For ways of testing a tattoo or having a tattoo on your skin that isn’t permanent you have 2 main options really – a temporary tattoo, which we offer here at Test My Tattoo or semi-permanent tattoos – that such companies like Inkbox offer.
Here we have compiled an unbiased list of the advantages and disadvantages of both to see what might suit you best:
Temporary Tattoo Advantages
- Versatile – able to test any size, style or colour of image. Semi permanent tattoos are limited to black tattoos only and detailed designs can struggle.
- Easily removable whenever needed – making these ideal for large events or tattoo giveaways where you would only want the tattoo on for a day or two.
- Quicker / cheaper to mass produce and apply – making these the perfect choice for bulk orders, especially with a tight deadline or budget. Being easy to apply and instantly showing on skin is handy when doing giveaways at an event.
Temporary Tattoo Disadvantages
- How long they last is the biggest drawback. Temporary tattoos typically last 3 – 5 days before flaking, whereas semi-permanent tattoos will last around 2 weeks.
- If the tattoo is likely to get rubbed or creased easily then this will wear temporary tattoos down quicker, whereas a semi permanent one is under the skin so won’t be affected by this.
- They sit on top of the skin so can look / feel less real and can stick more easily to clothing. Our new temporary tattoos do sink more into the skin after a few hours and begin to look more realistic though which does help. At Test My Tattoo we also edit all uploaded images to help them appear more realistic when on skin.
Semi-permanent Tattoo Advantages
- Realism – the main advantage of semi permanent tattoos is that they basically look and feel exactly like a real tattoo as they sit under the top layer of skin.
- Lasts longer – they typical last around 2 weeks before fading.
- Vegan friendly – semi-permanent tattoos are usually made using Jagua fruit, making them Vegan friendly.
Semi-permanent Tattoo Disadvantages
- The main disadvantage is that once you apply to your skin, that’s it for 2 weeks – you have no way of removing it during that time.
- Black only tattoos, the semi permanent tattoos use a Jagua fruit to essentially stain the skin – which then looks the same as a real black tattoo (with the slight blue tinge), but they cannot be created in any other colour.
- Intricate designs and size limitations- it would be difficult to get a large back tattoo, for instance, as most semi-permanent options are around 20cm max in size. Intricate designs can also struggle to be picked up with the ink.
Overall, temporary tattoos are a lot more versatile – ideal for bulk orders and events or for testing a single tattoo for just a few days. Semi-permanent tattoos are ideal for smaller, black only tattoos – for someone who wants to actually feel like they have a real tattoo for a few weeks.
