A glitter tattoo is a temporary design on the arm, hand or shoulder, made with a stencil, skin safe glue and fine cosmetic glitter. It lasts a few days, sparkles in the light and needs no electric power, so it works indoors, outdoors and in a tent. It works well as a second station next to face painting, and suits older children who think face paint is for little ones.
Price: face painting in Singapore usually costs SGD 250 to 450 for a 2 hour session with one painter. Glitter and gem work added to a face painting session usually costs SGD 80 to 150 per session. See how much face painting costs in Singapore.
How a glitter tattoo is made
The artist places a small adhesive stencil on clean, dry skin, brushes a thin layer of skin safe glue through it, then dusts or presses fine cosmetic glitter on top. The stencil comes off, the loose glitter is brushed away, and the design is ready. A simple design takes a few minutes. The design book covers stars, hearts, butterflies, animals, florals, flags, superheroes and simple symbols.
Who it suits
- Older children and teenagers who want something, but not paint on the face.
- Adults at family days and weddings with a children's corner.
- Busy school carnivals and fun fairs, where a second station takes pressure off the face painters.
- Corporate days and brand booths, where a stencil can be cut from a simple company logo.
How many artists you need
One artist does about 15 to 25 simple designs an hour, fewer for detailed or custom designs. For a party, one artist is plenty. At a large event, if more than 150 to 200 guests are likely to want a tattoo, book two or three artists rather than one artist for longer hours. Past a certain queue length, guests give up and leave.
Space and setup
A station needs a table, two chairs and about 2 by 2 metres of clear floor space. Glitter tattoos need no power, which makes them easy to place outdoors or under a marquee. Outdoors, wind is the real problem for a stencil, and strong sun is hard on the artist, so ask for a gazebo or tent. For an evening event, make sure there is enough light at the table.
Glitter, airbrush or face paint
An airbrush tattoo uses cosmetic ink sprayed through a stencil with a small compressor. It gives a smooth painted finish and needs a standard 13A power point, and the compressor hums, so keep it away from a stage. Many younger children sit still more easily for glitter than for airbrush. Face paint goes on the face instead. Henna is a different booking, usually for cultural events and weddings.
Logo stencils
For a company event, a stencil can be cut from a company logo or a simple brand mark. Send the artwork at least a week ahead, so the stencil can be prepared and tested. Fine detail sometimes needs simplifying to work as a stencil.
Book a glitter tattoo artist
Send the date, the venue, the hours and how many guests are likely to want a tattoo on WhatsApp or through the quote form. Most bookings add glitter tattoos to a face painter for a kids party or to a family day.
