Unapplied tattoos including a sample from the new line of gold accessory tattoos by designer Myra Oh. © Rita Catinella Orrell
I’ve always wanted a tattoo. Not some grand statement across my back or sitting on my shoulder like a guardian angel, but a subtle design hidden under my wrist that wouldn’t be too obvious. But tattoos are permanent. Tattoos hurt. Tattoos are fashion statements that you can’t throw out with the season. So for these reasons and more (my husband doesn’t like them, I don’t want to give my daughters an excuse to get one at 15, etc.), I’ve never gone down that road. And probably just as importantly, I’ve never found any design that was so amazing that I wanted to have it permanently drawn on my body. That’s where temporary tattoos come in — and I’m not talking about the ones that come in a Cracker Jack box or those little plastic eggs at the grocery store.
I’ve written about temporary tattoos before — and probably will again — because they are truly in the middle of a design revolution at the moment. Joining brands such as Tattyoo and Tattly is the Calgary-based company Tattoo You, which recently sent me a few pieces to sample, including their new line of gold accessory tattoos by designer Myra Ohs (right, above, and below). Launched early last year, Tattoo You works with established tattoo artists from across the globe to create a more authentic look for their designs. The tattoos are available in medium and large sizes, with price points starting at $5 for a small design.
Putting on the gold tattoo was like applying gold leaf. Feels pretty fancy. © Rita Catinella Orrell
I gave several tattoos a test run recently, including a gold rose, a bright butterfly design, and a Day of the Dead inspired lady with a crow for hair. They were simple to apply and looked incredibly vibrant, although I found that they started to fade about 3 to 4 days after application. The butterfly design was a bit too vibrant to be believable, but the darker tattoo fooled several people. The most unusual though was the gold tattoo, which was akin to applying gold leaf to my body. It sort of reminded me of henna, a temporary but beautiful decoration for special occasions. The point of these pieces isn’t to fool people anyway, but to try out something for a little while and then wash it off when you are done.
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My butterfly and crow-haired lady tattoos. © Rita Catinella Orrell
