Is this what the adhesive is supposed to be like?

So I just got all my mica tattoo supplies last weekend and gave everything a try. I'm a bit worried about the adhesive being too runny. I got it from SillyFarm, it's the Kryolan brand prosthetic adhesive. When I put it on over the stencils there's barely any whiteness to it - I'm only able to put on a VERY thin transparent layer. The mica and glitter (I did both) stuck on perfectly and the tattoos turned out great... but the next day the mica was already beginning to pull off around the edges and the glitter was patchy. I'm on day 4 with my mica + glitter tattoo, and the mica has pulled off A LOT, and the glitter is almost totally gone. I heard it was normal for mica/glitter tats to last up to a week with good care, so it's kind of disappointing to see it pulling off on day 2 with good care.

So... if the glue is supposed to be thicker, is there any way I can thicken it myself? Has anyone else encountered this problem?

I have never used that brand so I really don't know what you are experiencing... Did you use alcohol on your skin before applying the glitter tattoo?

What are you using to apply the glue?

did you take off the stencil before applying the glitter or mica?

my favorite glue has been from signature glitter. I am not sure why hers has worked the best for me... I did buy a bottle of pros aide from a website... I should do a comparison of glues that I have and see which works the best.

I will take pics of results.

Here's how I did it:

1. Rubbed alcohol wipe on area, waited for it to dry a bit
2. Applied stencil, pulled off the backing and... fronting? (lol)
3. Applied the adhesive with one of those fuzzy/velvety textured lipgloss applicators
4. Applied mica with disposable foam makeup applicator, leaving adhesive still wet
5. Removed stencil, brushed away excess with blush brush

Also, I just read that prosthetic adhesive can get messed up if frozen... it's winter now, so it's possible that during the shipping process it could've froze. Maybe that's my problem? It's perfectly sticky and goes on well, it's just way too runny to get a good coat. Maybe I'll try doing a first coat, waiting for it to dry a bit, then put another coat on top. That's not a good option for actual mica tat gigs though... so I may just have to wait till spring to get some different adhesive. Hmm.

try putting stencil on... applying thin layer of glue (too thick isn't good) Take off stencil... Apply glitter or mica.

See if that makes a difference,

before applying the stencil (after cleaning) A shot of hot air for a second from a hair drying helps wonders. If it isn't available I just wait another couple seconds. The stencil and glue adhere better when the skin is warmer. The alcohol cools the skin so I wait a while to apply stencil and glue.

I wait a second or two for the adhesive to go "clear" or tacky after applying the glue.

Apply the glitter, then press hard on the glitter to wiggle it in to the stencil.

Then slowy remove the stencil.


I had tried removing the stencil before applying the glitter and had only come back with a mess.

Let us know if anything helps!

I pull off the stencil as quick as possible after getting the adhesive on (I use ProsAide) - hopefully before it dries, then apply the glitter.

They look great, but frankly, they don't look good from more than a day or two. They can LAST a week... but don't necessarily look that great.

Shannon Fennell wrote:I pull off the stencil as quick as possible after getting the adhesive on (I use ProsAide) - hopefully before it dries, then apply the glitter.

They look great, but frankly, they don't look good from more than a day or two. They can LAST a week... but don't necessarily look that great.

Okay, I think that answers my question. I was expecting them to last and LOOK GOOD for a week... haha. But it seems more like... it looks good for 2 days, then degrades more and more each day. So maybe my glue is fine... they looked fantastic on the first day, so I must have been doing something right.

Glues varies... and with age they thicken.

Yeah, your stuff is probably fine.

Another thing too is that glitters vary too! The size and shape can make a difference on how well it adheres. And the powders don't stay solid at all in my experience.

It is great for a day... but once they hit the showers things start to degrade.

I started off doing a mica and glitter tattoo (Hello Kitty with black mica for the outline, pink glitter for the bow) and the mica is holding up a lot better than the glitter surprisingly. The glitter started patching off after the first day, but the mica is a bit more resilient, and the lines were still quite crisp on day 2 with no patchiness. Interesting!

my 3 year old's glitter tattoos are going on 2 weeks. S

he has a spider, where the legs get skinny in spots. The tat still look brand new and great.

