two airbrush tattoo/bodyart workshops a year teaching the best way to do tattoos and what you need to get started and also what not to buy." adds, Neil. "First, understand that even the village idiot could learn to do tats by just watching a video and could be applying tats professionally within two hours.", comments Kirk Knapp. "If you can point, you can apply tats. It is easier than painting by numbers because you do not have to worry about keeping the paint within the lines.
and what to charge and how to approach clients for parties.", recommends Britany from Tribal Ink.
Stop by Neil Roth's website www.getpainted.com . Neil has been doing airbrush tattoos since the 1970's and is well respected for his knowledge within the airbrush community. His website showcases several free videos that demonstrate just how easy the process is. Get Painted also has several articles depicting how to set up an inexpensive tattoo parlor. "We do
One of the most appealing aspects of starting an airbrush tattoo business is that it doesn't require a substantial investment or much artistic talent. There are very few business ventures that can make that claim. A person can basically start out with the bare necessities and start making money immediately. An airbrush tattoo parlor is comprised of only a few major components, an airbrush, air source (compressor or CO2 tank), ink, stencils and the desire to make money fast. An initial investment under $500 can set a person up with enough equipment and supplies to get started.
By all counts, the investment should be recouped within one or two outings. From there, the equipment and inventory can be gradually built up. There is no required training to get started but, there are a few instructional videos available and training courses available. If you don't feel confidant enough or feel that more knowledge on the airbrush tattoo business is required, definitely try a training course. "We have a 5 hour training course, and it takes you through cleaning to setting up to spraying
"We are very excited about the Speedy Swap Airbrush for the following reasons: It gives one the ability to change colors quickly with no cross color contamination. It requires no disassembly, clean up and reassembly of internal components and no replacement of said components; this greatly reduces ones operational costs. It is not meant for fine detailed work, but is perfect for a high volume temporary airbrush tattoos business. Best of all, the Speedy Swap Airbrush is a very affordable option to the more well known and expensive brands currently on the market.
TAT International has made available the Power Palette system for those who demand
"We do not use adhesive stencils as re-use is unsanitary and the
stencil would become gross. For single use they are expensive and they really are hard to use as they don't bend easily and can be hard to place on the body. Airbrush Body Art has the largest selection of regular stencils. We also buy from Trendy Tribals as they have different designs plus we cut many of our own."
When purchasing stencils, look for those that have a good balance between durability and the ability to flex around body parts. Be cautious of those marketing stencils claiming to be reusable but have been cut on vinyl. You will only get one or two uses out of them. With so many companies manufacturing
by mainstream rock musicians.
Popularity grew even stronger as television shows such as Inked and Miami Ink hit the nationally syndicated airwaves. Tattooing has since grown into a fashion
statement that is being done to compliment a persons individual way of dress and lifestyle. A demand for temporary airbrushed tattoos has hit the marketplace. Kirk Knapp from TAT International explains, " There are several
reasons tattoos are now on over fifty percent of young adult females. The limitation of real tattoos are that they are permanent, painful
and expensive. Celebrities are increasingly seen wearing tats. Many of them being temporary airbrushed tattoos."
Airbrushed tattoos have the look and feel of real tattoos. When done right, a person could have a
tattoo done on Friday that could be stratigically placed to compliment an outfit they are planning to wear over the course of the weekend. The tattoo should by all means last into the following week. That person could turn into a repeat client and have a new tattoo done every week. Britany at Tribal Ink adds, "People can get an idea of what a tattoo is going to look like on them before making the decision to get a real one. Also, with kids, they love them because they don't have to be 18 years old to get one."
