Real tattoos designed to fade in 1-3 years. Self-expression for who you are today, not forever.
Made-to-fade tattoos are meant to help people avoid tattoo regret by lasting only about a year as opposed to the more common - and permanent - option. As an artist, you may have customers asking about this semi-permanent option as it gains popularity.
Most temporary tattoos (we'll discuss the exception in a moment!) don't last for more than a couple of weeks. It's possible to make your temporary tattoo last longer by taking extra care of its exposure—covering it while washing, wearing loose-fitting clothing that won't chafe, etc.
Getting an Ephemeral tattoo feels the same as getting a normal tattoo. So be warned it's not a painless process. If you've never gotten a tattoo before, it feels kind of like a bunch of tiny cat scratches in a concentrated area. That might sound daunting, but it's a quick process.
High-quality temporary tattoo paper like the products we stock here at Gecko Paper are made with non-toxic, hypoallergenic materials, and are safe for toddler use.
The FDA has warned consumers to avoid any temporary tattoos labeled as “black henna” or “pre-mixed henna,” as these can contain potentially harmful ingredients including silver nitrate, carmine, pyrogallol, disperse orange dye, and chromium.
The age of a tattoo, contrary to what you might expect, doesn't really influence the process. Brand new tattoos - so long as they are fully healed - can be removed as easily as tatts you've had for 20 years.
$195-$550 tax and tip included. $400-$1000 if you bought enough stickers to last a year. $100-$1000 plus tips depending on the size and artist.
Upon opening in 2021, the company told customers that Ephemeral ink was “designed to fade” in about nine to 15 months. However, hundreds of former customers later complained that their Ephemeral tattoos took much longer than 15 months to completely fade away.
Ephemeral's tattoo ink is made of bioabsorbable polymer particles that are supposed to break down over time, eventually degrading enough to be eliminated by the immune system. In September 2023, Ephemeral announced that they are closing all of their studio locations within the month.
Ephemeral: Ephemeral tattoos are applied just like permanent tattoos—by a professional artist with a needle, in studio—using a specialized ink that fades over time.
Ensure the area is clean using unscented soap and wash gently with water. Then, pat dry before application of the gel. At the end of the 3-5 days of gel application, clean the tattooed area with unscented soap and moisturize with Vanicream 2-3 times daily until the tattoo is fully healed.
As you age, your skin becomes thinner and less elastic, which can make the healing process take longer. However, tattoos and old age can go hand in hand with the right considerations and planning. You can certainly still get a tattoo, but you'll need to think about the best spot for it.
A henna tattoo typically lasts for four to seven days on the skin. If you combine your henna paste with other natural ingredients, such as essential oil of eucalyptus or tea leaves, it can last anywhere from 6 to 12 days. It can only stay on your skin for about one to two weeks before it fades.
Ghosting is caused by the body's natural healing process. As the skin heals, new layers form over the pigment, temporarily obscuring it. This is part of the skin's response to the tattooing process and signifies that healing is underway.
The brand says an ephemeral tattoo will last anywhere from nine or 10 months to a year, although Boulay tells me that everyone's skin has different physiology, so some people's ink will fade faster than others'.
We apply Ephemeral ink the same way a traditional tattoo is applied; an artist uses a needle to transfer ink under your top layer of skin.
Melbourne-based artist Zoe Clues says a small simple design can take 15 to 30 minutes to complete, as opposed to a larger full colour piece, for example, which can take hours. "If it is painful, at least it won't be painful for long," she says.
Lastly, the American Academy of Dermatology states that petroleum-based products can cause the ink to fade. After all the pain and hard work you had to endure to get that beautiful new piece, surely you're not too keen on it just fading from something as simple as petroleum jelly, would you?
Saturation refers to the amount of color/pigment in your cosmetic tattoo. We have this conversation A LOT. Don't assume that you need a touch up because it's been a year since your last session! Timing your touch up depends on the depth of color, not the amount of time.
Candidates with certain skin types, realistic expectations, and a desire for positive change tend to respond best to the procedure. On the other hand, individuals with specific medical conditions, active skin infections, or unrealistic expectations may not be ideal candidates.