ADVICE ?
I often see unsafe or untrained ‘professional’/volunteer face painters, 
some of which can be rather unpleasant for both the children and the parents. 
Below are some things you should bear in mind to help you avoid disappointment,
Ill children and the hassle of trying to sue for damages should the worst happen. 

Children are great, lets keep them that way.


Before hiring a facepainter, please check;

They have public liability insurance and can/do display or supply a copy

They should be trained and/or be a member of a face painting association 

Paints should be water based & comply with FDA/EC reg’s for cosmetics

They should be fast enough, 10 identifiable faces an hour is average 

Sensitivity patch tests are available and used if required/requested 

All glitter used should be of cosmetic grade, safe to use around the eyes

A fresh sponge should be used for every person

Brush water should be changed regularly or for each person 

Sponge water should always be clean and fresh

A risk assessment has been carried out and is available for inspection

Certain people should not be painted due to health & safety reasons

Bookings should be with a contract to avoid ‘misunderstandings’ 

An invoice or receipt should be issued for every booking 


AVOID IF;

Can not supply a copy of public liability insurance and may not be insured

No training or be a member of a face painting association

Paints are not water based, anything else is not safe to use on the face or skin

Lack of experience/training may mean 4 un-identifiable faces an hour

Not offering a patch test could cause a major allergic reaction

Craft or ‘normal’ glitter can be metallic, stain and has sharp edges

Using a sponge on more than one person can spread germs/bacteria/fungus

Adding anti-bacterial agents to the water is not required and potentially dangerous

Germs/bacteria build up in dirty water and dirty water can cause ‘murky’ colours

They are unaware of the risks involved and the need to reduce/remove any risk

They may aggravate existing conditions or spread germs/bacteria/fungus

May not turn up at all or on the wrong day/time/arrive late/leave early without a contract

Without some form of receipt can you be sure you wil not have to pay twice


Professionals can be VERY busy, especially during public/school holidays & often 
take bookings up to a year in advance!        BOOK AS EARLY AS YOU CAN