At Home Temporary Tattoo

Tattoos are often used to symbolize something important in someones life, but as you grow up, what is important to you can change. Instead of branding yourself with a tattoo that will remain with you for the rest of your life, perhaps you could try this temporary tattoo instead. It's also a fun activity to do with kids or at a party with your friends! To start you will need an eyebrow or eyeliner pencil, baby powder, a soft bristle brush, liquid spray bandage, and an idea of the design you would like to trace. Don't feel the need to stick to only black sharpies. They make markers in all sorts of colors, so use them! If you aren't confident in your drawing abilities and want to draw out your design and then  transfer it onto your skin, you will also need tracing paper, a pencil, scissors, a wash cloth, rubbing alcohol, and cotton balls.

If you plan to free-hand your your tattoo, skip to the next paragraph. Begin by tracing your design onto the tracing paper with a pencil. You can write words, draw a picture, or anything your heart desires, but I would suggest doing a simple design for your first time. Flip your tracing paper over and darken the outline of the design on the back of the paper using a pencil. Cut the paper around the design, leaving about an inch of blank paper around the design. Wet the cotton ball with rubbing alcohol and rub it across your skin where you are going to place the design. Place the tracing paper, with the design facing right side up, onto your body and rub a damp wash cloth to transfer the design to your skin. When you peel back the tracing paper, it will leave behind a faint outline of your design. Go over the design using the eye coloring pencil.

Draw your design using the eyebrow or eyeliner pencil. Sprinkle baby powder over the design and press it in using a soft bristling brush-being careful not to smudge the design. Gently blow off any excess powder. At this point the design should look faded from the powder. In a well ventilated area, spray the liquid spray adhesive, which brings the color back into the tattoo.

The website I found it on claimed the tattoo would last 3-4 days without coming off in the shower, but I can tell you that it faded on its first contact with water. When soap was applied it was nearly gone. It looked like it would have if I had simply drawn it with a Sharpie, so I have the feeling my skin will be stained for the next few days. All that was left was my slightly sticky wrist, the smell of adhesive, and the faint outline of three stars. While you could get away with wearing it for a day, as long as you have no water activities planned, I don't see how you could make it last 4 days.