Frequently Asked Questions

• Artists MUST be in the shade through the duration of the event
• On rainy days the artist must be under a canopy or similar structure. The sun and rain can permanently damage our face paints, balloons, and henna supplies and no one enjoys providing, or receiving, our services in extreme heat or rain.
• We do not offer refunds or payment transfers for inclement weather and highly recommend having a back up location if your event is outdoors with no weather protection.
• Artists must be placed in a very well-lit area
• Each artist you book will need a table (approx 4×4 feet of space) and 2 chairs. If your event is in a park a park bench and picnic table will be fine.
• Host must provide parking no more than a 5 minute walk from event area. Paid parking must be reimbursed.
• Airbrush art requires electrical outlets

We have a 2 hour minimum for all party packages

It is possible to extend your reservation time the day of subject to availability although it is not guaranteed. Regular rates apply, we pro-rate in 30 minute increments.

As soon as possible! We work on a first come, first served basis and are often booked out months in advance. However, if your event is happening soon we may still be able to accommodate your request, especially if your start time is flexible.

The best and fastest way to begin the booking process is to fill out our Event Information Form. We will respond within 24 hours with an email containing information on our rates and packages. Please note, we do not consider your event fully confirmed and can not guarantee an artist without a confirmation deposit. The deposit amount varies depending on the number of hours, artists, and services you are booking. 

We will choose your artist based on who is local to your area or whose schedule fits best with your event. If you have any special design requests etc. please feel free to let us know so that we can make sure to pair you with the artist who will best meet your needs. If you would like to book a particular artist we will do our utmost to fulfill your request. In the event that your preferred artist is not available, not to worry! Pacific Face Painters is a collective of the very best face painters, balloon artists, and henna artists in the San Francisco Bay Area. When you book with us you are guaranteed to get an artist who is highly trained in their craft, great with kids, and who is very professional.

We accept all major credit cards, checks, and cash. There is a 3% surcharge when paying by credit card. You will receive an invoice for your event which is due prior to your event in order to hold your reservation.

When you book with us you can choose whether you would like your artists to dress in a fun, clean cut, or casual outfit. Our artists do not dress as characters, but we are often happy to wear specific colors or accessories that will fit with your party theme. If you have any special requests feel free to let us know and we will do our best to accommodate 🙂

Our artists offer a wide variety of designs perfect for girls, boys, and different age groups. We are also able to take custom requests and can work with almost any theme that you may have in mind! Examples of our work can be found on our Photo Gallery page.

Our rate structure is hourly and it varies based on the entertainer, the city you’re in, and the length of time you want to book. The prices we give you are the bottom line – there is no sales tax or other “hidden” costs. To get a customized rate-quote, fill out our rate request form and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

We use only the highest quality professional products. Our paints are FDA approved, are specifically designed for use on the skin, and have antibacterial and hypoallergenic properties.  If your child has very sensitive skin, or is allergic to a range of common products, let us know and we would be happy to offer a patch test, or to paint a small design on the hand (where skin is less sensitive) to be on the safe side. *In the many years that each of us has been painting faces, there have been no reports of allergic reactions to any of our products.  

We use Cosmetic Grade Glitter which is Non Toxic and designed for the skin 

WARNING: Watch out for face painters who use craft glitter in place of cosmetic glitter! Craft glitters are made with metal, glass or plastic and are cut into sharp hexagonal shapes. It is dangerous to use on the skin and especially never on the face where it could get into eyes and cause a reaction or permanent damage!!

Without using any water, put a safe liquid soap, gentle moisturizer, or baby shampoo onto your fingers and rub onto the painted area until you have mixed the colors together and made a “mess”. Let sit for 30-60 seconds, then rinse it off with water. For lingering color, apply a moisturizing lotion, wait at least 30 minutes, and wash again. 

 CLOTHING that has been in contact with face paint should be COLD soaked overnight with an oxygen activated stain remover before washing normally.

Due to the new safety measures, face painting may take a little extra time. All of our artists can paint approximately 10-15 faces per hour. We are also available to paint very elaborate designs for private appointments or small groups in which we may spend anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours on a face or 3 – 8 hours on a full body paint.

To reduce the risk of disease spread, we will not paint anyone who, in the opinion of the painter, appears to be suffering from skin complaints (cold sores, conjunctivitis, poison oak, eczema, open cuts etc.).  In some cases we will offer to paint an arm or hand as an alternative.

We are unable to paint anyone suffering from cold/flu symptoms. Hay fever sufferers are advised to have a design on the cheek or hand. 

 If you have to restrain your child they will not be painted. If your child becomes distressed during the painting process, painting will not resume unless the child agrees to continue. Young children are sometimes afraid to have their faces painted because they do not always understand, and cannot see, what is happening. In this case a small design on the hand may be more enjoyable for them.  They can see what is being done, feel in control of the situation, and can look at it and enjoy it for the rest of the day.

