How to Get Tattoo Stencils to Stick to the Skin
Tattooing is an art form that should only be learned by apprenticing with an experienced artist. As part of a tattoo apprenticeship, you will learn how to apply stencils to the skin. Real tattooing should never be attempted anywhere but in a tattoo shop with sterile equipment. However, you can experiment with henna tattoos at home, using the same technique to apply stencils that professional tattoo artists use. Mixing a proper tincture of green soap will make your stencils stick.
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Things You'll Need
- Tincture of green soap
- Spray bottle
- Distilled water
- Disposable razor
- Paper towels
- Thermofax stencil or drawing on stencil paper
- Latex gloves (optional)
Instructions
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Mix 1 part tincture of green soap with 8 parts distilled water in a clean spray bottle. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients.
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Spray the green soap onto your skin or the skin of the person receiving the henna tattoo.
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Shave the wet skin with a disposable razor. Spray the skin with more green soap after shaving and wipe away the hair with a paper towel.
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Spray the skin with green soap once more. A light coat is sufficient.
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Press the stencil facedown on the wet skin. Rub your fingers firmly over the back of the paper for 10 seconds to transfer the stencil.
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Lift one corner of the stencil paper and slowly peel it away from the skin.
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Tips & Warnings
Tincture of green soap is used specifically for tattooing and is available from tattoo supply companies.
Tattooing yourself or your friends without having served an apprenticeship or in any location other than a clean tattoo shop can spread blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis and HIV. The only way to sterilize tattoo equipment is with an autoclave. Boiling, burning and alcohol are insufficient to kill all microorganisms on an object's surface.
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