Parent Hacks

Parent Hacks is "just...genius." — Buzzfeed

Every new parent will love this clever, encouraging book.

Read more

Hairspray removes temporary tattoos

in: Bath Time & Grooming, Featured

Star Wars TattoosTracy’s hack saves painful arm-scrubbing:

Our kids love to wear temporary tattoos — those colorful decals that go on with a bit of water. I don’t mind them wearing the tattoos, but I don’t like trying to remove them.

Recently, I had a lightbulb moment and used hairspray to help dissolve the tattoos. I sprayed it on, let it sit for a moment and then wiped off the tattoo with a damp cloth. It came off completely without ANY effort! (I washed my kid’s arm with soap to remove any hairspray that was left.)

How do you remove temporary tattoos from your kid’s skin?

Most recent posts

  • How to tighten pants without sewing
  • Can blogs rebuild America?
  • What feeds us

About Asha Dornfest

Asha Dornfest is a writer, parent, and insistent optimist living in Portland, Oregon. She is the author of PARENT HACKS, co-author of MINIMALIST PARENTING, and co-host of the Edit Your Life podcast.

Comments

  1. Nancy says

    August 5, 2011 at 12:05 pm

    Baby wipes. They take off face paint, temporary tattoos and marker. Too bad I have no need to keep them around anymore, they dry out by the time I get to use them.

  2. Erica says

    August 5, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    This was an accident but spray sunblock took my daughter’s off. She didn’t like that so we put more on after we went swimming etc… Generally we don’t remove them, we just put more and more and more on and let them fade away. My daughter’s a little tattooed lady.

  3. Kris says

    August 5, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    Olive Oil works as well…and on permanent marker too. 🙂

  4. Vivian says

    August 5, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    Any type of oil will loosen them too. I prefer olive oil. Let is set a minute and it comes right off.

  5. lise says

    August 5, 2011 at 12:45 pm

    I’ve used rubbing alcohol. it’s even taken off those really stubborn temporary tattoos.

  6. Bethany L. says

    August 5, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    We use baby oil. It usually doesn’t take much with just a little rubbing, and it leaves his skin nice and soft afterwards.

  7. Single Dad Blog says

    August 5, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    It seems like every restaurant gives those out now and I’m constantly scraping something off my son’s “guns”.

  8. Kendra says

    August 5, 2011 at 2:08 pm

    We got several hundred temporary tattoos for Christmas and my kids are now tattooed all over. And at some point, they look like I simply never was them, as these half-worn-off tattoos adorn their bodies! We don’t keep baby oil around, but we always have a bit of hairspray. Last time I’d had enough, I used spray detangler, on the theory that the oiliness would help, and it was an improvement over simple soap and water, but I’m definitely going with hairspray next time!

  9. Staci Halyk says

    August 5, 2011 at 3:30 pm

    Scotch tape! It doesn’t stick to the skin well, but it sure sticks to the tattoos!

  10. chicks4612 says

    August 5, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    We use baby oil. Dab some onto the tattoo just before bath time. Wait a minute or two and then rub gently with a washcloth. Works every time.

  11. kirstencan says

    August 5, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    awesome! we don’t use these often, but when we do I’m always hating getting them off. what great ideas!

  12. Nicole K says

    August 5, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    Baby oil works like a dream. I hardly have to rub at all.

  13. Nicole K says

    August 5, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    Just add a little water to rehydrate your baby wipes. They’re very useful for wiping deodorant stains off a black shirt (polyester material), freshening up if you’re a little sweaty after running errands, giving a clean/fresh feeling during a woman’s monthly cycle, and they remove stains from clothing pretty well. I passed one to a lady with ink all over her hands the other night at a meeting after a pen exploded. It worked great. I keep a travel sized pack that I buy for $1 at Target in my purse and another pack in our family lunchbag for picnics.

  14. Claire says

    August 6, 2011 at 11:17 pm

    And they totally rock for cleaning up surfaces around the house and vehicle too without any of the nastiness associated with “cleaning wipes.” I was buying them in between children just for their awesomeness!!

  15. Claire says

    August 6, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    Anything oily-ish. Mineral oil/baby oil/ olive oil as well as most types of 24-hour or “night creams” seemed to have worked just as well. I had a family member remove one off my daughter with nail polish remover even! (It was kind of an emergency as we realized the Flower Girl had a skelanimal tattoo on her arm!!!)

  16. MegB says

    August 8, 2011 at 6:01 am

    By hairspray..interesting coz never try this way.

    As removing tattoos is very difficults for me so thanks for this new way. Let me try today only..

  17. Andrea says

    August 8, 2011 at 6:59 am

    If I have to take them off, I use baby oil but frankly, I usually just let them come off naturally. My kids love a good (or raggedy old) tat!

  18. Karli says

    August 8, 2011 at 8:33 am

    Great tips for removing tattoos! Hairspray, wipes and babyoil are products we usually have on hand. Anything that works “double duty” is great way to save space and stay organized. This way you do not need additional products that serve only one purpose.

  19. brendan james says

    August 9, 2011 at 5:25 pm

    boo.. leave them on.. rock n roll! 🙂

  20. srs says

    August 10, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    eye make-up remover- either on a cotton ball or in wipe form. anything else besides oil and this is too irritating to delicate skin!

  21. Jat1107 says

    May 27, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    Sunblock (spray sunblock) worked for us!! We tried olive oil, make up remover cream and towelettes, nail polish remover and non of these worked.

  22. Shimmer Body Art says

    September 18, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    Thanks for sharing how hairspray may help in removing temporary tattoos much easier. What other ways would you recommend if a hairspray isn’t available? Good read.

  23. Becky says

    October 27, 2012 at 5:53 pm

    I just used Freeze It hairspray and it removed the tattoos instantly!!!! Thanks for sharing!

  24. JohnPA2006 says

    November 18, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    Olive Oil worked PERFECTLY.
    I poured a little on, let is sit for about 1m30s
    gave it a few good wipes with a paper towel.
    It wiped away right away.
    My 5 year old daughter arm is spared. :o)

    Thanks for the tip

  25. Georgianna smith says

    November 1, 2015 at 9:25 am

    Olive oil really helps

  26. soniya says

    November 10, 2018 at 2:21 am

    Thanks in favor of sharing such a good thought, a post is pleasant,
    that’s why I have read it entirely

Buy the Book

Featured Posts

6 satisfying meals to cook with a hotel coffeemaker or iron

How to tighten pants without sewing

A tool to help kids respond to unfriendly teasing

About the Author

Asha Dornfest is the author of Parent Hacks and other books, and former co-host of the Edit Your Life podcast. More about Asha »

Disclosure: This site uses affiliate links when linking to some products, which means I get a small commission if you click through and buy. There’s no cost to you, but these commissions help me pay the costs associated with running this website. Thank you for supporting independent writers!

Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved | PARENT HACKS is a registered trademark owned by Asha Dornfest | Terms/Privacy Policy