How to Choose Tattoo Ink

Experienced professional tattoo artists are meticulous in choosing their inks for use straight out of the bottle for clients or mixed to create the desired shades and saturation. This process is less simple for inexperienced or apprentice tattoo artists.

Here are a five tips to choosing the right tattoo ink to purchase:

1. Make sure the ink has the right value. Being cheap is not the be all and end all – in fact for something as important as a tattoo being cheap may be counterproductive. Is the ink versatile enough to be mixed, can it be used for a variety of styles, or as a base color in mixing? Is it going to be used often, or just occasionally in the tattoos you’ll be applying?
2. Is it safe and ethical? To be considered on the right side of health and safety guidelines tattoo ink should be:
   1. Sterilized
   2. Vegan friendly/Organic
   3. Not tested on animals
   4. Up to EU and US standards
   5. Non-toxic

3. What do the experts think? Read reviews from your peers on the strengths and weaknesses of each type of tattoo ink and do your research thoroughly. Visit the ink supplier’s site or see how the ink looks in action via their pro team or Instagram handle
4. See what the customers think. Did the ink hold up over time? Does the shading still look free flowing and intricate? Are the colors still vivid? Is the linework still crisp and sharp? Anything less than yes, and you should be looking elsewhere
5. Verify your supply. Make sure the ink is legit from the company it’s being sold from and alert the seller/supplier immediately if there are any problems.

Tattoo Ink FAQs

Can you mix tattoo ink?

Yes, tattoo inks can be mixed, diluted, and blended by the tattoo artist before being applied by tattoo machine or stick and poke single needle. They can be made darker or lighter to the artist’s design taste for both color and black and gray ink, however this method is usually done by experienced professional artists who like to experiment from their base color sets.