Octopus Tattoos

Eight curling arms give an octopus a shape that works at almost any size. Coiled tight, a temporary octopus tattoo stays small enough for the wrist; stretched out, it grows big enough for the thigh.

One animal, many moods

Few animals suit as many drawing styles:

• Cute: a round head, big shiny eyes and short curled arms. An easy first try.
• Funny: cartoon faces with a bit of attitude.
• Graphic: bold, dark shapes with crisp edges, the suckers and folds picked out in thin lines of bare skin, for a piece that reads from across the room.

Size decides the spot. Small designs sit neatly on the wrist, behind the ear or on the ankle. Mid-size ones suit the forearm or the shoulder blade. A large octopus needs the thigh, the upper back or the ribs, where its arms have room to spread. Fingers and feet lose the color sooner, since they're washed and rubbed constantly.

Right after you apply it, the design looks pale, and that's normal. The jagua ink develops in the outer layer of the skin and reaches blue-black after 24 to 36 hours. Give it 8 hours to set. From then on it's waterproof. Expect one to two weeks.

Want the rest of the sea? It's in ocean tattoos, and designs that don't take themselves seriously live in funny tattoos. Have an octopus drawing of your own? It can become a temporary octopus tattoo made just for you. Ask for a custom tattoo (minimum order: 3) and it's at your door in 4 to 5 weeks.