With all these variables at play, we know that 70% of Ephemerals will fade in under 2 years based on the most popular tattoo design and placement choices customers make today. Regardless of where your Ephemeral tattoo falls in this range, rest assured: Your tattoo will completely fade.
Ephemeral ink is supposed to fade within 15 months — but the company 'can't account for every single variable'
The best products to use if you're interested in this method are rubbing alcohol and nail polish remover, though hydrogen peroxide and hand sanitizer would also work. To use these products, simply rub the remover of your choice onto the temporary tattoo with a gentle cloth.
A tattoo that is poorly maintained can begin to experience some very slight fading after the first year. A tattoo that receives the appropriate care may not experience noticeable fading for many years – even a decade! The standard falls somewhere in the middle of that.
“Inks used in semi-permanent tattoos are labeled as 'permanent makeup ink'. When the ink is penetrated into the skin, it will be permanent. Even after 10 years, the microblading ink in eyebrows are faded but it is still there. It won't be 100 percent gone.”
[Photo: Ephemeral] Is there any catch? Definitely there are a few. First off, Ephemeral tattoos do cause trauma to your skin, just like real tattoos. So once they fade, it's possible that your skin's pigment will look lighter or darker where the tattoo was.
Visit an Ephemeral studio for a real tattoo that fades away in 1-3 years. Self-expression for who you are today.
Over time, cells from your immune system – called macrophages - gradually absorb the tattoo ink and disperse it, which can lead to some tattoo fading. On top of this, factors such as sunlight, friction and improper care of your tattoos can all accelerate the process of aging your skin and/or fading your tattoos.
Regarding the best-aging ink colours, darker pigment shades are superior for staying power. Larger tattoos are more likely to age well compared to smaller tattoos. Certain tattoo styles that feature bolder linework stay looking vibrant for longer.
Since Ephemeral tattoos are done with a needle on the skin, our bodies need time to heal. This happens in three stages over about 3-4 weeks.
Not only do Ephemeral's tattoos go on with an actual tattooing needle, they last anywhere from nine months to a year rather than a day or two—and cost anywhere from $190 to $550.
An Ephemeral tattoo will cost the same as a permanent tattoo – anywhere between $250 and $450 for a typical design. As Josh sees it, “This is a revolutionary new technology and there's nowhere else able to offer this experience. The fact that it's made-to-fade is an added benefit, not a detractor from the price.”
Generally, they last between one to two weeks but some customers report them lasting as long as three weeks. This gives people time to enjoy and deliberate over whether to make the design permanent or whether they should swap it with another design a few weeks later.
Why do tattoos not disappear after 7 years? They found that immune system cells called macrophages eat the ink, and then pass it to their replacements when they die. Researchers have known that immune system cells are involved in helping the body take up tattoos.
Lighter inks like yellows, reds, oranges, whites, and any pastel tones tend to fade a bit more quickly than darker inks. Some white inks and pastel inks have trouble lasting longer than five years. Watercolor tattoos also tend to fade faster as the ink is lightly colored and very fine.
Black and gray: Black and gray inks are the boldest and most dense; thus, they are the most fade-resistant colors. These are suitable for any skin tone, especially with tan or black skin.
What's done is done, right? Not always. In fact, skin irritation or a full-blown condition can develop months, years, even decades after the initial tattooing process.
The tattooing process prompts your body to kill off and shed the damaged skin cells, while it regenerates brand new skin over the tattooed area. As this old, damaged layer of skin dies, it sits on the surface for a while, forming a translucent layer over your tattoo, giving it a faded, milky appearance.
Black ink and black and gray tattoos tend to last longer and require fewer touch-ups than most color tattoos. Color tattoos, specifically pastel ink colors or watercolor-style tattoos, tend to fade much faster than black tattoo ink and require more frequent touch-ups over the years.
This said, referring back to my PB&J example, while Ephemeral ink is safe, it is still possible for some individuals to have an adverse response to it. Typically, those adverse responses are short term: redness, itching or raised skin. All of which can also occur with traditional tattoo ink.
Unfortunately, the made-to-fade ink doesn't lessen the pain of getting a tattoo. Abelman already had several traditional tattoos, so she knew what to expect. "Of course, it hurts as much as any other tattoo. The same kind of needle and machine are involved," she says.
Is there a temporary tattoo that lasts for months? According to professionals, semi-permanent tattoos are impossible to achieve. Chinese ink is a method where a tattoo artist cuts the surface of the skin and applies their own blend of ink to create a semi-permanent tattoo that lasts up to six months.