Does anyone use a sanitizer for their brushes between kids and if so what do you use? (And yes, I understand that this is more of a "feel good" step than anything else.)

Thanks in advance.

i am no facepainter but i believe this was covered in another thread the paints have antibactirial and antimicrobial stuff in them if i read the thread right so you wouldn't have to use sanatizer just change your water now and then

If you read on the Snazaroo site at least, they specifically say NOT to use any soaps or cleansers along with the paints. Mainly because soap would hurt someone's eyes or irritate their skin more readily than the paints would. From what they say on there, it's best to just change your water a lot and don't use water that's been stored in a container, get it straight from the tap if you can as stored water can have bacteria growing in it... there aren't any preservatives in water you know.

Safety and ingredient copy (http://www.snazaroo.us/safety.htm)
brushes and coffe water (http://www.snazaroo.us/coffee.htm)

If you read on the Snazaroo site at least, they specifically say NOT to use any soaps or cleansers along with the paints. Mainly because soap would hurt someone's eyes or irritate their skin more readily than the paints would. From what they say on there, it's best to just change your water a lot and don't use water that's been stored in a container, get it straight from the tap if you can as stored water can have bacteria growing in it... there aren't any preservatives in water you know.

Safety and ingredient copy (http://www.snazaroo.us/safety.htm)
brushes and coffe water (http://www.snazaroo.us/coffee.htm)

Thanks. I am aware that there is likely no sanitizer that would have any effect short of soaking your brushes in Lysol for 10 minutes between each kid. My question is, does anyone use anything anyway -- not because it would do anything -- but to make the health department folks happy, and if so what?

I am running into an issue in one town and am looking for something that will make the local health folks feel better. If no one comes up with anything I suppose I can always dip the brushes in pink soap and call it sanitizer. Either that or not work there (I am leaning towards this regardless of what I learn -- they've already pissed me off).

Scruffy might have an idea of something they use in the nursing home that would look good and not get in your way.

I don't know if this will help but I bring baby wipes, the ones that are nice and damp. They have a light soap in them and it is the kind that doesn't sting the eyes if they are they baby kind. I just dip my brush in the water, take out all the paint I can after each painting and then use the wipe to clean out the rest. It make me feel better and it's not that big of a deal between paintings.

same here with the wipes, spray bottle to wet paints so the water is clean each time. and I also keep a small bottle of hand sani. to clean my hands often.

My wife puts a bit of rubbing alcohol into her water. She rinses the paint out and then dries it on a bit of paper towel.

The "coffee water" thing that I linked to above gave me an idea that I think I'll try at my next event. I've been doing the baby wipe thing to wipe my brushes now and then too, so I'm thinking that I'll have two cups going all the time... One for rinsing brushes (because as interesting an idea it is to never rinse your brushes to avoid coffee water, that seems even worse for sanitary reasons than dirty water), a separate cup for bringing water to the paints and sponges, and in between the cups the brushes are wiped on a baby wipe. This way, the brushes never go straight from the "dirty water" to the paints or faces... they go rinse, wipe, clean water, paints, faces. Again, it probably won't make things all that much more sanitary, but at least psychologically, the dirty looking water won't be on the kids' faces.

Just FYI FAQ - alcohol (http://www.snazaroo.us/faq/faqalcohol.htm)

If I were to use any kind of "soap" or anything other than baby wipes, I'd probably feel safer with Ivory soap or baby shampoo.

Soooooo........ give the kid a tetnaus shot before painting his face.

What about the stuff barber soak combs in?

I'm an airbrush body artist and what I do is swab the area to be painted with an alcohol pad. I just spray alcohol on a cotton facial pad and scrub the area. Not only does it kill a few germs it removes any dirt and body oils so I can paint on a oil free spot. Just a little alcohol...don't saturate the pad. No dripping here. Just make sure that you don't get too close to the eye area. The Beast

I'm an airbrush body artist and what I do is swab the area to be painted with an alcohol pad. I just spray alcohol on a cotton facial pad and scrub the area. Not only does it kill a few germs it removes any dirt and body oils so I can paint on a oil free spot. Just a little alcohol...don't saturate the pad. No dripping here. Just make sure that you don't get too close to the eye area. The Beast

This is something I definately do NOT recommend. I use alcohol all the time with theatrical makeup (much of it is alcohol based) and even adults and teens seem to have a very difficult time listening to the "Keep your eyes closed" instruction. For theatriccal makeup it's no big deal, I just grab my hair drier and fan them till they stop complaining, but a three year old is going to open their eyes, feel the sting, and that's pretty much that for painting their face. Ever. Not just you but any makeup artist.

All of the research I have read has said the same thing: there is NO sanitizer you can use that is both effective and safe and practical.

When doing theatrical makeup it is customary to remove the makeup from the container with a palette knife, mix it on a palette of some kind, and then work from there. However, even this is not always possible with some products. And really, even there it's more of a feel good thing than anything else. To be honest with you, while this is what I always do with that type of makeup, it has absolutely nothing to do with sanitation. Rather, it's habit AND it allows me to more easily mix exactly the colors I want. Again, being honest, 99% of the time I mix on my palette and then use the leftovers on the next actor. Nor have I ever had any complaints about sanitation -- only that the alcohol smells and burns and is brutal on an actors oh so precious skin.

