Ten Top Tips for Face Painting at a Birthday Party
- Avoid oil based paints for young children. They tend to smudge more easily and can also be difficult to remove after the event.
- Always work with a damp sponge or brush, because it will make it easier to apply the makeup smoothly. Have a small bowl to dip your brushes and sponges into, a cloth to wipe away excess moisture, and a jug of clean water so you can refill as necessary.
- Consider including nontoxic glitter gel in your repertoire. Especially for little girls, glitter tends to be a big winner.
- Have a page of templates on hand, which can be referenced while doing the painting. It is far more difficult to create designs when there are no pictures handy.
- Have brushes of a variety of sizes available, including very thin brushes, which can be used for outlining and fine details.
- Consider sticking to a theme. This will make it easier for novice face painters, as they will only have to learn a few designs in order to please the children in attendance.
- In addition to the brushes, you will want to have soft sponges on hand, especially if you intend to execute large designs. Sponges can quickly wear out when painting several faces, so have a few backups ready to go.
- Nervous about it? There are face painting stencils available today, but do recall that kids are happy to have the opportunity and will not be as critical as you are of your skills.
- Having unscented baby wipes at the party will also be helpful. They are very useful for removing face paint, in case a child’s skin becomes irritated.
Choose a comfy chair. If you intend to offer face painting throughout the party, be sure that you are ready to cycle through face painters, or have a very comfortable chair set up, with arm support. This can be a surprisingly tiring task