If you’re looking for a makeup course in Melbourne, chances are you’re either starting fresh, changing careers, or finally saying yes to that creative spark you’ve ignored for too long. But with so many options out there, how do you actually choose the right course? And what should you expect from a makeup school that sets you up for real success, not just a certificate?
Here’s everything you need to know if you're ready to become a certified hair and makeup artist in Melbourne, even if you have no experience.Take a quick walkthrough of our Melbourne studio – where you’ll train in glam and bridal techniques from day one.
Why Take a Makeup Course in Melbourne?
Melbourne is packed with opportunities in the beauty industry — weddings, events, fashion shows, and a booming content creation scene. Taking a professional makeup course gives you real skills, a portfolio, and the confidence to work for yourself or land paid jobs right away.
What to Look for in a Certified Makeup Course
Before you hand over thousands of dollars, look out for these must-haves:
✔️ Face-to-face classes with real-time feedback
✔️ Small class sizes so you’re not lost in a crowd
✔️ A practical, hands-on approach (not just theory)
✔️ Work experience or job opportunities included
✔️ A business module to help you get clients after the course
✔️ Flexible scheduling (weekdays, weekends, or during school hours)
✔️ Bonus: Ask if you get lifetime support after graduating. Many don’t offer that.
How Long Is a Makeup Course?
Most short makeup artist courses in Melbourne run from 4 to 10 weeks. Our academy offers a 10-day certified makeup course that runs across 5 weeks — perfect if you need flexibility. Classes are usually 6–7 hours long with full practical and demo sessions.
We also offer an express makeup course and a weekday-only option for mums.
How Much Does a Makeup Course Cost?
Expect to pay anywhere from $2,000 to $5,500 depending on the length, whether products are provided, the kit included, and the reputation of the school. Be wary of overly cheap options — they usually skip key skills like how to start your business, attract clients, work with different skin tones, or create on-trend glam looks only, skipping the rest. Also be cautious of overpriced courses hitting $10,000 or more — these often include unnecessary topics like cinematography or period makeup, which sound impressive but are irrelevant if you’re focused on bridal and special event clients.
Our course is $2,150 for and includes full kit access, a way for you to try out a range of professional products whilst learning about them, 10 face-to-face classes, written modules, live demo videos, and a business course.
Do You Need Qualifications to Be a Makeup Artist in Australia?
No licence is required in Australia to work as a freelance or bridal makeup artist. But clients still want to know you’re trained, professional, and know what you’re doing.
That’s why doing a certified makeup course in Melbourne matters — it’s your proof of skill, especially when you’re just starting. But it’s important to understand the difference between government-accredited courses and certified private courses. Accredited courses usually run for 6 to 18 months, commonly follow outdated government curriculum, and are often unnecessarily long and overpriced. They aren’t tailored to modern bridal or special event work and don’t reflect current industry standard.
Even though they offer government fee help, the total cost is often much higher, and you’re required to repay the loan with interest once you start earning. That means you’re in debt before you’ve even made your first income. If your goal is to become a makeup artist, work for yourself, or take on bridal clients, government-accredited courses are not necessary.
Best Courses for Makeup and Hair Styling in Melbourne
If you want to offer full bridal makeup and hair services, make sure the academy also provides hair training. Look for:
✔️ Hollywood waves
✔️ Bridal updos
✔️ Soft curls and modern hair-ups
✔️ Techniques for different hair types and textures
✔️ Provides exposure and access to a variety of hair styling products that you can use and learn about in class.
We offer both hair and makeup courses with options to do one or both together.
What Happens After You Finish the Course?
This is where many schools drop the ball. You finish the course... then what?
We include:
✔️ Real work experience jobs
✔️ A free introduction to our business coaching program - guiding you how to start your business
✔️ A supportive community of past students and mentors - students still reach out to us years later and we are happy to support them and help them out.
Who Are These Courses For?
✔️ Career changers (often our classroom is filled with people who work in corporate, admin, finance, nursing, health care, education, university students etc.)
✔️ Mums returning to work
✔️ Creative women who want to build a side hustle
✔️ School finishers looking for something hands-on
If that’s you, you’re in the right place.
Final Thoughts: Is a Makeup Course Worth It?
If you're serious about turning your creativity into paid work, then yes — a makeup course in Melbourne is absolutely worth it. The right course gives you real skills, confidence, and support to build a business or work on bridal jobs, fashion events, and more.
Ready to get started?
Explore our Makeup Courses or Hair Styling Courses. We release a few courses each term, and they tend to sell out fast as we can only take a limited number of students in each class. Alternatively reach out to us directly and we will give you the best guidance we can, be it with one of our courses or a course from somewhere else, we are here to help.
