Glitter Tattoos Are Going Viral On TikTok — What To Ask For If You Get One

Although the U.S. may not be home to the most tattooed people, it's still in the top three countries in the world. Coming in at third place with 46% of its residents rocking at least one tattoo, only Italy, at 48%, and Sweden, at 47%, can boast more ink-loving folk than the States. It's the love for this type of body modification that has tattoo artists constantly on their toes, looking to create imagery that will become one of the next big tattoo trends.

But of all the trends that have been making the rounds and even going viral lately, nothing can compare to glitter tattoos. Yes! If your Lisa Frank-loving inner child just jolted awake at the mere thought of such a thing, then there's no debating it: glitter tattoos are for you. Even if you have no idea who Lisa Frank is but love to sparkle as much as possible (read: you're a Libra), then glitter tattoos are for you too. Honestly, let's not kid ourselves: glitter tattoos are the type of trend that's pretty much for everybody. That's also why they're so great. But before you make a beeline to the closest tattoo shop, there are a couple of things to know about this beautifully mesmerizing ink. For example, they don't contain glitter. Not that that doesn't make them any less fabulous, of course.

We can thank inventor and machinist Henry Ruschmann for the glitter that we know and love today. In 1934, Ruschmann built a machine that would cut up scrap material, most notably mylar, into tiny bits for disposal. The result? Glitter. Although it was an accident, it changed the course of history.

However, mylar isn't some innocent substance. "It's the same polymer as used in a water bottle, so F.D.A.-approved," vice president of Glitterex Jeet Shetty told The New York Times. "If you cut this you'd get a clear glitter." In other words, glitter is plastic. According to Inked Mag, glitter can't be added to tattoo ink and, frankly, having something that can take up to a millennia to break down in your skin doesn't seem like the wisest choice. Instead, like a lot of tattoo-related imagery, glitter tattoos are created by manipulating color through specific techniques.

"In my glitter realism style, I try and emulate the look of actual glitter by using a technique similar to stippling. The art term for it is technically pointillism," tattoo artist Amanda Graves told Bored Panda. "The difference in how I approach it is when I execute my pointillism, I take my knowledge of contrast and color theory to give it the illusion that it is shimmering." As Graves explained, it's all about knowing what colors highlight other colors in a way that creates a tattoo that looks like it's shimmering.

Now that you know that actual glitter isn't part of the equation, you've saved yourself from embarrassment at the tattoo parlor. But that's just the beginning. The biggest thing you should be asking is how skilled the tattoo artist is in pointillism and color manipulation to produce the desired effect. "If you want the best possible outcome for your tattoo, find an artist that specializes in that specific style that you're looking for," tattoo artist Nick Mitchell told Byrdie. "If they specialize in a style, that means they have put in years and years perfecting that style. More importantly, it means they have fun and enjoy working in that style as well."

While you may come across an artist who's extremely skilled in pointillism, that doesn't mean they know how to layer and blend the colors in just the right way so the tattoo looks glittery. Just like you may meet a master colorist, but if they can't combine that talent with pointillism, then it's a waste of time and money. If you have a consultation and the artist's portfolio isn't enough to make you feel confident in getting a glitter tattoo from them, it's okay to continue your search. Not only will a professional tattoo artist understand, but they may even point you in the direction of someone who specializes in tattooing some sparkle.