Airbrush tattoos are an excellent alternative for your commitment issues! Airbrush tattoos are made for you if you’re looking to get a tattoo but don’t want something permanent on your body.
But of course, you don’t want tattoos that fade away as soon as you step in the shower or dive into a pool. So, how long do airbrush tattoos last, and are they waterproof?
Airbrush tattoos are waterproof, and they can last for about seven to fourteen days. Airbrush tattoos last longer when using high-quality paint and proper maintenance. Moreover, you can easily remove your airbrush tattoos using baby oil or any alcohol-based beauty product whenever you need to.
If you’re a body art enthusiast like me, you should also check out this article about how to do airbrush body painting for cheap and easy.
These temporary tattoos work the same way as airbrush art; they are painted onto your body using a spray-on technique and often combined with stenciling.
This article will answer questions you might have regarding airbrush tattoos, their techniques, removal, and maintenance.
How Long Do Airbrush Tattoos Last?
Airbrush tattoos are temporary; they are sprayed onto your skin and last for a limited period. They start to come off after a few days, and you can also remove them yourself. Airbrush tattoos last for seven to fourteen days, depending upon your skin type and the type of paint used.
When picking the right paint for longer-lasting airbrush tattoos, you should choose the most suitable one.
Learn more about the best airbrush paints for body art.
There are mainly two different types of airbrush paints commonly used for airbrush tattoos.
1. Water-Based Paints
Water-based paints are more skin-friendly and fade away quickly, giving a matte finish. Water-based formulas usually come off within 2-5 days or as soon as you try to wash them with water. You can keep your water-based tattoos for longer by covering the tattooed area with a foil/plastic bag to keep it away from water.
2. Alcohol-Based Paints
Alcohol-based paints are most commonly used for f/x makeup effects, bridal tattoos, natural-looking dewy finish for filmstars, etc. If you want long-lasting results, you might want to go for alcohol-based colors when getting your airbrush tattoo done. Alcohol-based paints offer higher water resistance and last longer than water-based colors. Usually, these tattoos can last up to 5-9 days and even longer with proper care.
Factors Affecting Tattoo Longevity
Naturally, you’d want your airbrush tattoos to last long. So, it’s important to know the factors that affect and determine the durability of your tattoos. These factors mainly include your skin type, paints used, the area of your tattoo, and after-tattoo maintenance.
1. Your Skin Type
Everyone’s skin is different, and this difference can affect the quality and longevity of your temporary tattoo.
If you have an oily skin type, you should put more effort into preserving your tattoo. Since paint is likely to dissolve with oily skin, your tattoo may fade quicker.
2. Area of Your Tattoo
If your tattoo is on a body part more prone to sweat, it might not last longer than expected. Similarly, if your tattoo is located in a place where it’s mostly covered but not rubbing against clothing, chances are your tattoo can last longer than usual.
3. Maintenance
Regular tattoos follow the embedding technique which uses a needle to lodge ink into your skin.
Airbrush tattoos, on the other hand, are only applied on top of your skin, like makeup. As long as you keep your airbrush tattoos safe from water, they last longer.
Proper maintenance and precautions such as careful cleaning will help increase the life of your temporary tattoo.
Learn more about how to set and seal body paint so it lasts longer.
What Can You Do to Make Airbrush Tattoos Last Longer? 8 Tips!
Since airbrush tattoos are temporary, you may want to know how to maintain them for as long as possible. But before that comes the techniques and initial steps you can take.
The following steps can help you attain a durable and long-lasting airbrush tattoo.
1. Use High-Quality Paints
You can save money by using paints of inferior standard but don’t compromise on quality. Using a high-quality airbrush and paint for your temporary tattoo is an appreciated approach.
You can also make your own airbrush paint at home!
2. Clean Your Skin Before Getting the Tattoo
Since after getting the tattoo, you’d want to avoid contact with water for its protection; it’s best to clean and exfoliate your skin thoroughly before you get the tattoo.
Check out this article that expands on how to be a body paint model.
3. Avoid Scratching the Tattooed Area
A fresh tattoo can be annoying, and you might want to itch or scratch the tattooed area. But it’s crucial to keep your tattooed area far from scratches.
