Face Painting, #WorldCup Style
Listen. If you are rooting for the Angolan soccer team and it makes you feel like part of the squad by painting yourself black, red, and yellow, who are we to judge? What we can do is tell you how to do it right. Makeup artist Cassandra Garcia gives some heads-up advice on how to apply—and how to remove—your game face:
Putting it on:
Buy real face paint—regular makeup will melt off, your mother’s watercolors will never be deep enough, and house paint will kill you. The professional kind is best. (Try Make Up For Ever Flash Color Case; Ben Nye Crème Colors; Snazaroo Body-Face Paints.)
It’s best if you have a friend ready to paint you, rather than looking in the mirror and painting the wrong stripes in the wrong order (beware fans of Russia and the Netherlands in particular).
Start with a clean, dry face and a dry, soft paintbrush. You can use cosmetic sponge wedges if you are applying large areas of colors.
Have a printout (or an actual flag) with you. Don’t paint from memory.
Trace your face with a light brow pencil, so you can paint straight lines (or an intricate flag design). Unless you are a fan of Japan, and then you’ll need to draw a circle.
Start in the middle of your face and work your way out.
If you make a mistake, use a Q-tip with an oil-based makeup remover to fix problems.
Taking it off:
Get cotton pads or a soft washcloth that you can throw away.
Bring some oil-based makeup remover with you. Baby oil and Vaseline work as well. (Don’t just use soap and water, as the paint will probably stain your face.)
Wipe slowly and deliberately. You don’t need your friend to help you with this, unless you are impaired or too exhausted to lift your hands to your face.
If your face feels oily, you can wash it now.
Sleep on a pillowcase that can be washed.
Repeat until your team gets beaten. Then choose another country to cheer for and start all over.
Photo: Henry Leutwyler
