How Mortuary Makeup Artists Honor the Dead

There are many pathways for cosmetologists, but there's one career path you might have never thought about. Most funeral homes have a dedicated mortuary cosmetologist on staff to apply makeup and style the hair of the deceased . Sometimes called desairologists, their practice can be a way to honor someone and celebrate life. Still, few people understand exactly what it means to be in the mortuary cosmetic industry.

"[This role] is about respecting the deceased and their family," a makeup artist and TikTok user who goes by Ms. Mortuary tells POPSUGAR. "A position in this field is a rare opportunity to obtain, but in my opinion, it is because not too many cosmetologists are aware that this is an option."

Being a mortuary beautician is a multifaceted role, much like it is when working with the living. "I provide hair services, restorative hair replacement, wig installations, makeup, and even nail services," Ms. Mortuary says. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about postmortem beauty, straight from the pros themselves.

The process for applying makeup on the deceased is fairly similar to applying on a living person. But there are a few additional steps, like embalming, that starts with the foundation. It's the process of preserving human remains to stall any decomposition. "[It] requires chemicals that alter the integrity of the skin," Ms. Mortuary says. "The skin can change in texture, and the pores no longer absorb products. You also have to consider the duration of the services."

The family will usually show a photo to use as inspiration for the hair and makeup, says mortuary makeup artist Heather Taylor. "If I don't have one, I will do a more natural look. I'd never want to assume someone likes a lot of makeup, especially if they weren't known to wear any. That could really upset the family." After that, Ms. Mortuary says, the formal process "begins by removing a protective cream — usually a stone oil or massage cream — that is placed on the decedent's face until it is time for my services to begin." These products are used to maintain moisture in the decedent's skin to avoid dehydration.

After any hair removal that may be necessary, restorative processes may need to be performed. "Depending on the amount of trauma, I would patch up any wounds with mortuary wax," Taylor says. "In cases where I'm working with more fragile cases, I used an airbrush to apply less heat to the wax."

The order in which makeup is applied is entirely up to the artist, but both Ms. Mortuary and Taylor opt to do the base first, eyes, and then lip colors. "The lips are always last," Taylor says. "I would glue them, let them dry, then apply the natural color."

You may be surprised to find that many morticians use a lot of the same products as you do, from brands like Anastasia Beverly Hills, Milk Makeup, and MAC, and for similar reasons. Still, because there can be a slight fading of the skin's pigment during the embalming process, foundation matching is crucial. Taylor, for example, has relied on the Temptu Airbrush for years because it's easy to blend colors for the perfect shade. "I've used it since I was in special-effects school," she says. She also likes to use Kalon Cream ($37) to keep the face moist and tone down the foundation as needed.

Kalon Cream

From

$37

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"Lots of over-the-counter products [are in my kit] because there's always an emergency run to the drugstore happening," Taylor says, adding that she reaches for items specifically from E.l.f. Cosmetics and NYX Professional Makeup.

Like any other role, becoming a mortuary makeup artist requires starting from the bottom up. "I always suggest finding a position in a funeral home first, then working your way up the ladder if you find difficulty getting your foot into the door," Taylor says. Then, should you find yourself on the other side of that interview, don't forget to look alive.