It's an interesting story about how I stumbled upon airbrushed tattoos. As with most airbrush artists, I never gave the airbrushed tattoo business a second glance. I actually looked down at them as being nothing more than Stencil Pushers. My opinion changed dramatically after I was the guest artist for Aset-Iwata at a car show. During the two day event, Aset CFO Sherri Candland made the comment, " I wish that I would have brought my airbrush tattoo kit to this show. We would have made a few thousand dollars on the side while we sat here promoting Iwata." That statement really sparked my interest! A few months down the road, I ordered a set of inks from
was scheduled to have a display at a small Harley-Davidson show. I figured that I would bring what little airbrush tattoo supplies I did have to the show and set them up in the corner of my booth for something fun to do while I was promoting my custom paint work. A fellow airbrush artist came down to hang out with me for the day and brought a few stencils of his own. To our amazement, both of us were non-stop the entire day doing tattoos. That was the easiest money either of us have made and we had a blast doing them. That night when I got home I immediately jumped on the Internet to research this "sleeper" of an industry. What I found was airbrush tattoos just may be one of the best kept secrets for small business ventures that is bringing in unbelievably high profits.
T-SHIRT AIRBRUSHING - NAIL ART - DIGITAL ART - MIXED MEDIA - SIGN MAKING
AIRBRUSHING - CUSTOM PAINT - PINSTRIPING - ART - ILLUSTRATION - BODY ART - AIRBRUSHED TATTOOS
TAT INTERNATIONAL's "Power Palette" designed especially for temporary tattooing.
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"We believe that airbrushed tattoos will become a multi-billion dollar industry and you would be wise to be a part of it.", Kirk Knapp - TAT International
Creative Commotion and a few stencils from Airbrush Body Art. I played with the products a few times and then tucked them away in a box at my shop (SKC Customz). They remained there for almost a year until the day I
Popularity Of Tattoos
(Tribal Ink artist applying promo tattoos at a trade show.)
Tattooing has been a form of decorating the body that is debatably claimed to have existed since 10,000 years BC. The 1990's initiated an explosion in tattoo notoriety that was fueled
Where It All Began
Maud Adams -Tattoo (1981)
Star Shields
Star Shields may very well be one of the first documented airbrush tattoo artists. Star claims to have originated temporary airbrushed tattoos back in 1973. "I airbrushed small
match the rainbow garments. " The very first airbrush “fantasy” type faces. Back then I used water colors and over a white pancake foundation.", explains Star. Since 1979, airbrush face and body art has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. He has taught this art technique to many artists that now have successful body art businesses running in Australia and Hollywood.
1979 at the first "Doo-Dah" parade in Pasadena, California.", There Mr.Shields airbrushed "KROQ" logos, stars, hearts and lightning bolts onto parade attendants. Shields used water colors as the airbrush media with a Paasche single action H-3. About that same point in time, Star began painting faces with the airbrush at the Rainbow Rose Festival in Venice Beach, California, to
Primarily alcohol-based, this thin cosmetic paint will stay on for up to a week, even in water, if cared for properly. It did not take long for the amusement and retail consumers to find them and start using the products. In 2002, they introduced the newest member of their airbrush cosmetic line, the groundbreaking silicone based formulas known as S/B Airbrush.
During the preparation of this article, I interviewed several industry personnel to try and pin-point the origins of Airbrushed
Tattoos. No one could give a definite answer on where it began. I searched the Internet for days looking for something that would lead to the history or development of temporary tattoos. Airbrush make-up was first used in the epic movie of 1925, “Ben Hur”. At that early time the make-up artists needed to apply make-up to a huge cast of actors and extras. In the mid 70’s airbrush face painting emerged as a popular art form that leaked slowly into Hollywood studios. In some early and more recent sci-fi films, airbrushed make-up was
used to enhance many alien characters. Dr. Samuel Zuckerman became an award winning chemist creating the Origins line for Estee Lauder and putting the stripe in Aquafresh toothpaste. Dr. Zuckerman developed the
transfer
inks designed to apply full body tattoos to Maud Adams for the 1981 movie Tattoo. In the process of creating a superior
transfer
ink, Sam Zuckerman and
his son,
Roy Zuckerman discovered that the same formulas could be used to manufacture an exceptional line of skin safe body paints and cosmetics, giving birth to the
Temptu
Body Art brand.
