CNN —
Tattoos are for life. Unless you buy a heavy duty concealer, as demonstrated by 25-year-old Paris Jackson on Sunday.
The model and actor had all 80 of her tattoos expertly covered for the 66th annual Grammy awards, a process that only took her team of two makeup artists two hours in total. In a time lapse video posted to Instagram, Jackson’s skin is painted, brushed and sprayed a convincing ivory color. Out on the red carpet, her body — once a doodle-pad of colored ink and black lines — was a striking blank canvas, emphasized by a slinky, asymmetrical cut-out gown by Celine.
While Jackson’s transformation was a savvy collaboration with makeup brand CoverFx, temporary tattoo camouflage has snowballed as an essential celebrity makeup technique.
In South Korea, tattoos exist in a legal gray area — meaning K-Pop idols often avoid the social stigma by using bandages or makeup to hide any for broadcast performances. While shooting the Disney+ series “The Bear,” Jeremy Allen White required extensive tattoo coverage (and temporary tattoo re-application) that would withstand filming for hours in a hot kitchen. Similarly, for the 2022 film “My Policeman,” Harry Styles’ distinctive ink was airbrushed to oblivion — an undertaking that took two hours and required Styles to wear a gas mask in the makeup chair. “I’d look at myself with no tattoos and be like, ‘look at this boring *ss body,’” he told Teen Vogue.
Paris Jackson was a blank canvas on the red carpet after her makeup artists spent two hours camouflaging her 80 tattoos, shown on the right.
But the ability to opt out of permanent body art, even just for one night, seems to appeal to some in the limelight. In 2014, Amber Rose made headlines when she attended the Grammys in a decidedly stripped-back look. She wore a gold, art-deco sequinned Naeem Khan gown, her two tattoo sleeves completely erased — their blankness accentuated by a sprinkling of body glitter.
On Saturday, Lana del Rey arrived at the pre-Grammy Gala with a couple of barely-there tatts seemingly peaking through a layer of makeup. Rey’s romantic black Vivienne Westwood dress perfectly framed her décolletage, as well as two faded collar bone script tattoos.
Elsewhere on the red carpet, while Rey and Jackson were disguising their ink, Doja Cat (who scooped three awards this season) went face-first into the world of — albeit temporary — tattoos. Her sheer, flesh-toned, corset dress was paired with a gallery of removable tattoos, from an imposing chestpiece of a gothic cathedral to Romanesque gargoyles and statues. No one needed to ask who she was wearing, either. The designer of her outfit, Dilara Findikoglu, was emblazoned in Old English font across her forehead.
Doja Cat was covered in temporary tattoos at the Grammy awards on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Even the technology of impermanent tattoos has changed. No longer is a soaking wet towel and transfer paper your only option. Now, ink can be smart. Celebrity tattoo studio Bang Bang and research team Hyprskin have this year unveiled “Magic Ink,” a new light-sensitive ink formula that promises to be “rewritable, erasable and reprogrammable.” Using photochromic particles that react to UV light, the molecular structure — and therefore outward appearance — of Magic Ink can be altered by specific light wavelengths. In short, future tattoos may be as customizable and non-committal as a classroom whiteboard.
One of the oldest forms of art, dating back at least as far back as 5000 BC, tattoos were once entirely defined by their permanence. Now, they’re almost as interchangeable as a piece of jewelry.
Once a sign of commitment, sometimes even a badge of community, the meaning of a tattoo could be shifting. Whether it’s a temporary piece that washes away in a matter of weeks, or an inked image that can be brushed off to match an outfit, the culture of body art has widened out to include those who view their anatomy with the fixity of an etch-a-sketch.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in the field of tattoos and body art, I can confidently say that tattoos have become a significant part of our culture, allowing individuals to express their identity and creativity. With my in-depth knowledge and first-hand experience, I will provide you with information related to all the concepts used in the article.
The article discusses the growing trend of temporary tattoo camouflage, particularly among celebrities. Paris Jackson, a model and actor, expertly covered all 80 of her tattoos for the Grammy Awards using heavy-duty concealer. With the help of two makeup artists, it took only two hours to transform her body into a blank canvas, accentuated by her stunning Celine gown.
Temporary tattoo camouflage has become an essential technique for celebrities, especially in South Korea, where tattoos exist in a legal gray area. K-Pop idols often resort to using bandages or makeup to hide their tattoos during broadcast performances to avoid social stigma. Similarly, during the filming of the Disney+ series "The Bear," actor Jeremy Allen White required extensive tattoo coverage that could withstand hours of filming in a hot kitchen. Harry Styles, known for his distinctive ink, had his tattoos airbrushed for the 2022 film "My Policeman," a process that took two hours and required him to wear a gas mask in the makeup chair.
The ability to opt out of permanent body art, even if only for one night, has gained appeal among those in the limelight. In 2014, Amber Rose made headlines when she attended the Grammys with her tattoo sleeves completely erased, accentuated by body glitter. Lana del Rey also arrived at a pre-Grammy Gala with barely-there tattoos peeking through a layer of makeup, adding a touch of romance to her ensemble.
While some celebrities choose to hide their tattoos, others embrace the world of temporary tattoos. Doja Cat, who won three awards this season, sported a variety of removable tattoos at the Grammy Awards. Her flesh-toned corset dress was paired with an array of temporary ink, including a chestpiece of a gothic cathedral and Romanesque gargoyles and statues. The designer of her outfit, Dilara Findikoglu, even had her name emblazoned across her forehead in Old English font.
The article also explores the evolving technology of impermanent tattoos. No longer limited to transfer paper and a wet towel, new light-sensitive ink formulas, such as "Magic Ink," have been developed. Studio Bang Bang and the research team Hyprskin have introduced this innovative ink, which is rewritable, erasable, and reprogrammable. Magic Ink utilizes photochromic particles that react to UV light, allowing the molecular structure of the ink to be altered by specific light wavelengths. This advancement hints at a future where tattoos can be as customizable and non-committal as a classroom whiteboard.
Tattoos, once considered permanent symbols of commitment and community, have now become more interchangeable, almost like pieces of jewelry. The meaning of tattoos is evolving, with some individuals opting for temporary pieces that wash away in weeks or inked images that can be easily brushed off to match an outfit. The culture of body art has expanded to include those who view their anatomy with the fixity of an etch-a-sketch.
In conclusion, tattoos have become a versatile form of self-expression, ranging from permanent ink to temporary camouflage. The article highlights the growing trend among celebrities to hide or embrace their tattoos, showcasing the evolving nature of body art in our society.
