Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: How to do tattoos?

How to do tattoos?

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4741
Printed Date: 5/23/25 at 9:16pm
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Topic: How to do tattoos?

Posted By: HongKongCV
Subject: How to do tattoos?
Date Posted: 8/03/10 at 11:46pm

We have two characters in our play who need tattoos. One is a tattoo of numbers from a Nazi prison camp, and the other is an Eagle tattoo of some kind.

We CAN get henna tattoos every week or so, but that's expensive. The best solution would be to get some of the blank temporary tattoo paper, print our own designs on it, and apply one before each performance.

But I can't find a source for the blank temporary tattoo paper. Any suggestions?

Replies:

Posted By: TonyDi
Date Posted: 8/04/10 at 7:16am

http://www.tattooandpiercingsupplies.com/tattoo_transfer_paper.html - http://www.tattooandpiercingsupplies.com/tattoo_transfer_paper.html

Make sure you buy hectograph paper because transfer paper that's used for transfering to paper won't work. The above link also shows STAPLES and OFFICE DEPOT as sources for this paper. I checked their websites and didn't find it with a simple search. But visiting their stores might net you better results than online.

http://shop.southerntattoosupply.com/Spirit-Hectograph-Tattoo-Transfer-Paper_p_169.html - http://shop.southerntattoosupply.com/Spirit-Hectograph-Tattoo-Transfer-Paper_p_169.html

Pretty common on E-Bay as well - search Tattoo Supplies and you'll get lots of hits. E-Bay has listings as well for the hectograph paper.

http://shop.ebay.com/sis.html?_nkw=tattoo+tattoo+transfer+paper+tattoo+paper+thermal+paper+hectograph+paper - http://shop.ebay.com/sis.html?_nkw=tattoo+tattoo+transfer+paper+tattoo+paper+thermal+paper+hectograph+paper

Or AMAZON.COM

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tattoo+paper&ih=10_1_0_0_0_0_1_0_0_1.125_101&fsc=8 - http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tattoo+paper&ih=10_1_0_0_0_0_1_0_0_1.125_101&fsc=8

You also might need to touch up the tattoo you apply with the transfer paper so you might want to purchase some temporary tattoo ink which you can apply with a brush to clean up edges and such, etc.

http://www.tatstore.com/categories/inks - http://www.tatstore.com/categories/inks

There you go. Simple GOOGLE search for things you might be able to use. But I've used some of the techniques before. TINSLEY TRANSFERS doesn't stock exactly what you need but they might have something - although I looked and there isn't a lot there showing right now. Don't know why - they're one of the top tattoo transfer suppliers for makeup effects and so forth. Although a LOT of people are simply making their own these days with the transfer papers.

Hope you find what you need. Check these links for items to use.

Good luck.

TonyDi

BY THE WAY - I think most ALL of the transfers and inks will remove after each show with Rubbing Alcohol or 99% alcohol. Although leaving it on for a time will allow the tattoo to fade slightly and it looks more real that way than crisp and dark UNLESS it's supposed to be a new tattoo - then colors would be richer and brighter.

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"Almost famous"

Posted By: Theatermama
Date Posted: 8/09/10 at 12:00pm

That is good to know Tony. We once used markers - it does eventually come off but worked for the show. A bunch of high school guys had to have "tatoos" on their bodies for a shirtless scene. Everynight they were drawn on back stage by the artist of their designs. It looked good from the audience.

I might add that it does take a few days to come off/wear off but teenage boys don't usually care.