Tinsley Transfers, realistic tattoos from Hollywood!

Christien Tinsley has been passionate about make-up since age 7 and especially enthralled by special FX you can create on the big screen. As a young boy, he was already making his own Halloween masks and sculptures. At age 22, he began pursuing a career in Los Angeles and quickly became in demand as a make-up artist for film and TV. His work has been seen in "The Grinch", "Swordfish", "Ocean's Eleven" and "Pearl Harbor." The talent he brought to the table didn't go unnoticed. He managed to acquire several pending nominations for the Academy Awards (the Oscars) and the Emmy Awards (prizes for work in television).

Pearl Harbor

It was while Tinsley was on set for "Pearl Harbor" that the idea popped into his head to use temporary tattoos. Every day, about forty actors (those in lead roles as well as extras) needed to be made up in cut and burn wounds. Manually putting on these kinds of wound marks every day was a chore. So he created temporary tattoos that could be adhered to the body rather simply, yet still appeared to be lifelike. Not only did the tattoos look realistic, they were also durable. They'd even last for several days of filming. Talk about a time saver! And just like that,"Tinsley transfers" were born!



But that wasn't all. Besides these 2D tattoos, he was the one who came up with 3D tatts, or "prosthetic transfers" for "The Passion of the Christ." These tatts looked even more realistic due to the bevel and relief effect on the wounds that one might see in real life. His idea was lapped up like gravy on a butter biscuit. The "prosthetic transfers" in particular won him an Oscar in 2008, in the "Technical Achievement Award" category. His first - but probably not the last - Oscar picture was now a fact.

Of course, his work is not limited to these "wound tattoos." Those who saw Justin Timberlake in Alpha Dog, or Vin Diesel in xXx, bore witness to the impressive "tattsterpieces" Christien Tinsley created.

Tinsley Transfers

Tinsley is on a roll! Right now, he manages two companies: Tinsley Studio, which is well-known in the film and TV world for realistic make-up, special FX and tattoos; and Tinsley Transfers Inc., the web shop where anyone can buy temporary tattoos themselves that Christien has designed.

These temporary tattoos look incredibly realistic. The colors are somewhat blurry, making them seem like real tattoos that have faded and worn down for a few years. A lot of Tinsley tattoos have a dark side, which makes them perfect for Halloween or Carnevale!







On those kinda nights, zombieheads can't be left out, for sure…







Of course, the characteristic "wound tattoos" for which Tinsley gained his reputation make up part of the collection. They're perfect for scaring the bejeezus out of your friends, family, or co-workers one good time! They come in "Gorywood" packages so you can just cover up your whole body in them.







For an even gorier effect, you can opt for Tinsley's 3D-tattoos. Ever thought about some devil's horns or a Star of David that looks like it was etched into your skin? At TattooForAWeek, you'll find a video with a brief "How To" on putting on these tatts.





Not all Tinsley transfers are this terrifying, but Christien Tinsley can't help but flaunt his not-so-secret craze for gore and mystery. Just check out this tattoo line:








it's something way different from the Tinsley's vintage tatts. They're mainly pin-up girls in all kinds of seductive poses.








Not only that, for "traditional" tribal tattoo lovers, Tinsley also has a wide selection in both black and white and in color. What immediately catches the eye is how detailed these are:



Wanna Order?

Tinsley has selected TattooForAWeek as one of two distributors authorized for sales to the European market! So, you can order Tinsley Transfers here. Shipping is free for orders totaling £15 or more.

All Tinsley transfers are safe for use. They are non-toxic and hypoallergenic. The dyes used have been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration of the United States) and adhere to all US and international standards.

See ya soon!