If you’re just getting started with body paint or face paint, one thing you may not have considered is how you’re going to get all that paint off again.
While your client may like to be a zombie or tiger at a party, they may not want to go to work as one. In either case, they’ll want to clean themselves up before they go to bed or do just about anything else, and you’re expected to know how to safely and painlessly remove the paint you put on them.
Here are 7 quick tips for getting body paint off your skin and also keeping yourself neat and clean while you work.
1. Check your paints and packaging.
Always use safe paints that have been made specifically for face painting and body painting. They should explicitly say that’s what they’re for. Read what they say, either on the label or on the website, about how to clean them. Some body paints are made to wash off with water; others may use a special type of remover that you will have to purchase. Be sure to clean them from the skin using the methods indicated on the packaging.
2. Use warm water, sponges, and cloths.
If your body painting or face painting supplies say to use just water, or mild soap and water, follow those directions. Use warm water if possible to make cleanup more enjoyable for your customers and paint removal easier. Sponges (the same kind you use to apply body paints) and soft cloths are the best tools; You can use paper towels, but why not save the environment a bit and use something reusable? And using the same types of sponges you use to put paint on will also give you the best ways to remove paint.
3. Use safe, natural, non-allergenic skin soaps.
If you have chosen your face and body paints correctly, you have ensured that they are for face and body painting and are almost guaranteed not to cause an allergic reaction. Make sure your cleaning soaps follow the same standards. Natural bases like glycerin and castile are good; try to avoid perfumes, artificial colors, and chemicals. If it says “natural” or “hypoallergenic” on the label, you may want to check the ingredients, they may still include flavorings or high amounts of alcohol stearates, which can cause a reaction on sensitive skin.
4. Be careful around the eyes.
Pay special attention to cleanliness around the eyes; of course, ask your client to close their eyes and go slow. Some makeup suppliers (Mehron, for example) have special cleansers made especially for cleaning around the eyes; you might want to try one of those. You can also look at makeup suppliers for smaller tools designed to clean around the eyes. The skin around the eyes (and of course the eye itself) is more sensitive than the rest of the skin, so what works on the rest of the skin may not work as well around the eyes.
A good trick is to clean the other areas completely first and save the eyes for last; That way, you won’t have any more paint left near your eyes once they’re clean, and you only have to wipe them once. That way, you can avoid repetitive cleaning (and irritation) of the eye area, as well as extra work on your part.
5. Baby wipes are great, but use the right ones.
Baby wipes are great to have on hand, but remember that they were formulated to clean a much different area of the body than the face. This means they probably haven’t been tested for safety and facial irritation. I would recommend getting baby wipes that are ‘natural’, but again, check the ingredients on the back. If possible, you don’t want fragrances or dyes. Sometimes you can get them especially for ‘sensitive skin’, again, read the labels. Then try them on your face to see how they work before using them on others.
6. Protect clothing while painting and washing.
Paints made for face painting and body painting should never stain the face, but the same cannot be said for clothing. Even water-based body paints can stain clothing. Keep your clothing away from the paint while it’s being applied, of course, but you’ll also want to keep an eye on it when you’re cleaning up. Soaking paints in water and washing them can be a drippy process, and colors are more likely to bleed onto clothing than when painting. Consider using drop cloths to cover up while cleaning, even if you didn’t when painting.
7. And last but not least: Don’t scrub!
Do not rub the skin, even if the paints are not removed properly. Rubbing can cause bad reactions even if everything else is safe for the skin. If the paint doesn’t come off quickly, be patient, let it soak in for a bit, and try again carefully. Try using something else to clean, like baby wipes or a washcloth with a little soap directly on it. You may also want to take a look at the paint’s instructions on cleaning again; maybe you missed something about cleanliness. In any case, don’t get frustrated and rub yourself! Your client will appreciate it.
That’s it: Top 7 tips for cleaning up safely and easily after face or body painting. You may want to print these out as a reminder sheet to include in your painting supplies, that way if you have a cleanup problem you can refer to them quickly!
