Home » 9 Tips on How to Remove Temporary Tattoos

9 Tips on How to Remove Temporary Tattoos

Tattoos have made quite a comeback in society, and now it seems like they were never away for long. The trend of getting a tattoo is as old as human civilizations, with archeologists uncovering their use even during the stone age. So, naturally, getting a tattoo is not something new. But in recent years, some of the stigmas attached to tattoos have been removed. Naturally, this has accelerated people getting a tattoo inked on their bodies.

There are several reasons people would opt to get their body inked with a tattoo. Of course, paying homage to someone the individual is close to is the primary reason. But one can even get a tattoo to showcase their personality to the world. For example, if you are someone who loves to explore, then a compass tattoo might be something that you will like. Or, if one wants, they can even get a tattoo of their family, favorite artists, football team, etc. The options are simply endless here.

Now having options to choose from is always great, but it can also be a bit hectic. Moreover, one is never completely sure about what type of tattoo they want to be inked on their body. And often, many people regret getting the tattoo after a week or so. This is where a temporary tattoo comes especially in handy. With a temporary tattoo, one can get a tattoo according to their preference. Still, they do not have to worry about the permanent nature of the tattoo. As the name suggests, temporary tattoos are designed to last only for a very short period. In most cases, they last for a week or so at most.

But what if you require immediate removal of the temporary tattoo inked on your body? Is there any way to remove their temporary tattoo before they start cracking and rubbing off on their own? Luckily for you, there are solutions for your ‘how to remove temporary tattoos’ query.

Temporary Tattoos Removal Process

By following the below-listed techniques, you can accelerate the process of removing your temporary tattoo. However, do keep in mind that these techniques only work with temporary tattoos. To remove a permanent tattoo, you need to search for laser tattoo removal.

#1. Use an Exfoliating Body Scrub

Use an Exfoliating Body Scrub
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One of the easiest ways one can remove their temporary tattoo is by making use of an exfoliating body scrub. The exfoliating body scrub is widely accepted as the preferred way for one to remove a temporary tattoo, and the reason is apparent. Exfoliate body scrub’s main purpose is to remove the dead skins from the applied area. But that is not all, as exfoliate scrubs also help encourage the new growth of the cells.

Once applied to a temporary tattoo, exfoliating body scrubs immediately start working on the tattoo. One needs just to gently rub the exfoliating body scrub with a slow circular motion for about half a minute. It breaks up and buffs the specks on the temporary tattoo, which significantly increases the removal speed. They will see the instant reaction on the tattooed area. 

Most likely, enough of your temporary tattoo would already have disappeared by now. And if there is some temporary tattoo still showing, then apply the same process after a while.

The best part about utilizing exfoliating body scrub is that it is readily available in stores. And even if you are not able to get your hands on one, you can make it at your home without much hassle. You only need sugar, coconut oils, essential oils, and there, you are good to go. Just search for homemade recipes for exfoliating tattoos, and that should suffice.

#2. Cold Cream

Cold Cream
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While it is not the most popular and known method to remove the temporary tattoo, cold cream has shown remarkable results in removing the temporary tattoo from the skin. If your cold cream is good enough to remove heavy makeup from your face, it is good to remove even the temporary tattoo. 

The reason behind such an effective response from the cold cream is that it is a product that combines both oil and water. This makes it effective in removing the temporary tattoo and easy to apply as well.

One can easily apply the cold cream to the tattooed area and just let it sit. Moreover, you can use it liberally in your tattooed area. But the only thing you need to ensure is that the cold cream should be applied evenly over the tattooed area and cover the design is complete. 

Wait for an hour for the effect to kick in and gently remove the residue. Use a wet cloth to wipe the excess cream, and that’s it; you will see a huge improvement on the tattooed area.

Read More: 8 Best Moisturizers for Tattoos 2022 [UPDATED]

#3. Household Tape

Household Tape
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Not this might be surprising to many of the readers of this blog, but yes, you can use household tape to remove a temporary tattoo as well. You should only use this method if the temporary tattoo is relatively new.

In this method, one needs to use household tape and is stronger; something like medical tape or packing tape. You only need to ensure that the tape is not so sticky that it will take strenuous effort to get it off your skin and the tattooed area.

Take the tape and cut it according to the tattoo design you have opted for. You can even go for more than one stripe to ensure that you carefully cover all the tattooed areas. Once you have done that, just press it down firmly and slowly and carefully peel the tape off. 

You would immediately see a substantial difference in your tattoo design and even if you are seeing quite a bit of temporary tattoos, there is no need to worry. In all likelihood, you would have to repeat this process a fair few times to remove the temporary tattoo altogether. Just follow the steps mentioned above meticulously, and you are good to go.

If you have a sensitive skin or skin condition, this method is not recommended for you. This method could easily cause an allergic reaction. And if the tattoo is placed on a hairy part of your body, then when peeling off the household tape, the hair from the surrounding area would come out as well. This would naturally be painful for you.

#4. Oil-based Remover

Oil-based Remover
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An oil-based remover is one of the easiest and most common ways to remove a temporary tattoo. Of course, an oil-based product would do wonders for this, especially makeup removers those used for removing excess makeup. 

The oil-based remover works so spectacularly in removing a temporary tattoo because the oil will remove the synthetic material from the skin, i.e., the temporary tattoo. But, of course, this is all done without getting rid of the natural body oil.

Coconut oil is a common oil-based product used for this method, but one can even use olive oil for this. And the application method is quite simple that anyone can follow without any trouble. 

First, you need to apply the oil-based products to the temporary tattooed area and rub it in a circular motion for a couple of minutes. After a while, you will see some noticeable change in the design as it begins to flake off. 

Just keep following the steps mentioned earlier until the temporary tattoo completely disappears!

