Temporary Tattoos for Children and Adults

Kids are easily influenced by their surroundings and they are most tempted to imitate adults.

If you have tattoos {s} don’t be surprised if your child or younger sibling and up asking you to get one for her.

Well, the way you feel about your tattoo is no different for children.  They love to feel, fascinate and express themselves about having a tattoo also. Instead of waiting for the appropriate time to get a real tattoo, alternatively, a temporary tattoo is an amazing option. As matter of fact, temporary tattoos for children and adults are easy to apply and remove.  They are available in many places like online stores, vending machines, and some retailers. However, before getting a temporary tattoo for yourself or your children there are a few things worth knowing.

Why Temporary Tattoos are Skin-Friendly

The temporary tattoo may contain odd-sounding ingredients like resin, dyes, colorants, varnishes, henna, and polymers, but they are completely safe. That’s because they have been approved by U.S Food and Drug administration {FDA} to be safe for direct dermal contact {Skin-friendly}. However, you can only get them from a reputable, legitimate, and certified store that complies with federal labeling regulations.

If you don’t trust FDA-approved temporary tattoo stickers you can opt for an airbrush tattoo. An Airbrush tattoo is a temporary tattoo that is applied by using a special airbrush machine with FDA-approved cosmetic ink. Or, more to the point, for plant-based ink tattoo called henna which can last for about 3 weeks. But you should avoid, henna pastes that claim to be fast-staining or pre-mixed because they may contain additives that are not FDA-approved and may cause harm to your skin.

Types of Temporary Tattoos

Before getting a temporary tattoo for your child or yourself it is worth noting that there are types of temporary tattoos. However, your decision to settle on any type of temporary tattoo with your child is more than likely influenced by the theme, and style. That’s because kids get a temporary tattoo for the following reasons;

• To fit the party theme and have fun
• Enable and express their imagination
• To carry a sense of identity
• Feel confident and socialize with their peers
• Beauty enhancement
• Artistic reasons and fashion expression

There are three common types of temporary tattoos, they include;

Henna Tattoos

Henna tattoos are popular in South Asia and are mostly used by Bollywood actors. Henna is a temporary ink-based temporary tattoo made from leaves that are grounded into a powder. Then it is dissolved to make temporary tattoo ink that is rarely black but in the realm of brown and red shades. The advantage of henna is both temporary and lasts between two and three weeks. However, it is advisable to opt for henna that contains only natural, plant-based ingredients rather than pre-mixed henna. Pre-mixed henna contain additives that may cause allergic reactions which further leave scars after healing.

Airbrush Temporary Tattoos

Most often airbrush temporary tattoos are used by tattoo artist amateur to explore, improve their skills and confirm if they are ready to commit themselves to the real world of a permanent tattoo. Airbrush is a high-tech temporary tattoo application by sprays a tattoo onto the skin using an airbrush machine with temporary ink. Airbrush tattoo is completely painless, waterproof, and lasts up to 10 days, but they are a bit expensive.

Press-on-Tattoos

Press-on-temporary tattoos are the most common and they even resemble the real tattoo. They are referred to as press-on-tattoos because they are water-permeable paper which is applied by simply adding some moisture onto the paper. Then, the moist tattoo paper is transferred and pressed onto your skin to stick the tattoo on your skin. The advantage of press-on-tattoo is that they are pocket-friendly and waterproof, but they do not last longer {up to 5 days maximum}.

Glow in the Dark Temporary Tattoos

These types of temporary tattoos are common during Halloween adventures and slumber parties when kids are afraid of the dark. Therefore, a glow-in-the-dark tattoo is a great choice to mesmerize and brighten up kids/children and is perfectly safe. Glow in the dark tattoo is applied using fluorescent ink which glows for about a minute when the light is turned off. Meaning, the light charges the fluorescent ink to maintain its glowing effect.

How Do Temporary Tattoos Work?

Since temporary tattoos like the press-on-tattoo are fake tattoos it would be important to understand how it works from understanding how they are being manufactured. Aside from Airbrush and Henna tattoos, press-on-tattoos have three layers of the paper element that includes;

Backing paper

The backing paper is where the temporary tattoo instructions are printed including promotional information.

