It happened again.

It’s the call I hate. I was on the phone with a client who was looking for face painting. I always ask if they have ever hired a face painter before, and in this case, they had. She said, “but the parents complained that their kids’ faces were itchy, and that’s why I’m calling you.”

It’s not the first time. I have also been painting at events where families (and even adults and teens) look longingly at my supplies, but don’t get in line. When I offer, “would you like to get painted”, I hear the same story. “I want to, but last time, I broke out.” Or “I can’t. I have really sensitive skin” (Which may be true…). Or “The last time, he screamed, and when we finally got it off, it left a rash that lasted for 2 weeks!”

Yikes! If you are considering face painting at your event, this is a MUST-READ! You have one chance for your event to go well. This 7- minute read will be the difference between a worry-free experience and a stressful, complaint-filled nightmare.

When I hear these stories, I do a little digging. Who were the artists? What products were they using? Has this ever happened before? (And for you, dear reader, how can YOU ensure that your guests are protected?)

Who were the face painting artists?

Most of the time, the artists are volunteers–parents or high school students who are helping out at the school carnival or church picnic. They were given the supplies and without a second thought, they got to work.

BUT… there are plenty of instances when the artist is a “professional” (as in, someone who works for pay!). Some of these folks are new (because they liked face painting at the carnival so much, they thought, “I could make money at this”, and bought their own supplies, and don’t know better.

AND THEN… there are the “seasoned professionals” who “have been using this stuff for years”! (More on that later).

What face paint products were they using?

In most cases, the face painters were using whatever they had on hand, and very often craft paint from the local art stores or online. The individual who purchased them likely bought them for two reasons. 1)They are CHEAP! and 2) They appear SAFE. After all, let’s read the label: “Non-toxic, fast-drying, permanent all-purpose acrylic paint in bright opaque colors. For use on canvas, wood, paper, plastic and more. Six 8-oz. plastic bottles per pack. Deep, rich tones dry to a soft matte finish. Highly pigmented for better blending and color mixing. For painting, stenciling or finishing ceramic projects.”

What’s wrong with “Non-toxic” when it comes to face paint? 

“Non-toxic” is a designation which means that if you eat the product, it probably won’t kill you. But when it comes to face painting, that’s not enough. We are not feeding the paint to your guests! A jalapeño pepper is also non-toxic, but I wouldn’t rub it on my face! “Non-toxic” isn’t enough!
And what about the rest of the label? “fast-drying, permanent…” Has it ever occurred to you that what makes it “permanent” on surfaces like “canvas, wood, paper, plastic” etc, means you probably don’t want it on your (or your children’s) skin?

Here is a website which has a great infographic and article about what’s in Acrylic paints: http://www.designlife-cycle.com/acrylic-paint

“But it’s never been a problem before!”

I have spent years offering training (and even my own supplies) to artists (volunteer and paid) who “don’t know better”, and fortunately, most people are eager to do the right thing and improve their practices (and their products) upon being educated.

Unfortunately, there are still a handful of seasoned artists who are using bad products, whose position is, “I’ve always done it this way, and I even paint on my own children!”, as if to suggest that it is safe. Do you really want to take that chance? Here is an old blog post from a friend and colleague of mine who has always used best practices, and which includes photos of skin reactions from unsafe products.

Will good, safe products ensure a good experience?

Almost! It’s an important first step, but there is more. It doesn’t matter how good the face paint is, if the artist doesn’t use “best practices” around safety and hygiene. It’s impossible to provide a sterile environment with face painting, since we are out in public, with families and food, sometimes outdoors with bugs and things blowing in the wind. There are so many variables out of our control. What we CAN control, however, is the way we make contact with children. A safe, Professional Face Painter employs the following practices:

• Washes/sanitizes hands regularly
• Uses one sponge per guest (versus “one sponge per color” that I saw at a major theme park years ago! YUCK!)
• Uses a cosmetic sanitizer/disinfectant or other additive in the rinse water (also skin safe), to provide an extra layer of protection when dipping brushes.
• Educates parents of sick children that we may not be able to paint them today. (This is a tough one! I can’t tell you how many parents bring a child who is feverish, coughing and with watery eyes & a runny nose and insists “they aren’t contagious”. We have alternatives!)

Here are the 4 Questions to ask any face painter you’re inviting to your event:

1. Where do you get your supplies? (If they won’t tell you, OR if answer is Amazon, or a national brand of ANY type of arts & crafts store, thank them and move on! Those of us who do this professionally CARE about and are PROUD OF our supplies and our suppliers and will gladly point you to our vendors!)

2. What kind of face paints do you use? (If they use the words “Non-toxic”, no matter what follows, thank them and move on! Professionals who care are using the best products, which are identified as “FDA compliant, cosmetic grade, hypoallergenic* make up”. Yes… it’s all makeup. “Face Paint” is actually a misnomer.) Likewise, if someone says “FDA approved“, this is misleading. The FDA does not approve our products. But the ingredients in our products get scrutinized. This is the difference between “approved” vs. “compliant”.
*a word about “hypoallergenic”. If your child has sensitive skin (not just while being face painted but in general), then it’s probably a good idea to avoid any face painting, or try a small test on the arm instead. (Faces are more sensitive than arms.) The products we use are the best available, but it never hurts to proceed with caution.

3. Tell me about your insurance? (If they don’t carry any or cannot provide the details, move on! Those of us who care enough to use the best products also care enough to make sure that we are insured!)

4. How did you become a face painter? What kind of training do you have? I am grateful to any parent or older sibling who is willing to work the school carnival and paint faces! That said, when a “volunteer” decides to become pro, they don’t know what they don’t know, and wouldn’t necessarily have learned about skin safety or best face paint station practices! (I have been doing this for 25 years, and I still learn new things!) Experienced face painters who care continue to attend conventions, take classes, participate in webinars to ensure they are using the best and safest practices (in addition to the best and safest products). Oh… and this isn’t training which is provided by an “art degree”. It’s training that is provided by face painting industry leaders. We invest a lot of time and money in our continuing education.

Professional Face Painters who take pride in their artistry along with their ethics will likely cost more than those who just got started and/or who do this for a little extra cash on evenings & weekends. If you want to understand the difference in the prices that are charged for entertainment services (such as face painting, balloons, clowns, magic, etc) here’s a quick read.

If you want extra help in spotting a “Professional” (which is more than someone who gets paid). click here.

Face Painting has easily become our most popular service. Children love it in the way that I love chocolate… It’s THAT tempting. I hope this has helped give you confidence the next time you are inviting a face painter to your next birthday party, holiday party, company picnic, community celebration or place of worship!

And when you’re ready for the Twin Cities’ favorite face painters, please reach out to us! We are the fastest, funniest & most fun artists around. You’ve got to see it to believe it!