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The best tattoo inks maintain its color consistency on the skin, flows so well from the pen to the skin, and contains little to no harmful chemicals. Does that sound like it’s too much to ask of an over-the-counter product used for cosmetic purposes? Perhaps it is but keep in mind that tattoo inks will become a permanent part of your clients’ skin and, thus, of their body!
As a tattoo artist, you will want only the best inks that your money can buy and your clients will want. With hundreds of choices in the market, it can be overwhelming to make the right choice. We make it easier for you here!
10 Best Tattoo Inks
1. Millennium Moms Nuclear UV Blacklight Tattoo Ink
If you’re looking for the best uv tattoo ink, then you should consider Millennium Mom’s ink 9-color tattoo ink set. Ultraviolet (UV) tattoo inks are made with dyes that become visible under ultraviolet light or black light. But it doesn’t mean that the tattoo itself will not be visible – it’s subtle in appearance, oftentimes showing up as a scar, but it’s definitely there.
vibrant in color
We have to say that Millennium Moms may not sound badass but it’s widely considered as the best tattoo ink brand. This is because the tattoo inks are vibrant in color, both in the bottle and on the skin, as well as actually have a glow-in-the-dark high quality under black light or ultraviolet light. Take note that black light tattoos are usually invisible in natural light but can still be visible as scars at first glance.
blacklight tattoos
Their beauty lies in the element of surprise, a now-you-see, now-you-don’t kind of effect. Many people who want tattoos but want to be more discreet about it like black light tattoos, as well as people in the rave party scene who like them for their uniqueness. These tattoos fluoresce, or glow in the dark, from purples, reds and blues to whites depending on the tattoo ink applied on the skin.
excellent quality
Like regular colors tattoo ink, nonetheless, these fluorescent colors flow so well from the pen to the skin, as if you’re writing with a Cartier pen on stationery. Such excellent quality comes from its formulation as a single homogenized mixture of both the carrier and pigment. There’s no need to mix and match the colors to get your desired hue.
9-color set
Besides, nearly every color on the rainbow is already in the 9-color set so mixing the inks available colors isn’t usually necessary. The rich colors can be increased or decreased in hue by adding more tattoo ink or using less of it. We also like that its colors tattoo ink remain rich on the skin, thus, it’s our top choice for best uv tattoo ink brand.
- Wide range of colors
- Smooth and consistent flow
- Colors remain rich after application
- Comes from a reliable brand
- Large box isn’t easy to carry around
2. Pastel Intenze Tattoo Ink
There are many reasons why these 10 bottles of Intenze Tattoo Pastel are the best color tattoo ink in our books. The Intenze Tattoo Ink brand is among the well-known ones in the tattoo industry, a brand established by Mario Barth in 1978. The company continues to produce over 250 distinctive colors tattoo ink through the years and it’s among the industry’s recognized leaders.
black tattoo ink
In the past, tattoos were largely made of black tattoo ink because it was the readily inks available color from nature at the time. Tribal tattoos made of symbols and shapes, as well as names, numbers and portraits. But with the introduction of colored tattoo inks, tattoo artist and enthusiasts quickly expanded their repertoire. Indeed, colored tattoos are as popular as the black-and-gray ones, thanks to these developments.
The beauty of colored tattoos is that their colors can range from the bold, bright and vivid shades to the pastel hues. There’s no limit to the possible designs, from pinup girls to fairies, flowers and stars. And this is where this Intenze tattoo ink color set comes in.
The nine colors are as pretty as can be, even when these are still in their respective bottles. Keep in mind that these are pastel colors and, thus, are lighter in shade, and their specific names immediately give a clue. There’s rose pink, a deeper shade of pink but lighter than true red; sea foam green, a lighter shade than forest green; and lavender, a pretty light violet color.
water based color-type
Most tattoo artists use these pastel colors for doing water based color-type tattoos of fairies, flowers and fantastical creatures, among others. There’s a certain lightness to watercolor tattoos that many people prefer over the heavier blank ink tattoos, too. But these pastel tattoo inks are also used as accents for warmer and darker colors tattoo ink, a way of getting both colors into bolder relief.