#5. Chemical Products

Chemical Products
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You might not have noticed, but several of your household products can easily do the job of removing a temporary tattoo without any hassle. And if you are worried about whether or not they will burn your skin, you should not as they won’t. 

These chemical products will immediately start working on the pigments and fade them quickly. The chemical products will also break up the particles of the temporary tattoo design, making it easier to remove them. 

And one of the best chemical products you can go for is alcohol (or even a nail polish remover, whichever is nearby). You can even go for a hand sanitizer, as it would also work tremendously well in removing the temporary tattoo.

Whichever chemical product you opt for, their application is the same. Put the chemical product on the tattoo and rub it on the tattooed area using a gentle cloth, and that is all you need to do. 

Make circles using the cloth for about 30 seconds, and you will see that the temporary tattoo is starting to disappear. The only thing you need to keep in mind here is to be careful while rubbing the cloth. If you press too hard, it will irritate your skin, making for an uncomfortable experience.

#6. Mouthwash

Mouthwash
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It may sound weird to many of the readers of this blog, but yes, you can use mouthwash to remove the temporary tattoo from your skin. Solvents like mouthwash have proven to be excellent in removing the temporary tattoo from one’s skin. 

The mouthwash will work against the temporary tattoo and break it apart to easily fall off the skin and in very small pieces. Yes, you read that right. By simply applying a mouthwash on the temporary tattoo area, you can ensure that it disappears quite rapidly.

But while it may seem like an easy enough process, and it is, one needs to be extra careful when applying mouthwash. If it is not properly applied, one will not get an immediate or satisfactory result for all the hard work. So instead, use a warm and damp cloth once you have used adequate mouthwash liquid to cover the whole tattooed area. 

Rub the tattooed area using a warm, wet cloth for a while. Within a minute, you will see a massive improvement in your skin; and the disappearance of the temporary tattoo. And the only thing you need to be careful of here is not to hard press the skin during the process, and that is it; you are good to go.

#7. Take a Dive

Now, this is a unique approach that you go for. Diving in a swimming pool is unique in a way that you are not required to apply anything on your skin and on the tattooed area to remove the temporary tattoo. 

The only thing you need to ensure is that the chlorine count in the swimming pool is optimal for it to start working against the temporary tattoo. Suppose the chlorine count is not sufficient enough. In that case, it is unlikely that you can get any benefit from this indirect but intriguing approach in removing a temporary tattoo.

You would also need to ensure that the swimming pool is clean enough. This is necessary to ensure that the chlorine in the water immediately starts working against the temporary tattoo and not gets distracted because of the impurities present in the water.

This process would take considerably longer to work than the above-listed direct approaches.

#8. Hair Spray

Hair Spray
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While it may seem surprising, hair spray can be effectively helpful in removing the temporary tattoo from one’s skin. And the best part is that there would not be anyone who does not have a hair spray in their home. So, it is an item that one can get their hands on quite easily. 

One only needs to spray the tattooed with the hair spray, which is all they need to do. Apply the hair spray, wait for it to dry out, and then pull it out from the skin. Use a gentle cloth and lukewarm water with soap, and you are good to go.

The only thing you need to concern yourself with is rubbing the tattoo with the damp cloth for a minute or so, and that is it. At the end of the process, apply some moisture to moisturize the skin.

This process is extremely effective in removing the temporary tattoo from one’s skin. But it is not recommended for those who have sensitive skin or skins that get irritated easily. 

Another thing you need to keep in mind is to not use this technique in removing a face or neck tissue. This is because the hair spray could get inside your eye and cause infection or seriously damage your eye.

#9. Baby Oil

Baby Oil
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Yes, baby oil can also show tremendous results when removing a temporary tattoo from one’s skin. Baby oil is another more commonly used oil-based product that can be easily found in one’s home. The baby oil solutions immediately start working against the temporary tattoo and remove it from the skin. 

Once you have applied the baby oil carefully and evenly on the whole temporary tattooed area, you need to rub it in a circular motion. It can effectively interact with the temporary tattoo. After a while, you will see that the temporary tattoo pigments are starting to flake off. Continue this process till the whole tattoo completely disappears!

Potential Complications that One Should be Aware of

While all of the above-listed methods are quite safe for one to use and effective in the result, that does not mean there won’t be complications. Even though it is unlikely to happen, one should still be aware of the immediate reaction to such a scenario.

Skin irritation and inflammation are quite common in the case of a temporary tattoo removal procedure. Regardless of the technique you opt for, you could be facing temporary skin inflammation or irritation. It happens more in the case of chemical removal applied for a long time.

If the skin becomes red, it is an indication that it is inflamed and needs a cool compress to be applied to the area. It will help you minimize the inflammation and irritation that one might be enduring because of the temporary tattoo removal procedure. In such a scenario, one can opt for several skin cooling products to help them out.

Here are some skin cooling products that you can utilize.

  • Cucumber gel
  • Coconut oil
  • Aloe Vera gel

Once you have applied these products, the irritation and inflammation should disappear within a couple of hours. But if that is not the case, you should immediately reach out to your doctor as it is possible that you might be suffering from an allergic reaction.

Temporary tattoos, as the name suggests, are temporary in nature. They are designed keeping in mind to last only a week or two at best. Therefore, the best thing you can do to remove your temporary tattoo is to wait it out, as it will disappear sooner or later. And even though the above-listed methods are effective and harmless, they could cause you unnecessary trouble and the trouble could be better avoided!

About Author

Jonathan Corby "Jonny" is a guy who is passionate about Tattooing and successfully running a Tattoo Studio in NY. Through my journey as a Tattoo Artist I have made unforgettable memories. This irrational poetry and sense of freedom of art on skin has given a blissfull experience to my life. Each Tattoo has a story behind it; Lets share one!