The permanence and process of a traditional tattoo can be scary

I don’t like needles but I love the idea of ​​putting on body art or skin decoration. I’m also not too excited about the permanence of a ‘needle’ tattoo which I might hate in the future. Have you put a price tag on tattoo removal processes lately? The cost of tattoo removal is at least 3 times higher than getting the tattoo! After doing some research, I discovered some fantastic alternatives for body art and I’m going to give them a try (no pun intended) long before I jump into the nearest tattoo parlor.

Tattoo Alternative #1: The Natural Beauty of Henna Tattoos

Henna tattoos have made a comeback and I can certainly understand why. Dried and powdered Lawsonia Inermis henna plant is made into a paste and applied to the skin first treated with mehlabiya oil. The paste is then applied to the skin using a stencil design.

Henna tattoo stencils come in an incredible variety of designs and can be reused. In fact, once the paste dries after an hour or two, the paste can be reapplied 2-3 more times to intensify the color to a dark brown or almost black. If the paste is used only once, dried and removed, the color continues to darken to a reddish or rusty orange hue. It reminds me of self-tanning lotion in that regard.

The application of henna tattoos does not require a license and is considered safe for all skin types (except those that have an allergic reaction to henna). Henna tattoos can last up to 4 weeks with care not to rub the area and protect the tattoo with Vaseline in chlorinated water.

Kits vary in price, but the average cost of a henna kit, including the paste, stencil(s), and other necessary supplies, is less than $20. In fact, one bottle of Henna dye can create around 25 medium-sized tattoos.

Tattoo Alternative #2: Body Piercings

Yes, we are quite aware of countless holes in our earlobes and ear cartilage, nose, tongue, lips, eyebrows, and navel rings. However, the days of face piercings are long gone as more employers have increased bans on wearing this “distracting and unprofessional” body art at work. The great thing about piercings, though, is that the jewelry can be removed (or changed) on demand. My only problem with body piercings is the healing time, which varies considerably, depending on the area pierced:

  • Earlobe 6 to 8 weeks
  • Ear cartilage 4 months to 1 year
  • Eyebrow 6 to 8 weeks
  • Nose 2 to 4 months
  • Nasal septum 6 to 8 months
  • Nasal bridge 8 to 10 weeks
  • tongue 4 weeks
  • Lip 2 to 3 months
  • Nipples 3 to 6 months
  • 4 months to 1 year
  • Female genitalia 4 to 10 weeks
  • Male genitalia 4 weeks to 6 months

I am concerned about infections with body piercings, but not as much as with a traditional tattoo which can be hard to reach (like on the back of a shoulder) to keep clean and bandaged.

Tattoo Alternative #3: Temporary Tattoos

Now temporary tattoos could be the ticket and the best option of all as a traditional tattoo alternative. Temporary tattoos are made on special paper and coated with special silicone. Once wet and placed on an area of ​​the body for a minute or so, the colored ‘tattoo’ design ‘glides on’ and transfers to the skin.

Like henna tattoos, temporary tattoos can last up to about 4 weeks if taken care of: don’t rub, scratch your clothes, or rub against them. Plus, like henna tattoos, temporary tattoos are safe (kids get them from gumball machines all the time) and have become just as sophisticated as traditional tattoos, with no needles and no permanence.

The really fun thing about temporary tattoos is that you can design your own, online, for little more than a ready-made temporary tattoo design.

Summary of Tattoo Alternatives

So celebrate an occasion, speak your mind, dare to be different! Try some of these alternative tattoo ideas and have fun adorning your body in a new way. Invite your friends over for a “Happy Henna Day” or design and commission some custom tattoos for the bridesmaids at a wedding. Think out of the box.

“Alternative tattoos” are trendy, different, and can be removed or removed if you don’t want to live with them for the rest of your life.