Henna Temporary Tattoos

Below are just a few examples of the type of designs available. A complete portfolio is available to help you choose a design that is personal for you.

Asian Symbols	Belly Button Designs	Chakra Symbols
Bands for ankles/wrists
Decorative elements

Henna Temporary Tattoos

How Its Done Henna temporary tattoos are painted onto the skin as a thick paste. This paste design must be left on the skin to dry while the pigment is transferred to the skin. The initial drying process is rather fast, but a solution is applied which keeps the paste moist and allows it to stay on the skin for several hours. During this time the tattoo design is black. Care must be taken to avoid smudging the tattoo design during the first few hours. For this reason, you must choose an area to tattoo that you can protect for awhile. This may mean wearing loose clothing that can be rolled down, removing underwear for a while, or rolling up your pants leg. It isn't difficult, but it needs to be planned.

When it is time to remove the henna paste it is scraped off with a dull edge (such as a butter knife). Sometimes cooking oil is applied to the skin to help soften and remove the dried paste. Water is not used. For best results a henna tattoo should avoid water for the first 12 hours.

At first the henna tattoo will look fairly pale, but don't worry. The color continues to develop over the next 48 hours.

How to Care for the Tattoo To make your tattoo last, moisturize it a couple of times a day. Since henna only stains the outer epidermis layer, the henna will come off as those skin cells slough off. Applying moisturizer will keep the skin cells from drying out and sloughing off. Henna doesn't like chlorinated water such as swimming pools and hot tubs. It won't remove the tattoo all at once, but it will fade it pretty fast. You can apply a thin layer of oil over the tattoo before entering the water. Or, if you know you will be in the water a lot, consider a tattoo on the back of the neck where there is less exposure to the elements.

Choosing a Design There is a large portfolio of designs to choose from, or you can help create your own design. The choice for designs first depends on where you want your tattoo. Sometimes you want your tattoo to be seen by others, and sometimes you don't. Secret tattoos can be very fun.

Power and Healing Symbols: Use your tattoo as a reminder of the strength or healing that you need. All of the chakra symbols, which are sacred symbols of energy, can be placed at or near the corresponding area of the body. For example, the heart chakra symbol can be tucked between the breasts to remind you to strengthen and fortify that energy zone. The symbol for the root chakra can be placed at the base of the spine. Japanese and Chinese symbols work very well as tattoos and can symbolize strength, peace, truth, discipline, or other traits.

Seduction Symbols: Place a tattoo in a sexy spot where only those closest to you will see it. A pretty vine can suggestively curl down your abdomen. A mandala can grace your belly button. There are even lovely patterns to decorate around the nipple area of the breasts.

Decorative Symbols: Sometimes you just want something pretty to look at. Some of the most graceful designs are ankle bands, vines along the instep of the foot to accent the arch, necklace designs for the chest and throat, and bracelet designs for the wrist.