Are These Tattoos Really Made To Fade? Ephemeral Tattoo Review

Summary

The video discusses the controversial topic of 'ephemeral tattoos,' a service offering temporary tattoos that supposedly fade within 9 to 15 months. The creator shares their personal experience with an ephemeral tattoo, which has not fully faded after 17 months, and addresses online allegations and user dissatisfaction. They also review the company's marketing claims, customer experiences, and the variability in fading times. The video is sponsored by Skillshare, offering drawing classes for aspiring tattoo artists, and concludes with the creator's opinion that ephemeral tattoos may not be worth the cost and disappointment for some.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Ephemeral Tattoos are marketed as temporary tattoos that fade away in 9 to 15 months using specially formulated ink.
• 📈 The popularity of Ephemeral Tattoos has been fueled by social media, but there are concerns about their effectiveness in fading as advertised.
• 💸 The price for an Ephemeral Tattoo can range from $195 to $400, which is considered expensive for the service provided.
• 🤔 There is variability in how quickly the tattoos fade, with some people experiencing little to no fading even beyond the advertised time frame.
• 📝 A Reddit user shared their experience with an Ephemeral Tattoo that did not fade significantly after 11 months, sparking discussions and concerns.
• 🗣️ The founder of Ephemeral Tattoo responded to customer complaints, stating that fading times can vary but the ink will eventually break down.
• 🏥 The ink formula for Ephemeral Tattoos is said to consist of materials that the body can break down more easily than traditional tattoo ink.
• 👎 Some customers are disappointed with their Ephemeral Tattoo experience, citing issues with design, cost, and fading times.
• 📚 The video mentions Skillshare as a sponsor, offering drawing classes that could be useful for aspiring tattoo artists.
• 💡 The video creator suggests trying temporary tattoo options like Ink Box for those unsure about committing to a permanent design.
• 🚫 There are no official lawsuits against Ephemeral Tattoo, despite rumors circulating on social media.

Q & A

What is an ephemeral tattoo?

An ephemeral tattoo is a real tattoo done by a professional tattoo artist using specially formulated ink that is designed to fade away in approximately 9 to 15 months.

What has been the controversy surrounding ephemeral tattoos?

The controversy is that many customers claim their ephemeral tattoos are not fading away as expected within the advertised time frame, leading to dissatisfaction and allegations of false advertising.

How much did the video creator pay for their ephemeral tattoo?

The video creator paid $195 for their ephemeral tattoo.

What is the main concern of the video creator regarding their ephemeral tattoo after 17 months?

The main concern is that their ephemeral tattoo has not faded away as expected, despite it being over the advertised 9 to 15 months duration.

What is the video creator's opinion on ephemeral tattoos after reflecting on their experience?

The video creator now believes that ephemeral tattoos are not worth it, considering the cost, the unpredictability of the fading process, and the availability of cheaper alternatives like temporary tattoos or tattoo stickers.

What is the video creator's view on the marketing strategy of ephemeral tattoos?

The video creator feels that the aggressive social media advertising strategy has left a bad impression, especially since many customers are now facing issues with the tattoos not fading as promised.

What advice does the video creator give for someone considering getting their first tattoo?

The video creator suggests getting the first tattoo in less painful areas like the outer arm, and recommends trying out different designs with a tattoo stencil before committing to a permanent tattoo.

What is the video creator's stance on the lawsuit allegations against Ephemeral Tattoo?

The video creator has investigated the claims and found them to be false; there is no official lawsuit against Ephemeral Tattoo, according to the company's founders.

What is the role of Skillshare in this video?

Skillshare is the sponsor of the video, offering a one-month free trial to the first 1000 people who sign up using the video creator's link, and is used as a platform to learn drawing skills, which can be beneficial for aspiring tattoo artists.

Why does the video creator think Inkbox is a good solution for those unsure about permanent tattoos?

