Funeral make-up?

[KDmakeup]

I've been searching on the forum and on the internet for information about doing the make-up for those who have passed away but can't find what I'm looking for.
It might sound a bit morbid and weird but I've always been interested in maybe trying this either as a career or just volunteering. It's obviously not for everyone and would be sad but I can see benefits in being able to help a family at a very hard and sad time.
I'm at a bit of a cross roads career wise at the moment and just don't know what I want to do. As this is something I had thought about way before I started college I thought I would look into it.
Does anybody have any experience in this field? Is it even a real job or am I making something up in my head?

 

[x Fee x]

I know it gets done, but have always assumed it is the funeral directors that arrange this unless the family choose otherwise.

We did my Nan's hair and makeup ourselves before her coffin was sealed after she passed this year.

Perhaps you could contact a few funeral homes and register an interest and enquire what procedures they have? I'm sure they might be the best people to ask about it x

 

[KDmakeup]

Ah maybe your right with it being the funeral directors. I know that people do it in America and that's the only place I can find information about so maybe it's just an American thing.
I think I will give some funeral homes a call or email. No harm in asking

 

[An*Gel]

There have been threads about this before and I'm sure if you have a little search you'll find some helpful threads.

My best friend died suddenly last year - she was in her 30s and we were all completely shocked when we saw her after she came back from the funeral directors. They had done her make-up, but she looked horrific and nothing like herself - it was very upsetting as I'm sure you can imagine. (had we known, we'd have paid anything to have someone do a nice job for her)

We fixed her make-up and hair ourselves and it was a huge comfort to know she looked more like herself.

We just used her own make-up, but I'm sure there must be a special make-up for this.

I noticed through the day the make-up was rubbing off her head, as people were kissing her. I kept topping it up - I felt this was the last thing I could ever do for her.

I have complete respect for you for wanting to do this and wish you all the very best with it.

:hug:

 

[Kim Lawless]

I'm guessing that you would use a theatrical foundation and normal make up on eyes etc. You could simply offer your services to undertakers and see what they say.

You're very brave but it would be a rewarding job. x

 

[KDmakeup]

Thanks for the help. Sorry to hear about your friend it's never easy losing a loved one.
I will have another search on the forum and have a look

 

[sophie72]

If you check Illamasqua website, under the final act there's info.
I was talking to a staff member in their London Beak street store about it as her colleague uses their products to make up people who have passed away.
HTH x

 

[ssuk]

without been morbid and having seen many a bodie but been no make up expert.

I would think its totaly different to live make up.

the colour goes and takes a grey/blue tinge
the skin is going to cold- dont know if this will alter application?
you cant ask them to close eyes, purse lips etc. the face may be sunken
and dont forget your not making them look 'pretty' but natural, how they used to look.

hope that helps

Sent from my GT-S5830i using SalonGeek

 

[HelloGorgeous]

Good luck to you...and respect for what you want to do... Funeral directors are indeed in charge of "make-up" of any deceased person unless instructed otherwise by the family. Most grieving family actually do not thing about make-up, hair when it comes to the last farewell - the FD will mainly ask question about the clothing but rarely about hair-dos, make-up, and too often the deceased does look like a stranger to family and friends.
Besides contacting FD, you best PR - marketing is to have a nice blog - site talking about this issue - it might bring some traffic and you will be known for your expertise. It did work for a Funeral photographer who though "why only covering weddings"?...

 

[Dol]

Good on you! Last year I attended a friend's funeral-she was 22 and her make up was like something an older lady from the 70's would have worn.

It crossed my mind if there was someone who specialized in funeral makeup.

My other half has been told that my toe nails must be painted, but who will know that I never wear brown lipstick? Certainly not a Funeral Director.

I think it would be nice if the family/friends could say to someone,
"She wore Pink or purple and preferred lipgloss to lipstick" and know that their loved one would look their best for the last time.

 

[Dol]

There have been threads about this before and I'm sure if you have a little search you'll find some helpful threads.

My best friend died suddenly last year - she was in her 30s and we were all completely shocked when we saw her after she came back from the funeral directors. They had done her make-up, but she looked horrific and nothing like herself - it was very upsetting as I'm sure you can imagine. (had we known, we'd have paid anything to have someone do a nice job for her)

We fixed her make-up and hair ourselves and it was a huge comfort to know she looked more like herself.

We just used her own make-up, but I'm sure there must be a special make-up for this.

I noticed through the day the make-up was rubbing off her head, as people were kissing her. I kept topping it up - I felt this was the last thing I could ever do for her.

I have complete respect for you for wanting to do this and wish you all the very best with it.

:hug:

sorry for your loss. Such a lovely thing to do for your friend

 

[wowbb]

I think its amazing that you want to get into this side of things but i feel its very well needed as from what i have heard and seen its quite horrifying and especially at a funeral where you want to remember the loved one as realistic as possible to find them in a state of make up/ hair that they would have never worn is not only upsetting but soul destroying and a picture that you wont get out of your head again!!!

i would speak to the funeral directors in your area as they might be quite open to the idea of offering your service to the family in order to make sure that their loved one is looked after and looking as peaceful and relaxed as possible ( i hope i have found the right words!)

 

[KDmakeup]

I think a good point many of you have made is that you want to remember loved ones looking as they normally did not with a full face of unnatural make-up that they would never have worn. The only funerals I have been to were when I was very young so I'm not too familiar with the whole process.
The company I am working for just now has a funeral branch so I'm going to talk to them tomorrow and ask some questions.
Thanks for all the help.

 

[Roxie]

The funeral director/mortician usually does the make up.

They usually use/ask for the makeup that belong to the deceased.

It really is a specialist job and not the run of the mill make up application as some already mention above about the deceaseds skin and skin tone being very different to that of an alive person.

Also there are "certain tricks of the trade" used to make the deceased look more like themselves and peaceful and not for "just a make up artist" to know about or perform unless wanting to enter the funeral trade.

Also you have to "make up" males as well as females not as easy as it sounds.

 

[Tomme]

It sounds really interesting, I guess you would have to do some training in it but if its what you want to do in sure it would help the family's feel more comfortable with their loved one looking like they did.

I'm sure if you got a place at a funeral directors you could give them a few questions to ask them or ask for a photo of the person looking like they would like to see them for the last time, you will then have something to work from.
You could also ask for eyeshadow and lipsticks they wore to use (make sure to give it back).
There must be a calling for this, just make sure you don't go to a coop directors, there has been a video about how poor their care of loved ones is. Xoxo

 

[Moosebat]

This may help http://www.salongeek.com/skin-geek/143715-making-up-old-clients-whos-passed-away.html :Love:

 

[Hazemalone]

I did my nan and my mams make up after they passed away. I used my mams own make up but she had asked for a closed coffin so it was mainly for the benefit of peace of mind as my mam was so glam. With my nan I did have to touch up over the three days in the mornings but as I knew these women like the back of my hand I knew what make up was "them" also the funeral home we used for my mam didn't offer make up where as with my nan they offered but as a family we declined. HTH

 

[x Fee x]

There must be a calling for this, just make sure you don't go to a coop directors, there has been a video about how poor their care of loved ones is. Xoxo

That's a shame, we were under strict instructions from my Nan that only the Co-op could look after her. They couldn't have done more for our family during the funeral process. Perhaps it depends on each individual premises? x