How to Apply a Temporary Tattoo

Co-authored by Burak Moreno

Last Updated: September 11, 2024 Fact Checked

Temporary tattoos are popular amongst people of all ages, and are a less risky alternative to real tattoos. They're also great fun at parties! It takes a bit of time to apply a temporary tattoo perfectly, but with a little patience, you can rock either a transfer or stenciled glitter tattoo with pride.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Applying a Transfer Tattoo

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1
Start with clean, dry skin. Temporary tattoos are made with water-based ink, which means that they’re repelled by skin’s natural oils. Carefully clean the area you want to decorate with soap and water, and pat it dry with a paper towel.^{[1]
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- If you’re very sweaty, rubbing alcohol can help cut the grease. Pour a little onto a cotton ball, and then wipe it on the area. Don’t do this every day, though--you could dry out your skin.^{[2]
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Some temporary tattoos come individually packaged, which is easy. However, if the temporary tattoo you want to wear came on a sheet with several others, you’ll need to separate it. Cut around it with sharp scissors, being careful not to clip the design itself, until you’ve separated it from the “flash sheet.”

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Peel off the clear backing. At this point, your tattoo is protected by a thin layer of clear plastic. Carefully pick this off. You should be able to see the brightly-colored, mirror-image version of the tattoo you’re planning to apply to your skin.
- From now on, the side with the ink, that was protected by clear plastic, will be called the face side.
Confirm that you want to apply the tattoo to the spot you just cleaned, then place the face side against your skin. Don’t wiggle it around. Just hold it firmly in place while you move on to the next step.
Take a piece of fabric or a sponge that is neither bone dry nor soaking wet, and push it firmly against the backing of your tattoo. Hold it in place, and don’t let it slip around, even if it wants to.
To get the most complete image, you’ll need a bit of patience. Don’t even think about removing the cloth or the paper backing from your arm until a full minute has passed. While you’re sitting, try to move as little as possible.
Start by lifting a single corner of the backing in order to peek at the tattoo. If the image looks weird, or isn't sticking to your skin, put the cloth or sponge back on and wait for another 30 seconds. If it does look good, then continue to slowly peel off the paper.
Keep being patient for around ten minutes. Resist the urge to poke your temporary tattoo. It’s best to sit reasonably still and not flex too much, to avoid wrinkling or smearing the tattoo, as well.
To make your tattoo last even longer, hydrate your skin by gently patting a bit of thin cream or lotion on top. Avoid thick, oil-based moisturizers, like petroleum jelly, which may smear the tattoo. If you want, you can dust baby powder over the top of the tattoo as well, to make it look more matte (and thus more realistic.)

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Applying a Glitter Stencil Tattoo

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The process for applying glitter tattoos is a bit different than transfer or paper-backed tattoos, but they still need clean skin to adhere to. Wash down the area you want to tattoo with warm, soapy water, then pat it dry with a paper towel.^{[3]
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Select a stencil. Not just any stencil will do! It’s best to get a stencil specially intended for glitter tattoos. These have an adhesive back that won’t hurt your skin too much as you peel it off. They can be found in glitter tattoo kits, or sold separately at party, big-box, or beauty supply stores.^{[4]
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Research source} Apply the stencil of your choice wherever you want the glitter tattoo to be.
- Make sure not to stick the stencil to a hairy place, or it’ll hurt to peel off.
If you’ve purchased a glitter tattoo kit, it should come with a special body adhesive intended for skin; if not, you can purchase this separately. Apply a thin layer of the adhesive with a paintbrush so that it covers the skin left bare by the stencil. Then, wait for it to dry until it’s almost clear.
Now comes the fun part--getting the glitter on there! Dip a paintbrush in body-safe glitter (any cosmetic-grade glitter is fine) and dab it onto the skin inside the stencil. Have fun and experiment by blending and mixing glitters.^{[5]
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Once you’re comfortable with the amount of glitter you’ve used, take a corner of the stencil and peel it off the skin. Go slowly, so that you don’t disturb your fresh glitter tattoo too much.
Once you’ve peeled off the stencil, you might notice a bit of fallout from the glitter. If that’s the case, use a large fluffy brush (a blush brush is perfect) to banish any wayward glitter flecks. It’s probably best to do this in an open area, so you don’t have to pick specks out of the carpet.

Community Q&A

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Question

How long does it stay on for?

Community Answer

It varies depending on where it is placed, how often you shower, and if it rubs against clothing. Under the best circumstances, a temporary tattoo can last around a week.

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How can I make the tattoo last longer, even after washing?

Community Answer

Try applying a waterproof, liquid bandage over it. This will protect the tattoo from coming off while you bathe. Avoid scrubbing the area too hard however.

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Can temporary tattoos damage my face?

Community Answer

No, generally temporary tattoos are safe to place anywhere on the body, assuming you do not have any allergies to the materials.

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Try not to pick at the tattoo if you want it to last.

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Smaller tattoos are usually easier to have because there's a less chance of it being destroyed when you remove the tattoo paper.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If you want your temporary tattoo to stay fresher longer, apply spray plaster (liquid bandage) on it. This will protect it and keep it looking brand-new for a while.
If you apply your temporary tattoo to your upper arm, be careful not to flex it until it's dry! This could disturb the tattoo and mess it up.
Don't slide the paper off. It may ruin the tattoo. Instead, peel it off as if you were peeling a sticker.

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