A Brooklyn makeup artist who obtained a vendor identification number from the New York City Department of Education said she hopes to bring makeup workshops and beauty services to public schools, a plan that has prompted questions about licensing and whether the city endorsed her work.
Alani Thompson, 26, a Midwood High School graduate who operates a small business called Beat by Lani, posted on Instagram that she was a "beauty services partner" with the DOE and that she would be "bringing makeup services directly to schools, helping students look and feel their best for every special event." The post, which included the DOE logo, drew attention and requests from school staff, she said.
A DOE spokeswoman confirmed Thompson has a vendor identification number, one of thousands issued to businesses that can be hired to provide goods or services to public schools, but emphasized that a vendor ID "does not automatically result in a contract." The spokeswoman also said Thompson does not have permission to claim an affiliation with or endorsement by the public schools.
Thompson said the social-media reaction led to concrete inquiries from educators. She said a social worker at PS/IS 66 in Brooklyn asked about a prom-time workshop, a teacher at Gotham Collaborative High School in the Bronx invited her to speak with a cosmetology class, and an after-school program at Pugsley Preparatory Academy in the Bronx asked her to work with middle-school students.
Thompson described a career that began doing makeup for classmates at talent shows and theatrical productions. She worked in Macy's cosmetics department while attending the College of Staten Island, where she studied biology, and later launched a freelance business that provides makeup for weddings, graduations, proms and other events. She said most of her clients are Black and that she wants to encourage students, particularly girls, to try prom and consider cosmetology as a career.
Thompson said her hourly rate for schools ranges from $75 to $150 depending on the group size, with half-day workshops priced between $250 and $500 and full-day workshops between $600 and $1,000. She said those fees include supplies and hands-on demonstrations.
New York state requires that people who charge fees to apply makeup for special events or teach makeup techniques be licensed as estheticians. Licensing applicants must complete a 600-hour approved course of study and pass written and practical examinations. Thompson said she is not yet state-licensed and plans to enroll in a local cosmetology program this fall that specializes in makeup.
Donalda Chumney, a former Manhattan superintendent who oversaw programs for students with special needs, said bringing professional stylists into schools can offer career exposure and enrichment, including for students with disabilities. But she added that principals must ensure programs have educational value and that any adult interacting with students is properly licensed.
The DOE spokeswoman said schools sometimes bring in professional stylists as part of career and technical or enrichment programs, but reiterated that having a vendor ID alone is not an endorsement and that school leaders must follow district rules when hiring outside providers.
Thompson said her mother, a school safety agent, helped her obtain contacts within the system and secure the vendor ID. She said she hopes workshops will boost students' confidence, especially around events such as prom, and that offering makeup education can be a pathway to employment in the beauty industry.
Advocates for student safety and regulatory compliance said schools should verify credentials and the educational purpose of any outside presenter. The DOE did not say whether any contracts had been executed with Thompson or whether any school had scheduled services beyond initial outreach.
