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Having made your mind up to embark on the long journey to makeup mastery, towards the end of high school, you find yourself leaning towards pursuing higher studies in the field of beauty; you’ll become a makeup artist! Well, first of all, congratulations! You’ve taken a very, very big step towards that direction with that decision. Time spent researching makeup brushes, techniques, the best brushes, and all that stuff is going to lead to a full-fledged career! But now, an important decision looms around the corner; where do you enroll for the course to have the best career prospects? What are the best makeup schools in the United States? What are the best makeup schools in the world?
What to expect in a cosmetology school
You are not enrolling in a beauty school just for your makeup, you may opt for it as a career too. So, picking a beauty school by chance is not a wise act. Before admission, ensure the proper research about the institute, coaches, prospects, market impressions, etc. We have listed the following issues to consider at least as the essential factors before selecting a beauty school/college:-
Factors to Consider Before Enrolling a Makeup school/course
- Accreditation
- Expected Costs
- Professional Instructors
- Professional Certificates
- Location
- Financial Aid/Scholarship
- Career Assistance/Placement
- Versatility of Courses
- Method of Learning
- Practical Sessions
- Continuous Support and Community
- Class Size
- Flexibility
- Online Training
Best makeup artistry courses
- Cosmetology program
- Aesthetics
- Nail Technology/manicure & pedicure
- Electrology
- Message Therapy
- Barber/Hair Styling/Hair waxing
- Facial Massage
- Tattoo art
- Stage makeup
- Bridal Makeover
- Skincare/esthiology
- Microblading
- Lash extensions,
- Special Effects makeup for cinema
List of the best makeup schools in the USA
- Make Up Designory (MUD)
- EI School of Professional Makeup
- Tom Savini’s Special Makeup Effects Program
- Avalon Beauty School
- The Art of Beauty Makeup School
- Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry
- Cinema Makeup School
- Tailors Andrews Academy for Hair Design
Details about the beauty schools
All these prospective colleges and you have no idea where to begin? Well, you’re in luck, because you won’t have to worry about them anymore, now that you’re reading this. And to make things simpler, I’ve condensed everything you’d need to know to list down the best makeup schools in America. So all you have to do is to choose one to attend. Much easier to make this choice now, I hope!
Make Up Designory (MUD)
Make Up Designory may be a great choice when you are Looking for a school of beauty run by professionals and accredited by the ACCSC. Some professional beauty aspirants founded MUD in 1997. It is running with two campuses, studios, and a partnering beauty schools network. It offers courses on film, TV, theater, fashion, etc.
Locations:
MUD has two Campuses in Los Angeles and New York. It provides more facilities through studios and partner schools in the Us and the globe.
Accreditation:
MUD is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).
EI School of Professional Makeup
Long-term experience and state-of-the-art expertise play a pivotal role in practical educational institutions. EI School of Professional Makeup has an excellent track record of around 53 years in the beauty industry. EI School was formed in 1966 and has been serving the varied requirements and trends of the makeup industry. It provides the best professionals to suit the makeup, photography, theater, live performance, film, TV, fashion, and special effects arena. It is the first-ever makeup artist school with makeup programs. EI is running six programs on makeup and beautification.
Location:
EI has temporarily closed its door to new students until further notice.
Accreditation:
Over more than a half-century years, EI School of Professional Makeup has achieved accreditation by the ACCSC (Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges).
Tom Savini’s Special Makeup Effects Program
Tom Savini’s Special Makeup Effects Program offered by Douglas Education Center (DEC) is known just for really really extraordinary effects programs. Douglas Education Center (DEC) was established in 1904 as a business and secretarial school. Tom Savini’s Special Makeup Effects Program was introduced in 2000. If you are one of those enjoying and wondering if the horror or sci-fi scenes could be a touch from you, Tom Savini is a straight program for you. The weird and ghostly effects are funny experiences in Tom Savini. You are most welcome when you love anything but ordinary.
Location:
Douglas Education Center (DEC), located at 130 Seventh Street, Monessen, Pennsylvania.
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Programs offered:
George A. Romero’s Filmmaking Program, Massage Therapy Program, Cosmetology Program, Cosmetology Teacher / Salon Manager Program, Esthetics Program, Esthetician and Nail Technologist Program are some of the programs DEC provides on the beauty industry.
Accreditation:
Douglas Education Center is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). Visit here for more information on licensing and approvals.