Your tattoo might peel off quicker because of constant rubbing or scratching. Applying baby powder to your tattooed spot is one way to reduce the itchiness and moisture from your skin.
4. Shower With a Foil
Some temporary tattoos may fade away after contact with water. Cover your tattooed area with a foil while showering to avoid this problem. Covering your temporary airbrush tattoo will help it stay for longer.
5. Dry Yourself Without Scrubbing
If you cover your tattoo with a foil, drying your skin won’t be a big problem.
Though under no circumstances should you rub the towel onto your tattoo. Rubbing the towel aggressively will make your tattoo fade quicker. Soft dabs are the way to go.
6. Avoid Activities That Make You Sweat
The life of your temporary tattoo is also affected by heavy sweating. Activities such as swimming and running can cause excessive sweating, making the maintenance of your tattoo problematic.
7. Complete Your After Care
It’s crucial to care for your tattoo after successfully getting it done. You must be cautious and take the necessary steps to keep it undamaged for longer.
You can carefully apply a light moisturizer that keeps the skin elastic and soft to the touch. Be careful to not rub it in excessively, but rather dab softly to apply.
8. Avoid Using Products With Alcohol
Try to avoid products like lotions, creams, perfumes, and sanitizers that contain alcohol if you’ve got an airbrush tattoo.
Alcohol-based products can cause start to break down your airbrush tattoo and it will start fading.
If you want something that lasts longer than an airbrush tattoo but isn’t permanent, you can also get an ephemeral tattoo. These tattoos last for 9-15 months. Here’s a detailed article on ephemeral tattoos.
How Do You Remove Airbrush Tattoos?
Since airbrush tattoos are temporary, they may start to fade within a few days, leaving you with a rather unattractive mark.
When they start fading, you might want to remove them yourself. Removing a temporary tattoo is quite easy, and you can do it with readily available products.
Things You Will Need
Step 1: Wash Your Tattooed Area
Thoroughly wash your tattooed area with water, making it clean. The airbrush tattoo paints will start to dissolve after coming in contact with water.
Step 2: Dip the Cotton Balls In Isopropyl Alcohol or Baby Oil
Make sure to dip the cotton balls in baby oil or 70% Isopropyl alcohol properly. The cotton balls should be wet but not soaked with liquid.
Step 3: Wipe Your Skin With the Cotton Balls
Wipe around your tattooed area with alcohol-absorbed cotton balls. Avoid rubbing your skin with cotton balls too harshly.
You can efficiently remove your temporary airbrush tattoo using isopropyl alcohol or any alcohol-based beauty product.
In the unfortunate event, that isopropyl alcohol irritates or burns when applying, immediately take it off and rinse with water.
Step 4: Dry Your Skin
Wash one last time with water and dry off your skin.
Before using any product on your skin, ensure that it goes with your skin type. If you have any skin condition such as sunburned skin, wounded, or irritated skin, avoid contact with isopropyl alcohol as it will further irritate your skin.
In a Nutshell
Airbrush tattoos are ideal if you’re looking for a temporary piece of body art that gives an original look. These tattoos last 2-9 days and are waterproof to an extent as well. Just make sure not to rub your skin too hard with water.
Moreover, these tattoos are easy to remove, and you can remove them yourself at home using baby oil or isopropyl alcohol.
FAQs
1. Do airbrush tattoos hurt?
Airbrush tattoos don’t hurt. They are sprayed onto your skin. Watch how to do a temporary airbrush tattoo for visual clarification.
2. Can you use tattoo ink in an airbrush?
Airbrush has a thin enough consistency to use, though you may wish to add some water. However, it depends on your preference.
3. Are airbrush tattoos permanent?
No, airbrush tattoos are not permanent. They last for about seven to fourteen days.
4. Can you shower with airbrush tattoos?
You can shower with airbrush tattoos. But scrubbing and using harsh products should not be applied to your tattoos. Cover with a foil to avoid excessive contact with water. Remember to pat dry when exposed to water and re-powder before and after showering.
6. Are Temporary Tattoos Waterproof?
Temporary tattoos are waterproof. They don’t usually come off while showering or swimming but can be removed by using some rubbing alcohol, baby oil, or hand sanitizer.
