Tattoos are becoming more and more popular. Here at A Wild Lass, we love symbolic tattoos or simply fun ones with no meaning behind it other than “I like it”. As much as we would love to get a new tattoo every month, traditional tattoos are not budget friendly.
I am sure we are all guilty of a few impulse buys or more. Do not let tattoos be one of these impulse purchases. Instead, take out your idea for a test drive for a few weeks before making a long-term commitment.
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Ephemeral Ink
In 2016, a new type of tattoo innovation popped up. Ephemeral ink is applied by a tattoo artist using normal tattoo machines.
The claim is that after a year, the ink will break down. Or a solution can be applied to remove it sooner.
There aren’t a lot of places that offer this type of tattoo. There isn’t a lot of research available to determine if this is a safe option in the long run, either. I am going to keep my eye on this technique but not commit until we know more about it.
Henna
Henna is made from the dye of plants and has been used for thousands of years as a body art method. There are different colors available. Henna has been used to dye materials, hair, skin and fabrics.
Unlike tattoos, henna ink does not go under the skin. It is used on top of the skin and stains the skin for some time. This fades eventually but does make a striking design until it does.
Much like ink tattoos, henna tattoos range in costs. For a small one, you are looking at paying $20-30. For an intricate design, you are looking at $200.
If you are an artist yourself, you can buy a henna kit for home use for under $20. Do your research on different henna artists in your area and read reviews.
You will want to avoid the ones who engage in cultural appropriation with their designs. Some henna designs have deep meaning to different cultures and shouldn’t be used as body art outside of those cultures.
Because henna is so popular, we know a lot about the safety of using it for skin designs. The biggest safety concern is when using black henna, as the harmful chemicals contained in most formulas can burn the skin.
If you can, opt for a different color for your design. If you have your heart set on black henna, try Jaqua Gel that is free from unsafe chemicals.
Stick On
Do you remember buying those fake, stick on tattoos from gumball machines at the store when you were a child? They were pretty cool as a kid but quickly flaked off and didn’t look realistic. They screamed “this is a fake tattoo!”. Which is, what I guess a child’s fake tattoo should scream.
Luckily, adults have much better options for stick on tattoos now. What used to be gritty and fake-looking are now smooth and realistic looking. There are a few different brands now, but Inkbox is the most well-known.
Inkbox tattoos are delivered directly to your door and last for 1-2 weeks. They are a relatively inexpensive way of trying out a design without the commitment. Their designs start out at just $10 or you can opt for a more a personalized design for an extra cost. It’s a cost-effective way to test drive a tattoo, so you no longer have to choose between a new tat and a new coffee table.
If you are feeling especially adventurous and are an artist, try one of their bottles of freehand ink. Starting at $20, freehand ink allows you to draw your own temporary tattoo on your skin. All Inkbox tattoos are made from a plant based, cruelty-free formula. The main ingredient in their ink is from the plant, Genipa Americana and has been used by South American tribes for thousands of years.
It is easy to apply Inkbox tattoos to your skin. Starting with a clean skin surface, prime your skin with the included primer wipe for 30 seconds and wait 30 second for it to dry. Then, peel off the backing from your design and place on your skin with the sticky side facing down.
Firmly press down and ensure there’s no additional border on the tattoo. Let it sit for one hour while you watch a show or do something non-active. You want to avoid any exercise or sweating during this hour. After your hour is up, remove it. It might take a full day for the ink to fully darken.
On the Wild Side
Tattoos are a way that wild and adventurous moms can express themselves. Using a temporary option allows you to try out your design idea without making a permanent commitment.
This is especially helpful for those of us with perfectionist tendencies. Trends change constantly and this allows you to keep up with the style of now in a safe manner, and still afford some fun Christmas shopping or other expenses.
Gather up some girl friends for a fun mom’s night. Or, plan a date afternoon with your spouse and apply different temporary tattoos. The most adventurous of us could even let their partner pick the temporary tattoo option!
Have you tried any of these options? Let me know which is your favorite. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Twitter for bonus content!
*Disclaimer: Some of the links you see may be affiliate links. All that means is if you click through and end up making a purchase, I’ll earn a commission.