Avalon School of Cosmetology:
The Avalon Beauty School specializes in cosmetology training, with the latest and best practices at the school for the last 40 years. With its inception in Arizona, the school has opened campuses in Utah and California and another one in Arizona. Students can take advanced classes in makeup artistry and learn to take their artistic finesse in makeups to a new level with the cosmetology course in this school, with the discipline specialization particularly focusing on makeup artistry. It stands out from most other beauty schools, particularly because it offers advanced courses specifically related to makeup and is very relevant for anyone interested in becoming a makeup artist.
Programs
The school offers several courses. Specifically relating to makeup artistry, it has a short, two-week-long course on makeup. In this course, it covers the fundamentals of makeup and skincare and then shifts focus on learning how to apply all sorts of making to achieve higher quality looks and makeovers. Finally, it teaches prospective makeup artists about creating service portfolios about their services and how to build up a clientele. If you’re a busy man or woman and can’t spare a year to study, this program is probably a good way to build up to higher-level makeup artistry. There is a year-long course on cosmetology that includes makeup artistry courses as well as a host of others so that students can be versatile and know about all the different services provided in the beauty industry. You could have your salon at this rate!
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The Art of Beauty Makeup School:
This is a makeup school started by makeup artist Linda Mason, where she takes sessions and shares her skills and techniques with a small group, as well as providing private lessons to individuals. The classes are a bit different and can cater to both beginners and intermediary levels of skill. Her classes all take place in her makeup studio in Soho, New York.
Programs
The school has four different courses, none more than 7 classes in length as of now. At the most basic level, she has a 10-day program geared for beginner makeup users and it goes through makeup fundamentals such as taking care of brushes, how to use them, color science, and skin tones, among many others. The other course that tends to the needs of beginners is the intensive 7 class course, which is geared for everyone at any stage of their learning curve. It focuses on techniques, tools, and tips for different facial features and has specific lessons for bridal makeovers, professional makeovers, and photoshoots.
The other programs are for advanced-level students. These classes are geared to elevate your work to the next level and strengthening your fundamentals in order to deliver makeovers of a more professional level. The nature of these classes is vaguer, and Linda samples the work of students and what they want their work to look like in order to teach them adequately what techniques and skills they need to elevate their work to that level. Finally, she has workshops where she challenges the creativity of her students with unique case scenarios and an inspirational class where students take input from Linda to come up with their own makeover for models that they bring in.
If you’re a beginner, classes here will be suitable to build up your fundamentals, but if you’re somewhat experienced with makeup, then prepare to get your creative juices flowing when you take part in any of her programs!
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Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry:
The school is focused on training makeup artists and has the option of either enrolling in a full course or take specific classes on certain topics. Because the school is particularly makeup-centric, it goes into a lot of specifics regarding makeup, such as specific techniques and mastery towards a specific field. The classes also cover skincare to a degree and also offer skincare programs in case you find that makeup art isn’t your forte.
Programs
There are several programs offered, and all are relatively complex and not suitable for beginners. The courses are geared to make it possible to enter different industries such as fashion, showbiz, or a generalized course for all sorts of makeup.
The Master Makeup Artist program is a six-month-long program that trains students on all sorts of makeup work for people doing cosmetic work in the fashion industry. Programs cover television, the entertainment industry, and even bridal makeup. It has an elaborate set of modules for cosmetology students trying to enter as the professional makeup artist. It, however, keeps options open to enter whatever field they want.
The Production makeup artistry program and fashion makeup artistry program are specialized, 4-months and 10-weeks courses respectively. They attempt to train the students in that particular field. Production makeup is a lot more holistic and includes characteristics of fashion makeup in the course itself. If you want to do your favorite celeb’s makeover, this school might just be your ticket!
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Cinema Makeup School:
The caption of the school says it all really; ‘Hollywood’s Professional Makeup School’ is probably the best makeup school in the States for anyone wanting to get into cosmetic work for production sets and cinema. Unsurprisingly, it specializes in special FX makeup for cinema. It offers a multitude of programs from comprehensive programs, diplomas, classes, and workshop seminars.
Programs
Like the other makeup-focused school on the list, it has two specific diploma programs on fashion and television makeup artistry. However, it mainly has two complete courses, one lasting about 7 months to cover all the different modules and classes taught at the school. If you are the kind that wants to learn about everything, there is to know about makeovers, this might be for you! The other course is slightly condensed and focuses on primarily all cinema-related classes, called the FX track but also lasts 7-months. Needless to say, sign up if you want to do celebrity makeup for a living!
