Liquid latex has been one of the mainstays of makeup artists for many years. It has been used to create sublime to sensual to scary affects for film almost since the inception of motion pictures. Today the use of liquid latex has found it’s way into the everyday life of people that enjoy the art of body painting. It is a fluid like material that can be painted on the skin and then allowed to dry. Entire outfits that can even be worn in public can be created just by applying multiple layers of this rubbery compound.

Here are a few tips that might help in using liquid latex for body painting.

Always consider allergies if you are going to use liquid latex. Rubber and latex allergies are not uncommon so it is important to make sure your model doesn’t have an adverse reaction to it’s use. Begin by putting a small amount of the liquid latex on a small patch of skin and allowing it to dry. After it dries remove the liquid latex patch and look for redness or skin irritation before moving forward. It is common for a model to have some slight itching sensations as the skin begins to breath under the latex coating but persistant irritation or itching is a sign that the model may have an allergy to the product.

Liquid latex will bond to almost anything so be sure it is kept away from any type of clothing or furniture surfaces you don’t want painted also. A tarp or dropcloth is a good way to avoid any unwanted stains. It is also a good idea for the painter to wear old clothing.

As liquid latex begins to dry it will make the model feel cold so it’s a good idea to make sure the room your using is warm and ventilated. Liquid latex has a small amount of amonia and sulfur in it so it is also a good idea to open the container and let it breath for a little while before applying it.

Skin lotion will help with parts of the body that have hair. One way to avoid problems with body hair is to shave or trim the body hair before you begin. If you don’t want to shave or trim the hair, apply liberal amounts of any type of skin lotion and allow it time to saturate the skin before you begin. The use of skin lotions will also help in removal of the latex coating when you are ready to remove it.

Applying liquid latex is much like painting. You can use a painter’s brush up to 3″ if necessary for larger areas and a small foam brush seems to work well for smaller areas with edges. Always apply the liquid latex in even coats and allow it to completely dry before moving on the the next coat. Three or more coats usually provide a nice full coverage. Hair dryers can be used to help in the drying process but make sure you don’t allow any body parts that are painted to touch each other during the drying process because the latex will stick to itself and rip when your model moves.

Always condiser safety when using liquid latex so follow these simple rules:

* Use the liquid latex in a well ventilated area * Never apply liquid latex close to the eyes * Keep out of the reach of children * Do not use if the model has hypersensitive skin or is allergis to latex,rubber or sulfur * Never apply liquid latex to any type of open wound