North Dakota makeup artist rules
Do you need a license to do makeup in North Dakota?
Yes. Makeup for pay needs a cosmetology or esthetician license. Below: weddings, events and house calls (allowed), makeup for theater, film, television or photo shoots (license needed) and applying makeup to demonstrate or sell cosmetics (no license needed), each answered from North Dakota's own statutes, rules or board pages, read on October 30, 2026, with the state's own words.
- Makeup for pay
- Full license
- Weddings and house calls
- Allowed
- Theater and film
- License needed
- Cosmetics counter
- No license needed
Licensed by the North Dakota 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 North Dakota?
Yes. Makeup for pay needs a cosmetology or esthetician license.
- License needed
- License needed
- Licenses that allow it
- Cosmetologist, Esthetician
- Shorter makeup license
- None
North Dakota is one of 33 states whose official pages put applying makeup for pay under a license.
Weddings, events and house calls
Can a makeup artist work at weddings or in clients' homes in North Dakota?
Yes, on conditions. Licensed cosmetologists, estheticians, advanced estheticians and manicurists may work outside a salon if they are an establishment owner, an employee of a licensed establishment or an independent licensee and the owner or manager notifies the board; advanced esthetic procedures are not allowed.
- Work outside a salon
- Allowed
- Conditions
- Only for licensees who are an establishment owner, an employee of a licensed establishment or an independent licensee, with the owner or manager notifying the board, a compliant kit, and no advanced esthetic procedures.
- 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 North Dakota?
Yes. North Dakota's practice act names no exemption for theater, film or photo work, so paid production makeup needs a cosmetology or esthetician license.
- License needed
- License needed
- Licenses that allow it
- Cosmetologist, Esthetician
Cosmetics counters
Do you need a license to apply makeup at a cosmetics counter in North Dakota?
No license needed. Store staff demonstrating cosmetics need no license if they use disposable applicators that are thrown away after each customer.
- License needed
- No license needed
- Exemption
- Retailers and their sales staff may demonstrate cosmetics without a license if they use disposable applicators discarded after each customer.
North Dakota is one of 34 states whose official pages exempt applying makeup to demonstrate or sell cosmetics from licensing.
Good to know
What else North Dakota asks of makeup artists
- The board's rules define cosmetic preparations to include makeup.
- A premises where cosmetology, esthetics or manicuring is practiced is an establishment, and a board license is required for it.
- The separate homebound cosmetology license is no longer available.
- Working before the license is issued is not allowed, and an application alone does not authorize practice.
Sources
What North Dakota's official pages say
Each answer above, in the words of North Dakota's own statutes, rules or board pages, read on October 30, 2026. Rules change: confirm with the North Dakota State Board of Cosmetology before you start charging for makeup or booking work on location.
- Makeup for pay
“Application of cosmetics, eyelashes, or eyelash extensions;”
ndlegis.gov “Esthetic Services”
ndcosmetology.com “means an individual licensed under this chapter to practice esthetics.”
ndlegis.gov - Weddings, events and house calls
“practice outside of a licensed establishment under rules adopted by the board.”
ndlegis.gov “A licensee may perform services outside of a licensed establishment only under the following conditions:”
ndcosmetology.com “The owner or manager notifies the Board if the licensee is practicing outside the establishment”
ndcosmetology.com “Advanced esthetic procedures must not be practiced outside of a licensed establishment”
ndcosmetology.com “The licensee must possess a kit.”
ndcosmetology.com - Theater, film, TV and photo shoots
“Application of cosmetics, eyelashes, or eyelash extensions;”
ndlegis.gov “Esthetic Services”
ndcosmetology.com “means an individual licensed under this chapter to practice esthetics.”
ndlegis.gov - Cosmetics counters
“are discarded after each customer demonstration.”
ndlegis.gov - Also good to know
“or condition, such as makeup and skincare products.”
ndcosmetology.com - Also good to know
“required for all establishments except as otherwise”
ndcosmetology.com - Also good to know
“Repealed effective April 1, 2022.”
ndcosmetology.com - Also good to know
“North Dakota does not issue temporary permits. Submitting an application or passing an exam does not authorize practice.”
ndcosmetology.com
Questions
North Dakota makeup artist licenses, answered
Do you need a license to do makeup in North Dakota?
Can a makeup artist work at weddings or in clients' homes in North Dakota?
Is theater, film or photo-shoot makeup exempt in North Dakota?
Can you apply makeup at a cosmetics counter in North Dakota without a license?
What do you need to open a makeup studio in North Dakota?
Plan the rest
Ready to fill your calendar
- Hours, exams and fees for each North Dakota cosmetology and esthetician license
- What a North Dakota esthetician may and may not do
- Lash extensions, brow tinting and waxing rules in North Dakota
- Permanent makeup and microblading rules in North Dakota
- What North Dakota 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
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