I have never had any last less then 3 days. And the only ones that only last 3 days are ones with thin script.

I have my whole fore arm done with stars and outlines of stars. I've had it for a week and I and contantly taking long sleeves off and on (so it is getting fricton. And the tat still looks fine.


hummmmm

What brand of adhesive are you using, Mana?

I started with Moonlight Glitter Tattoo Glue and now am using Prosaid. Where I got it though, it states all over the page that shipping is cold weather loses its affectiveness. (we are expecting snow tonight )

I think I do it wrong but am setting some good results in terms of lasting power.
My Daughter is a serious swimmer I did this tat on a thursday night for website etc. she went to squad friday (1hour 15mins swimming plus shower)
swam time trials, with club on sat night (about 45 mins in and out repeated drying etc) sunday mucked about in our pool. monday squad again. then tuesday when picture is taken is at the kids personal instructor for stroke correction. and I took the phot quick just for the sake of it.

now its not looking the best but not bad for some serious abuse. and a glitter tattoo at five day mark. and I have been doing glitter tatts for alot of swimming familys as they see hers.
I am using prosaide. wating for first coat to dry then putting on a second (at parties doing two kids at a time one a stage behind) and I leave the stencil on (a no no I know)
and as Mana said after it is done I press down on it firmly, hold it for a few seconds move and do it again till I've pressed on the whole tattoo. with either a sponge or a dusting brush on its side. I prefer the nail polish stlye applicator but have the lipgloss type too.
I havn't tried Mica tats -but am getting good results with glitter and high frequency pool users, acctually all but one of my glitter tat parties come from squad or lessons familys so I know the kids and parents and I am around if they didn't last.

Results will vary

Yep to varied results. obviously what works for me may not for you.and body placement due to friction. also found if I mix glitter brands, or glue I get a difference in wear and tear. I just kept searching threads and trying by changing one element of what I was doing at a time - until I got what worked for me.
My theory being if you always do what youvé always done you will always get what youvé always got. and when your happy with that method, don't change it.
Also I was trying to get something that would stand up to pool swimmers at the time, as they are my main clients for glitter tats.
This method may suck with hockey players, open water swimmers for all I know!!
but unless they become my main clients I am not going to explore that.

Does anyone here use the EBA proEndura? I have used it for designs that were indended to be taken off after a photo shoot etc- but they claim that the water parks use it for glitter tattoos and that it increases the longevity.

Nice thing is as an airbrush product, it's fast.

One thing I have always found curious... many use face painting stencils, airbrush stencils- etc, and those are intended to be cleaned and reused. Why is it that Glitter Tatoos use/ prefer disposable stencils?

I have heard people say that "parents would not want them re-used" but this is on alcohol cleaned skin, and people re-use face painting stuff all the time..... Wouldn't it be more economical and enviro friendly to have say 5 of each design that could be cleaned with alcohol, hung to try, between people and re-used over and over? Not trying to be provocative, I really don't know if there is a functional practical reason for using the disposable stencils.

From what I can see the EBA proEndura is a clear coat that you put over airbrush tats?? I think. a sealent/claercoat - and I think going from memory here as most of my bottles labels are degraded. that it is alcohol based which would degrade cosmetic glue faster. Possible.. unsure, to be honest.

I have an airbrush too, (not sure about names of things so am going for discription) I paid a little more for the stencil books and have them made up in a thicker vinal than most books. This is so I can really clean them without rippeing off a corner. and I have the glue to coat the back again if i need too. and I reused stencils on airbrush

with the glitter tatts that glue/ glitter combo is just such a pain to get off though, as I considered doing the same thing. having books made etc
for me it is not so much about skin cells as getting all that glitter/glue off

But a party shop down the road from me sells a mouldable stencil. it is heated with warm water. and they stay maliable while in water when taken out and put on for example the arm they mould to the shape of the arm and you reuse they wash up etc but they only have 6 designs and they cost $35 a stencil OMG!!! they also have removed all manufacturers details from them (repackaged) they ordered in one of each and another doing GT bought them all they havn't restoked as yet. dose anyone know anything about these. they look hard and thickish in packet. I am dubious to buy even one as it could be a massive waste at that price.
.

