Tattoos Are Fleeting Before They're Forever, Thanks To Philly Startup
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- You test drive a car before you buy it -- so wouldn't you want to do the same before making another big life decision? A Center City Philadelphia company is offering just that service for people getting tattoos.
Are you sure you want that Soviet dictator's face on your skin for life? Did you spell 'mom' correctly? Do those Chinese characters really say what you think they say?
Now you can see just how prudent that permanent decision will be.
"Momentary Ink allows you to try on any tattoo, whether it's color, black and white -- really any size up to about 14 inches -- and see an exact replica before you get that permanently," says Jordan Denny, founder and CEO of Momentary Ink.
What makes his product look so real, unlike the ones you find in a box of Cracker Jack?
"As we experimented, I knew we'd be laughed off the block if we had something that looked like that," he explains. "If we're going to be taken seriously in the industry, we needed something that looked real. It's actually an application that you apply after the temporary tattoo goes down that brings out that matte finish that actually makes it look like a real lived-in tattoo."
They're designed to last from 3-10 days, depending on where you place your ink and how much friction that section of skin sees. Prices run between $15-$26. You can submit your own design or use their in-house artist; Momentary Ink also is working to place its service inside tattoo shops to help the uninitiated get a glimpse of their potential future.
"We're here to offer an alternative for people who are first-timers or who really need an extra push to get something that's truly meaningful to them on their body," Denny says. "Folks who have deceased loved ones who they want to commemorate or memories they want to share. This is something that really brings the complexity and fear surrounding permanent tattoos into the light and makes it easier for them."
