Permanent Makeup Schools in Kentucky

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

How to Become a Permanent Makeup Artist in Kentucky

Permanent makeup is a form of tattooing using special pigments that are safer for the face. It has become increasingly popular in the United States. Some of the people choosing permanent makeup are young people who desire a distinctive look. Others are people who are tired of spending a fortune on cosmetics such as eye liner, lip liner, and brow enhancers, and having to re-apply them every morning. Hence, some sophisticated consumers are having permanent makeup applied to their faces or bodies.

Still other people have permanent makeup applied because they have been disfigured by illness, injury, or surgery, and permanent makeup gives them a more normal appearance. If you would like a career in the beauty industry that enhances people's appearance and helps them feel good about themselves, a career as a permanent makeup artist in Kentucky could be a great option for you!

State License Requirements

The state of Kentucky regulates the application of permanent makeup as a form of tattooing. The agency in charge of registration is the Kentucky Cabinet of Health and Human Services, Department of Public Health. Anyone applying permanent makeup, as a form of tattooing, must be registered with this department. Some permanent makeup artists belong to the Society for Permanent Makeup Professionals which promotes the ideals and standards of the profession.

Education Details

Application of permanent makeup is taught in schools of hair styling and cosmetology. Some tattoo programs also teach the use of permanent makeup, also known as micropigmentation and dermapigmentation. People who choose to become certified in this skill come from very different backgrounds. Most are licensed in an area of hair styling, cosmetology, or skin care. Others are tattoo artists looking to expand their range. And some medical professionals learn the skill to be able to help their patients. Your background will determine the length of your training. In class, you will learn about the anatomy and physiology of skin, pigments used in tattooing, and the equipment used for tattooing and permanent makeup, as well as safety, sterilization, and sanitation procedures and regulations. Your program may last as short as a weekend, or up to several months, depending upon your background.

License Renewal

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services makes the license and renewal process pretty straightforward for permanent makeup artists and tattoo artists in this state. Once you qualify for licensure, you will submit your application, along with a $20 application fee. If you want to certify your place of business, you will pay an additional $100 fee. You can read more about the sanitation and professional expectations here in great detail. If you're ready to learn more, just use our search tool to contact the schools in your state that offer permanent makeup programs.

Kentucky Permanent Makeup Careers

Permanent makeup artists in Kentucky earned an average salary of $60,175 in 2020. Permanent makeup artists who specialize in cosmetic reconstruction such as aereola restoration post breast surgery, or scar camouflage, can charge higher fees. The career outlook for individuals entering the skincare specialist profession is good, with growth predicted to be 10% between 2016 and 2026. So individuals entering the field should find that their job prospects are favorable.

The majority of permanent makeup artists work in beauty salons and spas, usually in a quiet, secluded area where they can concentrate, and clients can feel relaxed and comfortable. Some tattoo artists offer permanent makeup application as a specialty area. And those who do cosmetic restoration after illness, injury or surgery sometimes work in physicians' offices and other medical facilities. Because the majority of your work will be with individual clients, you should have flexibility in determining your schedule, although you may need to work some evening and weekend hours to accommodate the schedules of your clients. It is possible to work either full or part time in this growing field, and to arrange your schedule around your other obligations, such as taking care of a young family or an aging parent. And at some point, you may decide to open your own permanent makeup studio, in which case you will take on the responsibilities — and reap the rewards — of a small business owner.

Beauty care professionals have a lot to be inspired by in Kentucky. That inspiration stems from various sources, new and old. One of them, which is permanent makeup, is a bridge between generations. Budding makeup technicians consult these groups.

Kentucky Board of Hairdressers and Cosmetologists
Professional Beauty Association
International Make-Up Association