Airbrush tattoos are very popular. Many people want them, but not many people think they can get them. People usually cancel after a week.
People can choose to get a temporary tattoo or an airbrush tattoo. These tattoos are like one night stands-they’re not permanent and people can change their mind later. Or, people can choose to get a real tattoo. This is like getting married-it’s a permanent decision that people might not be able to change later on.
If you want to be sure about your tattoo design, it is a good idea to get educated about tattoos. You can also look for different ideas about tattoos. I’m not the best person to ask because I have commitment issues.
Airbrushed tattoos can be a fun way to express yourself if you don’t want to settle down just yet. They can be sexy and full of meaning, or just plain silly. It’s up to you! If you’re interested in getting a tattoo, you can find an artist near you or learn how to do it yourself.
Airbrush Tattoo Kit – What do you need?
To summarize, you’ll need…
- airbrush tattoo paint
- an airbrush (maybe more than one)
- an air hose (maybe more than one)
- an air source (usually a compressor–but there are other options.)
- You’ll probably need design stencils too, but as we’ll see later that’s also not always a requirement.
Choosing an airbrush
How many people do you want to spray?
If you are just starting out, or you only need an airbrush for personal use, I recommend looking at the Eclipse CS or Revolution CR airbrushes. You can also use them for makeup application. If you are starting a business, you will need more than one airbrush per color. The Eclipse BCS and Revolution BCR are both good choices. You can also find complete tattoo kits like these that include everything you need to get started.
This kit has three airbrushes, an air compressor, a hose pipe, temporary tattoo ink, and 100 stencils. It also comes with an airbrush tattoo training book.
Choosing Your Paint
Alcohol or Water-based paint?
- It is important to use only paint that has been certified safe by the FDA (or other agency in your country that does this).
- The most common type of paint is alcohol-based.
- The only water-based temporary tattoo paint I’ve found is Duratat from the TAT Store. If you don’t need the tattoo to last very long, you can look into theater paint.
Compressor or Compressed Gas?
Compressors have higher up-front costs, but lower operating costs in the long run. Compressed gas has a lower upfront cost, but higher operating costs in the long run.
The choice between compressors and compressed gas usually comes down to two factors: how much you’re willing to spend initially, and how much you’re willing to spend over time.
Power
If you have an event where it is difficult to get a good power source, then compressed gas is the only way to go. If power isn’t an issue, then you’re better off with a compressor. But I know artists who still choose compressed gas because it is completely silent.
Noise
You probably don’t want something that is too loud when you are talking to a potential customer. So I will assume that you want something quiet.
Noise is something that can be expensive in compressors. Airbrush compressors are small because people can’t afford to have bigger ones. However, if you are willing to do some noise proofing, a compressor from your local hardware or compressor store will work just fine.
The more permanent your establishment, the easier it is to set up the environment to cancel out compressor noise pollution. You can build a box for the compressor, or leave it in a shed in the back, and run a long air hose. There are many options.
If you go mobile, things become more difficult. You have less space and fewer options. Compressed gas will always take up the least amount of space and be the quietest airsource you can possible get, since there is no engine to take up space or make noise.
The Rest of the Air System
If you are starting out, you will need an airbrush. You can buy one that comes with a hose or one without a hose. If you have multiple airbrushes, how do you cope?
Stick with the same airbrush for now
Different colors will spray from the airbrush in the same way. All the parts are interchangeable, so you don’t have to think too hard about which part goes with which airbrush when you clean everything at the same time.
For ultimate speed, you’ll want an air hose for each and every airbrush.
However, there is one problem with lots of airhoses.
“Oh what a tangled mess we weave when first we practice for lots of speed!”
If you’re not careful with how you take and put down your airbrushes, you will have a knot. This knot sometimes lets you pull all of your airbrushes from the rack at the same time. And if that happens, they all fall down! That would be really bad…just in case you needed me to say that.
The hoses all hook up into a manifold
A manifold is described by how many ports it has. Make sure you take into account the port coming from the airsource.
Another option is quick disconnects. You have one hose for lots of airbrushes. This method will slow you down a bit, but it avoids the Big Knot of Unintended Consequences.
Airbrush Tattoo Stencils
You can use stencils to quickly and easily spray designs onto someone’s skin. You might also want a file to help make the design look better. Airbrush tattoo shops have a lot of designs that will satisfy a wide range of people, so be on the lookout for them.
Airbrush Tattoo FAQ
How can you cut through the sales hype and figure out what is really going on?
I can help you!
Q: Can I soak my airbrush?
If you need to clean only a part of the airbrush, you can soak it in a cleaning solution. However, avoid soaking the entire airbrush in the cleaning solution.
Q: Can I use water-based airbrush tattoo paint?
It is theoretically possible to use water-based airbrush tattoo paint, but this type of paint does not currently exist.
Q: How long will a temporary tattoo last?
The airbrush tattoo should last between 5 and 10 days depending on how oily the person’s skin is and how they care for it afterward. If you have oily skin, it will not last as long as if your skin is dry. Make sure you take care of the tattoo after you get it by not touching it too much and keeping it clean.
Q: How Does Airbrush Tattoo Work
- You will need to clean the area you want to spray with isopropyl alcohol.
- Hold the stencil down while spraying on the color.
- Spray in light, but smooth motions.
- Apply powder to the sprayed area.
- You are finished.
Q: Does Airbrush Tattoo Hurt
It doesn’t hurt. In fact, it should feel like someone is blowing on your skin lightly.