They are temporary tattoos which are applied to the skin using body safe adhesive and cosmetic grade glitter. This creates a beautiful shimmery temporary tattoo which can last 3-7 days on the skin or can be removed the same day with rubbing alchohol. The tattoo does not in any way penetrate the skin, it purely sits on top of the skin. We also offer stencil and custom designed, freehand tattoos.

Henna (Arabic: حِنَّاء‎), also known as Mehndi in Hindi, and Chinah in Hebrew, is a natural dye prepared from the plant Lawsonia inermis. Hennas use has been traced back to at least 5,000 years ago. In that time, the dye has been used traditionally throughout South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.

 Henna is made by drying the leaves of henna plant and grinding it to powder. The powder is then mixed with water, essential oils, sugar or molasses, and sometimes black tea or lemon juice. This paste is applied to the skin and creates a beautiful stain that can last about 1 week. 

Henna takes around 15-30 minutes to dry. In that time it is very important not to let anything touch it! Once the henna is dry you no longer have to worry too much about it,l however it’s best to let the Henna stay on the skin as long as possible. The longer the henna stays on the skin the darker the stain will be. 

 The henna will naturally flake off by itself, but if you are antsy and ready to remove the paste we recommend scraping it off ( you can use your fingernails, a butter knife, a credit card etc.) NEVER wash henna. 

Natural Henna is always safe. We make our own Henna paste using 100% fresh, natural, organic Henna. Our Henna DOES NOT contain p-phenylenediamine, or PPD; a chemical that is commonly found in “black henna” and is known to cause rashes, sores, burns, blisters and scarring.

Our artists can produce 12 – 15 small designs per 1 hour. However, the more time we have the larger and more elaborate the designs can be. 

Our balloons are made from 100% natural latex — not plastic. Our latex balloons are biodegradable, and decompose as fast as an oak leaf in your backyard!

Latex balloons come from rubber trees. Latex is collected by cutting the tree’s bark, then catching the latex in a cup. Latex harvesting doesn’t hurt the tree!

Latex balloons are Earth-friendly. Rubber trees grow in rain forests. Latex harvesting discourages deforestation because latex-producing trees are left intact. A tree can produce latex for up to 40 years!

 Latex Balloon Warning: Choking Hazard. Children under 8 years can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Adult supervision required. Keep uninflated balloons from children. Discard broken balloons at once. Also, individuals who have an allergy to latex should not handle latex balloons under any circumstances.

Our artists only use professional grade balloons which are far durable than your average store bought balloons. However, balloon animals are not meant to last forever. If kids are playing hard with them, they often start popping or unravelling within the hour! Balloons are allergic to anything abrasive – like trees, rocks, grass, gravel, etc. so how long they last purely depends on how the kids are treating them. If you are careful your balloons can last 2 weeks or longer.

It all depends on the simplicity or complexity of the designs. Basic designs take 2-4 minutes each. Our more complex balloons are often 3-6 minutes per design.

Adults are absolutely able to receive face paint or a balloon. In fact, it is rare that we do parties in which at least one or two adults don’t join in on the fun!

Booking Fee
A non-refundable booking fee is required to reserve your event. This payment covers all advance work, including planning, communication, and coordination. It secures your artist(s)’ time and ensures the event begins with care and attention from the very start.

Weather Policy
We do not offer refunds or credit transfers due to inclement weather. If your event is outdoors, we strongly recommend having a weather-protected backup location.

Rescheduling

We understand that sometimes life throws a curveball — kids get sick, plans shift, and emergencies happen. If you need to reschedule, we’re happy to transfer your booking fee to a new date within 3 months of your original event.

• If you reschedule more than 14 days in advance, we can transfer your booking fee to a new date with no additional fees.

• If you reschedule within 14 days of your event, a rescheduling fee equal to 25% of your total event cost is required. This fee goes directly to your artist(s) to help cover income lost due to the last-minute change.

  • This rescheduling fee is not covered by your original payment — it is an additional payment required to secure the new date.

• We’ll do our best to book the same artist(s) and services, but availability for the new date is not guaranteed.

• Events canceled or rescheduled within 24 hours of the start time are not eligible for a refund or credit.

Cancelation
If you cancel your event:

• More than 14 days in advance: No additional fees will be charged. (Booking fee remains non-refundable.)

• Within 14 days: You’ll be responsible for 50% of the remaining balance. If you’ve already paid in full, this means we will refund you 25% of your total.

• Within 24 hours: The full balance is owed, and no refunds will be issued.

In Case of Artist Emergency
If your assigned artist becomes unavailable due to illness, emergency, or unforeseen circumstances, we’ll do everything possible to find a suitable replacement. If no replacement can be found, you’ll receive a full refund.

The best way to reach us is by filling out our quote form or by sending us an email at info@pacificfacepainters.com. We try to respond within 24 hours, but we are generally a little quicker at returning emails than phone calls. Messages received on the weekend are generally returned Monday morning.