Hollywood_Sign
Hollywood sign by Oreos CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

You could make a case for California being the beauty capital of the U.S., or the world for that matter. For that reason many people are practically makeup artists already. But for those who aren’t, there are an abundance of schools that can help you get good at makeup — even if it is just for yourself.

Since CA is the world capital for movie making there are also excellent schools if you want to become a special effects or cinema makeup artist.

Use your ZIP to find schools nearest you.

Licensing

Unlike many states California doesn’t have any licensing requirements if you want to go into business as a makeup professional. That being said you won’t get very far unless you can show clients you have extra skills, knowledge, and competency that they don’t. For that reason it is advisable to actually get training.

Why Bother Going To School If Training Isn’t Required?

Besides the obvious benefit of acquiring experience and learning techniques graduating from a respected institution immediately puts you in higher regard than if you are self-taught. Additionally, if you’ve been a good student and trained well, a school has contacts and can be very helpful in getting work after you’ve completed their program.

Get Your Training at Cosmetology Schools

Learning makeup is part of a cosmetologist’s training. If you are interested in a broader beauty career you can train in that though it does take longer.

Estheticians also learn a lot about makeup and skin care, so an esthetician school would be a good choice if you want to get the respect to delve a little deeper into the skin training as well as makeup. To become a skin care specialist takes less time than cosmetology and has a clearer focus than generalized beauty training.

Examples of Makeup Schools in California with Cost and Tuition

NameAddressCostOther Programs
Kimberley Bosso 4 Day Makeup Academy311 North Robertson Boulevard, Number 445, Beverly Hills,90211$5000 for a 4-day courseNone
Cinema Makeup School3780 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 202, Los Angeles, 90010$3,500None
JLS MAKEUP SCHOOL7950 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, 90046$1,850None
April Love Pro Makeup Academy903 East Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, 91776$2,800Hair Design
Cammua Makeup Academy2216 West Whittier Boulevard, La Habra, 90631$2,500Hair Styling
Flawless PRO Make-Up Academy1812 J Street, Suite 5
Sacrmento, 95811
$2,500Barbering, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Massage Therapy,
MKC Academy1000 Hope Street,
Los Angeles, 90015
$10,550None
Make-Up Designory129 South San Fernando Boulevard,
Burbank, 91502
$9,016None
Blush School of MakeupOne Embarcadero Center,
Suite R-1206 (Lobby Level)
San Francisco, 94111
$10,025 None
Adamis Beauty Academy1011 West Olive Avenue, Suite A, Burbank 91506$5,000None

Westmore Academy of Cosmetic Arts – 3407 West Olive Avenue #111, Burbank 91505

Westmore Academy of Empire – Burbank – CLOSED

Illusions Make-up Academy – 9029 Florence Avenue, Downey 90240

The Makeup Artist Workshop, LLC – 3048 1/2 East 6th St, Los Angeles 90023-1611

Goldbear Academy – 2000 Hyperion Avenue, Los Angeles 90027

Smoot School of Beauty – 6273 West Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles 90048

KMR Make-Up Academy, Inc – 550 Wave Street, Monterey 93940

Mirror Image Makeup & Beauty Academy – 2235 Fourth Street, Ontario 91764

James Albert School of Cosmetology – 9170 Foothill Boulevard, Rancho Cucamonga 91730

Ruby Make Up Academy – 5301 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Valley Village 91607

Ruby Make Up Academy – 4808 South Baldwin Avenue, Temple City 91780

Ruby Make Up Academy – 440 North Mountain Avenue #106, Upland 91786

Ruby Make Up Academy – Plaza West Covina, 112 Plaza Drive, West Covina 91790

Cammua Makeup Academy – 4101 Birch Street #200, Newport Beach 92660

Cammua Makeup Academy – 2216 West Whittier Boulevard, La Habra 90631

Cammua Makeup Academy – 580 Beech Avenue, Carlsbad 92008

Last Looks Makeup Academy – 27347 Weathersfield Dr., Valencia 91354

Federico Career Colleges – 3015 Calloway Drive #6, Bakersfield 93312

Federico Career Colleges – 5660 North Blackstone Avenue, Fresno 93710

Fred Segal Beauty – 420 Broadway, Santa Monica 90401

Did we miss your makeup school in California in this list? Please let us know. More listings below…

CA state board.


Other California schools for nail technicians, estheticians, cosmetologists and barbers.

Academy of Makeup & Fashion – Canoga Park, CA
Napoleon Perdis Makeup Academy – Hollywood, CA NOW CLOSED
Michael Vincent Academy – Los Angeles, CA
mud.edub
mkcbeautyacademy.com
Bellus Academy – El Cajon, Poway, National City
Federico Career Colleges
Lalalash – Beverly Hills
Joe Blasco Hollywood Make Up School – Hollywood
jlsmakeup.com
cinemamakeup.comj
kbosso.com
The Form Academy – Los Angeles
Academy of Cosmetic Arts Makeup Artists School – Los Gatos
cammuamakeupschool.com
Maximum Makeup Studio – North Hollywood
Dinair Airbrush Make Up Systems Institute – North Hollywood
Ruby Make Up Academy – Upland, North Hollywood
Lebec Makeup Atelier – Ontario
David’s Academy of Beauty – Pico Rivera
Fab Glam Fierce – Pomona
flawlessproacademy.com
Last Looks Makeup Academy
blushschoolofmakeup.edu – San Francisco
http://www.aprillovepromakeupacademy.com
Arte of Makeup – Santa Ana
Flair Beauty College – Santa Clarita