Temporary Tattoo Kits

Temporary tattoo kits offer a fun way to experiment with body art before you commit to permanent ink.

Tattoo shops are multiplying like wildfire as tats continue to gain popularity across the globe. Where it was once rather rare to see someone with real body ink, it's now fairly commonplace. Still, some people are hesitant to take the plunge and get their first tattoo, and that's understandable. It's difficult to determine just how well you'll like having an actual tattoo without being able to really see it on your body first. If it turns out you don't like it as well as you thought, you're stuck with your art unless you choose to undergo laser removal.

Temporary tattoo kits offer a way to experiment at home before you commit to a permanent body ink. You have the opportunity to try various design styles and play around with placements until you find the combination that suits you best.

There are several types of temporary tat kits that most people find useful when they're ready to try out a little body art.

These kits can be a lot of fun to use when creating temporary tattoos. The gel pen sets are especially great for children because you can let them experiment. Other kits include henna pens. Depending on the type of kit you choose, you can create designs in various colors and patterns, and stencils are often included.

These are one of the simplest of all temporary tattoo kits. They typically contain sheets of tattoo transfers you can apply to your skin. Simply cut your preferred design away from the sheet, moisten it as directed and gently press it to your skin where you want the tattoo placed. In a moment or two, you can gently peel away the paper backing and the tattoo should cling to your skin. You may have to gently tap the transfer down a little more so it clings well. It will last for several days to a week unless you bath the area.

If the idea of stick-on tattoos appeals to you, imagine if you were able to design make them for yourself. Transfer kits allow you to do just that using an inkjet printer and a graphics software program. You can create a multitude of designs for your own waterslip tattoo decals. Most kits come with special inkjet transfer paper, medical adhesive sheets and instructions that will take you from start to finish. It's usually best to test print your design on regular paper to make sure it is the exact size you want before you print it on the tattoo paper in preparation for transfer.

Henna is a type of plant dye that is used to temporarily stain the skin with the design of your choice. It's the traditional method of tattooing in India and other parts of the Middle East, and henna designs can get very intricate. The dye paste must remain moist on the skin for several hours to stain it, and the longer you leave it on, the deeper the coloring will be. These temporary tats last from one to two weeks, but you can apply more stain on top of your designs to refresh them and keep them longer.

The typical supplies that come in a henna kit are:

• A henna powder base in a small bottle with an applicator tip
• A mordent liquid to mix with the powder to create the paste
• Some type of oil, typically eucalyptus, to help the paste remain moist longer on the skin
• A sugar and citrus solution that you can use to lightly re-moisten the paste for longer application time
• A wooden mixing stick (Henna stains, so best not to use your own utensils when mixing.)
• Various cotton balls, swabs and toothpicks to help you apply the henna, wipe away mistakes and refine your designs
• An instruction sheet and patterns/stencils for designs

Airbrushing is yet another way to achieve a temporary tattoo, but these kits are far more expensive than the kits mentioned above, costing anywhere from several hundred dollars up to several thousand dollars depending on the professional quality of the air compressor unit and the number of supplies included. You'll virtually paint a design on skin the same way you'd create an airbrush painting. Most retailers that sell airbrush kits also sell ink refills.

You can find kits for temporary tattoos at most craft stores. However, shopping online usually provides the widest range of kits from which you can choose. The following are just a few examples of what is available.

• Earth Henna Tattoos
• Temtu Tattoo
• Amos Tattoo Gel Pens
• Henna Penna Pens
• Airbrush Body Art

Although you can use temporary body art kits to help prepare for permanent ink, there's no reason you can't just enjoy them for what they are. When you choose temporary tattoos, you always have the option to wear a fresh design and avoid becoming bored with your ink. Kits allow you to do what you want in the comfort of your own home.

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