The original Temptu tattoo instantly became an overnight success with Hollywood make-up pros and tattoo artists alike.
A few years later, Temptu was one of the first cosmetic houses to introduce
Airbrush Application Foundation
.
Starting with their classic DURA (tm) and AQUA (tm) line, developed with makeup artist Randy Mercer, their cosmetics
have built a reputation for their superior coloration and ease of application.
"I used water colors and over a white pancake foundation."
-Star Shields
Airbrush Inks
The original inks developed by Temptu (right) and one of the longest lasting Tattoo Inks by Duratat (above).
profit margin to be. If you plan on doing high-end tattoos for repeat customers, consider using the more expensive inks that last longer. There are no "Cheap" inks on the market but there are those that are reasonably priced and are more suitable for mass production and hobbyists.
For more information on individual products see
Reviews
.
Most of the inks last an average of 4 days. The results will vary depending on the person. Can an airbrushed tattoo actually last two weeks? "Well that depends on a number of different factors.", replies Olive Branch executive Ray Robinson. "Obviously, placement is very important. An airbrush tattoo placed in an area
that gets constantly rubbed by clothing is not going to last very long. Extended periods of swimming, heavy sweating, using oils or moisturizing soaps and lotions on the skin will reduce the lasting effects. A tattoo sprayed on a child will not last as long as the same one on an adult due to the rapid exfoliation of children. With that said, many of our customers tell us that they have customers that have kept them for over three weeks." The key to longevity of the tattoo is keeping them dry and oil free. Britany from Tribal Ink elaborates, "Tribal Ink Temporary Airbrush Tattoos paints and inks are instant drying, water resistant, and last on average from a few days up to one week, or may be removed instantly with isopropyl alcohol. The duration of temporary airbrush tattoos depends mainly on how it is cared for and the airbrush customer’s skin type. Here are a few simple instructions to follow in order to maximize the duration of your Tribal Ink temporary airbrush tattoos. Pat dry: After bathing or swimming. Powder: After bathing and throughout the day. Avoid: Direct contact with oils, lotions and soap. Remove: Apply rubbing alcohol or baby oil. For the most part, all the inks are safe to use. Some precautions should be taken when using them on customers. Do not apply tattoos to the face, pregnant women, over irritated skin and be extremely careful not to get ink on the customers clothing.
The backbone of this industry is the specially formulated inks that have been developed by using cosmetic grade products. Temptu may have been the first to release the inks but now there are more than a dozen different companies manufacturing their own versions. There are two types of inks available for temporary tattoos that have been created for airbrush application. The most common is alcohol based
formulas. Although, there are a few water-based inks on the market. Manufacturers have different perspectives about the chemical make-up of the inks and to which lasts longest. When asked which inks perform the best, Britany from Tribal Ink states, "Any paint you can find that is concentrated works the best, it gives you way more paint and preferably get alcohol based so the
tattoo is water proof. Water based paint will more than likely come off in water." That may be true in most cases but Duratat is a water-based formula that claims to last up to two weeks. "
Duratat is a water based ink that dries instantly.
It is non toxic, 100% organic, all FDA approved ingredients, and non allergenic. Because it is non allergenic, it is literally safer than peanut butter. This is not true of alcohol based inks/paints.",says
Kirk Knapp from
TAT International.