Inkbox allows users to try out different tattoo designs temporarily on their body, providing an opportunity to see how a design looks before committing to a permanent version.

What was the video creator's experience with the Ephemeral Tattoo studio?

The video creator had a positive experience at the Ephemeral Tattoo studio, noting that it was modern, comfortable, and the staff went the extra mile to ensure a good experience.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Controversy Over Ephemeral Tattoos' Fading Claims

The video script discusses the contentious topic of ephemeral tattoos, which are marketed as temporary tattoos that fade within 9 to 15 months. The speaker shares their personal experience with an ephemeral tattoo that has not fully faded after 17 months, contrary to the company's claims. Allegations of a lawsuit and the impact of sponsored content on the perception of these tattoos are also mentioned. The video is sponsored by Skillshare, an online learning community, and the speaker recommends it for those interested in drawing and creative courses. The speaker emphasizes that their video is not sponsored by Ephemeral Tattoo and that they paid for their tattoo themselves.

05:00

📉 Ephemeral Tattoos' Fading Issues and Customer Dissatisfaction

This paragraph delves into the experiences of various customers who have expressed dissatisfaction with the fading process of their ephemeral tattoos. The founder of Ephemeral Tattoo claims that the ink is made of smaller particles, allowing for easier breakdown by the body. However, multiple customers have reported minimal fading even after 11 months, leading to frustration and the perception of being misled by the company's marketing. The San Francisco Chronicle covered the issue, and the founder reached out to one customer to explain that fading times may vary. Despite this, the customer remains disappointed with the outcome and the price they paid for the service.

10:01

🔍 Variability in Ephemeral Tattoo Fading and Public Reactions

The speaker acknowledges the variability in how different people's skin reacts to the ink used in ephemeral tattoos, with some tattoos fading significantly while others remain largely unchanged. The video script includes examples from Reddit users who share photos and express their disappointment with the lack of fading. The speaker also reflects on their own experience, noting that their tattoo has faded more than those of some other customers. The paragraph concludes with a discussion about the public's reaction to the company's marketing strategy and the perception of Ephemeral Tattoo as potentially scam-like due to the fading inconsistencies.

15:03

💬 Addressing Ephemeral Tattoo Concerns and Offering Alternatives

In the final paragraph, the speaker addresses the concerns raised about Ephemeral Tattoo and suggests alternatives for those considering tattoos. They advise against getting tattoos in sensitive areas and recommend trying temporary tattoo options like Inkbox to test designs before committing to a permanent tattoo. The speaker also dispels rumors of a lawsuit against Ephemeral Tattoo and shares their personal opinion that, in retrospect, ephemeral tattoos may not be worth the cost and uncertainty. The video concludes with a thank you to Skillshare for sponsoring the video and an invitation for viewers to engage with the content.

Keywords

💡Ephemeral Tattoo

Ephemeral tattoos are a type of body art that are marketed to fade away over time, typically within 9 to 15 months. In the video, the concept is central to the discussion as the speaker explores whether these tattoos live up to their claims of being temporary. The term is used to describe the specific product being reviewed and discussed throughout the script.

💡Influencer

An influencer is an individual who has the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of their authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with their audience. In the script, the speaker mentions sponsored content for ephemeral tattoos online and distinguishes their video as not being an influencer video for the brand, emphasizing their unbiased review.

💡Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes in design, illustration, business, and more. The script mentions Skillshare as the sponsor of the video, providing a platform for learning drawing skills, which is relevant to those interested in becoming tattoo artists, tying into the video's theme of body art.

💡Tattoo Artist

A tattoo artist is a professional who applies tattoos, using a variety of techniques and styles. The video script discusses the process of becoming a tattoo artist and references the importance of drawing practice, as well as the availability of classes on Skillshare to help develop these skills.

💡Fading Process

The fading process refers to the gradual lightening or disappearance of the tattoo ink over time. The video's main theme revolves around the fading process of ephemeral tattoos and whether they fade as advertised. Examples from the script include the speaker's personal experience and the experiences of others who shared their fading progress online.

