Depending on what approach you will take for tattoo applications, you will commonly prep the skin by making sure it is free of hair, oils, and dirt. Hair can be tricky if applying a tattoo decal because the hair won’t allow full contact of image to the
skin. If you are drawing the tattoo on, hair can just be in the way. Try to remove hair if at all possible. After hair is no longer an issue, prep the skin by cleaning it with an astringent of your choice. This removes dirt and oil, and slightly dries the skin for better adhesion of paint or adhesive. Sometimes a layer of adhesive can be applied to the skin before the tattoo, helping the adhesion of any image or ink being applied.
1. Lay the tattoo decal on the skin and apply water (Figure 11.50).
2. Slowly remove the paper (Figure 11.51).
3. Let dry (Figure 11.52).
4. Powder (Figure 11.53).
5. Seal the finished piece (Figure 11.54).
If you are applying tattoo decals, then you first want to cut close to your tattoo image,
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and then remove the protective plastic coating. This coating protects the adhesive that has been preapplied to the tattoo images. Next, place the tattoo facedown onto the skin and press firmly over the entire surface. Apply water to the back of
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FIGURE 11-51: SLOWLY REMOVING THE PAPER |
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FIGURE 11-53: POWDER |
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FIGURE 11-54: SEALING FINISHED PIECE |
the decal, and soak the paper. Allow this to sit for 30 seconds or so, and slowly remove the paper. After the paper is removed, wet your fingers or a sponge, and gently— without stroking the surface—press over the entire image. Make sure the water is completely dried, and then powder generously.
I always let the powder stay until last looks. After you are finished with the makeup, you can be sitting for hours before your first shot, and I prefer to let the powder protect the image. What I have found is that after a while, the powder falls away and absorbs with natural oils in the skin. You may find, by the time you get to shooting, that you require very little sealer. Never put oils such as glycerin on top of a wet or sweaty look. Always use a silicone – or water-based product.