As for the flow and consistency of the tattoo inks, these are homogenized tattoo inks that flow well from needle to skin. You shouldn’t have issues about its ability to adhere to skin as well since the colors remain consistent from bottle to skin.
- Attractive pastel colors suitable for most designs
- Beautiful color saturation
- Comes with money back return policy
- Great overall quality
- Slightly pricey
3. World Famous Tattoo Ink
The one of the best skin tone tattoo ink usually comes from a well-known brand because its manufacturer has been around for years. As such, it knows what it’s doing and what its customers want. We have to say these things about World Famous tattoo ink, a well-known brand among tattoo professionals with discriminating tastes.
best color tattoo ink for dark skin
Started by Lou Rubino, Jr., World Famous has been around for over 50 years. It definitely knows what its customers want – the best color tattoo ink for dark skin that give great value for the money. It’s a company that has also introduced innovations and complied with regulations in terms of the safety of its products.
Case in point: Its tattoo inks are manufactured according to the reAP2008 rules and regulations of the European Union. Basically, it means that the inks are considered non-toxic, skin-friendly and vegan friendly! These are characteristics in the best gray wash tattoo ink that tattoo artist and enthusiasts alike want.
In fact, Jose Becerra, Lydia Bruno and Matt Hixson are known to use World Famous tattoo inks in their works of art. Such a virtual endorsement alone is sufficient reason for many tattoo professionals to patronize the brand.
tamper-proof label
We also appreciate that World Famous tattoo inks are sterilized with gamma radiation, an effective way of eliminating possibly toxic pathogens in the tattoo ink. The crystal-flex bottles are designed with a secure twist cap to ensure that not even a drop of tattoo ink will be spilled during transport. The tamper-proof label also prevents unauthorized use of the ink before it’s in your hands and ready for application on your clients’ skin.
high pigment content
The tattoo inks apparently have high pigment content that make them look bright and bold both in the bottle and the skin. Their impressive color consistency means that what you see in the bottle is what you will get on the skin, often more vivid. These world famous inks also have an amazing flow rate that translates to faster blending of colors on the skin.
And going back to its vegan friendly properties, these World Famous tattoo inks don’t contain animal products and weren’t tested on animals. While these aspects may not matter in the long run, these matter for artists and enthusiasts who have adopted the vegan friendly lifestyle.
- Bold and bright color consistency
- Great flow rate
- Large bottles
- Endorsed by well-known artists
- Opening the cap can be a minor issue
4. Millennium Mom’s Black Pearl Outlining Tattoo Ink- Best Tattoo Ink Brands
The Millennium Moms is arguably the best white tattoo ink to go over black because it actually delivers on excellent quality! Indeed, it’s a buzzword in the tattoo industry, a go-to name for artists looking for the best tattoo ink brand. This isn’t surprising as Millennium Moms only use uncut homogenized pigments in their tattoo inks, and there are more than 70 colors to choose from.
thinner
The best green tattoo ink is usually more diluted than colored tattoo ink for a good reason. It should be thinner so that the fine lines outlining the figures can be more defined. But just because it is thinner doesn’t mean that it’s less bold, and the Black Pearl outlining ink is among the blackest we’ve come across.
Don’t worry about the ink seeming so thin, nearly watery, because it’s normal. Again, it may look thinner than usual but with its extra-high pigment concentration, it’s extremely black.
great outlining and shading black tattoo ink
Many artists say, however, that it’s less black than, say, stallion black but we think that it’s a great outlining and shading black tattoo ink. It doesn’t quickly dry out in ink cups and it’s absorbed into the skin almost from the first shot. It also doesn’t seem to go over the lines, a must when making outlines for both black and colored tattoos.
consistent several years after application
Most important, it stays black on the skin! We’ve come across many black tattoo ink that lose their blackness, so to speak, when it’s applied on the skin, a transition from black to black-gray. The color doesn’t only remain consistent from the bottle to the skin but remains consistent several years after application.
