CipherX: The Future of Tattoo Art Without a Machine?

Tattooing without a machine is already a reality.

The process works differently from that of a traditional tattoo. Instead of using a tattoo machine, CipherX employs a single-use patch containing tiny soluble structures—less than a millimeter in size—that deliver the pigment into the skin. The process described by the company is simple: 1. Application: An operator applies the patch using a specialized device. 2. Waiting: The patch remains on the skin for about 15 minutes while the microstructures release the pigment.

3. Result: After removal, the design becomes visible and may become more defined in the hours that follow. The entire appointment lasts about 25–30 minutes, according to CipherX. For now, the service is available in London, is performed exclusively by company staff, and costs about 50 pounds per tattoo.

Currently, the technology only allows for the creation of very small tattoos. Microdot tattoos consist of dots arranged in a grid and, according to available information, have the following characteristics:

Size Color Designs Customization Application Claimed lifespan

Therefore, in terms of creative freedom, this technology cannot be compared to traditional tattooing. A tattoo artist can create personalized, complex, artistic, and large-scale works. A CipherX patch—at least for now—cannot.

Approximately 15 mm Black Predefined symbols and patterns Limited Custom CipherX Permanent

This is where we need to distinguish between marketing claims and actual evidence. CipherX presents its technology as fast, painless, and permanent. But how much of this has been verified?

Pain Some journalists who have tried the treatment report feeling only mild pressure or a tingling sensation. These are individual experiences, not clinical studies.

Longevity The company claims that the tattoo is permanent, but none of the sources consulted mention any published independent studies on the longevity of the CipherX product over time.

Safety Described as a controlled process, but no published independent clinical evaluations of the product have been identified.

The technology exists. Its long-term performance has yet to be proven.

The idea of creating tattoos using soluble microneedles did not originate with CipherX. In 2022, a group of researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology published a study in the journal iScience on tattoos using microneedle patches. The results demonstrated the possibility of depositing pigments into the skin using soluble microstructures. In tests conducted on rats, the markings remained visible for at least one year. However, there is a fundamental distinction: The study does not pertain to CipherX and does not prove that its product has the same durability or safety. The research confirms that the underlying technology is plausible, but it does not yet allow for definitive conclusions regarding commercial applications.

For now, Microdot Tattoos are not a direct alternative to the work of tattoo artists. Their small size, limited selection of designs, and lack of customization place them in a category very different from artistic tattoos. However, the technology could open up new possibilities, especially for those who want a very small tattoo but are hesitant about traditional tattooing. Some important questions remain: - How long will these tattoos actually last? - What are the long-term effects on the skin? - How will size, colors, and customization evolve? - What safety checks will accompany any widespread adoption of the system? A new technology, not yet a revolution. CipherX introduces an interesting approach to tattooing, but the information currently available is insufficient to define it as an established alternative. For industry professionals, it is worth following its evolution, always distinguishing between innovation, commercial promises, and scientific evidence.

Ferdinand Kohle, PhD CEO & Co-Founder Materials scientist, designer, and entrepreneur. He earned a Ph.D. from Cornell University and a master’s degree in Innovation Design Engineering from the Royal College of Art and Imperial College London. His expertise ranges from nanomaterials to technologies applied to the human body. His personal aversion to needles and blood led him to envision a new way of interacting with the skin, giving rise to CipherX.

Karl-Anton Harms CTO & Co-Founder A physician and researcher specializing in skin and microneedle technologies. He studied medicine and biomedical sciences at Monash University and worked in the fields of plastic surgery and burn treatment at Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. He subsequently pursued doctoral research at Imperial College London, contributing to the development of the technologies underlying CipherX.

Tattooing without a machine is already a reality.