What do a person have to do to become a make-up artist?

Is it better to take a Cosmetology program or Esthetics program to become a makeup artist?

• Hello all, I have a passion for makeup and really want to become a makeup artist. I know that some MUAs are self taught, but I would feel better having an educational background to support my career as my foundation. I know that Esthetics is mostly about skin care and facials, and waxing, and peels etc... so I thought about taking an esthetics course because skin care ties in with makeup and some esthetics courses teach makeup application etc... However, most cosmetology courses in my area also teach makeup application as part of miscellaneous training where they teach about retail in the salon, makeup, and other misc beauty stuff but the course emphasis is on hairstyling so I don't know if its a waste of time. So yeah, if anyone has experience in makeup artistry please please give me some advice because I really would like to start school soon. oh and just fyi, we don't have any makeup specific courses offered at any of our beauty colleges. Thanks so much!

• Answer:

  If you go into an esthetics course they'll have more emphasis on makeup so you might learn a lot more than you would in the cosmetology course. In the cosmetology course you'd learn how to do a bit of makeup but a heavier emphasis on hair. I'm not sure about the beauty programs you're looking at but when I went to cosmetology school there was just about no emphasis on makeup. We were taught just enough to pass state board, but no more than that. If you're more interested in learning techniques, I say go for the esthetician's program, if you just want a license that looks good when you do gigs, go for the cosmetology program. If you have any more questions about it, feel free to e-mail me. I went through the same exact thing. I wanted to be a makeup artist so I decided to go to cosmetology school to get a license. Good luck!