This is the result of the use of pure uncut homogenized pigments in the tattoo ink, as well as the use of glycerin and water based. Not only does the color remain consistent but it also flows smoothly and quickly. There’s certainly no jamming in the needles and no going back over and over the lines with this ink!
This is also a great tattoo ink for mixing washes and for creating cool grays. Its watery consistency makes it easy to do these things, even without prior experience.
- Flows quickly and easily
- Allows for mixing colors
- True black color on the skin
- No going back over lines
- May be too watery for some professionals
5. Millennium Mom’s Tattoo Ink- Best Quality Ink for Tattoo
Yet another one of the best ink to tattoo with color set is this Millennium Mom’s 14-bottle tattoo ink color set. Each color is housed in a ½-ounce bottle, just the right size for a large tattoo with multiple colors. Every Mom’s ink is made with the highest possible pigment content and the company stands by the excellent high quality of its products.
complete color tattoo ink set
If you’re looking for a complete color tattoo ink set, you will agree that this color tattoo ink set is among the best there is. Nearly all, if not all, of the colors are represented here – Black Onyx, Power White, Fleshy Flesh, Marvelous Magenta, Violent Violet, Forest Gump Green, Purple Nurple, 14kt Gold, Pretty Boy Blue, Hello Yellow, and Brown Sugar, among others. The bottom line: You can use all of the 14 bold and bright colors in a wide range of designs, from whimsical to biomechanical.
highest pure pigment content
The colors are vibrant and vivid because Mom’s tattoo inks have among the highest pure pigment content. The color consistency is impressive, from the bottle to the skin and then over several years after these have been embedded. There’s no middle ground in the colors, no washed out hues and no clumping on the tattoo ink cups.
The use of a homogenized carrier and pigment mix results in tattoo inks with an excellent flow rate. Then again, we have to point out that all Millennium Mom’s inks are formulated in this manner, and it’s one of the reasons for its enduring popularity.
enhance the vibrancy
Tip: Avoid wiping off the ink as soon as it’s applied on the skin and the needle is pulled away from it. Let the tattoo ink sit for a couple of seconds, apply a few more layers, and then wipe off the excess. These steps will enhance the vibrancy of the colors since the so-called soaking allows the ink to penetrate the skin even deeper.
We also like that the names for the colors are evocative instead of being boring. It isn’t important in the tattoo inks’ performance but it definitely adds interest to color-related conversations. What’s more important obviously is the fact that every bottle of Millennium Mom’s ink has been checked for the life of the pigment, its flow rate and its color consistency.
- Flow so well into the skin
- Retains its color over time
- Wide range of colors
- No need for mixing
- Pricey
6. Kuro Sumi Tattoo Ink- Best Black Tattoo Ink
There’s no doubt about it! Kuro Sumi tattoo ink offers one of the best black tattoo inks, and this tattoo ink set comes highly recommended. Kuro Sumi tattoo inks are known for their purely organic ingredients and vegan-friendly manufacturing processes.
high quality black tattoo ink
Black lining tattoo inks are just as important as the color tattoo inks and shading inks for many reasons. Thus, kuro sumi choice should also be carefully made. These top tattoo inks, after all, make the outline of the figures, whether numbers and letters or symbols and faces, stand out in relief.
From Kuro Sumi comes the high quality black tattoo ink, a vegan-friendly tattoo ink made from organic pigments. Keep in mind that these three tattoo inks are water-based and, as such, these are easy to embed into the skin. There’s a certain smoothness to its flow that makes shading and outlining faster than ever.
