KEEPING YOUR KIT CLEAN AND SAFE: a comprehensive guide

Maintaining a clean and safe face painting kit is essential to ensuring the health and safety of your clients. In this blog post, we'll cover everything you need to know about keeping your face painting kit clean, including understanding the PAO symbol, keeping your paints dry and debris-free, spotting expired paints, maintaining a record of when paints were opened, and much more. Let's dive in!

Understanding the PAO Symbol

The Period After Opening (PAO) symbol is an essential guide for any face painter. This symbol, usually depicted as a small jar with a number inside (e.g., 6, 12, or 24), indicates how many months the product remains safe and effective after opening.

The PAO symbol helps you track the shelf life of your paints once they’ve been opened. Using paints beyond this period can lead to reduced effectiveness and potential safety risks, such as skin irritation or infection.

How They Deteriorate

Antimicrobial agents can lose effectiveness over time when exposed to air or other contaminants, reducing their ability to protect the product. Prolonged exposure to contaminants and regular use will degrade these agents, shortening the paint's lifespan.

Tips for Maintaining Clean Paints

Face paints are susceptible to contamination by bacteria and mold if not stored and handled properly. Keeping your paints dry and free from debris is crucial for their longevity and safety. There are steps you can take, to maintain your paints and ensure they don't expire before their POA timeframe. 

• Use Clean Brushes and Sponges: Always use clean brushes between each face and use a new clean, dry sponge for each colour and person. This minimises the risk of introducing bacteria and debris into your paints.

• Avoid Double Dipping: Avoid dipping used brushes back into the paint container. Instead, use a clean brush or sponge each time you need more paint. You shouldn't ever need to reload your sponge and reloading brushes should be kept to a minimum and only when absolutely necessary. 

• Cover Paints When Not in Use: Keep your paint containers closed when not in use to protect them from dust, debris, and airborne contaminants.

• Dry Thoroughly: Allow paints to dry completely before closing the lids after each use. This helps prevent the growth of mould and bacteria. If you notice your paints are sticky or even gloopy, simply place them in the fridge with the lid off or inside an airtight container with some silica gel packs to absorb any excess moisture.

Spotting Expired Paints

Even with the best care, paints can sometimes expire before their time. Knowing the signs of expired paint is crucial for maintaining a safe kit.

Signs Your Paint Has Expired

• Changes in Texture: If the paint becomes clumpy, dry and brittle or has separated, it may be time to discard it.

• Foul Odour: An unusual or bad smell is a sign that the paint may have gone bad.

• Colour Changes: Fading or discolouration can indicate that the paint has expired.

• Mould Growth: Any sign of mould, such as spots or fuzzy growth, means the paint should be thrown away immediately.

Washing Your Kit

Regular cleaning of your face painting kit is essential for maintaining hygiene and ensuring the longevity of your supplies. I do mine once a week, or between gigs if I have the time.

• Empty and Wipe Down the Kit: Remove all items from your kit and wipe down the interior with a disinfectant wipe or a cloth dampened with a mild soap solution.

• Clean Brushes: Wash brushes thoroughly with brush soap and warm water. You can dip the bristles in boiling water to reshape and spray with isopropyl alcohol to sanitise. Let them air dry completely before storing them back in the kit.

• Wash Sponges, dubers and reusable blenders: Rinse paint residue out in warm, soapy water. Place in a laundry bag and wash on a hot cycle in the washing machine with detergent and laundry sanitiser. Air dry completely, preferably in full sun, before returning to your kit.

• Sanitise Palettes and Containers: Clean paint palettes and containers with a mild disinfectant solution to remove any residue or bacteria. Use a dark microfibre cloth to remove any paint residue from the lids and pans. Use a damp sponge to wipe the surface of your paints, and use tweezers to remove any large debris like chunky glitter. 

Washing Equipment On The Job

To prevent cross-contamination and ensure safety, it is crucial to clean your equipment between customers.

• The 3 Pot System: The most common and effective way to clean brushes on the job is to use a 3 pot system. Use 3 plastic containers with plain water. To the first pot, add a couple of drops of gentle liquid soap. You can purchase speciality brush cleaner from face paint retailers. The second and third pot is plain rinsing water. After you have finished with a brush, wash it immediately in the first pot of soapy water, rinse twice. Dry the brush off quickly on a towel or cloth and either place in a "working brush pot" or back into your brush wallet. I use a "working brush pot" so I know which of my brushes I have used on the job, and will thoroughly clean these when I get home from the job. 

• Replace the water in your wash pots regularly: When the water in your first pot becomes murky, it is time to replace it. I use prefilled water jars which makes swapping my water out very quick and easy. I simply put a lid on the dirty water, move my first rinse pot into first position, add a couple of drops of soap, and put a fresh jar of water into third position as my second rinse. It takes about 10 seconds. Some people use a "slop bucket" and pour their dirty water into a larger vessel, and refill their cups with clean water. This method is more time consuming and can require you to rinse your cups before refilling, as paint residue can settle in the bottom of the cups. I prefer to take all my dirty water home as I believe it does not leave a good impression on the host to dispose painty water in their home or garden beds. If you do choose to tip water out on the job, ensure you wipe up any splashes and don't pour your water on the ground where people will be walking. 

• Use Disposable Applicators: I do not believe it is necessary to use disposable brushes or sponges as these can be effectively cleaned on the job and at home in the wash. If you like to add "lipstick" or lip colour to your designs, you can purchase either cotton buds or disposable lip applicators.

• Disinfect Brushes: If I paint near or on the nose or mouth, I spray my brushes with 70% isopropyl alcohol after I wash them between customers. Allow them to sit for at least 30 seconds or preferable dry completely before reuse.

• Sanitise Hands: Wash your hands thoroughly or use hand sanitiser between customers to prevent the spread of germs.

Correct Storage

Proper storage is key to preserving the quality and effectiveness of your face paints. Store paints in a cool, dry location, ideally at room temperature, to prevent melting or drying out. Keep paints away from humid environments to prevent moisture buildup, which can lead to mould growth and goopy paint.

Keeping your face painting kit clean and well-maintained is crucial for ensuring the safety and satisfaction of your clients. By understanding the PAO symbol, practicing good hygiene, and implementing proper storage and cleaning techniques, you can extend the life of your face paints and create a safe, enjoyable experience for everyone. With these tips, your face painting kit will remain a vibrant and safe tool for your creative endeavors. Happy painting!

Disclaimer and Ownership

The information provided in this post reflects the opinions of Squiggles Face & Body Art. I am not a medical professional, and this guide is compiled for informational purposes only. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research or consult with a medical professional and local business authorities for personalised advice. The content is based on the most accurate information available at the time of publication, and updates will be made if necessary. This guide is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and the brands and companies mentioned are not affiliated with Squiggles Face & Body Art. It is strongly recommended that readers independently research products before purchasing for face painting purposes.

This post, including all its content, intellectual property, and images, has been compiled and is owned by Squiggles Face & Body Art. All rights reserved. The unauthorised reproduction, printing, or distribution of these materials is strictly prohibited without the express permission of Squiggles Face & Body Art. While the ideas, techniques, and topics covered may be sourced from various other sources, this specific collection of materials is the sole property of Squiggles Face & Body Art. These materials are intended for personal use only and should not be shared or distributed without permission.

July 2024