Tattoos are often considered a lifelong commitment, a personal statement etched onto the skin. But what happens to these intimate artworks when life ends? Kyle and Michael Sherwood, a father-son mortician team in the US, are pioneering a unique service: preserving tattoos from deceased individuals, transforming them into enduring memorials. Through their company, Save My Ink Forever, they are offering families a tangible piece of their loved ones, ensuring that their inked stories outlive their physical presence. This innovative approach raises questions about art, memory, and how we commemorate those we’ve lost, particularly through the increasingly popular medium of “Death Tattoos”—tattoos that take on a new layer of significance in the face of mortality.
The Inspiration Behind Tattoo Preservation: More Than Just Ink
Kyle Sherwood explains that the inspiration came from recognizing the profound personal value tattoos hold. For many, tattoos are not mere decorations but deep expressions of identity, beliefs, and life experiences. He questioned the idea of burying or cremating these meaningful artworks, comparing it to destroying a Picasso. “You wouldn’t burn or bury a Picasso,” he states, emphasizing the artistic and cultural worth of tattoos. He observed a disconnect in traditional funeral practices, where families are often left with impersonal urns or simple headstones. Save My Ink Forever offers a different path, providing families with a genuine piece of their loved one’s identity, a “death tattoo” preserved as a lasting keepsake. This echoes historical practices of memorialization, like Victorian hair necklaces or saving baby teeth, highlighting the human need to hold onto tangible reminders of loved ones. For some, the investment in their tattoos is significant, both financially and emotionally, further justifying their preservation.
Honing the Craft of Tattoo Removal and Preservation
Before launching Save My Ink Forever, the Sherwoods meticulously honed their preservation technique. Demonstrating their commitment and ingenuity, they collaborated with individuals undergoing tummy tucks. These patients, who had tattoos on the skin slated for removal, donated the excised tissue to Save My Ink Forever for practice. This ethical and resourceful approach allowed them to refine their process and ensure the highest quality preservation, transforming what would be medical waste into invaluable training material for preserving “death tattoos.”
The Process: From Passing to Preservation of Death Tattoos
Contrary to common assumptions, pre-planning isn’t always necessary. Families can reach out to Save My Ink Forever after a loved one’s passing to initiate the process. Prompt notification is key, ideally within 48 to 72 hours of death. While the tattoo doesn’t need to be immediately removed, this timeframe allows for the necessary paperwork and logistical arrangements. Refrigeration of the deceased individual slows down natural post-mortem changes, providing a window for the tattoo excision to occur either before or after embalming. Save My Ink Forever provides detailed instructions and kits to funeral homes, ensuring the delicate removal and initial preservation of the “death tattoo” are handled with care and expertise.
Panda tattoo preserved by Save My Ink Forever
Beyond Skin: Transforming Death Tattoos into Parchment-Like Memorials
Once preserved, the “death tattoo” undergoes a transformation, taking on a parchment-like quality. This process ensures the tattoo’s longevity and allows it to be framed and displayed. Kyle Sherwood explains that unless the tattoo is exceptionally large and shaped to the body’s contours, it becomes difficult to discern that it was once skin. The preserved tattoos range from small, intimate designs to expansive full body suits, each carrying its unique story and now, a preserved legacy. Families often integrate these framed “death tattoos” into home memorials, hanging them alongside photographs and other cherished mementos, seamlessly blending remembrance with personal history.
Dog portrait tattoo preserved as a memorial
Stories Etched in Ink: The Meaning Behind Death Tattoos
When asked about memorable tattoos, Kyle Sherwood avoids labeling any as “unusual,” emphasizing the personal significance each holds. He recounts the story of a father’s handprint tattoo, a tender imprint of his young child’s hand. Preserving this “death tattoo” became a profound gift for the child, a tangible connection to a father lost too soon. Another story involves matching frog tattoos shared by a mother and daughter, symbolizing the mother’s sobriety – “frogs don’t drink.” These anecdotes underscore the deeply personal narratives interwoven with tattoos, transforming them into powerful symbols of love, commitment, and personal journeys. The act of preserving “death tattoos” amplifies these stories, ensuring they continue to resonate for generations.
Death Tattoos: Opening Conversations About Life and Legacy
Kyle Sherwood believes that preserving “death tattoos” can contribute to broader conversations about death and dying, topics often considered taboo in many cultures. By intertwining the once-taboo subject of tattoos with the inevitable reality of death, Save My Ink Forever encourages a new dialogue. Families who choose to preserve “death tattoos” find comfort in knowing their loved one’s story continues. The preserved tattoo serves as a powerful trigger for positive memories, aiding the grieving process. In this way, “death tattoos” transcend mere body art, becoming poignant reminders that loved ones live on through cherished memories.
Save My Ink Forever logo featuring a skull and tattoo machine
Global Reach: Preserving Death Tattoos Across Borders
While based in the US, Save My Ink Forever offers its services internationally, including the UK. Families interested in preserving a loved one’s “death tattoo” can initiate the process by contacting the company. Detailed pricing and procedural information are provided, followed by coordination with the local funeral home. Save My Ink Forever ships instructional kits and videos to guide embalmers through the tattoo removal process. The preserved tattoo is then shipped back to the US for final archival framing, utilizing museum-quality, UV-protective materials to ensure its lasting preservation. Despite geographical distances, the enduring power of “death tattoos” as memorials transcends borders, offering a unique and deeply personal way to remember loved ones.
To explore this unique service further, visit Save My Ink Forever’s website or follow them on Instagram @savemyink4ever.
