Face painting cleanliness

[jubob]

Same as Sherry here 

[liz small]

As a painter who came TO Calgary from Ontario...and before that ...the UK - the painting health regs here made my jaw drop -these days - I am comfortable with the guidelines and in fact I am actually rather proud of them.

Shannon's view comes from being a trained esthetician - it makes perfect sense when you think about it from that angle.  There has been one major change recently, and that is that is now ALBERTA wide....and Calgary no longer can be branded with the prize of having the most stringent, draconian rules in the country...now its ALL of us in the province of Alberta.

And another thing.....I would put money on not ONE of us being 100% true to the regs either.  However, I know that because I use the guidelines and I keep everything clean...I can be confident that breakouts are extremely unlikely.
I am asked constantly if I use Hypoallergenic paints.....when I explain there is no such thing parents look horrified.  but I do always tell them that  that I have yet to experience a child getting one from my painting..but will I guarantee it won't happen?   NO WAY I will.....its always possible.

A separate sponge per face IS very workable, indeed I NEVER use the same sponge on two faces, its just not done these days...did I? YOU BET I did i........I was terrified that I would use so much more paint and I would waste materials...in relaity I don't t hink that's the case at all. I have even got used to having a wash hand station and USING it!! now I wash my hands between each client, and I like having clean paws!!!.  This year, at Bodyssey (www.bodyssey.ca) we have introduced a workshop on health and Safety - If Shannon had been coming, I would have asked her to do the workshop for us - but as it is we have the lovely Angie Hitch doing it for us - she like SHannon is an esthetician and a theatrical make up artist - with formal training who has been around our industry for some time.  So, its not the Alberta system she is teaching - its general health and safety tips - showing us all how to paint clean - to protect both our clients and our businesses.

Happy painting!

Liz In Calgary

[sparklingfaces]

i dont think the curiosity is from using one sponge per person - I do that as well

but we're interested in the reload or lack of... or the " not using the same cake on everyone" part.

[twink-elle]

i don't reload the sponges, and I wash with soap then clean water and then alcohol dip the brushes (and let them dry) so my cakes are clean because they've only had clean sponges and brushes touch them. I've done it enough times now I get enough paint on the sponges most of the time. If I have to use another sponge I do and sometimes I have to load a bunch of brushes to get all the lines done. The only paint that gets in my working water gets there because I have to reload while working up the paint consistency before I've touched the face. I may try out the adding drops of water to the cakes from a squeeze bottle but right now I use the brush to add water but it's clean brush and clean paint so it isn't contaminated. Once I've used a brush 1 time it goes into ivory soap and water until that face is done then I do a brush wash and clean my hands while the customer is looking in the mirror and the next person tells me what they want. I just do by the hour events so I don't have to deal with the money so things move along quite quickly.

[Psalmbook]

On the Brush bath from SF. I was using it as they recommend it, but stopped. It has tea tree oil in it(a known allergen). The chances of a child having an allergic reaction are far more likely than getting an infection if you keep your kit clean.
This saying, I'm 1 sponge per person. I throw my sponges in a bucket w/ water under my table to help prevent staining. I rinse them out very well when I get home & then wash them in hot water in the washing machine(in a net bag). Shannon gave me the idea of the bucket. I bought cushions from Michael's & used them to make tons of sponges. I hand sanitize regularly & use anti-bacterial wipes meant for skin(on my hands but never on kid faces). I do re-use brushes, but am seriously thinking about getting more & taking up Alberta style cleaning/loading. I wipe out my paints at the end of the day w/ anti-bacterial wipes meant for skin.
My system is not perfect yet, but I'm moving that direction.

[LillyW]

Oh boy, this topic always brings painters to blows. Nobody agrees on the RIGHT way to do this. So many of the "greats" in our indusrty do almost nothing to sanitize:  Pashur, Marcela, Mark Reid, the Wolfes, Luci B., Annie Reynolds, and more, use the brushes and sponges over throughout a gig.

I use the same brushes and sponges for each customer.  BUT, I use two skin safe antibacterial wipes for each customer. One, I use those as the cloth to "wipe" or pull water out of my brush. One for my hands.

Also, I use an anti-fungal spary (safe for skin), in my water (which I also do not change).

I spray all my paints and brushes after each client.

I do a very good cleaning of all of my materials and tools once a week.

- Lilly Walters, 909-398-1228
Author of 4 books for Face Painters, including the new 3-D Jewels and Necklaces
Books and Face Painting Classes http://www.funfacepainting.com/book.html

[ChaCha]

Lilly,  If you don't mind my asking:  what type/brand of spray do you use for your water and your brushes? I dont have a problem doing the one sponge per person....but cant imagine (at my newbie stage) switching brushes too.   Thanks....

[Shannon Fennell]

I started carting around my handwash station this summer... basically a gallon cooler with a tap, a bucket for waste water, anti-bac liquid soap in a pump and a roll of paper towels...

AND.. I'm using liquid black Fardel for my detail work on a small palette. I've put it in a squeeze bottle and use a drop at a time onto the palette, do the details, then wipe the palette off with a spray of alcohol.  Actually am not using it up as fast as I thought I would - I've got lots on hand.

Using the liquid means I don't have to reload from my cakes...

And like Liz said, very few probably are really 100% following EVERY rule and reg, but if you get hit with an inspection you NEED to have everything there and know what to do while the inspector is watching you!  And be able to answer their questions.

[sparklingfaces]

fardel, ....I must try this