The colors aren’t sticky in the sense that these have an impressive flow, as previously mentioned. Many tattoo artists even compare the flow to making calligraphy, an ancient Asian art form that lives to this day. The black and grays are true, as well as look great upon first application and then when the tattoo has been healed.
suitable for Western designs in gray and black,
Most tattoo artists use these Kuro Sumi black and graywash tattoo inks for traditional Asian designs, such as dragons, Chinese calligraphy and koi in black. But these are just as suitable for Western designs in gray and black, from names and portraits to biomechanical designs. The black ink has a midnight black hue to it while the graywash can be mixed to create nearly every gray hue, from dove gray to stormy gray.
We have to say that the tattooo ink set has the best quality tattoo ink brand for the abovementioned reason. Kuro sumi ink smoothness and consistency is excellent, too.
Since the three tattoo inks are in large 6-fluid ounces, these should last for several tattoo clients’ needs. Kuro sumi inks can be poured into smaller tattoo ink cups for the actual sessions, perhaps even mixed to get the right color and consistency.
- Made of non-toxic ingredients
- Blackest black tattoo ink and true graywash inks
- Reasonable price with free shipping
- Impressive color consistency and flow rate
- Minor issue with the bottle cap
7. Kuro Sumi Tattoo Ink Set- Best White Tattoo Ink
The Kuro Sumi black and graywash color set above may be one of the best red tattoo ink but these aren’t the only tattoo inks from the well-regarded brand. This Kuro Sumi ink set comes in a staggering 16 colors! Every color is as bold, bright and vivid as can be, a set of colors that will satisfy the extreme demands of tattoo professionals.
brightest and boldest shades
Kuro Sumi color tattoo ink is among the brightest and boldest shades we’ve seen so far, and their color consistency is also among the best. Their colors are nearly the same from the bottle to the needle – there’s a teeny-tiny amount of difference, a minor issue also present in other brands.
But when already tattooed on skin, the tattoo ink is as beautiful fresh as when they are already healed. Many tattoo artists and enthusiasts even assert that their old Kuro Sumi ink tattoos look as fresh as the day these completely healed! But as with all tattoos, the consummate skill of the artist matters as much, if not more, as the inks used.
different color combinations
There are four tattoo ink set to choose from and each tattoo ink set has different color combinations. You may want to be specific about the color combos you want. We have to say that each ink set has nearly all the colors you will want in a tattoo ink set so, in a way, it won’t really matter which tattoo ink set you will get.
The available colors have evocative names, too, which means it’s easy enough to imagine their specific hues. The colors include Samurai White, Ninja Smoke, Brown Belt, Rising Sun Orange, Dragon’s Breath Red, Koi Yellow, Bamboo Green, Golden Yamabuki, Sukiyaki Silver, O-Shane Blue, Tsunami Blue, Magnolia Pink, Shikon Purple, Mt. Fuji Magenta, Kahuka Skin Tone, Suna Gold, Midori Green, Chi Red, Fuji Lavender, and Momo Peach.
No matter the color, every Kuro Sumi ink color saturation is brilliant. There’s little to no need for mixing these colors since these are already made with homogenized pigments. The tattoo ink also lay down so smoothly that there’s little need to cover the same area over and over again to cover up patchy areas.
- Impressive range of colors
- Vegan-friendly formulation
- Safe to use
- Smooth flow and great color saturation
- Ink cap should be closed tightly to avoid leaks and spills
8. Intenze Tattoo Ink- Best Tattoo Ink Brand Colors for Pale Skin
Have you been looking at the best tattoo ink brands in black but experiencing issues with the tattoo ink’ consistency? Perhaps you weren’t using black tattoo ink that stayed true to their color! Perhaps it’s time to shift to the Intenze Tattoo ink Black.
According to the company, Mario Barth developed Zuper Black as the blackest of black tattoo ink in its extensive line. Such is the extreme blackness of the ink that it’s preferred by world-renowned artists like Randy Engelhard, Moni Marino and Steve Butcher. Its color saturation essentially remains the same on the bottle as well as on a fresh tattoo and a healed one.
The Zuper Black has a cold color tone that makes it such a great accent to warm colors. It has a very good light fastness, a good feature in a solid color, as well as able to cover other colors extremely well. It can be used with a wide range of needle sizes, too, from 1 to 14, as well as suitable for all skin tones.
