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Body and brush offer temporary tattoos using jagua gel. The “tattooing” process does not involve any needles, the skin is simply covered with ink. The tattoos usually last about 2 weeks. Temporary tattoos fade as the skin naturally exfoliates. This is unavoidable but it can also be accelerated by lifestyle and any activities that promote skin exfoliation.

Why to choose temporary tattoos?

High quality of tattoos

The tattoos offered by Body and Brush match high-quality permanent tattoos. You can enjoy all the thrills of having a tattoo without the need to worry about its permanent aspect.

Tattoos for special occasions.

Temporary tattoos are perfect for holidays and trips, they can increase confidence, add more thrill to dates, and more fun to birthdays, night-outs, and other special occasions!

Go bigger. Go braver. Go bananas!

Feel like having a super weird tattoo? Go for it! Temporary tattoos are also a fantastic opportunity to explore bigger designs (sleeve, full back, side leg, side body).

Do it again!

With temporary tattoos you can endlessly explore designs/styles without ever running out of your skin!

No pain

Temporary tattoos are pain-free which is particularly good news for those wanting a rib tattoo. Popular choices are also chest, breast, and under-breast areas.

Try it out

For those who think of getting a permanent tattoo, but remain uncertain, getting a temporary tattoo might be a good way of testing designs/placements before proceeding with the permanent version*.

Everything is changing

It is natural and healthy to regularly reinvent ourselves. Our personalities, tastes and bodies change. Even tattoo trends change. Temporary tattoos can help you stay fresh and trendy.

Young people

Temporary tattoos are a good option for people below the age of 18. Please note, that Body and Brush do not offer services for children below the age of 6. Parental consent is required.

*Please bear in mind the possibilities and limitations that stem from jagua being a different medium than permanent tattoo ink. 100% likeness to a permanent tattoo might be impossible to achieve Please consult with the artist.

Ink

Jagua is a natural dye derived from the Genipa Americana fruit, native to the rainforests of South and Central America. Jagua fruit is edible. Juice from the fruit is prepared into a gel, which gives a deep blue skin stain. The supplier used by Body and Brush guarantees the following: no PPD, no GMO, 100% natural and vegan ink that is not tested on animals.

Before a visit

Sadly, Jagua tattoos cannot be offered to anyone with fruit allergies, since jagua is a citrus fruit (risk of contact dermatitis).

Small tattoos below 5cm do not require patch testing, larger tattoos do. However, it is recommended that first-time clients try a small tattoo first. This ensures that they are familiar with the way the tattoo develops and ages. First-time clients experiencing skin sensitivity must be patch tested at least 48h before the treatment.

The skin should be hair-free. Please shave/wax. Waxing is recommended. Please give your skin enough time to recover from any skin irritation caused by hair removal.
Exfoliate your skin with a body scrub. This will remove dead skin cells and prolong tattoo longevity. Freshly exfoliated skin will ensure faster and deeper ink penetration
On the day of the visit make sure the skin is clean and free from lotions, creams and oils, etc.
Please wear comfortable, loose clothes. If possible, please leave the area where the tattoo is to be placed exposed. For example, for tattoos on a calf wear shorts/a skirt, for tattoos on a foot wear flip-flops, etc. Please do not wear expensive clothes since there is always a risk of staining them with gel (even though it has not happened yet, please don't take your chances). You might consider arranging convenient transport home, e.g. a taxi instead of public transport.

Aftercare

Development

Once tattoo painting is finished, it needs to “develop”. The tattoo should be left on the skin for at least 3h. It can be covered with a Mefix tape, (available at Body and Brush) and left overnight for better results. The longer it is left on the skin, the darker it will become and the longer it will last. However, it is not recommended to leave the gel on the skin for longer than 10 hours especially on sensitive areas like neck/inner thighs/abdomen. After this period, the tattoo should be gently washed with warm water and soap.

Please note: don't expose a tattoo to water before you decide it's time to wash it off!

Fig 1. Drawing completed

Fig 2. A fresh jagua tattoo is often light beige/sepia/light green, depending on how long the gel has been left on the skin and individual skin chemistry. In this example, the gel has been left for 7 hours (overnight).

Fig 3. The colour will intensify, reaching its full strength about 48 hours after the tattoo is made.

Aftercare

There are a few steps to follow to nurture both the design and the skin the tattoo is on:

Always apply some natural oils (coconut, almond) to moisturize your skin (once the tattoo development is completed). Dry skin can exfoliate faster, leading to quicker fading of your tattoo. Furthermore, thickly applied jagua (maximum color intensity) can cause a sensation of dry skin in people with skin sensitivity or if the tattoo is placed on sensitive areas (neck, ribs, etc).
If you decide to expose your tattoo to the sun, protect it by applying some sunscreen. UV rays can degrade the jagua dye faster.
Avoid using exfoliating products or tools on your tattoo.
Avoid harsh chemicals, for instance, products containing high amounts of alcohol. Swimming in chlorinated pools can also increase the fading process.
As much as possible, limit friction over the tattooed area. Friction arises from tight clothing, using towels to dry yourself, scratching, working out, etc.

Removing

A tattoo that shows advanced stages of aging can be fairly easily removed. The key is to wait for the right moment so that all the ink can be removed at once. At first, an aging tattoo gives similar vibes as “aged denim”; cool, even if a bit faded. This is still too early for removal. After some time, the tattoo starts to abruptly lose its integrity. This is the right moment for skin exfoliation. The procedure can vary. One way is to start exfoliating at bedtime and finish off the next morning if any ink still remains. One can gently but firmly wash the tattooed area with a body sponge, followed by a body scrub. Then moisturise and let the skin rest overnight. At this point, the ink is often gone, but if it is not, in some cases, you can use a little help from a pumice stone the following morning.

Note! Please do not use pumice stone on sensitive areas and if you have acne-prone, sensitive, or dry skin!

Do not apply pressure, just vet the pumice stone and very gently run across an area where the remaining ink is located. Keep a separate pumice that is only used for this purpose. Dry it thoroughly between uses, e.g. by keeping it for a few hours on a warm (not hot) radiator. This will ensure there is no mould or bacteria developing in it.