Face painting cleanliness

[Sherry]

I saw this posted online and wondered what you all think about this?

http://twincities.momslikeme.com/members/JournalActions.aspx?g=152656&m=13052041&replyid=13056532&source=stream_home

Do you think this was caused by the face paint?  If so, do you think they were using professional products or this is a call to use one sponge per child?  I've never heard of this happening, so I wasn't sure what to think about this posting.

[reginanewsum]

This was really upsetting to read!  I feel that they were not a professional face painter.  Out of all the forums that I belong to and all the pro face painters that I chat with, I have never heard of anyone having any trouble, not to say that it could happen tho.  This type of a story gives us pros a bad name.  I feel we put alot of time and go the extra mile to be safe, people do not realize the time and the prep we but into our business.  I have been doing Ren Faires all summer and have 5 more weekends to go. Because there is no water there to use and I paint for 8 hours straight, I saved my gallon ice cream buskets and I use them for a wash basin for myself only!  Sounds funny but it works.  I take about 10 gallons of clean water with me per day and store them at the back of my booth behind my toolbox. I have a tv tray there also with two buckets of water, one with some dawn dish soap added to the water and one clear water. I quickly step to the back ever so often wash my hands in the soapy water and then rinse them in the clear water. I feel much more safer with clean hands. I can just dump the clear water on the ground and refill the busket when needed. I also have hand sanitiser next to my paints, I use it after each face painting.  I constantly am cleaning my paints and brushes at these types of long gigs. My area is always clean all the time. I feel better and I know my clients feel better.  I only use one sponge per person and thow the dirty ones in a third bucket to take home at the end of the night to wash.  I also have plenty of clean hand towels on hand to use.

[twink-elle]

Hi Everyone,
It is a nightmare to see, there are people who are allergic and we can really have no control over those reactions unless we do patch tests on everyone but there are ways to be hygenic that will protect people. On one of the other forums there is a big discussions about the health guidelines in Alberta, Canada. They are some of the strictest in the world and facepainters are being checked out by health inspectors at all sorts of events. I guess it is our responsibility to use as much knowledge as possible to be safe and clean. I know I have changed my practices over the last few years as I gained knowledge and I feel confident in my sanitary conditions. It takes more time but I know people appreciate it and when I talk to potential clients they know I am a professional and they may or may not have seen a pro painter before so they want to learn what they have to to protect their guests and customers.
 

[jubob]

I say it is silly, I would never have alowed my child to painted by someone who's kit looks dirty, it is common sence. As long as we keep our kits clean, we have nothing to worry about. One of the coments says "I have sat and watched my child been painted and secretly been questioning whether the water was clean or the paintbrushes were clean" DOOH why would you do that. :

[sparklingfaces]

Jubob - i dunno - brushes can be RINSED after each person but that means the water is dirty. That to me is not techically a clean brush anyways... and the water... well now you have to change water after each person... but your water container has already been contaminated....

I think this is one of those rare cases. People die in plane crashes all the time.... but everyone still flies everywhere... and dont get me started on car crashes

[Shannon Fennell]

The reasons for the health regulations that we work under here in Alberta are to prevent the spread of contagious diseases or conditions.

They seem extreme to most face painters, but the regualtions are pretty much the same as those required for application of cosmetics - which is exactly what face paints are.

If you went to a make-up artist who used the SAME lipstick brush on you that they used on the last person, without cleaning it would you stay to have them apply your make-up??  Not likely.

Getting a herpes infection in the eye is pretty extreme but not unbelievable.  If the painter was not cleaning the brushes between people or reusing sponges, and had painted a child with active herpes... then, it would indeed be passed on.

In Alberta, the City of Calgary had the strictest rules, but the provincal government a couple of years ago combined all the regional health boards into one province wide health board and have adopted the Calgary regulations for face painting for the whole province.  Now, even I, who was working to cosmetic application standards in my local region, now has to adapt to even STRICTER rules such as having a hand-wash station, on top of using clean sponges and brushes for EACH person, not being able to reload the brush or sponge from the cake/container, etc.

It isn't the end of the world... but it does make setting up and carting stuff around a bit more involved.

[sparklingfaces]

" not being able to reload the brush or sponge from the cake/container, etc."

wait - I knew you changed brushes for each person, but what about the part about the cake....?
so you cut a tiny piece off for each person?

I guess I'm trying to visualize how you would not contaminate the whole cake. Because even if you switched brushes and painted someone and went back to reload... that would defeat the purpose, no?

[Sherry]

I think the skin is a protective barrier, but I try to avoid painting on the mouth and nostrils or anyone with cuts, scrapes, rashes, etc.  I've never tried to avoid the eye area, but this makes me wonder if I should?

[AMAZINGface]

Shannon, is there a link to the Canadian standards you talked about that an be shared here?

*If my face paints have an antibacterial quality then loading my brush a second time should not be significant, right?  Maybe?  .......

-Daina

[stardust]

Do most of you use disposable sponges and do you rinse them in between children??
I do however use a new Q-tip for lips.   What about sillyfarms new "brush bath" will this sanitizer kill all germs?! yikes!

[Sherry]

I bring a plastic bag that I keep under the table.  Each time I finish with a customer, I store the sponges there to be cleaned after the event.  Then when someone new sits down, I pull out clean unused sponges.

[jubob]

Same as Sherry I use a new sponge per person, some times two depends on the design. I never paint right up to the eye.

[stardust]

So you do not re-load your sponge per child?  and what about brushes, are you not re-loading them either? i'm just trying to get a mental picture

Are you using the sponges you cut in half yourself? and if you do have to re-load, do you use a new sponge for that same child?

About how many sponges do you take with you??
 
        thx!!!

[Sherry]

I use one sponge per child, but I do re-load it.  Unless it's used on the nostril area, then I don't like the idea of putting it back in my paint.  I don't use one brush per child or worry about re-loading that either, because the paints are supposed to have a strong preservative system and as long as you're painting on clean, unbroken skin, then it's supposed to be safe.  I do use disposable Q-tips for the lips and don't re-load them.  I haven't been so careful with the eye area though and this article has me wondering if I should?

I heard somewhere that you could santize your powders, like Starblend with a spritz of alcohol.  Does anyone do this?

[twink-elle]

Hi all,
I use sponges cut from car wash sponges, I get about 60 sponges from a peanut sponge. Most are triangle shaped so I use the 3 corners, each for a different colour, I'll have to check if I can do that in Alberta. I load enough on so I don't double dip it in my paint. Sometimes I throw them away or else I bleach and wash them in the washing machine for another day. (the ones that keep a stain I keep around home to use for practicing) I have a bunch of brushes and don't double dip those either, after 1 use I wash with ivory soap in water then rinse in water and a 70% alcohol dip before allowing to dry, if I need another brush full of the same colour I use a clean brush. It has added a tiny bit of time but event organizers and parents seem to appreciate it. I don't carry a handwash station yet but do use baby wipes when I get paint on my hands and I use hand sanitizer between kids. I'm waiting for the Alberta rules to sneak into Saskatchewan.