Neither an indelible mark, nor a paper transfer. A New York start-up has created the first tattoos that disappear completely after a short while, with the aim of opening the market to a huge new clientele.
For years, amateur tattoo artists around the world, mainly in Asia, have offered "semi-permanent" tattoos, claiming that the use of vegetable ink and less skin penetration would make them disappear. It doesn't end up exactly like that, on the contrary. In practice, so-called "semi-permanent" tattoos (unlike simple transfers that go away after a couple of washes) only tend to deteriorate. They never fade completely, to the point that several professional tattoo artists have raised the alarm.
Ephemeral tattoos - not for a little while, not forever.
After six years of development, Ephemeral has created an ink composed of polymers biodegradable that naturally dissolves between 9 and 15 months after the same inking process as conventional tattoos.
Josh Sakhai, one of Ephemeral's three co-founders, was a student at New York University when he wanted to get a permanent tattoo, but was "too scared" because of how his family (of Iranian origin) might react. So he decided to create temporary tattoos, made of speciae ink. Effort required 50 different formulations before finding the right one.
The ink formula for "ephemeral" tattoos was developed in the laboratory with the collaboration of a team of dermatologists. Ephemeral ensures that, like permanent tattoos, ephemeral ones do not fade or blur “in patches.” Lines and designs remain visible and fade evenly and pleasantly.
A completely new and gigantic market
Last month in New York the company opened its own tattoo shop where it directly applies the technology. For now only black ink is available, but other colors are being studied.
What we are doing is that we are opening up the possibility of tattoos for a completely new clientele who previously did not want permanent tattoos, and never would.
Josh Sakhai, Ephemeral CEO
Ephemeral tattoos, which cost the equivalent of sums between 150 and 370 euros, can also be an option that precedes the choice of permanent tattoos. A sort of long-term "dress rehearsal" that helps you choose the preferred shape and position of a drawing, before putting it on your skin forever.
“This really expands the possibilities for the traditional community,” Sakhai says.
Tattoos, a global affair
Once associated only with the most "rebellious" personalities, tattoos are increasingly widespread, in quantity and extent, from millennials onwards. According to a 2019 study, approximately 40% of 18- to 34-year-olds in the United States have at least one tattoo. A'EU analysis on the other hand, he estimates that there are 60 million Europeans with tattoos, one or more than one.
“I think tattoos are about self-expression and art. And I think we're just trying to make it easier for more people to have that experience,” Sakhai says.
It's a bet that will work one hundred percent. It's not about making revolutions, but just about embracing changes and making them simpler. In the future, the approach towards wearing tattoos will be the same as we have towards a t-shirt today. A message to change, even often, why not.
