To launch our new Glitter Tattoo kits and stencils we have decided to publish a useful step by step on 'How to do a Glitter Tattoo'. You will also receive printable colour instructions and design ideas by email with our kits. Glitter Tattoos are incredibly popular and have become a standard addition to many a face painter's portfolio of offerings, especially for adult events. 

Part of the beauty of glitter tattoos is you don’t need a huge kit box to carry enough to do an impressive job! So we have a neat little case to house our kits, both the Pro Starter Kit which will see you well on your way to an ongoing business. You will need to replace the stencils and eventually get some more glitter, but it should last you well. The Little Big Pro Kit which will give you greater choice of stencil styles and glitter colours including UV and holographic colours, and a black Colorini for temporary tattoos so you should make an even better return on your investment. People charge around £4 - £5 per tattoo, or a higher rate per hour than for facepainting to cover the small extra cost. Glitter tattoos can be done very quickly, about 20 per hour is achievable if you get on with the next one whilst the glue for the first is drying.

 
LITTLE SMALL PRO KIT                                                   BIG LITTLE PRO KIT  CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

1. Clean the skin where you are going to apply the tattoo with isopropyl alcohol and allow to dry. You can use a cotton swab soaked in alcohol using the spray bottle provided, or individually packed pre-injection swabs. This will de-grease the skin and the tattoo will last longer, and it is important that the area is clean as the tattoo may last a week, sealing in anything that is underneath!

2. Apply a stencil to the skin where required, or go straight on to a hand painted design.

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Use Graftobian Pro-Adhesive or Y Body Pink Glue, both come with an integral brush.

STENCIL DESIGNS - Paint the design area showing with the adhesive, take the stencil off whilst the glue is still wet, then wait until the glue becomes transparent. It will still be tacky. Try to position yourself so that light refelcts from where the design is.You can add a little liquid face paint to the glue if you really can't cope with not being able to see 'where you've been'.

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HAND PAINTED TATTOOS -
Apply the glue with a fine brush or from the fine nozzle bottle. The glue is quite runny, so you don't need to especially squeeze the bottle hard or tip it upside down; it works best at a slight angle.

Wait for the glue to dry completely, it will change from milky white to clear. If you apply the glitter too soon, the glue will be prevented from drying properly. 

4. Apply glitter, you can sprinkle straight from the bottle, or apply with a brush. Using several different contrasting colours of glitter has a fantastic effect, they will blend together.

5. Use a stiff brush or the dusting brush to move the glitter around, the more you do this, the greater the colour blend.

6. Press the glitter into the glue with a clean sponge or finger.

7. Sweep away any excess glitter with the dusting brush et Voila!

Glitter tattoos last up to a week and can be removed with baby oil (or hand cream) or alcohol if necessary. Avoid applying under waistbands or anywhere where rubbing will occur, for example where a handbag or bra strap will go.

Be extra careful not to get the glue onto fabrics - it will not come out!!!! You may like to protect your clients' clothes with a cloth.

These products are designed for professional adult use - do not use on the face - especially not near the eyes, on broken skin or on young children who will tend to pick at it.

The glue dries fairly quickly, so keep lids on when not in use.

Perfume can affect the glue, so avoid areas where perfume might be applied, or give fair warning.

Thanks to Raphaelle Fieldhouse for modelling, and for conveniently happening to have one of her own
hand-painted tattoos on her arm!

Here is the design that Bibi won 1st Prize with at The Welsh Festival in 2009 - it was done using Pro-adhesive in the fine nozzle bottle and took about 20 minutes.

And here is Colorini Temporary Tattoo ink in action (by many people) on Simon Smith's nicely bald head, also at The Welsh Festival. Bibi and Lily Martin are taking a turn here:

If you are using Colorini, you need to de-grease the skin with Isopropyl Alcohol the same as for a glitter tattoo, and powder it with talcum powder afterwards to fix it.

TO SEE DETAILS OF ALL OUR CURRENT KITS CLICK HERE!

Wishing you a tat-tastic time!