Funeral cosmetology, also known as mortuary makeup, restorative arts, mortuary cosmetology, or desairology, is a cosmetological art practiced on deceased human bodies to prepare for viewing. The goal of a funeral cosmetologist is to make a person appear as they did when alive and to give them the appearance of resting. [1]
Whilst funeral cosmetology is often presented a relatively new field it is part of an ancient tradition of applying cometic, colour and pigments to the deceased to achieve a desired look. In Western culture it has become a more specialised beginning in the 1970s and 1980s, as preparation of the deceased for viewing has traditionally been the job of an embalmer or funeral director, who are of course trained in cosmetology as part of standard techniques. Most often more basic flesh-tone makeup is all that is required in preparing a body, and deceased with simple hairstyles rarely need the specialised services of a dedicated cosmetologist. As with embalmers, morticians and other funeral carers funeral cosmetologists often reconstruct the appearance of a body based on a photograph of the person while they were alive.
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]