A multi-slice double inversion recovery (DIR) pulse sequence with read out of a signal for imaging successive slices implemented on a magnetic resonance image scanner. In the method, when the DIR pulse sequence is applied before imaging each slice, a slab-selective inversion re-inverts the entire slab that includes all of the slices. All slices are imaged within a predefined repetition time (TR). The number, N, of slices acquired per TR controls the inversion time to execute the read out of the signal for imaging each slice at a zero-crossing point of blood. In a test, multi-slice DIR images of carotid arteries were obtained with N ranging from 2-8, for four subjects. The results were compared with those for both standard single-slice DIR, and inflow saturation techniques. Multi-slice DIR with N=2-6 provided blood flow suppression in carotid arteries similar to that of single-slice DIR, and significantly better than inflow saturation.