How To Remove A Temporary Tattoo Without Damaging Your Skin

Just got back from your bestie's bachelorette party and want to get her future hubby's face off of your forearm before returning to the office? We don't blame you. Or maybe you've been debating getting a legitimate tattoo and want to see what it'll look like on your body before going all in– temporary tattoos are always an option. No matter the reason for the temporary ink on your body, the whole point is, there comes a time when you're ready to remove it.

While temporary tattoos are known for their short lives, it is important to note that they can actually put up quite the fight when it comes to removing them from your skin. A problem that they have in common with their more permanent counterparts. To save you the trouble (and the pain), we reached out to two temporary tattoo experts, two board-certified dermatologists and an expert esthetician for their best tips on how to remove temporary tattoos with the least amount of harm.

Ahead, the 7 best ways to remove temporary tattoos with ease.

Meet the Experts

• Onyeka Obioha, MD, is a board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist at Boutik Dermatology in Los Angeles.
• Dendy Engelman, MD, is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Shafer Clinic in New York City.
• Dani Egna, is the owner of temporary tattoo company INKED by Dani.
• April Caruso is an esthetician at Skin by EC Beauty
• Allison Wilcoxen, is the owner of NatureTats, a hand-drawn temporary tattoo company.

Why Should You Wear Temporary Tattoos?

Maybe the better question is why shouldn't you wear temporary tattoos?

“Temporary tattoos are a good way to visualize what your body might look like with one [a real tattoo],” says Dani Egna, the owner of temporary tattoo company, INKED by Dani. “And honestly, it's just a fun, inexpensive thing to do alone or with friends!” Temporary tattoos can give you the freedom to express yourself without the permanence, price tag, or needle pricks that come along with the real thing, so you get to live the tatted life, temporarily.

How Do You Apply Temporary Tattoos?

The application process of applying temporary tattoos remains as simple as you may remember from your childhood: Place the design on your skin, wet the back of it with water, and peel off the paper to reveal your new faux ink. Another thing that hasn't changed? The discomfort of removing the dull and faded remnants once it's passed its prime on your skin, which may be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Why are Temporary Tattoos Hard to Remove?

“The discomfort comes from the stickiness (skin adhesive) they sometimes have,” says Allison Wilcoxen, the owner of NatureTats. “When you try to remove that, especially early on, it can pull little hairs out with it.” Temporary tattoos aren’t easily removed with soap and water either, otherwise, they wouldn't be able to withstand even a day of wear.

But that can make it confusing when it does come time to remove your temp tat. This often leads to people scrubbing and picking at a temporary tattoo to take it off, irritating and sometimes even breaking the skin.