So, what are the pros and cons of the semi-permanent tattoos? There are no cons, only pros. You won't have to go through the pain of the needle and soreness which one suffers for days, after getting a permanent tattoo.
You can get rid of these tattoos easily, and get a new one on the same place. The choice of designs and colors in demi-permanent tattoos are same as that of the permanent ones, so practically you can get any design you want.
Your parents won't yell, if you get a semi-permanent tattoo! You can get your partners name tattooed, and don't have to worry about removing the tattoo, if your partner changes!
Now that you know about the pros of these tattoos, here various types of such tattoos with pics.
Click on the pictures below, to view them large.
Picture Gallery
Henna Tattoo
Stick-Ons
Airbrush Tattoo
Mehndi
Pen Tattoo
Tattoo Nylon Sleeve
TypesMany people are looking for demi-permanent tattoos which last for a period of 6 months or 3-5 years. Well there is a lot of discrepancy over those kinds of tattoos, which we will discuss later. But, now here are some old and safe methods used to make these tattoos.
Henna Tattoos: Using henna pen tattoos is a fast, safe and natural way of tattooing. You can buy this semi-permanent tattoo pen online, or in beauty stores. You can draw sharp and fine lines using this ink pen in black color. This type of tattoo will last around 2-4 weeks.
Stick-ons: Do I need to even describe about these kinds of tattoos? Everybody has tried these when they were kids. They look gross when they are fading away, but look cool when freshly glued on the skin. Look for good quality stick-on tattoos, and enjoy the body art for 3-7 days.
Apart from the stick-ons, you can also buy a 'special paper'. A single sheet of this paper costs $5. Just use the paper in your printer and print a design which you like on it. Then use some water and a cloth to transfer the design on your body. If you want to test if a particular design will look good on you, then you can try this method.
TATs: TATs or temporary airbrush tattoos, are applied to the skin surface without causing any damage to the skin. A stencil is placed on the skin, and the tattoo ink is applied using an airbrush. It resembles a permanent tattoo, and can be removed using an oil or alcohol-based product. It doesn't last too long and washing/bathing the skin will result in faster removal of the tattoo. But, you can increase its life by applying baby powder to a freshly done TAT.
Mehndi: Some of you must be thinking, that henna and mehndi are one and the same. But, henna is the substance used to make the ink. The tattoos done using ink pen are black henna tattoos, while mehndi is one of the oldest form of body art. In India and many Arabian countries, women make a green paste of mehndi, put it in a plastic cone and draw designs over their hands which will give a red dye effect on the skin. These last for 4 days to 1 week. You can find these mehndi cones online, if you wish to try mehndi designs.
Ballpoint Pen Tattoos: These can be done using any normal ballpoint pen, and can closely look like the permanent tattoos when neatly done. But, they fade quickly and can be removed easily using soap and water. You can ask a friend (who's good at drawing) to draw a colorful design on your body with pens.
If your skin is sensitive, then do an allergy check before trying any of the above semi-permanent tattooing methods. Apply a little line or patch of ink on your skin, and let it sit for an hour and then check for any allergic reaction.
Tattoo Sleeve: These sleeves look cool and are made of nylon. They are transparent and stretchable. You can wear them for a cool tattooed-sleeve look. Just like tattoo sleeves, you get tattoo shirts too. Make sure you choose the appropriate size of the sleeve or shirt, so that it fits you properly. You can buy tattoo sleeves online, they cost anywhere between $3 to $25.
ControversyThe so-called semi-permanent tattoos, which last for many months or for a few years, involve insertion of the pigments under the skin. The ink inserted in the skin can't be completely removed, and so such tattoos can't be called temporary tattoos. However, some specially formulated ink can be much easier to remove, and they last for a period of 3-6 months. Many tattoos known as temporary tattoos, are applied using a tattoo gun which causes discomfort. Practitioners say that these tattoos will fade after a few years, but there is a lot of discrepancy over this. Due to such mixed opinions, these tattoos can't be completely termed as semi-permanent.
Going for a tattoo using a tattoo gun will cause discomfort and there is no guarantee of complete removal. Hence, it is safe that you stick to any of the above mentioned safe temporary tattoo method, to get a body art design. Good luck!
