Jagua art is a form of temporary tattooing that began in Central and South America thousands of years ago. It is a form of body paint (more accurately a 'stain') that offers a better alternative than henna in color, aesthetics, and price.

For thousands of years Central and South Americans have harvested the unripened jagua fruit and extracted its black juices for body decoration. Usually very hard as an unripe fruit, the jagua juice extraction process is quite laborious.

Once extracted, the juice is then used to stain the skin with very elaborate designs. These designs can last for weeks and are preferred today by tattoo enthusiasts as a better alternative to henna. Henna often times has a brown shade to it making the design less authentic than conventional tattoo ink.

Jagua ink is fairly easy to obtain, if you know where to find it. Jagua art gel and supplies can be found in sites buried in the internet, or in specialty supply stores. Jagua art is highly sought after and skilled designers can really make a name for themselves. A skilled jagua artist will attract returning customers due to the temporary nature of the jagua tattoo.

Jagua art is still an expression--just as every other tattoo, without the buyers remorse. Obviously, a safer and more desirable alternative.