Cosmetic and Skin Care organizations such as
Olive Branch Skin Care
have developed their own temporary
tattoo inks from cosmetic grade dyes and pigments. Ray Robinson of Olive Branch explains, "Regardless of what you've heard, there is no FDA approved ink on the market. However, the FDA does approve ingredients for use on the skin. All of the ingredients that we use are FDA approved for use on the skin. That does not include in and around the eyes, mouth, nose, ears, and other mucous membranes. Olive Branch has come up with their own unique application method that they claim will last up to two weeks. They have also recently developed a Tattoo Extender to further extend the life of the tattoo. There are a wide range of inks available on the market to suit the needs and budgets of hobbyists and professionals. When deciding on which ink to use, take into consideration what type of clientele you plan on having and what you want the
Stencils Make The Job Fast And Easy
Advanced airbrush artists can create unique freehand designs, but that leads into another facet of the cosmetic ink/paint industry of Body Art. You don't need any artistic skills to make money at airbrushing tattoos. Most of the manufacturers of airbrush tattoo supplies offer pre-cut stencils. Several of the companies manufacture their own designs and have created stencils specifically for airbrush tattoos. Many of them have been based on real tattoo designs.
or non-adhesive backing. "I would say non-adhesive are the best to use." comments Erica Parham from Creative Commotion, "Because depending on the volume of clients the cost of replacement adds up pretty quickly. Also, you are not able to do multiple layer designs if you are using adhesive stencils." Neil Roth from Get Painted explains,
stencils a person can pick and choose the designs that most fit their marketplace. They can be purchased in kits or individually. This makes it advantageous for hobbyists and small businesses to slowly build up their inventory without a major initial out-of-pocket expense. With a combination of the proper inks and stencil designs very realistic looking airbrushed tattoos can be produced. When applied correctly, the naked eye can even be fooled into believing it is a real tattoo. For more detailed information about stencils, refer to AirbrushTech's "How To - Airbrushed Tattoos" article.
"You don't need any artistic skills to make money at airbrushing tattoos."
There are thousands of stencils available on the open market. A multi-color tattoo can be applied in under five minutes by using the stencils. Some are easy to work with and others are not. Do some research before investing a significant amount of money on one supplier. Stencils are available with either an adhesive
There are literally thousands of designs to choose from. Above is a sample of a stencil made by Airbush Body Art.
Which Airbrush
When starting out doing temporary tattoos, there is no need to run out and invest hundreds of dollars in airbrush equipment. Basically, any airbrush will work, even the most inexpensive one can do the job. A few companies such as Paasche have made available airbrush tattoo starter kits. Gravity feed airbrushes similar to the Iwata Eclipse CS work very well, especially when the demand for delivering a thicker volume paint is required. The only draw-back with a gravity feed airbrush is not being able to change colors quickly. Bottle feed airbrushes comparable to the Iwata HP-BSC and the Paasche VL work the best.
Paasche Tattoo Starter kit
Inks can be stored in individual bottles for quick color changes. The one big draw-back with using bottles is cleaning them and storing paint. Remember, the inks are expensive and you don't want to waste excess ink when cleaning the containers. All bottles, or jars have a breather hole in the lid. If the inks are stored in the bottle when not in use, the alcohol base will rapidly evaporate and dry out the ink.
Tribal Ink's Speedy Swap Color Kit. The Next Evolution in Airbrush Tattoo & Temporary Body Art Application!?
"The quicker a tattoo can be done, the higher the profit is."
Olive Branch Skin Care sells a disposable ink jar (approximately $2.00 a bottle) that comes with a second lid that does not have a breather hole. The inks can safely be stored after each use by just changing the lid and sealing the ink to keep it from being exposed to air until their next use. Serious airbrush tattoo business owners need a more proficient way of producing multi-color tattoos, The quicker a tattoo can be done, the higher the profit is by turning out more in volume. Many businesses build their own multi-port systems that accommodate their preferred airbrush.
