Debate: To double dip or not?

I know this was brought up briefly in another topic, but I am really curious how many of you DO double dip your brushes and how many of you DON'T?

Since I am just starting out and I am in the "practice only" stages -- although I will definitely be doing my niece's birthday party in May-- I am curious what everyone here does? When I didn't double dip it took me forever to try and clean my brushes each time and re-load the brush to finish out my work. When I do double-dip I can really cut down on my time and get finished a lot faster.

So let's hear it everyone--- what is your preference, and for those of you that DON'T double dip-- how do you clean your brushes quickly enough to still manage getting through all the kids? It would seem you would need a TON of brushes not to have to worry about cleaning and just set them aside to be cleaned later!

Say it loud! I double dip and i'm proud!! I honestly don't think it is that big of a deal. To me some over sanitize though... I like to think I am right in the middle.

I'm a sponge per color, brush per color & smoothie per powder painter. I just don't have enough brushes(yet) to give one up after each person. Sharron is the best on how to keep everything clean per face(some day I'll be that good). I clean between gigs & I clean like a fiend once I'm home at the end of the day. I use Pink Soap(from Michael's) & rinse the brushes like crazy. I'm getting better at not having coffee water & I sanitize my hands between faces. If ever my brushes/sponges touch something questionable I put it away for the day. I won't paint anyone who looks like they have eye infections, open sores or(yuck)lice.

Do you ever get questioned by parents about how sanitary it is to double dip, and if you do, how do you respond to that question? ( I guess I've been a little worried over that and what the proper way would be to respond)

My brushes are not "washed" between kids... they are rinsed. It's the same water until it gets too cloudy and I dump it, what difference would it make going back into the paints? I tried for a little while wiping my brushes on baby wipes and trying to have several containers of water with one of them staying as clear as possible... it just isn't practical for speed, it didn't make much difference in sanitation and I'm actually more worried about reactions to the soaps in the wipes irritating their face than any germs or anything.

Kids touch each other constantly, money is filthy, a couple brushes touching their face is not going to make much difference in the long run.

I'm a double-dipper also. Though I would like to get better at properly loading my brush the first time, so I don't have to go back for more paint. That would save me a fair amount of time.

Double dip, probably triple dip too.

But I always use a q-tip if I"m painting the lips.

Sharon is able to load her brush with the right amount of paint necessary to do the line work without having to go back for more. Can we all say it together... wooooahhhh. Pretty dang spectacular. I currently double-dip, but really want to be able to load my brush once and bust out my line work in one trip. I don't completely wash and dry brushes between uses the way Canadian standards call for, but it's more like a 3 rinse system. Takes a second to swish in water, swish on Ivory bar, swish in water, done.

I'm a double dipper as well, and I too triple dip, lol. I know for a fact that American standars for sanitation are years behind those of Canada, but I still make a point to sanatize my hands between kids, and I Sanitize my brushes every 30 minutes when doing line or festival work. I am in medical school right now, and so I am having sanitaiton drilled into my skull all the time. I don't paint sick, or even sniffly kids. The excuse "it's only allergies" rarely flies with me, and I never... NEVER paint kids with bugs of any kind. If the face is really messy, I hand the parents a wet wipe and say, clean your kid off, because that's not my job. If they refuse to, I refuse to paint. simple as that.

I'm so glad to hear about all you double (and triple) dippers. I was going out of my mind trying to figure out how in the heck I was to accomplish my designs with one dip right now.

At least it is something to strive for.

I use new brushes and sponges per person and try not to double dip/ get a new brush. I was a makeup artist and esthetician once upon a time though so I am pretty anal about sanitation. I really do feel dirty tools are a real disservice to the public. Scabies anyone???

since this is a debate thread..

Actually it's really not years behind Canada. It's just that face painting is unregulated here. If it was state governed by the health department/state board (like hair salons) you can bet it would be different. I worked in salons for 12 years and have seen some pretty disgusting practices. What it comes down to is sheer laziness (#1) and ignorance IMHO. I really do wish face painting was regulated by the health department. Hopefully one day..

You can sanitize your brushes every 30 minutes sure but you could also spread things too. (ringworm,scabies, etc). what if someone had hep c or HIV (unbeknownst to you) and a microscopic scratch on their face? would you still feel comfortable double dipping and reusing brushes/sponges? I wouldn't feel safe doing that personally. You will never know your clients health history either. But I am the type of person who sanitized my scissors and combs/brushes in between each client too (you'd be surprised how many stylists do NOT do that!)

