by Jake Snow

Created on: March 15, 2009   Last Updated: March 17, 2009

Tattoos have experienced a surge in popularity in the late 20th century though to today. While they were considered a taboo in years past, today they are a legitimate way to express oneself. Unfortunately, even in the 21st century, among some circles tattoos are still looked down upon as being unprofessional, and many businesses and careers restrict tattoo placement to areas of the body where they will not be visible while wearing business attire.

Many people still find that tattoos are their medium of choice for self-expression, but have difficulty deciding what image they want, and where to place it. This is a legitimate concern since with a tattoo, the image or words you have put on your body will be there permanently, barring of course expensive and painful laser tattoo removal surgery. So what is the indecisive individual to do? Is there a way you could preview a tattoo without making the lifetime commitment? The answer of course is a temporary tattoo. This is a great option for anyone who wants to preview or experiment prior to getting the real thing, or for anyone who doesn't want that kind of long-term commitment associated with a tattoo, but still wants to express themselves through body art.

The cheapest and easiest type of temporary tattoo is called a temporary transfer tattoo. First made popular among children by being sold along with packs of gum, this type of temporary tattoo can be found in just about any novelty store or dollar store usually in the sections for children's toys. Many of us would recognize them as a paper or plastic card with an image printed on it. The image is made of an ink and glue combination, and will usually last about 3 to 5 days at most, but if you need to remove it immediately, some soap, water, and dedicated scrubbing is usually all it takes to remove the tattoo.

To get the most out of your temporary tattoo, pick an area of your body that doesn't sweat much, and isn't subject too much stretching of your skin when you move around. Typical areas include the back of the hand, upper arm, chest, or small of the back to mention a few. Definitely avoid joints such as the elbow as the constant movement will cause the temporary tattoo to wear off rather quickly.

Once you have decided where to put your temporary tattoo, wash the area with soap and water. You want to make sure that you remove any dirt, oils, and dead skin cells as they can greatly reduce the effectiveness that your temporary tattoo will adhere to your skin. Once you're

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