Back to face painting. I really don't know what the answer is. We are facing the same kind of thing that many industries face -- customer PERCEPTION and IRRATIONAL FEAR. People are bombarded with a constant stream of danger signals. You can't watch TV for fifteen minutes without being indirectly told that your heart is about to explode like a hand grenade, your cholesterol so high your blood is like tar, and you probably need to ask your doctor about the wonders of some unidentified pill.

And of course, news casts and commercials warn us that the world is crawling with invisble nasty germies all itching to get their microscopic claws into us. This fear is so prevalent that Horror movie directors have jumped all over it -- note how many modern horror movies are set in FILTHY environments. In movies like Hostel, Saw, Texas Chainsaw, and many others, the filth itself is costar.

But none of this addresses the question; just the problem we are facing....

Smacky

i use the sani in the water

sani in the water?

what like hand sanitizer???? you know that stuff is just rubbing alcohol right?

Check with your local restaurant supply store. There are commercial sanitizer product available that you mix with water and the dishes are dipped into it. It would work with brushes. You will need to measure it carefully. Too much could cause irritation. Smacky, it will also give you a nem brand product. When you get it contact the manufacturer and ask for an MDS saftey sheet.
This is entirely a feel good thing. you cannot sanitize the faces, And I would hope folks would be smart enough to not let their kids get paint put on scabs or sores. And that the Clowns would flatly state, "I am sorry, but It is not safe to paint on broken skin."

Good Luck finding out what works for you !!! I've been doing the alcohol swabs for 8 years now and have never gotten it in a child eye. I also use alcohol based makeup to airbrush with and still no problem. Sorry couldn't help. BYE The Beast

a little off subject, ... when we were kids, getting dirty was part of the fun, parents didn't worry over a little dirt and whose mom hasn't spit or used her tongue on a tissue to clean a spot on their kids faces? I wonder if all this promotion of hand sanitizers and constantly being aware of germs, has perhaps lead to our natural immune system being altered to were we now catch more colds etc. because our bodies have gotten used to more chemicals fighting our germs. And no I don't think we need to go around dirty.

I use baby wipes too, both to clean the painting area, if necessary and the brushes. But I found different types, some is more softer and other a bit stiff and too smooth.

I keep the brushes out of the water when not painting, change the water reguraly and do clean each brush on towel and water before wet it again in another holder for new colour.

Some kids have sometimes funny things on their skin like sunblock or some oily stuff, which need to be rubed away with the wipes for the paint to work.

There have been studies showing that our recent "cleanliness kick" has definitely affected our immune systems... more people are getting sick more often for sure. So, send your kids outside to lick some dirt... or just bring them to my house ;)

Check with your local restaurant supply store. There are commercial sanitizer product available that you mix with water and the dishes are dipped into it. It would work with brushes. You will need to measure it carefully. Too much could cause irritation. Smacky, it will also give you a nem brand product. When you get it contact the manufacturer and ask for an MDS saftey sheet.
This is entirely a feel good thing. you cannot sanitize the faces, And I would hope folks would be smart enough to not let their kids get paint put on scabs or sores. And that the Clowns would flatly state, "I am sorry, but It is not safe to paint on broken skin."

I will look into this. Thanks.

You must have highly healthy dirt around there Perry Noia, hopefully I can visit you someday.

My mom and I use Sanitizer on our brushes, like for if a brush falls to the ground (especially if we are outdoors). every 3-4 hours at a gig if we don't have aline we'll clean thebrushes and we always clean them before we put them away when we're packing up to leave. I know a lot people do say it's a little excessive, because yes, most of the professional brand paints do have additives to reduce the transfer of bacteria and other nasty things from person to person, but it not only makes us feel good but it also looks good for worrisome mothers who don't want their child getting ill from our paints.

What kind of sanitizer do you use Punky?

ahh, something i kinda know a bit about with working in the hair industry!

the barbacide, that we soak our combs in would eat the bristles away before they "sanitation" effect would take place. I also think, esp. with natural fiber brushes it would definatley get into them a bit and I'd be leary about skin reacting with it. as i have a big face painting event coming up, i've been looking into things since it will be several little germy kids.
First off Im going to buy, or find in my basement since i know i had some at one time, those little paper cups that you'd get mints/nuts in at special occasion parties....i guess it might be a baby shower/wedding shower thing so the guys might not know, but im sure i bought them at gordons foods, a wholesale type place for caters around here. I figure i can use a new one for every kid, have a couple gallons of water (if there isnt a close by water source) to use in them. A clean water every time "seems" a bit more alluring to pesky parents.
As a professional make-up artist I have always gave my brushes a good bath in shampoo (all are natural fibers) after an event, granted my "events" are weddings or special occasions where everyone knows everyone and I tell them up front I either use the little crappy disposables so no one uses the same brush OR I contaminate everyone.....LOL. I do use disposible spatulas for getting make-up out of containers, and also mascara wands only dipped once since double dipping would be contaminating. Cross contamination is SUPER hard with make up of any type, so disposables is the only way LEGALLY to go, no double dipping at all.
I'd love to find a brush cleaner that is specifically made for face painting, the only problem if it is a normal type sanitizer you'd have to soak for an amount of time, and......if you dont have several of each type of brush there lies the problem.