💡Sponsor

A sponsor is an individual, company, or organization that provides financial support for an event, activity, or in this case, a video. The script mentions Skillshare as the sponsor for the video, highlighting their support and the benefits they offer to the audience.

💡Reddit

Reddit is a social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website. In the script, Reddit is used as a source to showcase user experiences and opinions regarding the fading of their ephemeral tattoos, providing a platform for community discussion and feedback.

💡San Francisco Chronicle

The San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper that serves the San Francisco Bay Area. The script references the newspaper picking up on the story of ephemeral tattoos not fading as expected, indicating the broader media attention the issue has received.

💡Marketing Strategy

A marketing strategy refers to the methods that a company uses to promote its products or services. The script discusses the aggressive social media strategy used by Ephemeral Tattoo, which has led to some negative perceptions due to the discrepancy between advertised and actual fading times.

💡Variability

Variability in the context of the video refers to the differences in how individual bodies react to the ink used in ephemeral tattoos, affecting the rate and extent of fading. The script mentions that the fading process is highly variable among different people, which contributes to the controversy surrounding the product.

💡Ink Box

Ink Box is a brand that offers temporary tattoo options for those who want to try out designs before committing to a permanent tattoo. The script suggests Ink Box as an alternative for individuals who are unsure about getting a permanent tattoo, providing a solution that aligns with the video's theme of exploring temporary body art options.

Highlights

Ephemeral tattoos are real tattoos made with specially formulated ink designed to fade away in 9 to 15 months.

There are allegations and discussions online about ephemeral tattoos not fading as expected.

The video creator's personal ephemeral tattoo has not fully faded after 17 months.

Sponsored content for ephemeral tattoos is prevalent, making it hard to discern genuine experiences.

The video is sponsored by Skillshare, not by Ephemeral Tattoo, emphasizing transparency and independence.

Skillshare offers various drawing classes beneficial for aspiring tattoo artists.

The video creator had a positive experience at Ephemeral Tattoo's studio, appreciating their modern setup and customer care.

Ephemeral Tattoo's founder claims their ink is made of materials the body can easily break down over time.

Reddit users have reported little to no fading of their ephemeral tattoos, contrary to the advertised timeline.

The San Francisco Chronicle covered the issue of ephemeral tattoos not fading as expected.

One user, Edmonds, expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of clarity on the fading timeline and the cost of the tattoo.

Ephemeral Tattoo responded to customer concerns, acknowledging variability in the fading process.

The video creator suggests that Ephemeral Tattoo should be clearer about the potential for tattoos not fading within the advertised period.

There are no official lawsuits against Ephemeral Tattoo, despite rumors on social media.

Some commenters on social media suggest alternatives to ephemeral tattoos, such as temporary tattoos or stickers.

The aggressive marketing strategy of Ephemeral Tattoo has led to a backlash as customers face disappointment.

The video creator reflects on their experience and concludes that ephemeral tattoos may not be worth the cost and uncertainty.

For first-time tattoo seekers, the video recommends getting a tattoo in less sensitive areas of the body.

Inkbox is suggested as a good alternative for those unsure about committing to a permanent tattoo design.

