Load your sponges well: spray with lots of water and RUB on the face paint cake to pick up colors.
DAB sponge on the face rapidly: pinch the sponge in your hand and dab firmly and quickly onto face to get good full coverage of color. Ensure you swivel the sponge as you go around the face to keep the colors in line and not mix them into a muddy mess. Sometimes it’s easier to press more on the outer colors first around the face, then add the inner colors on the eyes, nose, inner cheeks, and then upper lip. Coverage should be at least all the way to the lower cheeks/mouth, like the pictures!
If sponge is too dry and isn’t getting paint onto face, spray sponge with more water and go back to dabbing face. The re-moistened sponge should now transfer paint better onto the face.
Use less water on sponge for stencil and for sponging over eyes: on the unicorn stencil and anytime you’re going over eyes (ie skull eyes, and spiderman eyes) use a “dry sponge” aka it’s not dripping, just enough water to pick up color and dap onto eyes. This is so it doesnt drip into the eyes and upset the kid. All of the designs have paint over the eyelids- first use your fully loaded sponge to get color all around the face (forehead, cheeks) and then go over the eyes and the sponge will be drier by then (tell the kid “ok close your eyes, lets get all that nice color on your little __kitty/buddy/unicorn/etc__ eyes”)
Allow the face paint to dry before adding brush details! Start on the next kid in the other stool/chair. If there is no lineup, use fan to dry the base paint.
Talk cheerfully to the child as you go to let the kid know what’s happening. This makes it fun and comfortable for the young child, and you’ll probably get a good tip this way! Say things like: “Let’s get all those __unicorn/kitty/etc__ colors on you!” “haha I know, this is the tickly part” “wow you’re pretty good at getting face paint” “Gotta let you dry now and then we’ll put your __cat fuzz/unicorn swirls/spider webs/etc on!” “now I’ll add your cute little heart-shaped ___kitty/tiger/leopard__ nose!” “ok stay real still, wow good job” “use your spidey senses to stay real still and I’ll put your spidey-webs on”
Shape paint brush bristles to a point when loading with paint: do this by rolling the brush on the paint and loading sideways. If you just jam the brush on the paint the bristles splay and you won’t get clean lines
Watch and memorize the face paint tutorials so you know the 9 designs well. If you do a face paint that’s way different or missing parts, the kid will be sad that it’s different than the sign or different than their friends painted by another artist. Please carefully watch the tutorial videos and know the designs well. Take notice of which parts are outlined, little details like the kitty cheeks are white sponged, tiger has fangs, spirderman ISN’T outlined in black, etc.
Keep Henna Bottle Full. This makes it easier to squeeze and easier to create smooth thick lines without shaking or straining your hand. Even refill your bottle during a tattoo if you feel its getting empty – I sometimes refill my bottle 2-3 times during a full arm/hand henna.
Use stencils often: stencils are a great way to get better at henna – it takes away the pressure of getting the design perfect, so you can focus on your henna technique and keep your lines smooth and thick. Even after 15 years of practice, I still use stencils all the time and love them! These are the same stencils that professional permanent tattoo artists use.
If you’re having trouble getting stencils to transfer, here’s a trick: after cleaning skin with alcohol and napkin, spray skin with alcohol again and wipe with fresh wetwipe, then quickly press the stencil to the skin.
Carefully read over the Henna Instructions in the training manual. This will make your job easier, make your artwork more professional, and help you get happier customers and better $$ tips!
Watch video tutorials (buttons above)
DarkMark/Glitter Tips
Shake the glue/ink bottles lightly at the beginning of the day! If you do not, the glue will separate and the tattoo will crack and not last long. Don’t shake too vigorously or they will bubble up.
Keep the glue/ink bottles out of the sun: When they get too hot, they bubble up and run out of the bottle too quickly. To keep out of sun, move the kit, or cover with the sweater or hat from the manager bin.
If your ink is coming out too quickly: you probably have residue buildup on the metal tip, and maybe bubbles. -pinch the tip with the brown rag and pull off any residue. you should do this often as the residue is sticky and can pull hairs on the customer. -hold the bottle upwards and pinch the tip with the brown cloth, squeeze lightly to allow some bubbles and air pressure to leave the bottle. DO NOT squeeze too hard, or you will squeeze out and waste ink and make a mess. -DO NOT use a wet-wipe to remove bubbles – when you squeeze out bubbles with a wetwipe, it will suck in the wipe liquid when you release the squeeze. This is very bad for the quality of the glue/ink. Always use the brown rag.
Use stencils often: stencils are a great way to get better at henna – it takes away the pressure of getting the design perfect, so you can focus on your henna technique and keep your lines smooth and thick. Even after 15 years of practice, I still use stencils all the time and love them! These are the same stencils that professional permanent tattoo artists use.
Carefully read over the DarkMark/Glitter Instructions in the training manual. This will make your job easier, make your artwork more professional, and help you get happier customers and better $$ tips!
