Dye from the indigo plant is being used in temporary tattooing to recreate the look of ancient body art mainly from Celtic cultures. Its blue color, ease of application, and relatively short staining time make it a good choice for the popular tribal tattoo designs.
The Indigo Plant and Blue Dye
The indigo plant, or Indigofera tinctoria, releases a blue dye at a specific point during processing. This dye is found in common household items such as cosmetics and blue jeans. while approved by the FDA for cosmetics and soaps, it is still in the experimental stages for use in body art.
Indigo Versus Woad
Woad has come to be associated with the ancient Celts mainly from Roman sources including Julius Caesar himself. The concept of woad as a skin dye has been popularized especially in movies such as Braveheart. However, the idea of woad being the dye used is not a universally accepted idea. In fact, there are different ways in which Caesar's words could be translated implying the use of other natural products.
Both indigo and woad produce a blue dye. However, indigo actually has a higher dye content than woad making it a viable alternative for body art.
Modern Indigo Dyes, Patterns and Pioneers
Indigo for body art usually comes in a freeze-dried crystal form. Two pioneers of this technique are henna artist Catherine Cartwright-Jones and designer Alex Morgan who both provide free patterns and instructions via their websites. Most of the patterns are based on Celtic and Pictish pre-Christian art, but the individual artist is limited only by their imagination.
Indigo Safety Concerns and Techniques
As stated, indigo body art is still in the experimental stage, and care needs to be taken when applying to the skin. As with any new product for the skin, it is recommended to test a small patch area and wait overnight to detect possible irritation. Indigo is also not to be used on sensitive areas including near the mouth, eyes, nose, genitalia or on children under the age of 16.
The crystallized indigo dye is placed in warm water and painted on the skin with a paint brush. This is left on the skin for just a few moments and then wiped off. The process is repeated until the desired shade of blue is reached. The design will last for several days. Body artists can offer indigo to their clients who are looking for the look of ancient tribal tattoos while using modern techniques.
References:
- Catherine Cartwright-Jones. Recreate woading, the ancient Celtic body art with Crystal Indigo. Mehandi.com. 2002, 2004, 2005. February 2009. http://www.mehandi.com/shop/skinindigo/
- Experimental Application Technique. The Indigo Page. February 2009 (accessed). http://www.indigopage.com/how/skin2.htm
- ni Dhoireann, Kym. The Problem of the Woad. Dun Sgathan - Entry to a Gaelic Polytheist Domain. 2004. February 2009. http://www.cyberpict.net/sgathan/essays/woad.htm
Patricia Deneen - Patricia Deneen works at home doing medical transcription and web content writing. She was a professional massage therapist for 10 years ...
