So You Want to Be a Makeup Artist in New York City? Here’s How to Actually Get There.

Fall is almost here — and with it comes that familiar feeling of wanting to start something new. If you’ve been thinking about turning your passion for beauty into a real career, or you’re already working as a makeup artist and want to seriously level up, I want to talk to you today.

I’ve spent 15+ years building my career as a makeup artist in New York City. I’ve worked with celebrities, brides, editorial clients, and everyone in between. I’ve made every mistake you can make starting out, and I’ve learned what actually separates artists who build sustainable careers from those who don’t. And now I’m teaching it — all of it — at the Shara Makeup Academy.

What Nobody Tells You About Becoming a Makeup Artist

The beauty industry is full of people who are talented. Talent is not the differentiator. What separates working artists from hobbyists is technique that holds up under pressure, a genuine understanding of skin and how products interact with it, and the ability to make every single client — regardless of age, skin tone, or face shape — feel beautiful.

That’s not something you learn from YouTube tutorials. It’s something you learn by doing, with real instruction, real feedback, and real-world scenarios. That’s the entire premise of the Shara Makeup Academy.

Small class sizes mean you get individual attention and feedback tailored to your personal growth. This isn’t a lecture hall — it’s hands-on training with a working makeup artist in New York City who has done exactly what you’re trying to do.

Which Course Is Right for You?

We offer four programs designed for different experience levels and goals:

Editorial & Clean Beauty Masterclass  —  $995

2 days, 5 hours each. Day 1 covers clean beauty techniques for flawless, natural looks. Day 2 dives into bold, creative editorial styles for fashion and photography. Perfect if you want to elevate your portfolio or explore the editorial side of the industry.

Advanced Bridal Makeup Intensive  —  $995

2 days, 5 hours each. Designed for experienced artists ready to refine their bridal work. Day 1 covers luxury bridal techniques and product layering. Day 2 is dedicated entirely to airbrush makeup. Essential if bridal is where you want to build your career.

25-Hour Pro Makeup Course  —  $2,650

The foundation for a full professional career. You’ll become proficient in beauty theory and modern makeup techniques, learn how to work with a wide range of clients, and develop the skills to run your own book.

40-Hour Extensive Course  —  $3,950

Everything in the 25-hour course, plus fashion shows, TV, and editorial work. This is the most comprehensive training we offer — for artists who want to be ready for any room they walk into.

Why Train at a Working Studio?

There’s a difference between learning makeup in a classroom and learning it in a working studio where real clients walk through the door every day. At Shara Makeup Academy, you’re training in the same space where our team delivers bridal makeup, makeup lessons in New York, eyebrow services, microneedling facials, and more.

That environment matters. You learn to work at a professional pace, in a professional setting, with the standards a real career demands. Not the standards of a practice dummy.

A Note on Starting Out

If you’re earlier in your journey and not quite ready for professional training — maybe you just want to get better at your own makeup first — our private makeup lessons in New York are a great place to start. One-on-one sessions with a licensed esthetician, tailored entirely to you. Many students who later enroll in the Academy started with a single makeup lesson.

Fall Is the Right Time to Start

September has a way of making everything feel like a fresh beginning. If you’ve been sitting on this idea, that’s the sign. The beauty industry in New York City is constantly moving — bridal season, fashion week, editorial shoots, holiday events. There is never a shortage of opportunity for a trained, prepared artist.

The question is whether you’ll be ready when it comes.

→ Learn more and sign up at sharacosmetics.com/sharamakeupacademy or call us at (212) 600-0723.

xo, Shara