Transcripts

if you like tattoos and you're on the

internet I'm willing to bet that you've

gotten ads for ephemeral tattoo these

are real tattoos done by real tattoo

artists in a real tattoo studio the only

thing that's different is they have a

specially formulated ink that's supposed

to fade away in about 9 to 15 months or

so they say today we're getting to the

bottom of ephemeral tattoo to see if

these tattoos are actually fading away

or not

so ephemeral tattoo has been quite the

spicy topic online lately I made a tick

tock about my ephemeral tattoo that got

a you know a good amount of views okay

it's not like crazy viral but it's like

it's up there there's also been

allegations of a lawsuit but mostly

people are just upset that these tattoos

don't seem to be fading away like they

thought that they would

the tattoos are not temporary people are

not they're not fully fading and to be

honest with you I thought that this

would be almost totally gone and it's

been a little over a year now it pays in

9 to 15 months and we're on month number

17. and y'all it's still here my

ephemeral Ted after one year and three

months

now there's so much sponsored content

for ephemeral tattoo online and it can

be really hard to sift through their

influencer videos but I'm happy to

announce ladies and gentle people of the

internet this is not an influencer video

for ephemeral tattoo I did get an

ephemeral tattoo last year I made a

video about it I think I actually made

two videos about ephemeral tattoo last

year if Emerald tattoo has not paid me a

single thing to talk about them they did

not invite me to get a tattoo by them I

paid for it myself and we are going to

talk about price later on but I know you

need to know how much this tattoo was

and it was 195 dollar bills dollar

dollar bills speaking of bills I know I

just went on a rant about how this is

not sponsored this video is sponsored

just not by ephemeral tattoo so I would

like to take a quick minute to thank the

sponsor for today's video skillshare I'm

so excited that skillshare has decided

to partner with your role a lot of you

ask me for tips on how to become a

tattoo artist and really I have one

answer and it's to practice drawing as

much as possible and skillshare has

endless amounts of really cool drawing

classes for people at any creative level

they have tool specific courses if you

love drawing with a pencil or if you

just got procreate and you don't know

where to start the class procreate for

beginners learn the basics and sell your

artwork is perfect if you are just

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freeing exercises to spark your

creativity by Carly [ __ ] I love this

class because Carly puts an emphasis on

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when I'm drawing and I always feel like

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want to throw it away but this class has

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exploring your creative side picking up

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people to use my link down below will

