Know exactly how to start your beauty career

State-by-state licensing guides, step-by-step career roadmaps, and an honest quiz to find your path. Built for complete beginners. No school trying to sell you something.

California
Cosmetology
1,600 hours
Texas
Esthetics
750 hours
New York
Cosmetology
1,000 hours
Florida
Permanent Makeup
Tattoo License
Virginia
Makeup Artist
No license req.
DC
Cosmetology
1,500 hours
The Problem

Every beauty resource online is trying to sell you their school

Career quizzes that funnel you to one program. Licensing info buried in insurance sites. Requirements that vary wildly state to state. BeautyCompass cuts through all of it with clear, independent, beginner-first guidance.

State-by-State Roadmaps

Every state has different requirements for cosmetology, esthetics, permanent makeup, and more. We map them all.

  • Training hour requirements
  • Exam details and fees
  • License application steps
  • Estimated total costs
  • Reciprocity agreements

Licensed vs. Unlicensed

Not every beauty career needs a license. We tell you what you can do today vs. what requires formal training, state by state.

Career Quiz

Your budget. Your timeline. Your state. Your personality. We match you to the right beauty career without pushing you toward any school.

Always Current

State regulations change. School requirements shift. We keep every guide updated so you never follow outdated advice.

Find your perfect beauty career in 2 minutes

Most beauty career quizzes are lead-gen tools for specific schools. Ours factors in your state, budget, time constraints, and personality to recommend the career path that actually fits your life.

Question 3 of 8
How much time can you invest in training?
Less than 3 months
3 to 6 months
6 to 12 months
I'm open to 1-2 years

Your beauty career starts with knowing the path

No fluff. No sales pitch. Just clear, state-specific guidance to get you from zero experience to working in the beauty industry.