List of Special Effects Makeup Schools in New York

You're creative and want to make use of your artistic talents. If you're looking to learn how to turn actors and extras into zombies, aliens and other imaginative creatures, a special effects makeup school is a must. New York boasts a number of educational and technical institutions that feature programs to train professionals in the art of special effects makeup.

Theatrical and Film Focus

The Empire Beauty Schools offers a makeup artistry program with a specialization in theater or film effects at its Manhattan, New York campus. The special effects makeup classes in the program provide the basics of makeup artistry such as sculpting, contouring and personalizing products. You will receive hands-on training in how to apply these techniques to special effects makeup for the stage or screen. The New York Institute of Beauty in Islandia also offers a 35-hour training program in television and cinematic makeup application. You must complete the school's beauty essentials course or have an equivalent amount of experience prior to registration. If you're an actor interested in learning how to apply your own special effects makeup for theatrical productions, New York Film Academy's musical theater program offers a one-year conservatory that features makeup application courses.

Fashion and Editorial Effects

If you're interested in learning how to use special effects makeup to create avant-garde looks in the fashion industry, the Christine Valmy advanced makeup program provides training in creative applications as well as period design. This program is one of the bet makeup courses in NYC and is only open to students who have completed the school's basic makeup course of study. Buffalo's Salon Professional Academy also offers a makeup application program that features courses on imaginative application techniques for the runway or fashion magazines as part of the school's general esthetics program. New York City's Aveda Academy offers advanced techniques workshops for fashion runway application; students must have experience as a professional makeup artist to enroll.

Multimedia Makeup

New York's Make-Up Designory offers a multimedia makeup concentration. This program combines basic beauty and makeup techniques with special effects design. In this program, you'll learn how to apply makeup for the stage and screen, create simulated injuries, design character makeup and use makeup to age an actor. If you want to move a step beyond these techniques, the school's second-level special effects makeup course includes building and applying prosthetic latex and gelatin features. The Last Looks Makeup Academy also offers multimedia makeup training, with special workshops in creating fantasy creatures, wounds and applying prosthetics. The academy offers these classes as periodic workshops, not regular course programs. New York University students can take classes in special effects multimedia makeup through the Tisch Open Arts program, a non-degree course of study that allows students from other majors to take classes in the arts. Non-NYU students can take special effects makeup classes through the visiting students' summer program.

Airbrush and Stenciling Techniques

Media Make Up Academy NYC offers an airbrush makeup artistry program, providing information and hands-on training in applying spray makeup and special effects designs with an airbrush tool. Both beginning makeup students and those who are already professionals may take this class. The Media Make Up Academy notes that students do not need formal training in makeup art before taking this course. The Chic School of Makeup also offers airbrush technique courses in the New York City area. New York's Academy of Freelance Makeup offers a certificate in professional makeup program that features special effects course work in stenciling. The course provides instruction on creating faux tattoos and other body designs using makeup stenciling techniques.