I’m Kayla Sox, and I love tattoos. Real ones scare my wallet, though. So I spent the last few months wearing temporary tattoos on real days—work, gym, pool, you name it. Some looked wow. Some flaked fast. I’ll tell you what worked for me, what flopped, and a few funny bits in between.
Why I Even Tried Them
I wanted to test spots before I commit to a real tattoo. Also, I had a wedding, a pool party, and a Taylor Swift–themed night. Tattoos felt like easy flair. No pressure. No pain. (If you ever graduate to the real needle, though, you might want something to take the edge off; Tattoo Road Trip’s candid review, “I Tried Tattoo Numbing Creams So You Don’t Have To”, is a lifesaver.) And if my mom hated it, well, it’s gone in a week.
If you’re hunting for more design ideas and stories from seasoned artists, the photo-packed blog at Tattoo Road Trip is a goldmine worth scrolling. For a deep dive into the temporary-tattoo rabbit hole beyond my own experiments, their write-up, “I Tried a Bunch of Temporary Tattoos—Here’s What Actually Stuck”, is a fun compare-and-contrast read.
The Brands I Actually Wore
I tested four types. On skin. For days. With sweat, sunscreen, and bad timing.
- Inkbox (semi-permanent)
- Tattly (classic stick-on with water)
- Momentary Ink (real look, but still fake)
- DIY printable sheets (home printer, clear top coat)
Inkbox: Looked Real, Lasted a Week
I used their Freehand kit and one floral wrist design. If you’re curious how beauty pros felt about it, Bustle’s editor gave a full rundown in her Inkbox temporary tattoo review.
It took 24 hours to go dark. I wore it to a spring wedding. It survived hugs, cake, and my nervous hand washing. Day 4? Still cute. Day 6? A little patchy at the edges.
- Good: Looks real, lasted 6–8 days on my wrist and 9 days on my shoulder.
- Bad: Slow to show up, and it stains bedding the first night if you press on it. I learned that the hard way on my white pillowcase.
- Tip: Wash, dry, and wipe the spot with rubbing alcohol first. Don’t rush the wait time. Don’t put lotion on top for day one.
Tattly: Fun, Artsy, Great for Kids and Parties
We used Tattly for my niece’s birthday. Pizza slices, donuts, all the silly stuff. You cut, press with a wet cloth, and boom—bright color. Kids lost it. I wore a tiny rainbow on my ankle to the pool. Chlorine took it down in two days, but it faded cute.
- Good: Designs are adorable. They don’t feel tacky. They don’t itch.
- Bad: Shiny finish, so not super “real.” So-so in heavy sweat or pool water.
- Tip: Press hard for 30 seconds, then pat dry. Don’t rub.
Momentary Ink: The “Did You Get a Real Tattoo?” One
I tried a small feather on my shoulder blade before hot yoga week. It looked real. Like… the barista asked me who my artist was. I smiled and told the truth later.
- Good: Matte finish. Real look. Lasted 5 days with light oil after care.
- Bad: Edges lifted after day 3 with sports bras rubbing the spot. The remover pad they sell works, but baby oil works too.
- Tip: Put it where there’s less friction. Shoulder did great. Inner elbow? Not so much.
DIY Printable Sheets: Cheap, Fast, But… Shiny
I used Silhouette brand tattoo paper and my old Epson inkjet. I printed our family dog for a reunion. It made my aunt cry happy tears—so that was a win. But the clear top film looked shiny under sunlight. It lasted one day on my forearm, two days on my calf.
- Good: You can print anything. Big wow moment for events.
- Bad: Shiny. Edges lift with sweat. Ink can blur if you shower right away.
- Tip: Let the print fully dry. Press the film smooth with a card to push out bubbles.
Real-Life Tests I Ran
- Hot yoga: Inkbox on rib cage held up great. Momentary Ink on shoulder was fine. DIY paper slid off a bit at the edges.
- Pool day: Tattly faded fast with strong chlorine. Momentary Ink outlasted it by a day.
- Sunscreen: If I put sunscreen too soon, edges lifted, especially on my wrist. I had a smudge line on day 2. Not cute. Let sunscreen sink in first.
- Shirts and straps: Friction kills tattoos. Collarbones and wrists rubbed off quicker. Upper arm and shoulder blade did best.
What Bugged Me (But I Worked Around It)
- Patchy fade: Inkbox faded like a ghost map. I kind of liked it, but not for a neat look. I dabbed concealer over the patchy bit on day 7 for a dinner out.
- Shiny look: Tattly and DIY paper reflect light. I used a bit of translucent powder to dull the shine. Worked fine for photos.
- Sensitive skin: Metallic foil tattoos made my skin itchy. I stopped. With Inkbox, I did a small patch test near my ankle first. No issues after that.
How I Apply (Fast and Clean)
Here’s my little routine. It cut down on smears a lot.
- Wash the spot with soap and warm water.
- Wipe with rubbing alcohol. Let it dry.
- Apply the tattoo. Don’t stretch the skin.
- Press firm. Don’t slide.
- No lotion or oils for the first day with Inkbox or Momentary Ink.
- For water tattoos, pat dry. Do not rub.
Removing it? Baby oil, wait 60 seconds, then rub with a washcloth. Scotch tape helps lift little leftover bits. Works like a charm.
When I’d Wear Each One
- Date night or wedding week: Inkbox on wrist or rib. Looks real, soft fade.
- Kids’ parties, festivals, concerts: Tattly. Fast, bright, joyful.
- Testing a spot for a real tattoo: Momentary Ink. Matte, convincing. (Before you head for actual ink, skim Tattoo Road Trip’s guide to the best numbing creams for tattoos so the session doesn’t sting as much.)
- Family events or team logos: DIY printable. One-day wow.
If you’re single and think a cleverly placed temporary tattoo could double as a conversation starter, swing by SPDate—the casual dating hub where you can share fresh tattoo selfies, trade design inspo in chat, and line up a low-pressure coffee meet with someone who already digs your style. For nights when you’d rather let the ink do the flirting and keep things strictly spontaneous, check out One Night Affair’s Backpage Mission where local singles post last-minute meet-up ads so you can see if your new faux sleeve turns heads in real time.
Price Feel
- Inkbox: My kit was around thirty bucks. Worth it for look and wear time.
- Tattly: Sets around fifteen. Good value for a party pack.
- Momentary Ink: A bit more than Tattly per piece, but the look sells it.
- DIY sheets: About a buck or two per tattoo if you print a full sheet.
If you’re eyeing Inkbox for yourself, the crowd consensus is pretty clear on Trustpilot where thousands of wearers share similar week-long success stories.
Little Moments That Sold Me
- The wedding: My Inkbox rose peeked out under a silk cuff. My aunt asked if I had a “new piece.” I grinned like a kid.
- Hot yoga: When sweat rolled down my back and the feather stayed put, I felt weirdly brave. Silly, but true.
- Taylor night: My sister and I wore tiny stars from Tattly. We sang and jumped and spilled soda. The stars still looked happy by the end.
My Verdict
Temporary tattoos are fun, low risk, and kind of addictive. They won’t beat a real piece, sure. But they let me try art, placement, and mood—no stress.
- Want real-look and a week of wear? Get Inkbox.
- Want party joy and color? Get Tattly.
- Want a true test run before you book a real tattoo? Momentary Ink.
- Want custom faces or logos for one big day? Print your own.
Would I buy again? Yep. I already did. I’ve got a small fern on my left ankle right now. It makes grocery runs feel cooler, and that’s enough for me.
If you’ve got sensitive skin, do a tiny test first. And if your pillowcase is white,