Can You Put a Temporary Tattoo Over a Real Tattoo and How to Apply it Safely?

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Putting a temporary tattoo over a real one is a neat way to change your look for a short time. It lets you hide, change, or add to your body art whenever you want. In this blog, all keypoints will be covered, from the safety rules, the reasons for doing it, and a full guide on how to apply and remove them.

Is It Safe to Place Temporary Tattoos Over Your Real Ink

This is the main question, and the answer is yes, but there is a big rule you must follow. You can only put temporary tattoos on a real tattoo that is all the way healed. Putting a cover on a new or healing tattoo is dangerous, and you should not do it.

A real tattoo must be fully healed before you can safely cover it. This means the skin is not peeling, scabby, shiny, or sore. This can take at least six months because the skin needs to heal deep down, not just on top. Putting anything on a new tattoo can trap germs, cause a bad infection, and mess up the healing. This can damage how your real tattoo looks. To have a good and safe time, follow these simple rules:

  • Always Do a Patch Test: Before you cover your tattoo, put a small piece of the fake tattoo on another part of your skin, like your inner arm. Leave it for 24 hours. Check for any redness, itching, or soreness. This helps you avoid a bad reaction on your tattooed skin.
  • Choose Good Products: Not all fake tattoos are the same. Look for products from good companies that use safe, non-toxic inks. Good quality temporary tattoos are less likely to bother your skin and will look more real.

Safety comes first, so always wait for your real tattoo to heal and do a patch test. These easy steps will protect your skin and your art.

An angelic embrace within a heart-shaped outline.

Three Key Reasons to Use Temporary Tattoos on Inked Skin

Besides being fun, there are a few good reasons to put a fake tattoo over your real one. These reasons can be for practical things or for creative fun.

For Temporary Concealment

Sometimes you need to hide a tattoo. This could be for a job interview, a formal family event, or a photoshoot. A temporary tattoo is a great way to cover it for a short time. This simple act shows you are adapting your look to fit the occasion. Makeup can be messy and look fake. But a good temporary tattoo can cover your ink and look like a real tattoo. To cover it well, you need a smart plan. The best choice is a temporary tattoo with a dark, thick, and solid design. Light colors or thin lines might let your old tattoo show through. Also, make sure the fake tattoo is bigger than your real one. This way, you can cover it all without the old ink showing at the edges.

To Test Drive a Future Permanent Tattoo

Getting a new tattoo is a big choice. This is true if you want to cover an old tattoo or add to one you have. Temporary tattoos are a smart "try before you buy" idea. You can get your new tattoo ideas made into custom temporary tattoos. This lets you see how they look and feel in real life, which is a great way to avoid tattoo regret. A custom tattoo design can be printed as a fake tattoo. It lets you check the size, spot, and colors on your skin. You can see if the new design fits your body and your other tattoos. You can also wear it for a few days to see how you like it at work or with your clothes before you get the real one.

To Enhance Your Style for a Special Occasion

Sometimes you just want to add some fun for a special day. Temporary tattoos are a great way to add to your existing ink for a party, concert, or festival. This is a chance to play with different styles without changing your real art. For example, you could add colorful flower temporary tattoos around a black-and-gray tattoo you have. For a Halloween party, you could add spooky fake tattoos around your real one to complete your look. This lets you be creative and match your body art to your outfit or the party's theme.

Using fake tattoos over real ink is a smart way to manage your body art. It helps you hide tattoos, plan for new ones, and have fun at special events.

A detailed samurai warrior tattoo on the forearm.

The Complete How-To Guide for Application and Removal

Knowing how to apply and remove temporary tattoos the right way will make your design look good and keep your skin safe. The steps are simple. Following them carefully will help you get a good result and make the removal easy.

Step-by-Step Application for Best Results

Applying it right helps the tattoo look real and last longer.

  1. Prepare the Canvas: First, you need a clean surface. Wash the spot over your real tattoo with soap and water, and rinse it well. Pat the skin completely dry with a towel. Your skin must be free of any oils or lotions, or the tattoo will not stick right.
  2. Apply with Precision: Take off the clear plastic sheet from the fake tattoo. Put the design face-down on your real tattoo. Make sure it is in the right spot. Then, press it down with a wet cloth or sponge. Cover the whole back of the paper. Hold it down with firm pressure for 30 to 60 seconds.
  3. Reveal and Set: After you wait, lift a corner of the paper to check if the design is on your skin. If it is, slowly peel off the paper. Let the tattoo dry in the air for a few minutes. To make it last longer and look less shiny, you can lightly dust it with makeup powder using a soft brush.

Safe and Gentle Removal for Your Temporary Tattoo

When you want to take the tattoo off, you need to be gentle with your skin.

  • Use Oil or Alcohol: The best way to get the tattoo off is with oil or rubbing alcohol. Put baby oil, coconut oil, or olive oil on the fake tattoo. Let it soak for a minute. You can also use a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol on it.
  • Rub Gently: After the oil or alcohol has soaked in, use a cotton ball or soft cloth to gently rub the tattoo. The design will start to come off. Do not scrub or scratch it, because this can hurt your skin. Do it again if you need to until the tattoo is all gone.

Following these steps will help you enjoy your temporary designs. Good care makes sure your skin and your real art stay in great shape.

Mind Still Temporary Tattoo on arm. Featuring Pure Black Ink™, semi-permanent, two-week duration.

FAQs About Temporary Tattoos on Real Tattoos

Q1: Will applying a temporary tattoo damage my permanent tattoo?

Putting on a temporary tattoo will not hurt a real tattoo if the real tattoo is fully healed. A healed tattoo has ink in the dermis, which is a deep layer of your skin. Fake tattoos only stick to the epidermis, which is the top layer. As long as you are gentle when you take it off and do not scrub hard, your real tattoo underneath will be safe.

Q2: Will my old permanent tattoo show through the temporary one?

This depends on the colors of both tattoos. A dark, solid real tattoo might show a little if you cover it with a very light temporary tattoo. For the best cover-up, you should choose fake tattoos with dark, solid colors and thick patterns. These designs are better at hiding what is underneath them and will give you a clean, new look.

Q3: How long will a temporary tattoo last over a real one?

A temporary tattoo on top of a real tattoo will last as long as one on plain skin. This is usually three to seven days, or even up to two weeks. How long it lasts depends on the quality of the fake tattoo, where it is on your body, and how you treat it. Tattoos in spots that do not rub on things and are kept dry will last longer.

Evolve Your Body Art with Temporary Tattoos Smartly

Using temporary tattoos over your real ink is a smart and easy way to manage your body art. It gives you control to change your style when you want. No matter what comes up, you are now prepared to accomplish it safely.

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