Have you ever thought about leaving your tattoos for posterity?
Save My Ink Forever, a US-based post-death tattoo service, preserves tattoos of the dead, turning them into works of art for display in clients’ homes.
As the name implies, Save My Ink Forever has developed its own process for preserving tattoos, working with licensed funeral directors in the United States to extract the fabric around the tattoos and ship it to the company whose lab is based in Ohio.
Father and son Michael and Kyle Sherwood are the brains behind the company and their mission is to help continue the story of a loved one by framing their preserved tattoos. The duo hopes to ensure that anyone’s spirit and legacy can live on for generations to come and focus on creating an everlasting memorial.
Not only do they recreate the tattoos as photographs, clients receive their loved ones’ real tattoos as a framed work of art, presented to the family in a dignified manner, as described by the duo.
Since not all funeral homes accept a mission to remove tattoos from a dead person’s body, the couple have a list of preferred suppliers, but they insist they can work with any morgue company as long as they agree to the removal process.
Only professionally executed tattoos can be extracted
The company claims that it cannot guarantee the extraction of tattoos done outside of a tattoo parlor or with unprofessional tattoo ink. The family can visit the Save My Ink Forever website to find a preferred supplier in their area, but if a funeral home is not listed, they can turn to their chosen crematorium to provide the extraction services.
At this point, the funeral home and Save My Ink Forever can work together to carry out the removal. The company says the funeral home has 48 to 72 hours to contact them, but that doesn’t mean the tattoo needs to be removed within that time frame.
They just need to be notified so that they can send you a recovery kit which contains all the essential documentation and materials for the tattoo recovery process.
Upon completion of the process, the family can expect the artwork within three months, and the company’s framing specialist will match a frame to best suit the tattoo style, accompanied by museum-quality UV glass. The company also claims that the price of the service is based on the size of the tattoo.
It takes an open mind
Customers who purchased the service have expressed their content on what Save My Ink Forever has done to preserve the memories of their loved ones.
A customer named Dawn commented that she would pay the money over and over to declare the value of the service and that she was extremely happy when she received it. She and her husband pondered the process ahead of time and how she would love the result of their art after conservation and framing.
She shared that her local funeral home had differing views on the draw and tried to dismiss it, but insisted on dealing with it, acknowledging that her husband was a well-known artist in their community and that the tattoos symbolized their passion. She says that because of her service, she will forever be dear to her family.
Another client, named Connie, commented that her family has always known about her wishes to plan their own funeral, from her musical choices to passages to read, and that they now know how to preserve her tattoo.
He said Save My Ink Forever provides the proper forms to ensure the artwork is left to the intended recipient. Your funeral director has all the proper paperwork and correct contact information prior to your death, and he reminds readers that everyone must be open-minded to complete the process, including your chosen funeral home.
* Through Designboom
Source: Terra
Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.
