What kind of paint to use?

So you need to paint an accessory or costume or even your body for a cosplay... and you do not know what to use? Well here is some tips and advice from my side.

Humbrol Enamel

• Very wide variety in colours and a choice between gloss, matt, satin, metallic. metalcote and clear.
• Works great when painting props made from cooldrink cans or metal
• Also works on some plastic 
• Works on Papermache
• Needs to clean brush with thinners 
• Remember to follow instructions on the container.
• Approximately R30 when I bought my new containers.
• Small quantity and easy to store
• Remember: Humbrol is focused on hobbies.
• If the waiting time has passed and the item is still very sticky, the paint will not work, so you will need to clean the item with thinners and use another kind of paint
• Not to be used on fabric

Other Enamel

• might vary in price and quantity
• Not necessarily in the right colour.
• Otherwise: it works exactly the same

 Fabric Paint:

• Available in all shapes and sizes, from pens, to tubes, to buckets and bottles
• Extender / Clear can be painted on first to 'seal' the fabric so that not so much colour will be needed.
• Works great when working on newspaper or smooth surface. Just remember to move the newspaper or the newspaper might get stuck to the wet surface and dry, sticking to it.
• Works on most fabrics
• Note: When painting on coloured fabrics, the colour you are painting may come out different, if you did not apply white in a few layers before putting on the colour
• Can also be used on the face
• Works well on papermache
• Use water to clean your brush

 Acrylic /art paint / pva

• Works on rubber
• works on papermache
• Use water to clean your brush
• Works on basically anything, except face, glass and metal / cooldrink cans.

Nail Polish

• Works on Nails, plastic and basically anything.
• Just use nail polish remover / acid tone to remove it.
• Not to be used on fabric

 Henna

• stains skin
• available in tubes or can be mixed in a bowl
• black / brown colour
• works for tattoos 
• lasts a while (few days) on your skin.
• Remember to do the allergy test before going all out.

Face paint

• liquid: when drying on your skin, it can crack up
• labeled as peel of : it peels off when you least expect it.
• oil based: it's all good and well, but if you run around in the sun all day your make-up will run and you will die because oil does not let your skin breathe. As for cold indoor... well go for it!
• Waterbased: easy to apply and remove and safe.
• If you can use it on the face, you can use it on the body

Kryolan:

This is the water based face paint I use

I'll add when I have more knowledge. Feel free to share experience and advice (Paint wise)