022 in order to meet the growing demand for personal care services. This increase in job opportunities doesn’t even include the freelance options that you can pursue.
The Wyoming Board of Cosmetology includes makeup application and artistry within the professional scope of the esthetician and cosmetologist license – both of these professions are trained in makeup application as part of their educational experience.
After graduating from a board approved makeup artist school, or general school of cosmetology, you’ll be qualified to work in salons and spas, the bridal industry, cosmetics company sales, performing arts, as well as film and TV production. Regardless of the specific path that you choose, you‘ll be able to infuse your passion, creativity, and unique vision into your work
How to Become a Makeup Artist in Wyoming
The first step to earning licensure in Wyoming is to complete your education at a Board approved makeup artist school or general beauty school. There are ten Board approved schools in the state of Wyoming that you can attend:
- If you are pursuing a cosmetologist license, you must complete at least 2,000 hours of education and training
- If you are pursuing an esthetician license, you must complete at least 600 hours of education and training
Qualifying for a Cosmetology License
In order to earn your cosmetology license, you must fulfill these requirements:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Complete at least a 10th grade education
- Submit an exam application to the Wyoming Board of Cosmetology
- Include an examination fee of $123
- Pass the written portion of the exam
- Scientific concepts – 30% of exam
- Skin care and services – 15% of exam
- Hair care and services – 40% of exam
- Nail care and services – 15% of exam
- Pass the practical portion of the exam
- Set up and client protection
- Thermal curling
- Haircutting
- Hair lightening and hair coloring
- Chemical relaxing
- Basic facial
- Sculptured Nail
Qualifying for an Esthetician License
In order to earn you esthetician license, you must fulfill these requirements:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Complete at least a 10th grade education
- Submit an exam application to the Wyoming Board of Cosmetology
- Include an exam fee of $123
- Pass the written portion of the exam
- Esthetics practices – 35% of exam
- Scientific practices – 65% of exam
- Pass the practical portion of the exam
- Set up and client protection
- Cleansing the face
- Steaming the face
- Manual extraction on the forehead
- Hair removal of the eyebrows
- Hair removal on upper lip
- Facial mask
- Facial make-up
Exams are offered six times a year at the Parkway Plaza in Casper.
Starting your Career as a Makeup Artist in Wyoming
If you are interested in working in the entertainment industry in Wyoming, there are a number of options that you can pursue. Wyoming is home to KGB Productions, a globally recognized outdoor production studio that has worked on commercials, feature films, and web content.
Another entertainment opportunity that you may want to consider is theatrical makeup artistry. As a theatrical makeup artist, you will have the opportunity to work in a fast paced, highly creative, and evolving environment. A couple of the theatre companies in Wyoming are the Wyoming Theater Company located in Wrenwood and the Off Square Theatre Company located in Jackson.
Salons and spas provide much more than just makeup services, with hairstyling, nail care, and skin treatment also available at most locations. If you are licensed as a cosmetologist, you will have been trained in all of these disciplines and may very well be a perfect fit in a spa or salon environment.
Some of the best spas and salons in Wyoming include:
- Body & Soul Spa and Salon – Jackson
- Beleza Salon – Jackson
- Balance Salon & Spa LLC – Jackson
- ROOTZ Salon & Spa – Casper
- All That Jazz Salon & Spa – Cheyenne
Spas and salons also occasionally handle bridal party makeup for weddings. If you are interested in that aspect of makeup artistry, working in a spa or salon could be a good introduction to working as a bridal makeup artist.
If you find you enjoy that kind of work, you may want to consider branching out and working completely independently, as a freelance makeup artist. Freelance artists are able to concentrate on the specific aspects of makeup artistry that they enjoy the most, such as bridal makeup or senior pictures, and create their own business based around a particular specialty.