Hawaii Makeup Artist School and Requirements

Makeup artists in Hawaii need esthetician or cosmetology licenses to work in a salon or spa. However, some makeup careers don't require a license.

Browse our directory of makeup artistry schools in Hawaii, or skip ahead to learn about the state's makeup artistry licensing requirements and job outlook.

What Hawaii Makeup Artists Can Do Without a License

Makeup artists in Hawaii can work in the arts, healthcare, retail, education, or other fields without going to makeup school. The following are just a few career examples:

• Salesperson in a makeup store who demonstrates products
• Makeup provider for nursing home residents
• Corporate beauty product ambassador who demonstrates on themselves or a model
• Photography studio makeup artist
• Film and TV makeup artist
• Day-of makeup services at charity events (e.g., school fundraisers)
• Visiting makeup provider for homebound people at their homes

In short, if you get paid for makeup services and nothing else, you need a cosmetology or esthetics license. If you're paid for sales, patient services, or creating looks for artistic purposes, you probably don't need a beauty license in Hawaii.

Hawaii Makeup Artist Licenses: Cosmetology or Esthetics?

If you want to perform makeup services for pay in Hawaii, you need a cosmetology or esthetics license. To clarify, without a Hawaii beauty license, you can be paid for doing makeup for purposes other than beautification. With a license, you can do typical beauty makeup.

Cosmetologists in Hawaii undergo 1,800 school or 3,600 apprenticeship hours. They learn about hair, nails, and skin, spending 175 school hours on makeup and facials. Estheticians go through 600 school or 1,200 apprenticeship hours solely focused on skincare, with 350 hours focused on makeup and facials.

Choosing cosmetology would allow you to do a bit of everything, though you'd spend less time focusing on makeup in school. You could always take extra classes to further focus, though. Esthetics school would let you focus more on makeup, though you couldn't perform other treatments without returning to a cosmetology program.

READ MORE: Learn More About Hawaii Cosmetology School

READ MORE: Learn More About Hawaii Esthetician School

Makeup Artist Salary in Hawaii

As of 2022, estheticians in Hawaii—which includes makeup artists—earn $54,150 per year ($26.03 per hour) on average. This number only factors in makeup artists employed by others, not self-employed ones. When looking at salary possibilities, you should also consider your location, type of workplace, and years of experience.

Contact the Hawaii State Board of Cosmetology