Archive for September, 2011

Tattoo inks vary from traditional inks, which can include more than 50 pigment types and many ingredients, to black light tattoo ink or UV tattoo ink which glows in black light. In 2006, researchers at Harvard began developing tattoo inks made from biodegradable ingredients. These tattoo inks would theoretically be easier to remove.

Tattoo inks also have a long and rich history. In fact, tattoo inks are the oldest tattoo supply products, predating tattoo needles and other tattoo supplies. Research suggests that early tattoo inks were made from burned timber wood or black coal combined with ground minerals. There were initially very few colors because only colors that naturally occurred in nature could be used, and many colors found in nature were from products that did not lend themselves well to making ink. Early tattoos, therefore, tended to be a few basic colors.

In the twentieth century, especially after the 1970s, tattoo ink developed rapidly, with companies offering an ever-expanding range of colors. Today, artists can walk into tattoo supply stores and purchase tattoo ink sets with virtually any color. This allows for more complex and more colorful tattoos that were simply not possible before.

Tattoo ink is also one of the most important elements for the tattoo process. The quality of ink can affect the final look of a tattoo and some artists find certain inks easier to work with. Long before an artist picks up a tattoo needle, he or she must carefully choose the right tattoo ink. Since different customers have different skin tones, it becomes important to choose the right colors to get the best effect.

Today’s tattoo inks are in fact made up of several components. The chemicals in tattoo inks can be broken up into two main categories: the chemicals that deliver the color and the chemicals that allow the color to be injected under the skin. Pigments include any substances which are ground finely to provide color to the ink. Pigments can include Iron Oxide, Curcuma, Calcium Copper Silicate, and other substances. In addition, tattoo inks also need carriers, or the liquids which allow the pigments to get under the skin. Quality pigments are slightly disinfecting and also distribute pigment evenly. Propylene Glycol, Ethyl Alcohol, and Purified Water are examples of carriers. Many of today’s tattoo inks use medical-grade chemicals to ensure safety. The inks and tattoo ink sets are also carefully sterilized and packaged to prevent contamination. This is considerably safer than the tattoo process years ago, when ground up pigments were used as well as any sharp object.