Funeral cosmetology, also known as mortuary makeup, restorative arts, or mortuary cosmetology sometimes known by the older name desairology, is a cosmetological art practiced on human cadavers to prepare for viewing. The goal of a funeral cosmetologist is to make a cadaver appear as it did when it was alive and to give it the appearance of resting. [1]
Funeral cosmetology is a relatively new field, only becoming specialized in the 1970s and 1980s, as preparation a cadaver for viewing has traditionally been the job of an embalmer or funeral director. Often, basic flesh-tone makeup is all that is needed in preparing a cadaver, and cadavers with simple hairstyles may not need the specialized services of a cosmetologist. Funeral cosmetologists often reconstruct the appearance of a cadaver based on a photograph of the person while they were alive. Conditions of death such as illness of physical trauma may affect the job of a funeral cosmetologist. Additionally, embalming chemicals may make the hair of a cadaver dry and brittle. [2]
According to the National Accrediting Commission of Cosmetology Arts and Sciences (NACCAS), no schools in the United States currently offer specific programs of study for mortuary cosmetologists, although morturary education may be part of a standard cosmetology course. States don’t require special licensing for mortuary cosmetologists beyond the standard cosmetology license, which is a requirement for cosmetologists in all 50 U.S. states. [2]