Body Paint

Where Do I begin?

When preparing for a body paint project, you should begin with the finished result in mind and work backwards towards things like your method of application and budget. If not, you could end up spending hundreds of dollars on paint and equipment only to discover you bought the wrong materials. Many years ago we had a customer who bought a selection of liquid body paints for her child’s party. She skipped some of the normal protocols and ended up with a big mess, and blamed me for it. In another situation, a professional body painter ordered waterproof paint instead of water-resistant paint. His model was very upset when she discovered alcohol was the only thing that would remove it.

If you've never body painted before please start with the articles about specific projects, then read the five considerations of body paint. If you need help please take a class, read books, watch a YouTube video or call us with your questions.


Here is a list of the top ten things I usually say to Beginners:


  1. What is your project? Ask yourself, what do I want to accomplish? Now translate that into the type and texture of the paint on the skin.
  2. If you want soft fuzzy edges then you should use an airbrush. If you want hard edges then use a brush, sponge or your fingertips. If you want to cover a large area, you may need to end up using an air touch-up gun from a place like Home Depot.
  3. If you are face painting kids at an art show, you should use a simple cake palette rather than liquid body paint.
  4. Soap and water will remove any body paint except for the alcohol based.
  5. Alcohol based body paint is waterproof, and much more expensive.
  6. Our generic body paint is the least expensive liquid body paint.
  7. We do not sell the horrible greasy makeup you see in the grocery stores during Halloween. We do not recommend using it either as it is petroleum based and will need a grease cutting type of remover to get it off your children, your couch and the seats in your car.
  8. Airbrush equipment is expensive and it might not be the best for the job, depending on the effect that you want.
  9. Craft store paint is for paper and wood. While it might be safe for occasional skin contact, it is not made with FDA approved preservatives. It likes to peel off the skin because it is not flexible.
  10. More expensive does not mean better quality. More expensive usually means more promoted. All the brands we carry are reputable, reasonably priced and suitable for the intended job.