Finishing Puppet printed with foaming TPU : Flocking vs. PAX (Latex/Acrylic) for a Beginner?

handsonpuppetry

I am 3D printing a puppet head using foaming TPU (Siraya Tech). Due to stock issues, I’m using Black filament, which I now need to finish in realistic human skin tones.

Given that the TPU is flexible and has a matte, porous texture, I am torn between two finishing methods and would love some advice on which is more "beginner-friendly" for achieving high-quality results.

Option A: PAX Paint (Liquid Latex + Acrylics)

How hard is it to achieve opacity over black without the paint becoming too thick and losing detail? Is there a specific "white-out" flexible primer you recommend?

Durability: Does the porous nature of foamed TPU help the latex bond, or is peeling a major risk?

Application: For a beginner, is brush-painting effective, or is an airbrush mandatory for a smooth, non-streaky skin finish?

Option B: Flocking with fibers

Ease of Use: Is flocking "easier" than color-matching skin tones with paint?

Coverage: Since the filament is similar to a foam material , will flocking bind better to the material and provide enough physical coverage to hide the base color entirely?

Longevity: Does flocking hold up better than paint on a puppet that will be handled and moved frequently?

Colour: Can using flocking provide a range of vibrant, realistic skin hues?

If you were a beginner starting with a black, flexible substrate, which method would you choose for the best "effort-to-result" ratio?

Thanks for any tips or experience you can share!