Iwata HP-BSC with Olive Branch Disposable Jar
A few companies have produced airbrush systems that make color changes and turn-around time faster and more efficient. Tribal Ink has this to say about their Speedy Swap Airbrush Kit,
high volume along with the ability for fine detail. The Power Palette is a quick color changer used to apply airbrush ink and paint. It is user friendly, low maintenance, air-tight, and self-cleaning. You gain fingertip access to dozens of colors/shades of colors using one airbrush ... saving you time and money. Kirk at Tat International explains, " All our competitors use alcohol based paints in their multi-gun operations. Each paint bottle in each airbrush gun must have a breathing hole. Alcohol evaporates through this breathing hole, changing the consistency of the paint in the bottle. Alcohol must be re-added in the right amount to obtain the optimal consistency in the ink/paint for airbrushing. If the last color used at the end of the day is red, for example, you turn the dial to the stop, pullback on the trigger, and flush it clean with TAT-off ... all within one or two seconds. Simply set your gun down at day's end ... no disassembly, cleaning, or reassembly of even one gun. The next time you use your Palette, your gun is ready: pick it up, point, and spray any color or shade your fingertips access."
Huge Profits
TAT International's Professional System
"One vendor told me he made $110,000 in a year." - Britany
typical, this is an example of a public event where tats are sold one at a time. At a birthday party or corporate event, earning $100 to $200 per hour to put tats on people is typical.
A corporate event is an example of a private event where tats are not sold individually." As with any business, personal conviction and establishing the right contacts can lead to financial well-being. Britany from
Tribal Ink
adds, "We've heard of vendors making over $60,000 a year. One vendor told me he made $110,000 in a year."
Airbrush Tattoos take one to three minutes to apply. An airbrush tattoo artist normally charges 4 to 5 dollars per minute.
However, if the tattoo setup is placed in an area where teenagers are walking around with hundred dollar bills in their pockets, the price could be 10 to 20 dollars per minute. At big theme parks tattoos sell for about
$45 each. It all depends on the venue. "People are making a good living at doing airbrushed tats.", says Kirk Knapp. "At a fair or festival, for example,
earning $500 to $1,000 per day is
A Turn-Key business (pictured below) available from Tribal Ink.
Airbrush Tattooing can be an exciting venture for anyone to enter into. With a minimal investment on supplies and equipment, doing tattoos can boost the excitement at any party or gathering. You may have seen airbrush tattoo stands in theme parks, county fairs and even swap meets. But, what you may not have known is the high profits that these little businesses are generating. Those who desire to
supplement their income or start a business that requires little investment but produces a high income should seriously
look into this industry. Even professional airbrush artists
need to take a moment to investigate this over-looked industry that could possibly benefit them financially. On the average, a single person doing airbrushed tattoos can generate $300 to $500 a day at small events. I talked to several
companies to find out what kind of profits a dedicated business could realistically make. Erica Parham (Creative Commotion) states, "
We supply inks to a vendor at a major tourist harbor and he says he makes on average $2000 a day."
Starting Up A Tattoo Business
Mall Carts generate high profits.
Photo courtesy of TAT International.
The tatist uses a stencil and the stencil does all the heavy lifting. TAT International has several thousand tatists using its systems. All were trained by DVD or VHS."
"Start out slowly and build your equipment needs around the way you run your booth." advises Ray Robinson of Olive Branch Skin Care, "Just because you can buy a complete setup, doesn't make it right for you. Many people spend a lot of money on equipment just to find out that they really didn't need it. Simply, all you need is a little practice."
Shop around, most companies sell inks individually in small 0.5 oz bottles. Try different products until you find what best suits your personal needs. Ebay is another great source for finding airbrush tattoo products.
Creative Commotion offers a wide variety of colors at a very reasonable price at their Ebay Store.
