Archive for tattoo designs
Temporary Tattoos
Posted by: | CommentsTattoos have been an important part of human culture all throughout history. The purposes of tattoos have changed over the years, as has society in general. In modern culture, there are many mixed feelings about tattoos and their meanings. Some societies still use tattoos as tribal identification or for other tribal matters, but for the most part, it is more of luxury than a necessity. We do not have to use a tattoo to display what tribe we are from or to scare others during battle – as they were used in times past. We can use them to display our feelings about things or to let others know what is important to us as an individual. Temporary tattoos are the solution for many people who do not want to have a permanent design on their body or do not want to feel the pain of a needle. There are many types of temporary tattoos available today such as Decalcomania, Mehndi, Sun Stencils, and Airbrush tattoos.
Tattoos are usually permanent decorative images applied to the skin. In the case of the temporary tattoo, the image lasts for a short time only. Many temporary tattoos are for fun, like the type that kids get to put their favorite cartoon character on their arm for a little while. Adults have begun using these temporary tattoos and they are becoming more intricate as the market moves more toward adults. Decalcomania is a favorite way of making a temporary tattoo where a decal is applied to the skin. With these types of tattoos, screen printing is used to create a tattoo image on paper coated with a transfer film. When wet, this film will move off of the backing paper and onto the skin. After drying, the screen printed image will stay on the skin for several days. (Schueller, 1999) The beauty of temporary tattoos is exactly that, they are temporary. There will be no regretting the image as a person grows older or their habits and tastes change.
All types of temporary tattoos need to be made from ink because they are applied directly to the skin and may stay on the skin for quite a while. It is best if the dyes have FDA approval, but most are not approved – the same for permanent ink. There are other chemicals added to the dyes such as drying agents and extenders that need to be approved before using them. (Henley, 2009)
Another type of temporary tattoo is Mehndi. It is thought that the practice originated in India and Pakistan, although there is some debate about the origins of this ancient practice. It is often considered a type of body painting. The ink used in this process is a copper based ink made from the leaves of the henna plant. The Mehndi designs are usually scroll-like decorations, but as the practice becomes more popular around the world, the designs are beginning to change. The inks used in Mehndi tattoos can last for several weeks. (Jain, 2002)
Another emerging trend is Sun Stencils. The tattoo in this case is the pigmentation of your own skin. The use of stencils stickers lets UV radiation reach part of the skin but not all parts during tanning. This produces an image that can take the form of many different images as well as allow you to make simple letters and numbers. There is also swim wear available that lets you create a tattoo as you hang out at the beach with simple images of hearts and circles. (Hardy, 2009)
Airbrush tattoos are becoming a popular type of temporary tattoo and airbrush tattoo stencils come pre-packaged in many different varieties. These stencils are reusable and can also be individualized. There are many colors of airbrush ink available and a lot of companies use FDA approved materials. (Kirk, 2009) These air brush tattoos are becoming popular at festivals and carnivals like face painting has always been.
Tattoos are very popular in today’s society, especially for people under 35. (Kirk, 2009) Temporary tattoos are becoming more and more popular because permanent tattoos can be expensive and painful. Temporary tattoos offer people a way to express their personality and let the world know about their interests without having to worry about the fact that it will never come off. It looks like temporary tattoos are going to be a permanent part of the tattoo world with their quick application, lack of pain, and affordability.
Works Cited
Hardy, T. (2009). Suntan.com. Retrieved February 6th, 2010, from Suntan Art: http://www.suntan.com/?art
Henley, N. (2009). Chest Of Books. Retrieved February 6th, 2010, from Decolomania process: http://chestofbooks.com/reference/Henley-s-20th-Century-Formulas-Recipes-Processes-Vol2/Decalcomania-Processes.html
Jain, R. (2002). Mehndi World.com. Retrieved February 6th, 2010, from Mehendi History: http://www.mehendiworld.com/mehendi-history.htm
Kirk, K. (2009). TAT. Retrieved February 6th, 2010, from temporary airbrush tattoos: http://www.tatstore.com/p/intro
Schueller, R. (1999). Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved February 6th, 2010, from Temporary Tatoos: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2896800100.html
What Are Temporary Tattoos?
Posted by: | CommentsTattoos have been popular forms of body art for quite a while in most Western countries. They are worn as a symbol of rebellion, of belonging or for many other reasons. Tattoos are typically permanent images that are done by depositing ink in the dermis layer of the skin. These tattoos can be removed, but usually only through a surgical procedure. If you want to get the experience of a tattoo but you are squeamish about the process or don’t know if you are ready for a permanent one, there are temporary tattoos that you can try out. They are usually applied with an instrument like a ballpoint pen, and therefore can be removed with soap and water. It has been reported that these tattoos can be removed with hair spray also.
Temporary tattoos can be painted on by hand or applied to the skin with a stencil. A stencil is a sheet of paper that contains a tattoo predesigned with a layer of glue on the top of it. You peel away the top protective transparent coating from the stencil and press it onto the skin. It’s as simple as that. Another way to get a more detailed and professional looking temporary tattoo is to apply a stencil to the area of your body you want to put it on. Have someone fill in the inside of the stencil with an airbrush. This will make it hard for anyone to tell that it is not a real tattoo. These temporary tattoos will last sometimes for up to a week. You can usually remove them with alcohol because the paints used in the airbrush equipment are alcohol based.
Some temporary tattoos are done with a henna paste. Tattoos of this nature are typically brownish and red in color. Henna contains a dye that colors the skin temporarily. These temporary tattoos are usually predesigned. They will eventually wear off. They may last for days or even as long as a month. As the skin sheds they will fade and eventually completely disappear. Temporary tattoos are preferred by many people as an occasional body ornament or just for fun. Many people in advertising use them because they are short lived. Many actors use temporary tattoos as well for the very same reasons.
As kids, you may have used temporary tattoos that came in a box of cereal or in a bubble gum wrapper. The whole idea behind tattoos is the same whether they are permanent or temporary; they are intended as body art. If you are thinking of getting a permanent tattoo, you may want to first experiment by applying a temporary tattoo to see if you really like the idea. If you find that you are disappointed when the temporary wears off then you know you’re likely to be okay with the real thing.
