InkOMG: Semi-Permanent Tattoos FirstLook
Not EVERYTHING is forever :-)
The joke about “getting a tattoo” has always been: “Hey, it’s only forever :-)”
For folks interested in getting a tattoo but are not keen on the “forever” part, the alternatives up till now have been temporary tattoos or henna tattoos.
We say, semi-permanent tattoos may be the more attractive option!
While temporary tattoos wash off after coming into contact with water, and henna tattoos require a skilled artist to apply the design, semi-permanent tattoos are the best of both worlds.
Another thumbs up for semi-permanent tattoos is that they can last for several weeks or even months, whereas temporary tattoos are designed to last just a few days. The main difference between the two is how deep the ink penetrates the skin and the duration of the design.
InkOMG
The vendor we decided to go with is InkOMG. They have a huge inventory of traditional and unique designs, were responsive to our questions, and because we liked their origin story, a la:
RainyDayMagazine: “How did you guys get into this?”
Ray@InkOMG: “We actually began from a bit of a funny story. A friend of mine once tried to get a real tattoo, but halfway through the session, the pain was too much, and he walked out with just half a tattoo on his arm. The rest of us couldn’t stop teasing him about it for a week! That incident made us start thinking — is there a way to ‘complete’ a tattoo without the pain and commitment?
That’s when we discovered semi-permanent, herbal-based tattoo stickers made with natural extract from gardenia fruit. We tried them out, started designing a few of our own, and sold them locally. The response was amazing — people loved how realistic they looked, how easy they were to apply, and the fact that they faded naturally in about two weeks.
Soon after, we decided to build our own website and launch InkOMG to bring this pain-free tattoo experience to a global audience.
Of course, along the way we heard comments like “tattoo stickers are just for kids” or “fake tattoos aren’t tough enough.” But we’ve always believed tattoos are a form of personal expression and art — and art should be free, creative, and without limits. Whether you’re testing out a tattoo idea, want a new look for the weekend, or just enjoy the aesthetic without the commitment, we’re here to make that experience as fun and authentic as possible.”
RainyDay was sold in a hot minute!
Designs
Like temporary tattoos, InkOMG designs are as varied as one’s imagination, and InkOMG’s catalog is quite extensive. Their design offerings range from small (tatoos for the back of the hand or ankle), to medium (tats that run the length of the arm), and large (designs that cover the entire chest or back.)
And if you can’t find exactly what you want in their current catalog, InkOMG will do “custom” designs for you…just like a tattoo studio.
For our FirstUse, we selected a variety from InkOMG’s catalog. We will do a test with one of the small ones. If successful, we will try a few of the larger ones (dragon, compass).
Assuming everything goes according to plan, we will then review their custom order process with a design of our own. The goal will be to show what’s involved in ordering a one-off tattoo from InkOMG.
How does it work???
The semi-permanent” ink used by InkOMG is derived from genipin, a natural extract from the gardenia fruit.
Genipin is a colorless compound commonly used in personal care products, cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals. It belongs to the class of iridoid compounds (specifically, a type of cyclic enol ether terpene).
Gardenia fruit, also known as Zhi Zi in Chinese medicine, is the fruit of the Gardenia jasminoides plant. It has a long history of use in traditional medicine and as a natural dye.
The “magic” happens when genipin reacts with primary amine groups—these are present in amino acids, proteins, collagen, chitosan, glucosamine compounds, and various enzymes found in the outer layer of the skin.
In the presence of oxygen, this reaction causes the tattoo area to gradually darken into shades of blue, green, or black over 12–24 hours. The design appears faint at first and develops over time…or at least that is what is promised.
FirstThoughts
We like the idea of a semi-permanent tattoo. It is “semi-permanent” in that, while the design will not wash off, as the outer layer of the skin naturally renews itself, the “tattooed” skin cells are replaced…best of both worlds!!!
The tattoos we received look very crisp, finely detailed, and exactly as shown on the site. InkOMG’s tattoo application process is clear, appears to be easy to follow, and looks to be pretty foolproof.
For the next article, we will apply the tattoos, document the process, and see how long it takes for the design to fade. If everything goes according to plan, we should have the FirstUse posted by the end of August!
Links to items mentioned:
Leave a comment