Trying Out Temporary Tattoos

I’ve wanted a tattoo for as long as I can remember! When I was growing up, some of my favourite TV shows were Miami and LA Ink! I used to sit there in awe of Kat Von D and her amazing skills at realistic tattoos and wish that one day I could get one done. Problem is, I had no idea what I wanted. One week I’d want a tattoo on my wrist and next week I’d want something completely different on my shoulder. It was forever changing, so it’s probably a good idea that I never actually got them, because looking back on some of the things that I wanted back then (stars on my wrist?!), I’d have seriously regretted them now.

I always loved the idea of having something that meant so much to me, but I still had no idea what to get. I’ve wanted an inner upper arm tattoo for so long now (or even my inner elbow) as it can kind of be hidden so I’m pretty set on that now. I’ve been thinking for the past year or two that one day I’d love a tattoo of Mr Toff, since he means the world to me (crazy cat lady I know), and when he got diagnosed with heart failure back in January, it kind of just clicked. I 100% want a tattoo of him!

There were so many things to think about! Color or black and white? I really wanted Mr to be black and white – I mean, I don’t really want a big orange blob on my arm, but I wanted colour flowers not black and white but would colour flowers look stupid with it?  So being so permanent, and my history of “good tattoo ideas” I decided to buy some temporary tattoos to test out how it could look before going ahead with it (if I don’t chicken out first).

I found a few temporary tattoo shops on etsy and went crazy buying all the cats and flowers that I liked to test it out. They’re so easy to apply! You simply peel off the plastic protective sheet, place the tattoo on your arm in position and dampen with a cloth till it’s transfered over. It literally takes 5 seconds and there you have it! They last roughly around a week, depending on placement. I listed some of my favourite shops below:

Hello Harriet

Hello Harriet is based in the UK so they arrived really quickly. I actually bought some of these years ago and loved them, so bought some more this time around (these are the ones that I got). They’re pretty much the only decent looking black and white temporary cat tattos that I could find, and Harriet is such a great illustator! These are probably one of the best quality ones that I’ve seen around and look so much like a proper tattoo – and they’re made with vegetable ink too! I actually almost bought the moon one, but decided I’d already spent so much money so didn’t, but she ended up sending it as a free gift with the purchase anyway! Yay!

Siideways

Siideways is based in Canada, so these took a good month or so to arrive. I love the flower selections that were available here (I got these) and also, my favourite being that they sell a black and white cat tattoo with colour flowers! So I had to buy that. She sent me a little mini version of it too for free which I love! They last so long too – I think the flower wrist one that I used lasted just over a week – and that’s in a pretty well used area! There are so many types of tattoos to choose from, from flowers, to bugs and skulls. Pretty much something for everyone!

Pepper Ink

So Pepper Ink is based in Australia, but I was suprised at how quickly these arrived (2 weeks)! The selection is mostly flowers, animals and ‘modern’ style tattoos which I loved. I used these flowers for the one on my upper arm from here, and it’s lasted pretty well. The shineyness of the tattoo dulls down after a day or so, which I was quite worried about when I first put it on.

After putting the first tattoo on my upper arm, I kind of went off the idea! But then it grew on me and I really like it! It may be weird to have my cats face tattood on me for the rest of my life, but seriously, he means the world to me, and I love the idea that even after he’s gone, I can look down at my arm and always see his face. It’s kind of comforting!

Have you got any tattoos or want one? Have you tried any temporary tattoos out? If so where are some of your favourite shops?