Mississippi makeup artist rules
Do you need a license to do makeup in Mississippi?
No license needed. Makeup artistry alone does not need a Mississippi cosmetology or esthetics license. Below: weddings, events and house calls (allowed for makeup alone), makeup for theater, film, television or photo shoots (no license needed) and applying makeup to demonstrate or sell cosmetics (no license needed), each answered from Mississippi's own statutes, rules or board pages, read on October 30, 2026, with the state's own words.
- Makeup for pay
- No license needed
- Weddings and house calls
- Allowed for makeup alone
- Theater and film
- No license needed
- Cosmetics counter
- No license needed
Licensed by the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology.The board's site Hours and fees for each licenseThe state's own words
Makeup for pay
Do you need a license to do makeup in Mississippi?
No license needed. Makeup artistry alone does not need a Mississippi cosmetology or esthetics license.
- License needed
- No license needed
- Exemption
- Persons whose practice is limited to only performing makeup artistry are exempt from the cosmetology and esthetics licensing chapter.
Mississippi is one of 12 states whose official pages exempt applying makeup for pay from licensing.
Weddings, events and house calls
Can a makeup artist work at weddings or in clients' homes in Mississippi?
Yes, for makeup alone. Makeup alone needs no license in Mississippi, so the state's licensing rules do not limit where you do it. For licensed services you add: licensed cosmetologists and barbers may work outside a salon only for clients confined by illness, such as at home or in a hospital.
- Work outside a salon
- Allowed
- Conditions
- Licensed cosmetologists and barbers may serve only clients confined by illness to a home, hospital or other place, and must otherwise work inside a licensed salon or barber shop.
- Separate permit
- None named
Theater, film, TV and photo shoots
Do you need a license to do makeup for theater, film, TV or photo shoots in Mississippi?
No license needed. Theatrical makeup done alone is makeup artistry, which the statute exempts from licensing.
- License needed
- No license needed
- Exemption
- People whose practice is limited to makeup artistry (alone or with threading and eyelash extensions) are exempt from the cosmetology and esthetics license law.
Mississippi is one of 25 states whose official pages exempt makeup for theater, film, television or photo shoots from licensing.
Cosmetics counters
Do you need a license to apply makeup at a cosmetics counter in Mississippi?
No license needed. Applying makeup at a cosmetics counter needs no Mississippi license when makeup artistry is all you do.
- License needed
- No license needed
Mississippi is one of 34 states whose official pages exempt applying makeup to demonstrate or sell cosmetics from licensing.
Good to know
What else Mississippi asks of makeup artists
- Makeup artistry is excluded from the esthetics definition when it is the only service a person performs.
- Makeup artistry, threading and eyelash extensions may be combined, up to three of these practices, and the person stays exempt.
- Licensees must practice inside a licensed salon or barber shop, except for clients confined by illness.
Sources
What Mississippi's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of Mississippi's own statutes, rules or board pages, read on October 30, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the Mississippi State Board of Cosmetology before you start charging for makeup or booking work on location.
- Makeup for pay
“whose practice is limited to only performing makeup artistry,”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us “not more than these three (3) such practices and still be exempt”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us - Weddings, events and house calls
“rendering his or her services to any person who may be confined to”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us “shall practice his or her profession except within the physical”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us “his or her home, a hospital, or other place as a result of”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us - Theater, film, TV and photo shoots
“whose practice is limited to only performing makeup artistry,”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us “not more than these three (3) such practices and still be exempt”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us - Cosmetics counters
“whose practice is limited to only performing makeup artistry,”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us - Also good to know
“whose practice is limited to only performing makeup artistry,”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us - Also good to know
“not more than these three (3) such practices and still be exempt”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us - Also good to know
“shall practice his or her profession except within the physical”
billstatus.ls.state.ms.us
Questions
Mississippi makeup artist licenses, answered
Do you need a license to do makeup in Mississippi?
Can a makeup artist work at weddings or in clients' homes in Mississippi?
Is theater, film or photo-shoot makeup exempt in Mississippi?
Can you apply makeup at a cosmetics counter in Mississippi without a license?
What do you need to open a makeup studio in Mississippi?
Plan the rest
Ready to fill your calendar
- Hours, exams and fees for each Mississippi cosmetology and esthetician license
- What a Mississippi esthetician may and may not do
- Lash extensions, brow tinting and waxing rules in Mississippi
- Permanent makeup and microblading rules in Mississippi
- What Mississippi requires to open a salon or studio of your own
- A deposit and cancellation policy for bridal bookings
Makeup artist rules in other states
Ready when you are
Licensed and booked? Fill the calendar next
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