Working with Jagua gel
Jagua is a fruit from South America and a safe alternative to black henna. It Is very dark and stains a bit longer than henna. Wear gloves when ever you work with jagua. I recommend beginners use henna first and get to a comfortable level with it before moving to jagua. The picture to the right I used both henna and jagua.
Be sure that jagua has been on your skin for at least two hours before removing it off your skin, especially if you have dark skin. Lighter skin colors may not need to leave it on as long. The longer you leave it on the longer you will retain the stain on your skin, which translate to sporting a temporary tattoo design longer. Jagua can be removed with water, henna should not. You can also scratch it off although that is harder to do compared to henna. Water is probably the fastest way of removing it. Make sure to use a nice scrubber to quickly remove it under running water, The picture on the left is a perfect example of what happens if you only use a baby wipe to clean it off. I also removed the jagua on my fingers prematurely. The jagua wasn't completely dry when I removed it.
I ended up with jagua smeared on areas of my palm that were supposed to be clear. I should mention that jagua doesn't reveal its self soon after removal. It is at its darkest 48 hours after application. Jagua done on the palm of the hands comes off faster in about 4 to 5 days it begins to fade away. Henna comes off even faster.
Here are my hands 3 days after application, This is a desired look. The sections with the lace design have a nice contrast. My right palm was completely covered with jagua the day prior to this photograph due to the fact that I did not put a glove on my working hand.
On the right side I have added a photo of the result you get when the skin is exposed to jagua for only 5 minutes. This stain will probably fade in 10 days.
Removing jagua stains
If you get tired of your temporary tattoo before its two weeks life span you can cut its life span short by exfoliating often. Another option is using hair dye remover. A third option is applying bleach. I know bleach is not a healthy option and some people might have sensitivity to it. So if you decide to use it, do it at your own risk.