How to Cover Tattoos with Makeup
Tattoos are a unique way that people can express themselves, tell stories, or remember somthing of significance in their life. However, self-expression comes at a cost and can often be the determing factor in whether or not you get a job. That's where covering up comes into play. But people don't just cover their tattoos for job related reasons, they may want to look more polished for their wedding or hide it from conservative family members. Whatever the reason, here's how to do it:
o Make Sure Your Skin is Clean
§ Before you begin, you might want to shave the area that needs to be covered if that’s possible and if it won’t look too weird.
§ Next, you want to wash the skin a wipe, facial wash, or soap. This prepares the skin to receive makeup.
§ Don’t try to cover up a tattoo that isn’t fully healed because you’re at risk of ruing the ink or getting an infection.
o Apply a Light Concealer
§ Get a heavy, full coverage concealer much lighter than your natural skin tone and use a sponge or stippling brush to dab (not rub) the concealer all over the area evenly.
§ Make sure to use the brush, sponge or your fingers to blend out the edges of the concealer into your skin. The warmth of your fingers work the best.
§ Once covered with concealer, let it completely dry. Don’t worry if you can still see the tattoo.
o Apply Foundation
§ Find a foundation that matches your skin exactly and apply it to the area being covered.
§ Use the same sponge or brush you applied concealer with to dab the foundation over the area. Blend out the edges with your fingers, brush, or sponge.
o Apply a Powder
§ Apply powder to the area to help “set” it in place. You can use a translucent powder or a powder that matches your skin tone exactly.
§ This also provides a matte finish so it looks more natural.
o Spritz with Hairspray
§ When you’re done layering the makeup and have given each layer a chance to dry, spritz with a little hairspray to help keep everything together.
§ This step also sets the makeup and will prevent it from rubbing off onto clothes and furniture.
§ Allow this step to dry completely.
o Do a Trial Run Before the Event
§ If you’re covering your tattoo for a specific event, practice a day or two ahead of time so you know what to expect.
§ This also gives to time to perfect your technique and to make sure that the products you plan on using actually work for you.
Of course there are other ways to cover a tattoo but this is a pretty common way to do it. There also products that are made specifically for this purpose. If you’re interested in doing this, check out these specialized products: Tattoo Camo, Dermablend, Covermark, and Kat Von D.
Another option is to use stage makeup which can be great at long-lasting coverage and covering large areas of skin. Some products to check out are: Killer Cover, Ben Nye, and Mehron.
Lastly, if your tattoo is small and light enough, you may be able to cover it up with a spray tan. You can either go to a local tanning salon and see if they can suggest a treatment or you can try at home tanning produdcts.
