If you’re just starting out with body paint or face paint, you may not have figured out how to get all the paint back off!
While your client might like to be a zombie or a tiger at a party, they might not want to look like they’re going to work. Either way, they’ll want to clean themselves up before bed or just about anything else, and you’ll be expected to know how to safely and painlessly remove whatever paint you’ve put on it.
Here are 7 quick tips on how to remove body paint from skin and stay clean and tidy while you work.
1. Check your colors and packaging.
Always use safe paints made specifically for face and body painting. They should specifically say that’s what they’re there for. Read what they say either on the label or on the website about how to clean them. Some body colors are cleaned with water; others may use a special type of remover that you must purchase. Be sure to remove them from the skin using the methods listed on the packaging.
2. Use warm water, sponges and cloths.
If your body paint or face paint supplies dictate using only water or mild soap and water, follow these instructions. Whenever possible, use warm water to make cleaning more comfortable for your customers and to make color removal easier. Sponges (the same kind you use to apply body paint) and soft cloths are the best tools; You can use paper towels, but why not be a bit eco-friendly and use something reusable? And if you use the same types of sponges you use to apply paint, you’ll also get the best removing shapes.
3. Use non-allergenic, natural, safe skin soaps.
By choosing your face and body paints correctly, you have ensured that they are intended for face and body painting and are almost guaranteed not to cause an allergic reaction. Make sure your cleaning soaps meet the same standards. Natural bases like glycerin and castile are good; Try to avoid perfumes, artificial colors and chemicals. If the label says “natural” or “hypoallergenic,” you should still check the ingredients, as they may still contain fragrance or high levels of alcohol stearates, which can cause a reaction from sensitive skin.
4. Be careful around the eyes.
Pay special attention to cleaning the eye area – of course, ask your client to close their eyes and go slow. Some makeup suppliers (e.g. Mehron) carry special cleansers made specifically to clean around the eyes; You might want to try one of these. You can also look to makeup suppliers for smaller tools meant for cleaning 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 completely clean the other areas first and leave the eyes last – this way you don’t get more paint near the eyes once they’re clean and only have to clean them once. That way, you avoid repeated 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 they were formulated for wiping a very different area of the body than the face. This means they likely haven’t been tested for face safety and irritation. I would recommend buying baby wipes that are “natural” but again check the ingredients on the back. They want no fragrances and no dyes if possible. Sometimes you can get them specifically 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 clothes when painting – and washing up.
Colors for face and body paint should never soil the face, but this does not apply to clothing. Even water-based body paints can still stain clothes. Of course, keep the clothes away from the paint while it’s being applied – but you should also take care when tidying up. Soaking paints with water and washing them off can be a dripping process, and the paints are more likely to get on clothes then than when painting. Consider using wipes while cleaning, even if you didn’t do it when painting.
7. And finally: Don’t scrub!
Don’t scrub the skin even if the colors don’t come off properly. Scrubbing can cause uncomfortable reactions even when everything else is safe for the skin. If your paint doesn’t come off quickly, be patient, let it soak a bit and try again gently. Try using something else to clean, such as B. Baby wipes or a cloth with some soap squirted directly on it. You might also want to take another look at the paint’s cleaning instructions – you might have overlooked something while cleaning up. Definitely don’t frustrate and scrub! Your customer will appreciate it.
So that’s it – 7 best tips for safe and easy clean up after makeup or body painting. You might want to print this out as a reminder sheet to include in your art supplies for quick reference should you have a cleaning issue!
Thanks to Jodina Meehan