The pro endura is used as an adhesive itself, and then can be used OVER the glitter for additional staying power. Just curious what people's experience was with it.

I stick glitter to airbrush tattoos (typically OCC since it has a bit more "stick" to it) on many events - and yes they have a clear that can go over it (not sure why Pro Endura is marketed as the "only" since I know of at least 3 brands that have that). I don't find it stays longer with glitter on the ink - really only single day use - it tends to have the worst of both in that the glitter addition rubs off the tattoo faster.

I prefer a stencil that sticks on when applying glue because people rarely stay still - and it's one thing to reposition it and get it back in place properly when it is ink/paint on the skin, and far less comfortable when it is glue. On myself, sure, not a problem - I know to keep the muscles still, not move the limb/body part, and not to suddenly decide to pick up a child or grab a drink while in the middle of applying.... and the glue does come off the edges of the front of acetate/mylar (just takes a bit of work).

I can make acetate/mylar stencils have sticky backs (and I do for TV/Film/Video application where perfection matters) - just apply prosaide and allow it to dry - however then it would pull off dead skin cells and I would want to completely clean it before reusing it. Not something I want to be doing at an event. I'd rather use disposable than reusable since the quality of the stencil is not in question (unlike disposable brushes) but the cleanup time would be prohibitive.

I have tried to use re-useable stencils with glitter tatts but the glue is just too runny, even with stencil -tak it got under the edges. I guess I could have tried several sponged layers but that would just be a faff! Maybe its something to do with the stiffness / thickness of most re-useable stencils... and yes actually cleaning them wrecked a few I tried it with:(

Now if I need a re-useable or custom design I lightly sponge it through with paint then glue on the paint- it still lasts several days or a week or so!

Back to the original post:
yes the glue is meant to be runny. Most of the original cosmetic adhesives I could get like Prosaide, Graftobian Pro adhesive etc ARE purely liquid. And do only need a thin coat. You just have to learn to go with the flow, literally.
The lovely stuff I can now get is almost like water its THAT runny but can last 2 weeks sometimes...

This is the stuff I use now, freehand with brush or the bottles I prefer. I tint it myself witha drop of bodypaint when i remember to!

Cat x

@Leaping,
Personally, I don't think (for me) it's a matter of sanitary reuse, it's just really hard to pull the GT stencil off without distorting it. They're very thin. Plus, they have a rim of pros-aide around the design, that makes it extra-sticky to try to store. I could try to clean it off in between people with alcohol, but I don't know that it's worth my time. I've heard it phrased as "using dollars of time to save pennies worth of product." That's the only reason I don't reuse them.

Airbrush stencils use much thicker vinyl or acetate sheets, so they're much easier to reuse.

are you using a poofer to add your glitter? how do you apply the glitter to wet glue without having the applicator stick to the glue?

PerfectlyPaintedFaces wrote:

Shannon Fennell wrote:I pull off the stencil as quick as possible after getting the adhesive on (I use ProsAide) - hopefully before it dries, then apply the glitter.

They look great, but frankly, they don't look good from more than a day or two. They can LAST a week... but don't necessarily look that great.

Okay, I think that answers my question. I was expecting them to last and LOOK GOOD for a week... haha. But it seems more like... it looks good for 2 days, then degrades more and more each day. So maybe my glue is fine... they looked fantastic on the first day, so I must have been doing something right.

@shannon,

1. do you use a poofer to add your glitter?
2. What steps do you take please?
3. What type glitter do you use?


=)



"

Shannon Fennell wrote:Glues varies... and with age they thicken.

Yeah, your stuff is probably fine.

Another thing too is that glitters vary too! The size and shape can make a difference on how well it adheres. And the powders don't stay solid at all in my experience.

It is great for a day... but once they hit the showers things start to degrade.

My husband does the glitter tattoos and he applies the glue "Prosaide" with a brush (you can use the lipgloss applicator too) , leaves the stencil on, applies the glitter "Amerikan Body Art" and then takes the stencil off. He doesn't have any trouble except sometimes finding the little pieces of stencil that are left behind that need to be removed with a toothpick. The tatts last at least 3 days, then the glitter will start to rub off.

veelux this is also my experience and how i do them. doesnt the glue stick to the applicator though is it cleaned daily and with what?