Types of Body Painting

Before using body paint, it is important to know which ones last the longest and look the best. And for anyone who does not think body paint applies to their everyday life, there is also a surprising factoid about those jars in your cabinet or purse.

Henna

Henna paint is derived from the leaves of a plant and has been used for centuries to dye hair and wool. A henna tattoo can last for weeks, but the fading process can be sped up by exfoliating or by coming into contact with chlorine. Although henna is natural, since it is plant-based, a lot of ready-made henna mixes have metal additives. Like the lead in the previous section, these metals can seep through the skin and cause damage.

Airbrush Tattoos

These temporary tattoos are applied by with an airbrush gun and are waterproof, so they last up to two weeks. Usually a stencil of the chosen design is placed over the area, providing a high level of detail in multiple colors. Some people use airbrush tattoos as a trial run before getting a permanent tattoo. Either oil-based paint or water-based paint can be used in the airbrush tattoo applicators.

Water-Based Body Paint

Water-based body paint will need quire more frequent touch-ups and more attention than other types of body paint. Water-based body paint tends to rub off, crack and be susceptible to sweat.

Liquid Latex and Oil-Based Paints

Liquid latex can look convincingly like clothing. It is not especially messy once it sets because it binds well to the skin. However, it is important to make sure that the person does not have a latex allergy before using it. Oil-based paints (also known as alcohol-based paints) are sturdier than some other types since they are waterproof and sweat-proof. If you need something to last more than one day but less than a week, oil-based paint is a good choice.
Liquid latex and oil-based paints are similar because they can be hard to remove if you don't make the necessary preparations. Use a moisturizing cream before applying the body paint, and then use a lotion with mineral oil to remove the paint. This will ensure the body paint comes off easily and completely.

History of Body Painting

Body painting, or sometimes bodypainting, is a form of body art. Unlike tattoo and other forms of body art, body painting is temporary, painted onto the human skin, and lasts for only several hours, or at most (in the case of Mehndi or "henna tattoo") a couple of weeks. Body painting that is limited to the face is known as face painting. Body painting is also referred to as (a form of) temporary tattoo; large scale or full-body painting is more commonly referred to as body painting, while smaller or more detailed work is generally referred to as temporary tattoos.

Body Painting Traditional

Body painting with clay and other natural pigments existed in most, if not all, tribalist cultures, often worn during ceremonies,it still survives in this ancient form among the indigenous people of Australia, the Pacific islands and parts of Africa. A semi-permanent form of body painting known as Mehndi, using dyes made of henna (hence also known rather erroneously as "henna tattoo"), was and is still practised in India and the Middle East, especially on brides. Since the late 1990s, Mehndi has become popular amongst young women in the Western world.

Indigenous peoples of South America traditionally use annatto, huito, or wet charcoal to decorate their face and body. Huito is semi-permanent and it generally takes weeks for this black dye to fade.

Actors and clowns around the world have painted their faces and sometimes bodies for centuries, and continue to do so today. More subdued form of face paints for everyday occasions evolve into the cosmetics we know today.

Body Painting Modern   

There has been a revival of body painting in the Western society since the 1960s, in part prompted by the liberalization of social mores regarding nudity. Even today there is a constant debate about the legitimacy of body painting as an art form. The current modern revival could be said to date back to the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago where Max Factor and his model were arrested for causing a public disturbance when he bodypainted her with his new make-up formulated for hollywood films.