The Most Incredible Tattoos That Feel Like They’re From The Future

Easily the biggest hangup people have on getting a tattoo is pretty obvious. Once you get one, there’s no going back — or no easy way, at least. Ephemeral Tattoo came up with a solution for that; the brand calls it “made-to-fade ink,” and it’s a genuine tattoo — we mean needle-goes-in-skin, not a press-on — that will fade over time as its bio-degradable and bio-absorbable, medical grade, plant-based ink breaks down. The ink particles get smaller and smaller until they’re tiny enough for your body to naturally remove them, Ephemeral says.

These disappearing tattoos will reportedly fade to nothing in nine to 15 months. A few factors will determine how long the process takes for you: tattoo design and placement, body response, skin tone, and aftercare. Disappearing tattoos may fade quicker on more melanated skin, and thick lines and shading will stick around longer than more delicate designs. Currently, made-to-fade tattoos are only available in black and white, but Ephemeral says more colors are in development. Ephemeral also has five studios across the country where made-to-fade tattoos are offered: New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, and San Francisco. 

Are made-to-fade tattoos the future for people with commitment issues? There’s not much information about how much this type of tattooing costs compared to traditional, but the ability to ink without regret surely is priceless.