It is the busiest time of the year for my face painting business! However, I know that not everyone is able to find or afford a face painter for their special occasions. Today I wanted to share 5 tips for face painting at birthday parties or other fun events you may be having this summer.
1. Use the correct paint! I DO NOT use acrylic paint or craft paint! Those types of paint should never be used on the face. You need to use paint designed specifically for the skin. Face paint is bascially colored makeup. Some craft stores carry the Snazaroo brand of paint. This brand is just fine and can be picked up locally. However, if you have the time to order face paint, I would highly recommend buying either the Wolfe
or Paradise brands
. The coverage is wonderful! For a complete list of all the supplies I use at a birthday party, click here.
2. Practice! Don’t let your event be the first time you try to use face paint or paint a particular design. This will only frustrate your and the people you paint. Practice different strokes on your arms or legs and let your kids in on the fun by using them as the models for the face paint designs you will offer.
3. Keep the designs simple and limited to just a few! The butterfly above can be painted in any color, and adding glitter and lipstick will make all the females at the party very happy! The most popular designs I paint include a butterfly, a puppy, a kitty, Spiderman, a snake, an angel and a dragon. A great alternative to hand painting the designs is to use stencils. They are quick and produce beautiful results.
4. Be comfortable with your setup! I have always chosen to use a director’s chair
for my model and to stand in front of them to paint. My supplies are kept on a table within easy reach to my right (I am right-handed). You might be more comfortable have both you and your model sitting in front of each other. Just make sure that your back is not too out of alignment. You will definitely feel it the next day!
5. Take pictures! I cannot stress this enough. Face painting lasts only until the next bathtime! The perfect time to get the best picture is as soon as the painting is done. My absolute favorite part of face painting is the look on a child’s face when they see themselves in a mirror for the first time! Magical!
I hope these quick tips will help you create a fun-filled, stress-free event that will bring many happy memories! Please let me know in the comments below if you have any other questions about adding face painting to your next birthday party.
I link up at these great parties!