face painting battleground: three tips to protect you from the snot-nosed attacker

You’re face to face with a happy and bouncing little one.  She’s locked on to your face paints with laser beam precision.  All is well, until…

Heh… heh… heh… ah… choooo!

Uh, tissue, please!

It happens.  Just one of the many dangers of your little adventure called face painting.

And you thought being a deep-sea fisherman was dangerous, pshh.

Snot bubbles and booger delights come with the territory.  But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t fight to keep ourselves, and the other kiddos, as healthy as possible.  Stay tuned for three tips to combat the snot-nosed warriors!

 

Load up on the vitamins and eat healthy, will yah?

 

• I take a women’s multi-vitamin daily and I swear it’s doing more for me than spinach did for Popeye.  Those little bundles of vita-goodness help build your immune system so it can ward off all sorts of nastiness.
• Eat healthy, or at least give it a shot.  I get it, I get it… When I’m not face painting you’ll find me in my kitchen, baking a sweet treat, or three.  But hey, those never hurt anybody, if they’re eaten inhaled in moderation. That said, adding some good quality fruits and veggies can’t hurt.  So go ahead, indulge, just eat your peas first, please.

 

Antibacterial gel is the sergeant of the anti-germ army, use him!

 

• Put this magical cootie-fighting potion to work on your brushes, sponges, and other tools.  I also use it to clean my hands every now and then (I wash too, silly).  Hey, face painting lines can be never ending.  You’re more likely to paint Tom Cruise’s face than you are to get a bathroom break.  But, you never know…
• I also keep a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol in my kit.  This helps me keep my brushes and other things clean with just a spritz.  Plus, I use it to keep my mirror clean of little finger smudges.

 

Sometimes you’ve just got to say no.

 

• A little tot approaches and he’s all fired up to get that scary green monster plastered on his face.  Only problem is, HE IS the scary green monster!  Green yuckiness oozing from his little nose.  Poor little guy!  =(  Sometimes it’s obvious they’re just too sick for you to paint them.  We can fight bacteria ‘till we’re blue in the face, but in some cases, it’s just not worth the risk.

What’s the solution Giggle, you ask?

• Well, I keep a few neat little toys or gadgets tucked away for just this occasion.  Instead of painting their little sick face, I give them a toy.  Works like a charm, and you avoid the, “Oh no she didn’t!” look from other parents when you face paint a sick kiddo.

Well played, you face painting superstar.

 

Bonus Tip:

In some situations, you may need to avoid a kiddos face (say they have Pink Eye, for example), but you can still paint something fun on their arm.  This is a great compromise and the kids think it’s super cool!

Click the icon below to download this post as a PDF document.