Flying with Face Paints

Hey guys,
I haven't flown since they used Pterodactyls.

What are the regulations in regards to face paint and flying? The lady
at the airline told me that that much "make up" wasn't allowed.
(20, 18 ml sized cakes)
so, How do you all fly with your paints?

How much do you take?
Do you carry it on? ......If so do you have to bag it?
Do you check it? .....do you still have to bag it?

Thanks,
Linda Adams

Ooh yes! I have no answers for you, but I will be watching this topic...I'd be nervy about checking it - they're so rough! - but I don't want to not be allowed to carry it on...

I've been wondering about that myself... I'd feel a little anxious about letting my kit go underneath who know's which plane. I have seen Sharon address this before... I think in her blog??? I think it was about tips for convention goers??? If I can't find it, maybe she can enlighten us!

Having flown to do a cruise, I cut down the amounts, packed the sponges etc in hold luggage. The rest went through as hand luggage on the way there & and in the hold on the way back.
The only thing I made sure I had to hand was the paper work, simply to ensure that they knew I had a valid reason for it being in hand luggage.
Treat it the same way that you would any valuable- if you think your life will not be complete if you loose, either carry it in hand luggage or do not take it

Looking back I packed far too much paint & more sponges would have been useful, simply just to cover the drying time as I use a sponge a face.

I also found that taking palettes of colours, rather than full size,gave me the variety I needed. I took 1 paradise black,1 wolfe white & a snazaroo red & 1 Aurora glitter. The rest where a 12 colour wolfe, 12 colour kryolan & 12 colour grimas. Could easily have left the 12 Kryolan at home. As long as you have a pretty sparkly pink, you can normally get by.

I used to carry them on, post 9/11 we had to pack everything. Now things had begun to loosened up but after this week and the walk on bomb incident the security at airports will be going back to tight and even tighter.

All palettes are taped closed as are any glitter or loose pots of paint. These go in one very larger super sized zip lock baggie, and into the suitcase - as does the roll of tape for the flight home. Airbrush needles are taped into the palettes or suitcase and the airbrushes are either packed or carried on in pieces.

It often depends on an individual airport. But I suspect it will again be hard to carry on paints.

Unless I am in a competition or teaching and need my supplies I take little. Even then I take the colors and supplies I know I'll need for sure with little extra. I rarely paint in jams to busy talking..............and most classes or jams you can get by on very little or use an alternative color. People will share and if you are heading to convention supplies are available.

Remember most airlines are going one bag limit and paints weigh a lot.

HA! I found it! Here's the link to the thread Shannon posted an article about packing for a convention, so maybe it will help with the packing for flight... to wherever you are going.

http://www.facepaintforum.com/general-face-painting-f1/i-m-going-to-a-convention-and-i-m-taking-t979.htm

I fly A LOT, sadly - think I did 18 international last yr but hope that has all quietened down now! (Carbon footprint slightly relieved by living on a boat with only wind & solar power the last 3 yrs but no longer )

Anyway: it doesn't matter what you do to not get stooped cos of paints; it seems to change depending on the member of staff.
Big tip being to have enough times - was made to miss flight due to fellow painter's kit on a very busy day taking 2 hrs to pass security (they'd put it aside to be checked than have forgotten what they wanted to check by the time they had a free person so had to send her back to queue to get it rescanned - FOUR times).

Generally i pack as many of my solid paints in my carry on as I can, as most times i have been travelling to paint so if its lost i'm generally stuffed.

I also pack business cards, some mags/ books i have been in etc with it as nearly every time it has been stopped at the customs/ etc scanners and unpacked. They especially seem to notice the stacking Wolfe/ Dfx ones. So it hopefully helps prove I am a real painter not a nut with disguised explosives.

Brushes also have to be checked in - had other painters get theirs confiscated & dumped - so why do they let on biros etc??? Brushes have far less pointy handles than pen tips!

All liquids, gels, glitters double bagged and carefully packed in check in.

Also find that in general fewer airlines weigh hand luggage so if the bulk of my kit is heavy cakes, I tend to get away with more on my overall luggage!

Cat x

Cat, thank you for the good tips and ideas =)

Has anyone any new information to offer concerning flying with face paints?
I came across this on the TSA site:

Q. What about makeup?
A. Makeup is subject to the same liquid and gel rules as all other substances -- so if you're bringing liquid mascara, lip gels (such as Blistex) or other liquid- or gel-like items, they will need to be placed in your quart-size plastic bag in 3.4-ounce or smaller containers. Lipstick, powders, solid lip balms (such as Chapstick) and other solid beauty products are not subject to the rules, and may be carried in your hand luggage without restriction.

I was wondering if they would considered our face/body paitns to be a solid beauty product and thus exempt from undue scrutiny?

perhaps the easiest thing is to take your hand held luggage ahead of time filled with your stuff and ask the them if everything in there is ok to take as is (I mean days before your flight). Make sure you take notes if they tell you need to know info and their names in case on that day someone else tells you otherwise (but soandso whom is the manager said I could take it as is). Make sure its someone like a manager with lots of experience.

When I flew to florida for Fabaic I had my paints, brushes, sponges etc. in my carry on. Went through with no problems. Had even more stuff coming home with everything that I purchased while there. They didn't even look twice at my bag. The guy at the scanner said is that all paint and I said I am a face painter and he said "oh" and I went on my way

OKay,
I just spoke to a TSA representative and she said that as long as your make up is in a solid form (powders like DFX/Wolfe or creamy like Kryolan or Paradise) they don't fall under the 3-1-1 restriction and shouldn't be scrutinized. You should pack your MSDS sheets for your makeup just in case. She said to avoid brushes that have those pointy handles. She also said that glitter powder isn't classified as a liquid or gel (and shouldn't be scrutinized) but glitter gel does need to be kept within the confines of the 3-1-1 rule. Another painter (here?) mentioned bringing literature (i.e. Face painting mags/idea books) and packing it alongside the paints. She also said that if possible, place all of your face painting supplies near the top of your carryon bag for easy purusal at a glance insteady of burrowing them into your clothes. It might also be helpful if you referred to your kit as face/body cosmetics instead of "paint" as that sends some agents down another path of mental processing that will find your kit confiscated. The word "makeup" or "cosmetics" seems to imply that careful consideration is necessary. HTH

Okay, I know from experience. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER... check your paints in your luggage. I did it once and ended up with crushed paint containers and cakes in billions of pieces. Next time, I put them in my carry on and went straight through security with no problems. ALWAYS carry on your paints!

I'll second that...