Face painting can be great fun if you are holding a fete, having a party or maybe even putting on a small production. Whatever the occasion, face painting is loved by all. However, whether you are going to paint faces yourself or whether you’re hiring a professional, there are some things you should consider to ensure everyone’s safety.
If you are going to do the face painting:
- You should only use paint that is specifically designed for the skin and complies with EU and FDA regulations. Just because a paint is ‘Non-Toxic’ doesn’t mean ‘safe for skin’.
- Where possible, seek permission from a child’s parent and check whether their child has any allergies. If a parent is not sure about allergies but agrees that their child can have their face painter, do a small patch test first.
- Face painting should not be carried out on broken or wounded skin or on anyone who has any contagious conditions such as conjunctivitis, cold sores etc or skin conditions such as eczema.
- It is not advisable to paint a child’s face if they are younger than three years old.
- Make sure to maintain and keep all equipment clean as you work and make sure your hands are clean before touching anyone. It is recommended that painters use a clean sponge for every face painted.
- Make sure that whoever is carrying out the face painting is trained and comfortable in performing the task.
If you are hiring a professional to do the face painting:
- In the interest of safeguarding, you should ensure that the professional face painter is DBS checked. DBS stands for ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’. This was created in April 2013 and replaces CRB safeguarding checks.
- You should also ensure that that they have suitable public liability insurance.
- A lot of professional face painters belong to the Fast Accredited Creative Experts (FACE) group. You can find members to hire in your area by visiting www.facepaint.co.uk