Temporary tattoos are very popular with people of all ages and are a less risky alternative to permanent tattoos. Plus, temporary tattoos are super fun for parties too! You'll need to take the time to get your temporary tattoo perfect, but with a little patience, you can get a stencil or glitter tattoo with results you can be proud of.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Applying Transfer Tattoos
Step 1. Start with clean, dry skin
Temporary tattoos are made with water-based inks. That means the skin's natural oils will complicate the tattooing process. Clean the area of the skin where the tattoo will be applied with soap and water, then pat it dry with a tissue.
If your skin is very sweaty, rubbing alcohol can help with the oil. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and wipe it on the skin area. Do not do this every day because it can dry out the skin
Step 2. Choose a tattoo design
Some temporary tattoos are sold in individual packs for your convenience. However, if the tattoo you want is sold in sheets containing several other designs, you will need to separate them. Use sharp scissors to cut it out, but be careful not to cut the design itself. Do this until the tattoo separates from the sheet (flash sheet).
Step 3. Remove the transparent protective sheet
At this stage, the tattoo is protected by a thin layer of transparent plastic. Carefully remove this layer. You'll see a brightly colored tattoo, a shadow version of the tattoo that will stick to the skin.
From this point on, the side with the ink covered in transparent plastic will be called the face side
Step 4. Place the face side down on the skin
Make sure you really want to put the tattoo on the area you just cleaned, then place the side of your face on the skin. Don't move. Hold firmly to keep the tattoo paper from shifting while you prepare for the next step.
Step 5. Glue a damp cloth or sponge over the tattoo paper
Take a damp piece of cloth or sponge (not dry or soaking wet), and press it firmly against the back of the tattoo. Hold it well and don't let the paper slide, although that tends to be the case.
Step 6. Hold for at least 60 seconds
To get the full picture, you have to be a little patient. Never remove the tattoo cloth or paper from the skin until a full minute has elapsed. During this period, try not to move around much.
Step 7. Carefully peel off the tattoo paper
Start by lifting one corner of the paper to peek at the tattoo. If the image looks weird or doesn't stick to the skin, take the cloth or sponge back and stick it to the back of the tattoo paper, waiting another 30 seconds. If the tattoo looks good, continue slowly removing the tattoo paper.
Step 8. Wait for the tattoo to dry
Be patient for about 10 more minutes. Resist the urge to touch the tattoo. It's best if you sit still and don't move too much so that the tattoo doesn't wrinkle or warp.
Step 9. Apply a small amount of water-based lotion
To make your tattoo last longer, moisturize your skin by applying a thin layer of cream or lotion over the tattoo. Do not use an oil-based moisturizer such as petrolatum, as this can cause the tattoo to scorch. If you want, you can also lightly sprinkle baby powder over the tattoo to make it look more matte (and look more realistic).
Method 2 of 2: Applying a Tattoo Stencil with Glitter
Step 1. Start with clean skin
The process of getting a glitter tattoo is a bit different from a transfer tattoo or a paper tattoo, but the skin also needs to be clean for the tattoo to stick well. Wash the area of skin selected for the tattoo with warm soapy water, then gently pat it dry with a tissue.
Step 2. Choose a stencil
Don't choose just any stencil! We recommend choosing a stencil designed specifically for glitter tattoos. Stencils like these usually have an adhesive that won't hurt the skin when you remove them. You can find them in glitter tattoo kits or sold separately at party supply stores, major retail stores, or beauty stores. Place the stencil in whatever area you have defined.
Make sure you don't stick the stencil in the hairy area, as it will be painful to remove
Step 3. Apply body-safe glue over the stencil
If you buy a glitter tattoo kit, you will usually get a special glue for the skin. If not, you can buy it separately. Apply a thin layer of glue with a brush so that it covers the skin that is not covered by the stencil. Then, wait until it dries and the glue looks transparent.
Step 4. Apply the glitter with a new brush
Now you come to the fun part, which is sprinkling glitter on top of the glue! Dip the brush in body-safe glitter (cosmetic glitter works fine) and apply it to the skin inside the stencil. Have fun and experiment with blending and mixing glitter.
Step 5. Remove the stencil
Once you are satisfied with the amount of glitter used, lift one corner of the stencil and remove it from the skin. Do it slowly so as not to damage the glitter tattoo you just made.
Step 6. Wipe off excess glitter
After lifting the stencil, you may see glitter falling out of place. If that's the case, use a large bristle brush (a cheek brush is ideal) to clean up any splattered glitter. It's best to do this in an open area so that the glitter doesn't fall on the carpet.
Tips
- Smaller tattoos are usually easier to put on because the chances of the image being damaged when lifting the paper are relatively small.
- Don't tamper with the tattoo to make it last longer.
