Makeup Artists in Memphis

June 15, 2026

Hiring a makeup artist in Memphis usually starts with the occasion. Bridal and wedding looks lead the list, followed by special-occasion and prom makeup, editorial and photoshoot sessions, film and television work, airbrush application, and private lessons. The advantage over a tutorial or a department-store counter is hands-on judgment: shades matched to your skin tone, choices made for the lighting where you will actually be, and a finish meant to last through a long day. Plenty of artists here travel to a home, hotel, or venue rather than expecting clients to come to a chair in a salon.

Memphis backs that demand with scale. It is Tennessee’s second-largest city, home to roughly 618,980 residents per the U.S. Census Bureau, and the seat of Shelby County. Weddings book across downtown spots near Beale Street and the Tennessee River as well as Midtown’s Overton Square and the Cooper-Young historic district, and a steady stream of productions and events rounds out the calendar. The result is a deep field that breaks into two broad models. Some artists keep a studio for trials, applications, lessons, and special-occasion makeovers, while others run mobile, by-appointment operations centered on on-location work for weddings and events. Bridal jobs anchor the field, so an established artist typically offers a trial or consultation, builds a timeline for the whole party, and quotes travel for on-site service; many also bring photo, commercial, and on-camera experience for looks that have to read under studio lighting and high-definition cameras.

Licensing in Tennessee treats makeup applied on the public as a cosmetology service, regulated by the Tennessee Board of Cosmetology and Barber Examiners under the Department of Commerce and Insurance. The Tennessee Cosmetology Act of 1986, found at Tennessee Code Annotated Title 62, Chapter 4, governs the field. Cosmetologists qualify after 1,500 hours of training and aestheticians (estheticians) after 750, with written and practical exams required either way, and the salons and shops that host these services hold cosmetology shop licenses. Artists who work purely freelance on mobile, by-appointment terms sometimes set up as independent businesses instead, and because the rules can vary with setting and services, clients who want a licensed professional should verify credentials with the board at tn.gov.

Pricing follows a predictable pattern. The application is a personal service and is not taxed in Tennessee, but any retail products an artist sells you, say a lipstick or a touch-up kit, carry the 7% state rate plus the local option, for a combined rate of about 9.75% across the Memphis area in Shelby County. Smart pre-booking steps include checking a portfolio, asking how the artist handles sanitation with clean brushes and single-use applicators, scheduling a bridal trial, and putting travel and on-location fees in writing. Should a booking or contract go wrong, the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs handles deceptive-practice complaints under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104).

Top Makeup Artist Providers in Memphis

1. Memphis Makeup Artists, Inc.

Address: 2962 North Stage Plaza, Bartlett, TN 38134 (serves the Memphis metro)
Phone: (901) 730-6517
Services: bridal makeup, prom makeup, film and TV makeup, costume makeup, makeovers for all occasions, on-site application at hotels and venues, makeup classes
Description: Memphis Makeup Artists, Inc. has served the Memphis area since 2018 and operates a studio in Bartlett that the company describes as the largest makeup studio in the Mid-South, having recently moved to a larger location. The team is made up of licensed cosmetologists and professional makeup artists who handle bridal, prom, film and television, costume, and general special-occasion makeovers. In addition to studio appointments, the company provides on-site makeovers at clients’ hotels and venues for wedding days and events, and it offers makeup classes for those who want to learn technique. The business has been recognized by review and ranking services and notes work with clients including The Players Tribune and ESPN.
Website: https://memphismakeup.com

2. Tone & Texture (Kimberly Yasmine)

Address: 841 S Cooper Street, Memphis, TN 38104 (studio; also serves clients traveling for weddings)
Phone: not listed (booking via website inquiry and consultation forms)
Services: bridal makeup, soft glam, hair and makeup, in-studio bridal applications, editorial-style beauty
Description: Tone & Texture is the makeup practice of Kimberly Yasmine, a Memphis-based artist with more than 13 years of experience in bridal and luxury wedding makeup who has worked with over 1,200 brides. Based at a studio on South Cooper Street in Midtown Memphis, she specializes in timeless, polished looks that balance sophistication with a client’s personal style, ranging from soft, minimalist glam to more romantic, glamorous applications. She offers in-studio bridal applications for solo brides and serves wedding clients who travel for her work, and she recommends booking eight to twelve months in advance for weddings. Inquiries and consultations are handled through booking forms on her website rather than a published phone line.
Website: https://kimberlyyasmine.com

3. Mandie J Pro

Address: 5007 Black Road, Suite 230, Memphis, TN 38117 (studio; also travels for productions and events)
Phone: (901) 229-1387
Services: bridal makeup and hair, glam sessions, portrait and boudoir photography, production and commercial work, classes and events
Description: Mandie J Pro is a Memphis studio led by Mandie J that combines high-end beauty, photography, and on-set glam under one brand, with more than six years of experience across several states and work in television and film. Based on Black Road in Memphis, the business offers bridal makeup and hair, glam sessions for events, and on-set production and commercial work, alongside in-house portrait and boudoir photography. It also runs classes and events, including instruction noted under the Mirror Image Academy name, for clients and aspiring artists. The studio operates both from its Memphis location and as a traveling service, and it handles bookings by phone, email, and an online booking page.
Website: https://www.mandiej.com

Frequently Asked Questions About Makeup Artists in Memphis

Q: Does a makeup artist in Memphis 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 Memphis?

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 Shelby County to roughly 9.75%. Asking for an itemized invoice that separates services from any products makes the charges clear.

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

Established bridal artists book well ahead, and several recommend reserving roughly eight to twelve months 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: 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 Memphis artists offer both and can recommend the better option based on skin type, the event, and how the look needs to photograph.

Q: Do Memphis makeup artists travel to the venue or hotel?

Many do. On-location service for weddings and events is common in the Memphis 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 it is worth confirming those costs and the day-of timeline in writing when you book.

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

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 or team can accommodate. Getting the services, fees, and schedule in writing helps both sides avoid misunderstandings on the day. Complaints about deceptive business practices can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104).