For a children's birthday party in Singapore, one face painter for about 2 hours can paint most of the children in the room, and each child picks the design they want. It works at home, in a condo function room, at a void deck or in a hotel function room, and it needs no stage, no sound system and no rehearsal.
Price: face painting in Singapore usually costs SGD 250 to 450 for a 2 hour session with one painter. For a small birthday of up to 20 to 25 children, 1.5 to 2 hours usually costs SGD 250 to 350. See how much face painting costs in Singapore.
How many children one painter can do
One painter does about 12 to 15 children an hour with detailed designs, or 20 to 25 an hour if the children keep to simple designs. For a party of under 20 children, 1.5 to 2 hours is enough. For 20 to 40 children, book one painter for 2.5 to 3 hours, or two painters for 1.5 hours. If more than 40 children are coming, book two painters from the start. The common mistake is one painter for 50 children in two hours: the queue grows, and the last children get rushed designs.
Designs by age
Toddlers usually want a small design on the cheek, such as a heart, a star or a little butterfly, because they cannot sit still for long. Children from about four to nine ask for superheroes, fairies, unicorns and animals: tigers, cats, butterflies and dogs. Older children often want a full face design and will happily wait for it, or they choose a glitter tattoo on the arm instead. Festive designs work too, such as tigers, dragons and plum blossoms for Chinese New Year, or Halloween and Christmas faces.
Match the party theme
A dinosaur birthday, a mermaid party, a jungle safari or a princess theme all work. Say the theme when you book, so the painter brings the right picture menu and colours instead of improvising on the day. Tell us roughly how many children are toddlers, because they take longer per face.
Skin and safety
Professional face paint is cosmetic grade and made for skin, never craft paint. Put any allergy or sensitive skin in the brief. On the day, a parent can ask the painter to do a small patch test first or to skip an area.
Where to put the station
The painter brings the paints, brushes, wipes and design menu, and needs a small table, a child's chair and good light. Give the station its own corner, away from the food table and the door, so the queue does not block anyone. If a balloon artist or a game host is also coming, keep them in a different corner so the two activities do not compete.
When in the party
Children arrive over the first 20 minutes, so face painting works well as soon as the room fills, or as the second activity after a main show. Leave the cake and photos for the last half hour, when most faces are already painted.
Book your party painter
Book 2 to 4 weeks ahead for a normal weekend, and 4 to 6 weeks ahead in the June, November and December school holidays and around Chinese New Year. Send the date, the place and the number and ages of the children on WhatsApp or through the quote form. Want more than face painting? See the kids party packages.