get a one month free trial of skillshare

I really think this is a great platform

and I know you will all love it too so

thank you so much to skillshare for

sponsoring today's video so let's get

right back into ephemeral I posted my

video getting my ephemeral tattoo last

year on November 17th of 2021 and it's

actually kind of weird to watch this

video back mainly because I don't really

watch my old videos I feel like I went

through like an AI phase of creating

content but also this video in

particular when I went to ephemeral

tattoo my ex-boyfriend filmed everything

for me so it's just kind of funny to

look back on not funny haha funny weird

anyway I actually had a really great

review of ephemeral and I do stand by

that experience I did have a really good

experience getting the tattoo their shop

is super modern and cool I love the

setup the snack Max they go the extra

mile to make sure you're comfortable and

cared for which unfortunately doesn't

always happen in every Tattoo Studio in

an interview with the New York Times

when ephemeral tattoo first came out

they said that more than half of their

clientele are getting their first

tattoos so it definitely makes a lot of

sense why they put so much emphasis on

making this a comfortable experience for

people who maybe are a little

apprehensive to get a typical tattoo in

a typical Tattoo Studio and in that same

interview the founder said that while

they are keeping their ink formula

secret it is made up of materials that

our body can easily break down over time

much more easily than normal tattoo ink

which our body is trying to break down

all the time and eventually over a long

period of time your body does sort of

Break Down tattoo ink and that's why old

tattoos look how they do but the founder

said that in comparison to normal tattoo

ink ephemeral tattoo 2 ink is made of

smaller particles so that makes it

easier for your body to break the ink

down

or at least that's how it's supposed to

work but now that ephemeral has been

around for a little while now many more

people are coming forward with their

ephemeral tattoos that they expected to

fade much more significantly than they

have a few months ago Reddit user babsi

94 posted a thread on the ephemeral

tattoo Reddit page showing the fading

progress of their tattoo that doesn't

seem to be fading away significantly at

all and here you can see the tattoo at

one month six months and then 11 months

olds and the fading is really not

significant at all in the San Francisco

Chronicle actually picked up on this

story and they interviewed the original

Reddit poster who goes by Edmonds so

according to the SF Chronicle article

before Edmonds went to their appointment

ephemeral asked them for like a rough

design of what they wanted so Edmonds

Drew up this Celtic ring and she thought

that a tattoo artist was going to like

redraw it but what ended up happening

was one of the ephemeral staff just kind

of cleaned up her sketch and that's what

they wanted to tattoo on her and Edmonds

didn't really mind because it was going

to be a temporary tattoo anyway so if

she didn't love the design it's not like

it was going to last forever right but

unfortunately this thing is still clear

as day 11 months later and now Edmonds

is pretty upset about it

and the founders of ephemeral did see

the post on Reddit and they did reach

out to Edmonds and Edmund said quote one

of the founders of the company did reach

out to me and was very nice he explained

that for some people it takes longer

than the advertised 9 to 15 months that

being said and I said this to him too

their marketing emails make no mention

of that and even if it's a small subset

it should be included in an FAQ or

something personally I wanted to see if

I could handle the pain of a tattoo

without it being permanent just in case

I whisked out part way but I will not be

doing this again it's real tattoos from

here on out the whole experience even

despite the founder reaching out and

being very personable was definitely a

negative for me

and I definitely feel for Edmonds it

does suck to have that experience and

just hope that this thing is going to go

away and it's you happen to be the

person that it's not going away on and

it does seem like the tattoo is a

significant size on her arm and it's

probably something that she can see

every day like with my ephemeral tattoo

I can't see it so it's kind of like out

of sight out of mind and it also sucks

that Edmonds wasn't even thrilled about

the design in the beginning and I found

somewhere on Reddit that she paid

anywhere from 200 to 400 for this tattoo

and as you can see it's just some basic

Line work and that's definitely on the

expensive side like if someone came into

our shop wanting to get that tattooed

that would not be anywhere above

130 maybe 150 if it was like pretty big

I mean it doesn't really need to cost

that much money so I can see why Edmonds

is so disappointed with her experience

and Edmonds actually did post an update

to her original post so now we have what

the tattoo looks like at 13.5 months old

and you can see that some fading has

kind of started on most of the tattoo

but it does I mean it's mostly still

there I could see that taking another

two years to fade completely maybe even

more than that this is a bummer I feel

bad for admins I hope I'm saying that

name right and I don't even know here's

another Reddit user this is CFI sky and

they posted this picture of their tattoo

that is eight months old and they said

that they have experienced no

significant fading on it I mean it does

look a little faded but eight months in

I can see that lasting as well another

year I don't even know what that is it

looks like some sort of like train next

we have Reddit user Lee face who posted

these two photos of their tattoos this

first one is 1.5 months in and this next

one is 11 months in oh I mean this one

kind of looked bad from the beginning

and it looks exactly the same at 11

months in still looks really bad this is

clearly like rose bundle with thorns

maybe and the Thorns are so dark oh gosh

