Personal service settings

Personal service providers only offering face painting, make-up applications, and temporary henna tattoos are not required to submit a special events application. Ensure that you meet the general requirements for your workstation and follow infection control best practices for face painting and henna.

Ensure that your workstation complies with the setting requirements and safety guidelines:

Hand hygiene

• Vendors must have access to a handwashing station equipped with potable running water, liquid soap and paper towels. Washing hands with soap and water should be performed when hands are visibly soiled.
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHR) must contain 70 to 90 percent alcohol, non-expired and labelled with a natural product number (NPN). Alcohol-based hand sanitizer may only be used on hands that are visibly clean.
• Hand hygiene should be performed:
  • Before and after each client.
  • Before putting on gloves, and after removing glove.

Waste collection and disposal

• Do not dump wastewater onto the ground surface.
• Wastewater must be disposed of in a sanitary manner. Contact the local municipality for guidance on disposing wastewater.
• Arrange for solid waste collection and removal.

Cosmetic safety guidelines

• Ensure cosmetic products are in compliance with Health Canada’s Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist.
  • Cosmetics containing prohibited ingredients must never be used.
  • Cosmetics containing restricted ingredients have warnings and cautionary statements and must be used accordingly.
  • Check the Health Canada public advisory for any cosmetic product recalls and safety alerts.

Client safety guidelines

• Clean client’s skin before applying product.
• Do not apply product directly on non-intact skin (i.e., open wounds, cuts, rashes).
• Products must be safe for human skin.

Please adhere to the following infection prevention and control best practices for face painting and make-up application:

Equipment and supplies

• Use single-use disposable applicators and palettes.
• Do not double-dip (i.e., applying product on the client’s skin and then use the same applicator to get more product). Ensure product is dispensed in a sanitary manner to protect bulk supplies of paint (and other face-painting products) from contamination.
• Pre-portion product into smaller amounts for each client.
• Use containers where paint product can be squeezed or pumped out.

Cleaning and disinfection

• Single‑use disposable equipment is strongly recommended.  
• On‑site cleaning and disinfection of reusable tools is not permitted at special events. Only tools that have been fully cleaned and disinfected before the event may be used. After use, place tools in a designated dirty/used container for off‑site reprocessing.  All cleaning and disinfection must follow the guidelines below. Cleaning requires using water, soap and mechanical action (i.e., scrubbing) to physically remove contaminants (e.g., blood/bodily fluids, debris). This step must be performed before disinfection. 
• Disinfectant products:
  • Must have a Drug Identification Number (DIN) or Natural Product Number (NPN) issued by Health Canada. Ensure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, including dilution and contact times.
  • For ease of use, select ready to use disinfectants that do not require mixing chemicals with water.
  • Do not use expired disinfectant products.
  • Refer to the Public Health Ontario Disinfectant Table to determine the appropriate level of disinfection.
• Brushes require intermediate level disinfection. An example of intermediate level disinfectant is 70 to 90 percent isopropyl alcohol immersed for 10 minutes.
• Workstation (e.g., tables, chairs) should be cleaned and disinfected after each client and as often as necessary using a low-level disinfectant product.

Cosmetic safety

• Use cosmetics only as intended and as directed by the manufacturer. A “non-toxic” label may not indicate that it is safe to use on the skin (e.g., Acrylic paint may be non-toxic, but it is not intended to be used on the skin).

Please adhere to the following infection prevention and control best practices for temporary henna tattoos:

Cosmetic Safety

• Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is a restricted ingredient listed under Health Canada’s Ingredient Hotlist and is not permitted as an ingredient in products intended for use on the skin as it can cause serious adverse reactions.
• Visit Health Canada for more information on Black henna temporary tattoos.
• If you or someone you know experiences an adverse skin reaction from a “black henna temporary tattoo” and wish to report the incident to Health Canada, please submit an incident report online.

Cleaning and Disinfection

• Single‑use disposable equipment is strongly recommended.  
• On‑site cleaning and disinfection of reusable tools is not permitted at special events. Only tools that have been fully cleaned and disinfected before the event may be used. After use, place tools in a designated dirty/used container for off‑site reprocessing.  All cleaning and disinfection must follow the guidelines below. Cleaning requires using water, soap and mechanical action (i.e., scrubbing) to physically remove contaminants (e.g., blood/bodily fluids, debris). This step must be performed before disinfection. 
• Disinfectant products:
  • Must have a Drug Identification Number (DIN) or Natural Product Number (NPN) issued by Health Canada. Ensure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, including dilution and contact times.
  • For ease of use, select ready to use disinfectants that do not require mixing chemicals with water.
  • Do not use expired disinfectant products.
  • Refer to the Public Health Ontario Disinfectant Table to determine the appropriate level of disinfection.
• Do not re-use leftover henna cones on multiple clients (i.e., using leftover product from a previous client for a new client). Cones with leftover product should be discarded and a new cone should be used for a new client.
• Workstations (e.g., tables, chairs) should be cleaned and disinfected after each client and as often as necessary using a low-level disinfectant product.