Whether it’s sexy costumes or killer cosplay that brings fantasies to life, cam models know how to get into character. Body painting is an art that some performers use in their arsenal of tricks to get hearts racing and tips pouring in, but it can be a bit more intimidating than your basic makeup look. So, how do you incorporate body painting into your repertoire without risking a “wardrobe malfunction” that violates TOS during free chat? Here are some body painting tips to help even the most novice beginner become a body painting pro.
THE HISTORY
Once you’re squeaky clean, prime your skin just like you would your face before applying makeup.
Before we get into body painting for webcam shows, let’s first take a moment to appreciate the art form. For centuries, humans have used body paint as a form of expression, whether for beauty, war or rituals such as weddings and spiritual ceremonies.
Since then, body painting has made its way into modern culture, notably in the 1960s when activists used it as a form of performance art to express their political views. More recently, it’s been used in cosplay and iconic magazine covers such as Sports Illustrated, Vanity Fair, and the infamous W magazine cover where a nude Kim Kardashian showed off her signature curves in silver paint.
Body paint has a rich history that deserves an article all its own, but those are the basics. Now, let’s get into how you can turn this art form into a way to whip your fans into a frenzy.
START WITH A CLEAN CANVAS
Prep your body before you begin painting to protect your skin and help your artwork last during those hot and steamy cam shows. Make sure your skin is clean, and make sure you wash with mild products that don’t contain a lot of dyes or fragrances. You’re going to be putting a lot of product on your skin and don’t want to mix things that shouldn’t go together. Don’t forget to exfoliate, shave and moisturize since the paint will cling to any dry skin or peach fuzz you already have and make it look even more apparent in HD.
Once you’re squeaky clean, prime your skin just like you would your face before applying makeup. A good base will help the body paint stick to your skin, and it will hold up to sweat as things start to heat up in your room. You can use any primer you have on hand, but if you want to try something a little more geared towards costume makeup, Mehron Skin Prep Pro is a great option. Pro tip: Use a white primer to brighten your colors, or black if you want them to appear darker and richer.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT PAINT
There are some fantastic brands out there, but my favorite is Ben Nye because the colors are super vibrant, plus the paints are easy to work with and last forever. They can be a little tougher to find as they are mainly sold in specialty costume and theater shops, but they are well worth the effort if you can find them. If accessibility is an issue, MAC Chromacake Body Paint is super pigmented, comes in tons of colors and has a super creamy texture that makes it easy to wipe off if you make a mistake.
Once you have your body paint, do a spot test on a small section of your skin 24 hours before showtime to ensure you’re not allergic to any of the ingredients. Nothing kills a cam model’s workweek faster than a full-body rash you got from using the wrong paint.
START SIMPLE
Body paint can feel pretty intimidating for beginners, but it gets easier with practice. The trick is to start with something simple and slowly work your way up to the more intricate artwork. There are a ton of tutorials you can follow on YouTube and TikTok to walk you through the process. Be sure to give yourself enough time as well, because the last thing you want is to stress out about getting something just right five minutes before a Saturday night show. A few popular ideas that are relatively easy for beginners are sugar skulls, Gamora from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and Mystique from “X-Men.”
FOLLOW YOUR PLATFORM’S TOS
Most platforms have strict terms of service surrounding body paint, so read up before taking the plunge. For example, some sites require that you show your face for at least two minutes during your show without paint if it changes your features in a way that makes you unrecognizable.
Other platforms require you not to show certain body parts in free chat, even if they have been painted over. In those cases, you can cover the naughtier bits with a pair of panties that match your color palette or get creative with some expertly-placed jewels. Go Get Glitter is a brand that makes full-body jewel strips you can use to enhance your look and comply with TOS requirements. They’re also affordable and super easy to apply.
FIGURE OUT IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT BODY TYPE
Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you want to know if you have the right physique for body paint: Do you have a body? Do you want to paint it? If you answered “yes” to both questions, then you have the right body type. Congratulations. Now get to it!
Jackie Backman is the content manager for Cams.com. She has been working in the industry for over 15 years and specializes in copywriting, beauty, and social media management. Follow Jackie on Instagram at @beautychaoticofficial.