Silicone release Coating

On the backing paper, there is a silicone coating layer on one side where the temporary tattoo image will be printed and transferred.

Transfer Film

The transfer film is used to transfer the tattoo to the skin. However, it is first it is moisturized and then applied over the release coating for the image to slide off the backing paper and onto the skin. After the film of the image is applied ink colorant is applied to the dry skin to make up the temporary tattoo. Then a thin layer of adhesive is applied over the colorants to stick the temporary tattoo onto the skin.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Remove Temporary Tattoos

Despite being fake, temporary tattoos are completely waterproof, hence you cannot get rid of them using either soap or water. That’s because the ink colorant has similar property as paint. Be it henna, press-on, and airbrush temporary tattoos it should be removed by using either rubbing baby oil, hand sanitizer, or rubbing alcohol. To remove a temporary tattoo follow the guide below:

Step 1

Apply some rubbing alcohol {isopropyl alcohol} or rubbing baby oil onto a clean cotton pad.

Step 2

Take the cotton pad and place it onto the tattoo for about 20 -30 seconds to lessen the tattoo adhesive. The rubbing alcohol acts as a lubricant and is thinner on your skin. Therefore, it is advisable not to rub the cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on your skin, simply let it sit on your skin for its effects to lessen the tattoo.

Step 3

Remove the cotton and confirm if the tattoo is removed. If not repeat step 1 and 2 until there is no tattoo left on the skin.

Step 4

After confirming there are no tattoos left behind, wash the spot or area with a mild soft and dry it out.

Step 5

Apply moisturizer lotion to lessen the effects of rubbing alcohol and calm down your skin.

However, henna tattoos might be a bit harder to remove, and instead, you may try to soak it first in water with an exfoliating agent, like sea salt. As a matter of fact, the sodium chloride in salt can help nourish your living skin cells and get rid of dead ones. Simply, pour about half a cup of salt into the warm water of a half-full bathtub and soak for twenty minutes to lessen the ink. Then, gently rub the tattoo with a cotton ball to remove it.

Temporary Tattoo Designs and Ideas for Children and Adults

Since temporary tattoos influence the mood and confidence in children and adults it is advisable to use tattoos designs and ideas that would complement the occasion, feelings, and add liveliness. Even if it may seem of no significance to you as an adult, but to children, it is a lifetime memory to cherish forever and remind them that you care and love them.

A Pet Tattoo {name or image}

A pet tattoo is ideal for everyone be it a kid or an adult because they are our closest friends. Having a tattoo of your pet creates a reminder and a purpose why you need it and they need you too.

Name Tattoo

Having the name of your kid as your tattoo represents your love for them and the worth of living. Nevertheless, it gives you the motivation to carry on and work hard to achieve what is the best for them and their future. It is suitable for both women and men. Furthermore, kids can also have their name as a tattoo

Flower Tattoo Design for Girls and Women

Flower Tattoo designs are great for both girls and women because it makes them look attractive and fancy. However, for children, it may be a way of expressing beauty, but for mature women is a way of communication to their spouse through the characteristics of that specific flower tattoo design.

Cartoon tattoo

You can also get your kid/children a favorite cartoon sticker tattoo as a gift. Since kids learn a lot from watching cartoons and even admire their character they will have fun wearing that tat on their hands, face, and forearm. Besides, cartoons are a vital part of their childhood they will cherish the tattoo forever.

Space Tattoo

There are many space tattoos like moon phases, planets, rockets, aliens, and many more. These tattoo designs help to motivate the adventure spirit and mood provided you choose the one love the most.

There are many tattoo designs and ideas you may add to your list that is suitable for adults and children, they include;

Birthday Tattoos
Pirate Skull, Flag, Scars, Pirate ships, and Cove Tattoos
Party theme ideas like Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Marvel, and many more.

Conclusion

Temporary tattoo is not a taboo or strange thing for kids because it is a body modification that holds a purpose and meaning in their life. Therefore, getting them one for a special occasion won’t do them any harm provided you buy them from a reputable store.