Make Money At Almost Any Location
Airbrush tattooing has proven to be a success in a wide variety of settings, such as the beach, salons, spas, resorts, festivals, fairs, flea markets, clubs, childrens parties, grand openings and mall carts. Almost anywhere a shop tent can be set up, money can be made. Britany from Tribal Ink adds, "There are different levels of setups depending on what you want to do. If you just want to get started, you can begin with one airbrush and black paint. If you are looking to go all out and start up an airbrush business you will want a more professional image and we recommend investing in our Tribal Ink stencil display banners. Our stencil display banners are designed to
grab people’s attention. Here is a little marketing tip, flip books of stencil designs are not the answer if you are trying to grab customers
and pull them in. You cannot see a flip book from across an area crowded with people. If you do manage to draw a crowd (the tattooing process itself will also draw crowds) potential customers will get impatient waiting in line to look through your stencil design display books. I’ve seen people lose customers this way. This is foolish. We constantly out gross competitors at events simply because we outshine them with a professional display. We get repeat business from many event clients because our airbrush and body art systems look very cool and far more professional than our competition."
industry and that's why we're in this business. We believe that you would be wise to be a part of it. Be the first to offer tats in your locale.
What Is Needed To Set Up A MobileTattoo Parlor
Equipment: Airbrush(s), Manifold if using more than one airbrush. Compressor, CO2 tank (recommended if no power supply is available). Tattoo Inks, Body Stencils (a minimum of 50), Air Hose, 70% alcohol, Cotton Pads, Cotton Swabs, Rubber Gloves and Setting Powder (Baby Powder does the same), Mirror.
Mobile Parlor - Booth:
Marquee or Tent, Signs and Pictures of Body Art, Power Source and Electrical Cords for Lights if Accessible, Tables, Chairs, and Stools. Filing Organizer for Stencils. Display Panels and Business Cards .
If you intend to set up a business, you need to plan ahead. Most states do not regulate the application of body art. But, to be safe check with your local and state chamber of commerce to see if you need to obtain any necessary permits, licenses or insurance. Research locations where space for a booth may be obtained. Get a list of scheduled organized events that have a large number visitors. Talk to party planners and event organizers. Self promotion is the key to success. Kirk Knapp of TAT International concludes with, "We believe that airbrushed tattoos will become a multi - billion dollar
Have Display Boards Of Tattoos
Note: All text that is Underlined are links to other websites or Airbrushtech sections.
Tat International's "How To Make Money" is one of the best resources on how to start and maintain an airbrush tattoo business. I encourage anyone interested in starting a business or even those who are already operating a temporary tattoo parlor to read these very informative articles.
See The Following For More Information About
Airbrushed Tattoos
The Story Doesn't End Here
If you would like to learn more and talk with other Airbrush Tattoo Artists on this subject, join Airbrushtech's Public Forum. There is a forum located there dedicated to Airbrush Tattoos and Body Art.
AIRBRUSHING CONTEST
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t-shirt stencils onto the face and body of Nebula, who was my art partner back then. It was done for a fashion shoot at that time.", says Shields. "However, the airbrush tattoo became official in
match the rainbow garments. " The very first airbrush “fantasy” type faces. Back then I used water colors and over a white pancake foundation.", explains Star. Since 1979, airbrush face and body art has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. He has taught this art technique to many artists that now have successful body art businesses running in Australia and Hollywood.
S t e p h e n C l a r k
Stephen Clark who is the owner of Airbrush Body Art began experimenting with airbrush tattoos in the mid-1980's. Based in Australia, Stephen started one of the very first successful airbrush tattoo business in 1989. Almost ten years later Clark hired Star Shields for a festival in Bathurst, Australia. Stephen was fascinated with the use of stencils that Shields was using to create tattoos and face painting. It was that point in time that Clark had a vision to create a product line that would eventually become the staple of the airbrush tattoo business.
Airbrush Body Art had its humble beginnings in a back room at Stephen's home in Melbourne. There he worked on developing formulas for inks that would last up to a week.
Next, there was a need to pre designed stencils. Stephen experimented with various materials and had them Laser Cut in Australia. Eventually, he came up "Vynalaser", which he claims is the perfect material that is made especially for body art application.
Airbrush Body Art has since become the leading manu- facturer of Airbrush Tattoo supplies. Airbrush Body Art now produces over 1000 stencils designs and boasts two laser cutters that run around the clock to keep up with the demand.
