Why I don't do memorial ashes tattoos
I understand wanting to keep them close. Here's why I don't put ashes in ink, and what I can do instead.
Tattoo ink goes under your skin, so everything in it has to be sterile, and I can't be sure how sterile ashes really are. There are brands that sell ink with the ashes already mixed in, but I've never worked with them, so I can't promise you how the tattoo would heal.
I've kept to the same hygiene standards since I started tattooing in 2019, and I won't bend them, even for something this personal. I would rather say no than risk an infection in a tattoo that means this much to you.
Ways to keep them with you
- A portrait of themDrawn by hand from your photos, even old ones.
- Their paw or nose printTattooed just as it is, from a print or a clay impression.
- Their nameOn its own, or woven into a portrait or flowers.
- Their birth flowerThe flower of the month they were born, or the day you brought them home.
If you need someone to talk to, Blue Cross Pet Loss Support is free, every day, 8.30am to 8.30pm: 0800 096 6606
Tell me about them. We'll find the right way together.