If someone has a 'temporary' transfer type tattoo done, say on the base of the back henna style, how long before they come off.

Do they wash off quickly? Fade slowly?

I got a henna tattoo done a few years ago in Kenya. It lasted about two weeks, and that was swimming in the ocean and showering at least twice a day.

The funny thing was, I got it done on white skin and when it faded the outline could still be seen on my tanned skin.

It depends how much you wash.

If you are a dirty bstard then it will last ages. If you shower, swim etc. alot a couple of weeks maybe.

Don't get a henna tatoo, you will look like a knob who doesn't have the bottle to get a real one. They look crap as well.

Would you get one in your home country? No, exactly, so why get one in Thailand? Exactly, re-engage the brain that so many seem to leave at customs when they arrive.

Mine was just a little bracelet thing around the top of my arm. I said I got it done in Kenya. In fact it was Zanzibar in a back street, of the Souk and I designed it myself.

Thanks for the information on roughly how long they last for.

And, no it is not for me

The lady in my life wants a tattoo but does not want a permanent one. That is why I was asking about these temporary ones. Two weeks seems OK to me and if it keeps the Boss happy, that is OK too

She can put it where she likes within reason and any design too.

Better than a lifetime tattoo anyday in my humble opinion and Ok for a bit of fun.

there was a case in the papers in England, where a girl got some henna tattoos done, because of what was in them they burnt her skin , they now will last a life time. just make certain your wont have an allergic reaction to them

Be aware of one thing , may be relevant to your friend or not. Henna tattoos render a surprisingly high number of people allergic to the chemicals in hair dyes, often for long periods. Pure henna does not cause this problem but the henna used for tattoos often contains a compound known as PPD (as do hair dyes) but used in this manner causes a type of pre-sensitisation to PPD in hair dyes that may well have been previously tolerated with no previous reactions. This can get really serious. Take care.

" Contact dermatitis following the application of temporary paint-on henna tattoos indicates a potentially serious problem of active sensitization. We describe 2 cases involving sisters who travelled to Bali together and acquired a temporary black henna tattoo to the lower back region. Both sisters subsequently developed a contact dermatitis at the tattoo site, the dermatitis disseminating in one sister. There was persistent hyperpigmentation at the tattoo site in both sisters several months after the application. Patch testing revealed a positive reaction to para-phenylenediamine (PPD) in both sisters. One sister also showed reactions to other hair dyes and to multiple organic dyes. Allergic contact dermatitis to PPD contained in temporary henna tattoos is an increasing problem worldwide, with cross-reaction to related compounds and permanent skin changes, a frequent consequence of sensitization to this significant allergen. "

My link

BTW. Although the article above concerns reasonably instant reactions to PPD's there is a growing body of evidence that you may well suffer no dermatitis or allegic action at the time.

My interest in your post came from knowing someone who had a tattoo and suffered severe problems afterwards. Her two friends who also had tattoos by the same person do not have any similar sensitivities to date. However it seems the sensitivities can occur years later according to current knowledge.

Mine was done in a sort of spa place on a girls' afternoon with my sister, sis in law and me. Ok, it was in deep dark Africa!! But all of us were ok.

I would never get one done on the beach. What with the sweat, sun tan lotion, sea water etc. your skin has to be really clean. I remember the girl who did it washing and washing the area which was "tattooed". I really enjoyed picking the henna off later on, to reveal the real stain underneath.

My only regret was that it didn't last longer.

I had mine done around the top of my arm - two weeks.

My sister had hers done around her ankle and it lasted three or four weeks.

These new replies make a big difference to my immediate thoughts on it being okay to have one done. Seems to me it might be better to gently dissuade her from having one of these done. It is, after all, only a 'fad' that she is going through. I'll point out what can happen and find something else to replace it with if needs be.

And thanks for the interesting replies.