Airbrush Tattoos

If you're new to tattoos and want to see what one would look like on you, why not try an airbrush tattoo?

Airbrush tattoos are painted on the skin much in the way that airbrushed T-shirts are made. Using a CO2 sprayer, a stencil, and specially formulated paint, a person can apply a design that looks convincingly like a permanent tattoo in just a few minutes.

Availability: You can probably find someone locally to apply an airbrush tattoo. Try a carnival, at the beach, or in a beauty salon. There may also be a local independent artist who brings equipment and flash to parties or other functions. Look for them in your yellow pages or by searching online. You can also buy your own application kit and apply tattoos yourself.

Online vendors of airbrush tattoo kits claim that the process is very easy to learn. The price for equipment and supplies vary from around $300 for simple starter kits to several thousand dollars for professional equipment for use in a small business. There are even kits meant for young girls that cost as little as $20. Several colors of paint and instructional materials (book, CD, or video) are usually included in the price.

Suppliers of paint and supplies usually have hundreds of stencils to choose from as well. Some places sell single-use stencils that adhere to the skin and are peeled off and discarded after use. If you are a decent artist, you may also want to create your own.

Ready Made Options: Like decal tattoos, stencils are available in thousands of designs, from geometric and tribal patterns for use with black paint, to colorful designs that will use multiple colors of paints. Just a few ideas: • Chinese Symbols • Patriotic Designs • Skulls • Fantasy • Sports Team Logos • Armbands • Sun and Moon • UPC Codes • Roses and Thorns • Unicorns • Fantastical Creatures • Lettering • UV Tattoos for Clubbing • Glitter Tattoos

Customize It! Online vendors also create custom stencils using your ideas. The cost can be as little as $10 if you have your own design on paper and want it reproduced in a stencil.

Application: The application process is simple. First the skin is wiped with alcohol to guarantee a clean surface, then the paint is applied using a stencil. The process can take up to half an hour if the design is complicated and requires multiple colors. Once the tattoo is finished, any overspray is removed and the design is sprinkled with talc to help it dry. With proper care, the airbrushed tattoo can last for 7-14 days. It should especially be protected from soap and water; before bathing or swimming, you can cover your tattoo with a light coat of petroleum jelly to help prolong its life. Related to airbrushed tattoos are tattoos applied with body paint. Kits including several colors of paint, stencils, brushes, and instructions can be purchased for as little as $20. These designs tend to last for several days and are very easy to apply. Options include paints that shimmer, paints with glitter, and glow in the dark paints.

Henna Tattoos

Henna is the oldest method of temporary tattooing, and has been around for thousands of years. Henna paste is created from the leaves of a plant and a few additives such as eucalyptus oil for binding purposes and lemon juice or coffee or tea to help release the colors.

You can also purchase kits and apply the henna yourself. Just as with airbrushed tattoos, starter kits are available online and in stores for people who want to do their own henna tattoos. They include henna powder and even stencils, although traditionally henna is applied freehand.

Traditional Options: In India, henna designs have been painted on the hands and feet of women preparing for ceremonies such as weddings. These intricate and abstract designs are usually painted in the forms of swirls, dotted lines, flowers, etc. This is still the most common option of henna tattoo applied by a professional.

Recently Popular Options: Some henna artists now create designs such as animals, butterflies, tribals, Chinese symbols, and other designs similar to those found in permanent tattoos. For those who want to apply their own henna tattoos, henna kits are now available for purchase. Most come with a variety of stencils.

Application: Henna paste is traditionally applied to the skin in a freehand design. If no stencil is used, the person creating the pattern should have some artistic talent, skill and experience. Henna tattoos can last up to two to four weeks, so it is important to choose an artist who is an established practitioner.

Henna paste is a dye, so it stains more deeply the longer it is left on the skin. However, it does not penetrate the skin, but only stains the upper layers of dead skin. The paste should be allowed to dry and peel off on its own, often for several hours or even overnight. The pattern will darken over the first few days after application, and your skin type and the quality of the henna will help determine the final shade of the design. On light skin, it will appear brown, and on darker skin it will be more red.

WARNING! Beware of getting a tattoo with "black henna" or from anyone who claims that the resulting design will be black. There is no henna that will be naturally black, and any henna paste resulting in a black tattoo probably contains coal tar (p-phenylenediamine or PPD). This chemical has caused many people to suffer allergic reactions that can burn the skin and leave scars. The reaction can even cause recurring skin problems that will last for years and flare up with exposure to other chemicals or even dark clothing. Before getting a henna tattoo, make sure the paste contains nothing besides henna, essential oils like eucalyptus or tea tree oil, and liquids such as lemon juice, tea or coffee.

ENJOY! There are many inexpensive options out there for those who want to explore body art but who aren't ready to visit the tattoo parlor just yet. If you'e afraid of needles, if you can't yet afford a tattoo, or if you just know you don't want something permanent, maybe temporary tattoos are for you. Even if you DO want a permanent tattoo, you may want to explore some temporary designs as your "trial runs" before you make that final commitment of time and money. If you haven't yet decided where to get your ink or what you want to depict, go ahead and invest in a few decals, an airbrushed tattoo, or some henna. Seeing something temporary on your skin can help you really decide what you want there permanently.