Temporary tattoos can be a fun, pain-free way to enjoy tattoos and tattoo culture without the permanent side affects. They can be a stick on, rub on, or paint on variety. They can be bought at almost any store in thousands of different designs, or you can make your own designs to be printed. Many companies are now putting their logos on the very popular temporary tattoos, and have found this to be a very cheap and effective form of advertising. All temporary tattoos are non-toxic, and only the paint on ones are not recommended for all ages.
The stick on tattoos usually stay raised on top of your skin, and are very much like a sticker for skin. Most of these come off in one washing, or if exposed to elements or friction (like from clothes). They are the least permanent of the three types, which can be a pro or a con, depending on your situation. Since it is a sticker, they can be much more complex in design, and use glitter or other materials that the others cannot employ.
Rub on tattoos are by far the most popular and widely used. They are usually applied by wetting the surface of the skin and laying the tattoo onto that area. Pressure is applied to the tattoo, and after 30 seconds, you can peel the backing paper off, and your temporary tattoo stays. These will usually stay for a few washings, and are pretty resilient to friction or heat.
Paint on tattoos can be applied in a few different ways, the most common being from an airbrush or a paintbrush. The airbrush application involves stencils and are usually limited to basic popular designs. The paintbrush application can use stencils if needed, but if the person applying the tattoo is creative and skilled, they can be much more free to make any designs or images you like, being limited only by their palate. These paint on temporary tattoos are very popular at fairs and other celebrations, but cost much more than the other types of temporary tattoos.