With that, we have covered the above and it is quite a diverse list. There are not a lot of good options for people who are still beginners, and you’re probably even better off practicing more and going through more tutorials. Most courses and programs focus on intermediate and advanced level students. The last two schools, in particular focus on training very high level, professional-grade work for film and fashion. The two industries where expertise in makeup is a high prerequisite.
With that, I hope you have some idea of where to begin to look to match your current ambitions. Who knows, maybe you are considering going to Hollywood after finding out about all these schools and their courses! Good luck to you if you are, though! Please note that we are making some details of the best institutes soon, so be with us for further updates. And do not forget to share your thoughts, if any.
Tailor Andrews Academy for Hair Design
Tailor Andrews Academy for Hair Design may be a lifetime good decision for you if you love a career in makeup artistry. Cutting-edge and customized courses like cosmetology, makeup artistry, barber, nail technology, microblading, esthetics, lash extensions, etc. will add some extra mileage to your career journey. The flexibility in choosing the day or night schedules is also significant. On top of that, it has many campuses in West Jordan, Provo, St. George, Detroit, etc.
Courses Offered
Besides the above Cosmetology degree programs, TA comes with Makeup artistry classes, makeup business courses, photoshoot services, etc. to give you all that you need in the beauty arena.
Schedules
Both the Day and Night schedules are available based on the courses and locations.
Locations
Some other beauty schools in the USA
Some of the beauty/cosmetology institutes are on the list below for your ready reference and quick research.
- Aveda Institute
- Ogle Schools
- Paul Mitchell Schools
- Xenon Academy has been serving the industry for more than 30 years. It offers Cosmetology, Esthetics, and Barbar courses with the campus option in Ohama and Grand Island.
- Hollywood Institute of Beauty Careers provides versatile beauty courses like Electrology, Cosmetology, Nail Technology, Medical Assistant, Message Therapy, Barbar, etc. It serves with four campus options in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Hollywood, and Margate.
- Capri Beauty College is serving the beautification aspirants since 1960 with two campuses in Oak Forest and New Lenox.
- Portland Beauty School
- Phagans Beauty School
- Beauty School of America
- Shore Beauty School
- La Belle Beauty School
- The International Beauty School
- Robert Fiance Beauty School
- Rosemead Beauty School
- Cameo Beauty School
- American National College
- COBA Academy
- Sassoon Academy
- Marinello Schools of Beauty
- Empire Beauty Schools
- Arrojo Cosmetology School]
- KC BEAUTY ACADEMY
- International College of Cosmetology
- Hair Professionals Career College
FAQs
Who is the richest makeup artist? Who is the richest beauty guru?
Kylie Jenner holds the number one position with a net worth of around $1 billion. Huda Kattan is the second in the list with a worth of $0.60 billion.
Who is the richest makeup Youtuber?
Huda Kattan may be the richest makeup Youtuber with a net worth of $550 Million.
How long is school for makeup artist?
Achieving a license in cosmetology takes around 8 months if you are a full-timer. However, a part-timer may take around two years to be licensed.
How much does it cost to become a certified makeup artist?
It varies greatly. It usually ranges from $5,000-$20,000 based on the institutes and courses.
What state pays cosmetologist the most?
Hawaii and Washington are the highest paying state for cosmetologists.
Is a makeup artist a good career?
Makeup artistry may be one of the best career choices if you are a beauty aspirant. If you love beautification and find it is important to see the smile on clients’ faces with some beautiful touch, you are on the right track. You can build a successful career in any reputed or work as a freelance artist if you are a licensed makeup artist. You may pursue an exciting career as a trainer to any makeup academy or online or one-on-one training. Besides, cosmetology school makeup kit related business may also be a good idea along with makeup artist career
How do you become a MUA?
- Have formal training/course/degree
- Work practically
- Research
- Study
- Be imaginative
- Market online
- Find some mentors
- Connect with a great community
- Love your career
- Find pleasure in the smile of clients
- Be professional
What skills do you need to become a makeup artist?
- Confidence
- Creativity
- Communication
- Imagination
- Knowledge on products and services
- Knowledge on fashion trends
- Adoptive
- Social
- Understanding color science
- Skills on skin tones
Another great suggestion is https://taylorandrew.com/makeup-artistry/! They have a great program!
Thanks Jordan, for the suggestion. We have incorporated this into our list. They are really doing well with more than three decades’ practical experience in makeup artistry.