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Sep 16, 2023

'Made

Ephemeral's inaugural studio launched in 2021, boasting "real tattoos, made to

Ephemeral's inaugural studio launched in 2021, boasting "real tattoos, made to fade."

Jenna Romaine - Staff Writer • March 22, 2023

A made-to-fade tattoo studio has made its way to D.C.—but for a shop that specializes in temporary ink, it's looking to become a permanent mark in D.C.

Ephemeral opened its first studio in D.C. this month in Northeast, making it the company's seventh shop boasting "real tattoos, made to fade."

The inaugural studio launched in 2021, based around using a special biodegradable "made-to-fade ink."

"Unlike traditional tattoo ink, Ephemeral ink contains medical-grade, bio-absorbable ingredients that shrink over time until they are small enough for your body to remove," the website reads. "As time passes, the particles shrink as your body breaks down the ink."

The company pioneered this ink so that its tattoos only last a limited time, with 70% of Ephemeral tattoos fading in under two years.

"Ephemeral offers the same artistry and self-expression as traditional tattoos, without the lifelong commitment," the company said in a press release, "opening the art of tattooing to the 60 million American adults who have considered a tattoo but are ultimately held back by the idea of its permanence, as well as those with permanent ink looking to try a new means of playing with body art."

However, how quickly the tattoo fades is dependent upon a few different factors, including placement, design, body response, skin tone, and your aftercare.

With 50 tattoo artists employed, Ephemeral offers both large-scale and more intricate tattoos with shading, as well as smaller pieces with fine-line work and minimum-to-no shading. Naturally, larger tattoos with bold line work and in-depth shading tend to take longer to fade.

That's where Ephemeral's "Regret Nothing Guarantee" comes in.

"While fade times vary, your Ephemeral will 100% fade away," the guarantee states. "We promise your money back if your Ephemeral tattoo lasts longer than three years."

To learn more about Ephemeral or to book an appointment, visit the Ephemeral website.

Location: 1300 H Street NE, Suite B, Washington, D.C.

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