SO, any info about this is highly needed by me too!!

Blossom, we just use over the counter hand sanitizer, like purel (sp?). It's safe to use on the skin and kills most of the bacteria that would be on the brushes. also, you can use it on yourself during the day too, because think about it, how would u feel if you were a kid getting painted and the face painter sneezed or coughed into his/her hand just before painting you? EW! gross! right? by using it frequently on yourself, you also show moms that you care about cleanliness and that makes a great impression. It also makes you memorable, if they see you at another funtion, you'll be more likely to get their business again.

Thanks Punky! I carry the sanitizer too, just never thought about using the hand sanitizer on my brushes. Thanks for the info.

I use baby wipes for the same reason on my hands because they wipe the dirt and germs away, not just kill the germs and leave them on your skin... can you tell I've never been a fan of hand sanitizer? snopes.com: Hand Sanitizer Alcohol Poisoning (http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/sanitizer.asp) just be careful with that stuff.

In any case, we all wash our brushes before and/or after every gig. I've been trying it and by having a separate cup of water for rinsing and taking water to the paints, my paint water is practically clear after many designs and by wiping the brushes on a baby wipe after rinsing them, I've found that there is far less other colours ending up on my paints.... so, it's an idea that might work for some.

This is not easy to find in all areas, but the product called SURGICAL TINCTURE OF GREEN SOAP (a concentrated liquid) is a WONDERFUL brush cleaner! It helps make the bristles oh so soft too. A little goes a longggggg way. I can soak my brushes in it without fear of damaging them. It was a required supply in a sculpting class when I learned how to make negative and positive rubber molds and after the class, I found that it was a tremendous benefit to help keep my facepainting brushes clean.

i think that is a great idea! the green soap would be the cleanest safest stuff! ive only had one parent complain or ask about the "lipstick" so i didnt use it on her.
i think that the questions about water are interesting, as most of those parents would never question acrylic paints, which is far more damaging than than any brush water.

Yup, if surgeons use it to "scrub up", I'm sure it's a most safe and effective product for our purposes.

I was reading your "sanitizer" thread and wanted to participate.

For my part, I have a bottle of water + a bucket (under the table) like that I can change the water when it needs to be change.

I can't imagine taking time to completely wash my brushes with pink soap between each painting.

Then, what I do, I delicately wash the face of the kids with Germ-X Hand Sanitizer, Wipes for Hands and Face (http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=154018&catid=64340&aid=335944&aparam=germ_x_hand_sanitizer_w&CAID=41723dc2-a8cb-473d-adb4-d78c4139bdb8), I buy them at walgreens, it smells fresh and light beside some baby wipes. Its fast and easy to use, parents like to see the box on the table + if you make a mistake on your face painting it works really good on paints.

Lots of kisses

Miss Yoko (Fanciful Faces, color your parties with happiness - Face Painting in Chicago (http://www.fancifulfaces.com)) 8-)

Being a barber we have to sanitize our combs, brushes and clipper blades between each customer.. Marvy makes a product called marvicide, that comes in a spray can and all the states in the usa accept it as a agent that will sanitize anything with just a quick spray.. You could rinse your brushes....spray the marvicide.. Then wipe with a towel and go back to painting....you can find this stuff at any beauty supply house or barber supply..or order it from a barber supply on the net. If anyone after you were using this would question your sanitation.. Have them question any state board of barbering or cosmotology or even the nail places....there isnt a better product out there...now granted.. Oster makes one also.. That is accepted in the industry. Hope this helps anyone out there.

Barbacide is too strong. And any brush or comb and such that comes out of it needs to be rinsed really well...ive seen barbers go from the jar to the head with combs and such and it i cringe every time....aughhhhhhh....
One good thing about barbacide is that it will even kill the aids virus in 10 min. Time of soaking.....

Barbacide is too strong. And any brush or comb and such that comes out of it needs to be rinsed really well...ive seen barbers go from the jar to the head with combs and such and it i cringe every time....aughhhhhhh....
One good thing about barbacide is that it will even kill the aids virus in 10 min. Time of soaking.....

Which is, of course, the issue isn't it. There is nothing that will actually kill germies quickly that you would want anywhere near a living human. The only thing we can really do is make feel-good motions. In truth, I rarely get asked about it, and only once by an event coordinator.

I solved my "problem" by simply dropping this particular event from my schedule. The money there was fine, but I am just not interested in dealing with people like this, and have the luxury of telling them so. Without bragging, I believe that we offer an exceptional and professional service. The same city jerkoffs that want to question me apparently have no problem with cheek-art amateurs slathering kids with chinese acrylic paint. The only thing that bums me out about the whole deal is the kids: there are quite a few families who go to this event for no other reason than to see us. Oh well.