Indigo Page

Experimental Indigo Body Art

Introduction

Application Technique

Step-by-Step Guide

Stain Characteristics and Demise

Gallery

Shade Chart

Stain Characteristics and Demise

An indigo stain sits in the keratinised surface layers of dead skin. The sequence below illustrates the process of achieving an indigo stain in skin. From left to right the indigo is first applied using a brush; see the technique pages for detailed instructions. Plate two shows the stain after the first application reaching D5 on the shade chart. In plate three you see the fully developed stain after three applications about E6 on the shade chart.

The depth of tone it is possible to achieve on the body is determined by the thickness of superficial dead skin. The skin of the palm of the hand and sole of the foot have a great depth of keratinised skin cells this means that in these areas indigo can give a very dark stain right up to F6 on the colour chart.

Above. 1. Indigo dye on skin 2. Stain after one application 3. Stain after three applications

Stain Demise

The duration of an indigo stain is determined by the thickness of the superficial dead skin and the rate at which dead skin is shed from the area of the stain. The typical duration of an indigo stain is 3 - 5 days dependent on the skin type and texture.

The sequence of scanned images below illustrates the progression of an indigo stain as it wears away. Because the dye sits in the topmost layers of skin it cannot be removed by washing although scrubbing an indigo stain will significantly reduce its duration. As the body sheds dead skin cells the stain will naturally wear away. Indigo stain demise tends to be slow initially with a sudden finish. This shows that the dye is not sinking very far into the skin but is relatively superficial. This is expected in view of the relitively large size of the dye molecule. The demise of the stain also shows that the dye reaches a consistent level of saturation in the layers of skin that it does stain.