The Midnight Pumpkin Blog

There are a few ways to remove temporarily tattoos easily, depending on the type and how long you’ve had it on. A fresh temporary tattoo is going to be much easier to remove than one that has been on there for a week and become one with your skin!

Many of my cosplays, especially Harley Quinn, require temporary tattoos to get the look just right. Because it’s a cosplay, I’ve usually only got the tats on for a day, so they come off easily with tape.

Removing Temporary Tattoos with Tape

If your tattoo is the type that you use water to put on, and it has the clear backing, then this method is amazingly easy!

Any kind of tape will do, but I use packing tape because it covers more skin than scotch tape. Watch in the video below, how easily the tattoo comes off:

All you have to do is press the tape over the tattoo and slowly peel it off, taking the tattoo with it.

Removing Stubborn Temporary Tattoos

While the tape method is great, it won’t work on days-old tats. I tried it on my son after he had his temporary tattoo on for a week and the thing didn’t budge. And that’s when you have resort to other methods.

Start with Oil-Based Removers

Oil will break down the temporary tattoo’s adhesive, so grab some coconut oil, baby oil, olive oil…anything with oil!

Apply generously to the tattooed area, let it sit for about a minute, then rub with a washcloth. Don’t skip the part of letting the oil sit and soak in.

That should take most of it off, but sometimes those temporary tats can be stubborn.

Next Try Alcohol

If there are still bits leftover after the oil, try alcohol. Alcohol-based options can dissolve the last bits of the temporary tattoo that are still hanging on.

Dab a small amount onto a cotton ball and gently rub in a circular motion. Just be sure to moisturize afterward, as alcohol can dry out the skin.

Makeup Remover

If you have a good-quality makeup remover—especially one that handles waterproof makeup—it’ll likely remove your temporary tattoo. Apply it to a cotton pad and swipe it over the tattoo until it disappears.

Be Good to Your Skin

Avoid using harsh chemicals or scrubbing with rough tools—your skin deserves better. And while nail polish remover might seem like a quick fix, it can be way too aggressive for delicate areas, especially on kids.

So next time to need to remove a temporary tattoo, try tape first, then oil, then alcohol. Follow it up with warm soapy water and moisturize the spot of you’ve used alcohol.