Makeup Artists in Chattanooga

June 15, 2026

Few Tennessee cities put a makeup look on display the way Chattanooga does. Couples say their vows on bluffs above the Tennessee River, atop Lookout Mountain, and in the Southside historic district, settings that practically guarantee a long photography day in strong outdoor light. That backdrop puts a premium on artistry that photographs well, and it helps explain why so many local artists list editorial, photo, and on-camera work alongside bridal. The full range here covers bridal and wedding makeup, special-occasion and prom looks, editorial and photoshoot sessions, film and television, airbrush application, and one-on-one lessons. A trained artist brings what no tutorial or department-store counter can: products chosen for your skin tone, calibrated to the venue’s light, and built to hold through the event.

The Hamilton County seat is home to about 185,783 people per the U.S. Census Bureau, and its scenic venues, growing event calendar, and regional production work keep demand even through the year. Two service models cover most of the market. Some artists work from a studio or spa where clients arrive for trials, applications, and lessons, and others run mobile, by-appointment businesses centered on on-location service for weddings and events. Bridal jobs anchor the field, so an experienced artist typically offers a trial or consultation, maps out a timeline for the whole party, and quotes a travel fee for on-site work, with on-camera experience adding value when a look has to read under studio lighting and high-definition cameras.

The cost side is easy to anticipate. As a personal service, the makeup application carries no Tennessee sales tax; only retail products an artist might sell, such as a lipstick or a touch-up kit, are taxed, at the 7% state rate plus the local option, which lands at a combined rate of roughly 9.25% in Hamilton County. When you compare artists, ask to see a portfolio, confirm sanitation habits like clean brushes and single-use applicators, schedule a bridal trial, and pin down travel and on-location fees in writing, especially when the ceremony sits on a mountain or riverfront site that adds drive time.

Regulation is handled at the state level. Tennessee generally classifies makeup applied on the public as a cosmetology service overseen by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners under the Department of Commerce and Insurance, governed by the Tennessee Cosmetology Act of 1986 at Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62, Chapter 4. The two license tracks are cosmetologist, requiring 1,500 training hours, and aesthetician (esthetician), requiring 750, each with written and practical exams, while the salons and shops that provide these services carry cosmetology shop licenses. Strictly freelance, mobile artists sometimes operate as independent businesses, and because requirements shift with setting and services, clients who want a licensed professional can verify credentials with the board at tn.gov. Complaints about deceptive business practices can be filed with the Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104).

Top Makeup Artist Providers in Chattanooga

1. Makeup by Cassie

Address: Chattanooga, TN (freelance; on-location service)
Phone: not listed (booking via website contact form)
Website: https://www.makeupbycassiethompson.com
Services: makeup application, bridal makeup and styling, hair styling, photography and editorial work, event makeup, lessons and classes, on-location service
Description: Makeup by Cassie is the freelance hair and makeup practice of Cassie Thompson, based in Chattanooga. The business offers what it describes as concierge beauty, with personalized, client-tailored sessions and an emphasis on communication so the finished look matches the client’s goals. Services span makeup application and bridal styling, hair, event looks, photography and editorial work, and lessons or classes for clients who want to learn technique. As a freelance artist, Thompson works on a mobile, on-location basis, traveling to the client for weddings and events. Bookings and inquiries are handled through a contact page on the website rather than a published phone line.

2. EmMe Makeup Artistry (Emily Hawtin)

Address: Chattanooga, TN (serves the Southeast; on-location service)
Phone: (615) 972-9941
Website: https://www.emmemakeup.com
Services: bridal and wedding makeup, commercial shoots, music videos, photo shoots, film work, on-location service
Description: EmMe Makeup Artistry is the practice of Emily Hawtin, a Chattanooga-based makeup artist whose work centers on bridal, editorial, and on-camera makeup. From her Chattanooga base she serves the broader Southeast, listing Atlanta, Nashville, and Knoxville among her service areas, which reflects a portfolio built across commercial shoots, music videos, photo shoots, and film alongside wedding work. The mix of bridal and production experience is useful for clients who need makeup that performs both in person and on screen. She works on location, traveling to venues and sets, and handles inquiries by phone, email, and through her website.

3. Alluring Looks Spa (Haley Settles)

Address: Chattanooga, TN (studio; on-location for events)
Phone: not listed (booking via website)
Website: https://alluringlooksspa.com
Services: makeup application, bridal and event styling, editorial and fashion makeup, lashes and brows, permanent makeup, facials and skin treatments, hair and bridal styling, waxing, spray tans
Description: Alluring Looks Spa is a Chattanooga-area beauty studio founded by Haley Settles, a licensed aesthetician and professional makeup artist with nearly a decade in the industry. Her training includes a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and advanced aesthetics study at Chattanooga State Community College, which informs a service list that pairs makeup with skin care. The studio offers makeup application, bridal and event styling, and editorial or fashion looks, along with lashes, brows, permanent makeup, facials, hair services, waxing, and spray tans. Event and wedding work is supported through on-location service, and appointments are booked through the studio’s online system.

Frequently Asked Questions About Makeup Artists in Chattanooga

Q: Does a makeup artist in Chattanooga need a license?

In Tennessee, applying makeup on the public is generally treated as a cosmetology service regulated by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners under the Tennessee Cosmetology Act of 1986 (TCA Title 62, Chapter 4). Practitioners are typically licensed as cosmetologists (1,500 training hours) or aestheticians (750 hours), with written and practical exams required. Some freelance, mobile artists operate as independent businesses, so clients who want a licensed professional can ask about credentials and verify them through the board at tn.gov.

Q: Is there sales tax on makeup services in Chattanooga?

Makeup application as a personal service is not subject to Tennessee sales tax. If an artist sells you a retail product, such as a lipstick or a touch-up kit, that product is taxed at the state’s 7% rate plus the local option, which brings the combined rate in Hamilton County to roughly 9.25%. Asking for an itemized invoice that separates services from any products makes the charges clear.

Q: What is the difference between traditional and airbrush makeup?

Traditional makeup is applied with brushes and sponges and offers a wide range of finishes and easy touch-ups. Airbrush makeup is sprayed in fine layers and is often chosen for long events and photography because of its lightweight, long-wearing finish. Many Chattanooga artists offer both and can recommend the better option based on skin type, the event, and how the look needs to photograph.

Q: How far in advance should I book a bridal makeup artist in Chattanooga?

Popular bridal artists book well ahead, and many recommend reserving several months to a year out for peak wedding-season dates. Booking early also makes it easier to schedule a trial or consultation, coordinate timelines for the bridal party, and confirm travel arrangements for on-location service before the calendar fills.

Q: Do Chattanooga makeup artists travel to the venue?

Many do. On-location service for weddings and events is common in the Chattanooga area, with artists arriving with their own kit to work at the venue, hotel, or home. Travel and on-site fees vary by distance and the size of the party, so confirm those costs and the day-of timeline in writing when you book.

Q: What should I confirm before booking a makeup artist in Chattanooga?

Ask to see a portfolio, confirm sanitation practices such as clean brushes and single-use applicators, and clarify whether the price includes a trial, lashes, and touch-ups. For weddings and events, confirm on-location travel fees, the timeline, and how many people the artist can accommodate. If a booking or contract goes wrong, complaints about deceptive business practices can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), and concerns about a licensed professional can be raised with the Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners.