Craft paints and fabric paints may say "non-toxic" on the bottle but that does NOT indicate that they are safe to use on skin. On the contrary, the instructions on the bottle often say, "if paint comes in contact with skin, wash promptly." Not only is craft paint designed only for paper, wood and other hard surfaces, it is designed to dry to a hard plastic-like substance, which can cause rashes and infections on the skin. And if you've ever had to scrub this plastic substance off your child's face (with the screaming and tears!) you'll never want to do it again!
Even glitters used on the face must be FDA approved for use on skin.
Craft glitters are often made of metal, which can cut into the skin and if left under the skin can rust and cause infection.
A professional face painter will do everything possible to keep your child, their kits and their area clean and tidy.
But you can help them out by doing a few things on your end:
1) If your child can not stand in line long enough to not cough, sneeze, or wipe their nose, please do not wait in line to be painted.
It doesn't matter if the symptoms are caused by a simple allergy, just the presence of mucus can introduce new bacteria to the supplies and area. Not to mention it makes all the other parents nervous about germs. There is no way to tell if you child's simple allergies are actually masking the signs of an oncoming cold. So, best practice is to be safe rather than sorry. If your child takes allergy medicine, give them a dose before you leave for the festival so it has time to work before you get in the face painting line. But just be aware, most face painters will refuse to paint anyone with these symptoms to be on the safe side.
2) Clean your child's face before it's their turn.
I would say I see about 1 in 5 children with food or dirt smeared across their face. As a parent, I do understand that children are constantly dirty and that it doesn't mean they are infected with an illness. But keeping our brushes and paints clean is part of our job. If you present me with a dirty face, it takes time away from painting, to clean your child's face first before I can begin. If you don't have a wet wipe of your own, just ask the face painter. They always have some ready for you.
3) Use hand sanitizer on your child before and after their turn. Most people don't think about this but they will be touching the chair and the mirror that every other child will be touching that day.
It is possible to have your face painted in a professional, clean, and germ free way. It just takes a little investigation and preparation before you participate.