it looks really bad and one of the

founders of ephemeral did respond to

this fading process instead it does seem

like your fade is a bit slower again

rest assured it will disappear though

because so long long as there is water

in your body the ink will break down

that said I think you're noticing fade

variability because you have a

combination of bold and thin lines with

tattooing your skin type is so important

in how your tattoos heal and how they

look over time and how you take care of

them and how much sun exposure like

there's so much variability to how

tattoos stay in your skin but I mean

their whole marketing thing was 9 to 15

months so to just go on and on and tell

people like oh it's still fading it's

still fading like yeah it's still fading

but it's a lot longer than they expected

now that I'm looking at all these

examples from Reddit like I feel bad

about complaining about my tattoo

because mine has faded significantly

compared to these tattoos so as I'm

recording this it's been 14 months since

I got my ephemeral tattoo and it should

be almost completely faded and it's

nearly completely faded to be fair here

I did kind of expect it to be gone

already but I have taken photos of it

almost every month to track the fading

progress and as you can see the bottom

kind of faded a lot quicker than the top

and now the top is really the only thing

that's holding on I don't doubt if I

waited another like six to nine months

it would probably be completely gone but

also I'm like do I want to wait that

long I don't know I've been thinking

about getting it covered up I've been

thinking about having Ash do a sword I

think that'd be really cool so I'm

definitely not as disappointed as some

of the Reddit users that we were talking

about today and I don't really have much

reason to be as disappointed as they do

my tattoo is almost completely gone in

the time about that they said it would

go away it really does seem like there's

just a huge amount of variability to how

different people's skin is taking in

this ink and it seems really difficult

to predict that in a Time period into

Edmonds points I do think that ephemeral

does have a responsibility to make it

more clear that your tattoo might not

fade away within that about 9 to 15

month Mark and I did look into the

claims of a lawsuit against ephemeral I

think this is just a Facebook page

someone made to like stir up some drama

around the company there is no official

lawsuit the founders have said that

there is no lawsuit going on so that is

completely false I posted this tick tock

on my ephemeral tattoo fading process

not as like a super serious Tick Tock

but it ended up I wouldn't say going

viral because that's so cringe to say

but I got a lot of views and a lot of

people had a lot of things to say so

let's see what some people had to say in

my Tick Tock someone said it yeah if I

still have lead from pencil still in me

from grade school I'm gonna pass on this

someone else said even if it will

eventually fade completely after like a

half a year you're walking around with a

tattoo that just looks badly done just

get a sticker or ink box and it's

cheaper and if you don't like it it will

fade away faster yeah and that makes a

lot of sense like if you're gonna get a

temporary tattoo just get a temporary

tattoo you don't need to get a tattoo

that is temporary and also a lot of

people in my comments were talking about

how much advertising they saw for these

ephemeral tattoos like a year ago when

everyone on Tick Tock was getting one it

seemed like and I think that very

aggressive social strategy has kind of

put like a bad taste in people's mouths

now a year later when a lot of people

are having trouble with ephemeral

tattoos it has caused some people to

claim that ephemeral feels a little

scammy I'm not saying that if Emerald

tattoo is a scam but I'm saying that

some people due to those reasons are

saying that it feels like a scam and I

understand where they're coming from I

think it's definitely a difficult

business model and kind of a difficult

time frame put yourself in it's

definitely expensive like I said I paid

195 for my tattoo Edmund paid anywhere

from 200 to 400 for a simple line

drawing like these are pretty expensive

tattoos and it's kind of just up to you

if you think this is worth it if you ask

me a year ago when I got my ephemeral

tattoo I probably would have said yeah

it is worth it maybe I even said that in

my video but looking back a year later I

don't think ephemeral tattoo is worth it

at all tattoos really don't hurt that

bad if you're worried about getting your

first tattoo I would recommend getting

it anywhere on like your outer arm so

like your outer bicep your outer forearm

those areas are really not going to hurt

that bad you're gonna be totally fine

avoid the wrist that's gonna hurt avoid

the neck chest avoid the inner arms

those are really sensitive parts of your

body that you can maybe work up to over

time if you feel pressured in any way by

your tattoo artist or stressed out or

nervous or anxious it's fine to say you

know what I'm not ready and I'd like to

do this another time you might lose a

deposit sometimes that's okay just do

whatever makes you comfortable there are

really good welcoming inviting

comfortable tattoo studios out there and

if you're unsure about a design

definitely go to Ink box and try out

different designs on your body you can

try them out wherever you want you can

try them out multiple times I Think Ink

box is actually a really great solution

for someone who is kind of unsure about

wearing a tattoo design for a long

period of time but that is all I have

for you all today again I would just

quickly like to thank skillshare for

sponsoring this video like I said the

first 1000 people to click the link in

my description will get one free month

of skillshare definitely check them out

and thank you so much to skillshare

again but if you've made it to the end

of this video thank you so much I really

appreciate it if you have leave me this

Emoji in the comments so that I know

that you are a real one

bye everyone

[Music]