Body painting is an interesting alternate form of art, that people around the globe take pleasure in experimenting with. There are of course a few things that one must consider before trying it out.
Body painting dates back to a time when most tribesmen and women, including performing artists, sported colorful, elaborate works of art depending upon their purpose. Whether ritualistic, traditional, or for the sake of entertainment, body painting has evolved to a much practiced form of art in modern-day scenarios. From fine art and movies, to festivals and celebrations, body paint has made its name as one of the most creative ways to decorate the human body.
With Halloween just around the corner, body painting will take on a whole new meaning with kids both young and old spraying their bodies from head to toe in one-of-a-kind artistic works. Even adults will join in on the fun and experiment with colorful artwork to bring characters to life. The important part of indulging in body paint is to make sure that it is safe for one’s skin type, where allergies or reactions of any sort must be ruled out prior to painting one’s body.
Brief Overview of Body Painting Techniques
There are different ways that a person can paint the body, using techniques that differ in style, intricacy, and method. The most common ways are:
- Using fluorescent colors
- Metallic body sprays
- Glow in the dark paints
- Custom-ordered colors
- Regular-colored paint
Types of Body Paint
While body painting looks like an extremely elaborate procedure especially when looking through artwork from immensely talented artists, it can be done using simple techniques to master a satisfied result. While the types of paint may seem expansive, one mustn’t throw caution to the wind and resort to cheap, harmful alternatives from within these choices.
Markers
Users must bear in mind that not just any kind of marker can be applied to one’s skin. Make sure the packaging says that it is ideal for body painting and most importantly that it is non-toxic and safe for kids (and adults of course). The best way to know if a marker is suitable for your skin type is to test a small area of skin and wait for a few minutes. If no reaction takes place then you can go ahead and use the markers. Some markers indicate that the eye region shouldn’t be anywhere near the marker’s color, so be sure to follow as instructed.
Latex
This type of body paint is not entirely a safe option to go with since it can cause not only allergies but a heat stroke from hindering the body to perspire. The latex when settled into one’s skin can be painful while removing since it can cling to hair on your body and feel very much like waxing it off. Great care must be taken when applying paint to sensitive, irritated, or inflamed skin that easily reacts to foreign materials. It would be wise to go with a less complicated body paint option.
Black Henna
This kind of colorant is not safe as a body painting option because this mix has been made from coalescing natural henna with synthetic black dyes. It can cause a rampant allergy attack and must be avoided at all costs especially by children. Opting for safer alternatives is your best bet.
Liquid Latex
Brands like Liquitex produce a reliable, coveted line of acrylic paints, but whether it can be used on the body is an all together different concern. Packaging must be checked for such details of whether it is meant for body painting or not. Artists use skillful techniques (like the appreciated works of Alexa Meade) of using the human body as a walking canvas, but it doesn’t mean that all kinds of acrylic paint are safe for use.
Commercial Body Paint
There are companies that produce body paint in containers as well as spray bottles that are totally safe to use. They contain no latex additions or toxic adulterants that pose as harmful to the body. Companies like Starlight use patented, quick-dry products that effectively do the job without causing alarming skin reactions. While they tout their line of products as safe for use, it is nonetheless a precautionary need to test the product before use.
Safety Measures for Body Painting
While painting the body, certain precautionary measures must be paid attention to for fear of being subjected to an adverse medical reaction.
- Experiment with makers or acrylic paint to get the hang of using body paint, making sure they are of course safe for your particular skin type.
- You can visit a professional to help you paint your body with the desired design, or costume character that you wish to imitate.
- Do not buy body paint without reading the back of the package to make sure that it is free from toxins, and is FDA approved. Look for ingredients that aren’t safe like lead, PPD, CI 77007, CI 15985, CI 15850, and the like.
- It is a much safer option to go with a professional body paint brand from a reputed company.
- Do not use body paint on areas where the product says it isn’t safe to use.
- Always follow the guidelines of a body paint package before applying it on yourself.
- Make sure that it is safe for kids and that it completely dries for fear of being ingested accidentally. Look for the age limit that it is permitted for.
Body paint is a dramatic addition to any ensemble whether for a party, sporting event, or festival. Be sure to try out a variety of techniques available online through tutorials on how to make the most of body paint.