If you were seeing patients would you really still only wash your hands or implements every 30 minutes? (I'm a nursing student and I disagree highly) If you are a medical student you very well know staph, MRSA,etc lives on the skin.

ok well I will get off my soapbox now as I am not trying to offend anyone. I just feel very passionately about sanitation. It is really a hot button issue for me and something I really pride myself on.


this site has a lot of good info regarding sanitation as well as potential things you could be spreading around by not using clean tools.
http://www.khake.com/page74.html

this page is especially informative about infectious skin diseases;
http://www.fpnotebook.com/DER/ID/SknInfctn.htm

I think double dipping isn't that bad if you are using clean brushes/sponges on each person and letting your paints dry out at the end of the day. Or at the very least washing the clients face before painting.



***Came back to clarify that I was NOT calling anyone ignorant or lazy HERE in my first paragraph. I was talking about in a salon setting where you have to actually go through about 10 hours of sanitation training to get your license! Just wanted to clarify to avoid any hurt feelings. I will shut up now!

Punky wrote:I'm a double dipper as well, and I too triple dip, lol. I know for a fact that American standars for sanitation are years behind those of Canada, but I still make a point to sanatize my hands between kids, and I Sanitize my brushes every 30 minutes when doing line or festival work. I am in medical school right now, and so I am having sanitaiton drilled into my skull all the time. I don't paint sick, or even sniffly kids. The excuse "it's only allergies" rarely flies with me, and I never... NEVER paint kids with bugs of any kind. If the face is really messy, I hand the parents a wet wipe and say, clean your kid off, because that's not my job. If they refuse to, I refuse to paint. simple as that.

Just to clarify... it is not all of Canada that has those regulations, just the province of Alberta.

Nota bene: Gary from Snazz points out that there are germ inhibitors in his paint that keep it from becoming buggy.

Aprilmoonflower, I don't think anything you said would hurt anyone's feelings. After all, this is a "debate" and I wanted to see everyone's side of it. Being new, it is up to me to learn all I can from EVERYONE. So I welcome everyone's thoughts, opinions, and practices.

I am the type that would naturally want to take appropriate precautions. Unfortunately, I really don't have that many brushes. May I ask how many brushes you normally take to a birthday party? I can't even imagine how many I would need with the amount of re-loading I have to do. So far it hasn't been an issue because I have just been practicing on my husband and daughter. But, I do have a party I am doing for my niece in May and another possible job that same month (I just have to say "yes").

I would really like to thank everyone for their input and hope they will continue to post their thoughts!

I don't really see how switching brushes between children would make any difference in sanitation.... You can't avoid touching your paints at all once you start painting a child and unless you were to boil the darn things between every time you touch the brush to their face and touch your paints, well... whatever.

And I can't see anything worse sitting on someone's cheek than would be on people's hands when you shake their hand, put a sticker on the back of a child's hand, help them up onto the chair, take money from anyone.

But then, I"m the type of person that sends my kids outside to play in the mud and stuff to strengthen their immune system. I don't sanitize anything in my house except my face painting brushes between gigs.

To be honest, I think the whole discussion is based on an incorrect assumption. I normally put down a a base of some type for whatever I am painting, I use a clean sponge to do this.

If I then paint on this base I am not painting on skin but on top of paint. Therefore how I clean my brushes is irrelevant. Surely as long as I rinse my brushes after each client and ensure that my paint is clean for the next client, I have reduced any cross contamination hazard.

If we take the whole hygiene thing to its logical finale, we would all either have to use Shannons methods or work in the same way as make up artists decanting product & using disposable brushes.

By the same logic you would never use any rest rooms apart from your own, or eat or drink out side of your own kitchen

Oooh, I don't even want to think about what's shared in a public restroom! Yucky!

JBax, do you have a pic of you rinse system? I am intrigued and want to try it. I think I have seen your set up, but not that specifically......

I am a proud double dipper....lolol I use Brush Bath in my water. It not only sanitizes but helps to get brushes clean and its made with natural ingredients. 1 or 2 drops per container of water. I do change my water often and have not had any issues as. Parents like to see water being changed out on a regular basis...gives them peace of mind

I was using brush bath, but heard(I think on FPF) that many people are allergic to the tea tree oil & could have a reaction. I've stopped using it(even though I liked how it helped keep my water cleaner).

Really?? I had not heard of such. I wonder could it have been because they were using too much maybe?? I only use like a drop or two in a container that holds about 20 oz of water very sparingly...lolol which is probably why that bottle will last me until the next decade.

tea tree oil is not good to use around the eyes.

April moon, I couldn't agree more. I too am a nursing student and I'm very glad I live & paint in Alberta

As we all know, parents will try to get their kids faces painted regardless of the oozing, gaping, bacteria infested, sores or scabs their child may have. I like knowing my painting is safe.

However, yes, I too have been guilty of an occasional double dip when doing linework (not as a regular practice.) sssssssshhhh, don't tell anyone..........lol