And when we say all skin tones, we mean all skin tones! We have seen it used on African-American skin and still stand out, as excellent tattoos should be. Of course, the ink’s black shade really stands out on fair skin, as well as call attention to the tattoo on olive to brown skin.
The bottom line: It’s the kind of black tattoo ink that heals so darkly on the skin that you can’t help but admire your tattoo! You may want to consider having a black tattoo on a more obvious part of your body for this reason.
We also appreciate that it has just the right consistency – neither too watery nor too thick. It doesn’t dry out quickly on an ink cup so you can take your sweet time on tattooing. It transfer well into the skin, too, and looks black when the tattoo is fresh as it is when it’s healed fully.
But the client should take proper care of his new tattoo. Otherwise, the black tattoo ink can fade faster.
- Deep, dark black perfect for outlining and shading
- Consistent flow and color saturation
- Long shelf life
- Reasonable price
- Bottle cap has a minor opening and closing issue
9. Tattoo Ink Radiant Colors- Best Type of Tattoo Ink
Yet another manufacturer of the best tattoo ink brands is radiant Colors USA, an American company specializing in the art of tattoos. It prides itself on working with the best tattoo artists from all over the world in the production of its tattoo inks. This 7-color primary ink set is one of their more popular sets.
First off, Radiant Colors is well-regarded for its line of uncut homogenized tattoo ink that last long both in the bottle and on the skin. Every ink bottle and its contents have been sterilized to ensure that pathogens have been eliminated. The sterilization process is crucial in the safety of the tattoo ink, particularly as people of all skin types are getting inked.
What we liked most about the tattoo ink from Radiant Colors is that these retain their vibrant saturation over time. In some cases, the colors become even more vibrant when the tattoo has completely healed! We think that it’s an important aspect of getting inked because a prematurely fading tattoo isn’t good work.
According to the company, the tattoo ink is manufactured using the best in tattoo ink pigmentation technology. These top tattoo inks are in nature instead of being pigment, a difference that means there’s no need for mixing with other inks. Their fairly thin consistency allows them to flow from the needle to the skin so smoothly, too.
The tattoo ink also come with a ball bearing in the bottle, a vital feature for keeping the pigments well-mixed and, thus, easier to apply. We suggest using the tattoo ink in a cartridge-style setup, preferably with rotary.
There may be only seven colors in the ink set but it should be enough for beginners who are experimenting with their palette of colors. These colors are Tribal Black, Super White, Lime Green, Tiger Orange, Canary Yellow, Scarlet Red and Blue. These should be enough to make a few color tattoo designs as well as for tribal tattoos.
- Colors stay radiant on the skin even after complete healing
- Easy to apply on skin
- Suitable for all skin types and tones
- Flows easily, sticks well
- Bottle cap can cause leaks when not closed securely
10. Dynamic Black Ink- Best Lining Black Tattoo Ink
Dynamic Color Co. has been in the business since 1990. Most tattoo artists say that the Dynamic Color tattoo ink is so strong and intense that it may be necessary to tone them down. White tattoo ink, for example, can decrease the brightness of primary colors while yellow ink can be mixed with browns for the same purpose. All of Dynamic Color’s tattoo ink is also dispersed, thus, these go into the skin smoother and quicker than mixed tattoo ink.
This is among the best, if not the best tattoo ink brands, because it’s made with premium pigments. It has a deep, dark black high quality to it that make it stand out on all skin types and tones. It can be used on fair skin as well as on olive, black and brown skin with ease, as well as be prominent on it.
You can use it as is, meaning no mixing with other inks, and its deep-dark color will be bold, even dramatic. But you may also use it as a graywash and it will lend a deep hue to the tattoo.
Take note that this Dynamic black tattoo ink is dispersed. This doesn’t mean that there isn’t a single pigment in it! Instead, it means that the powdered particles of pigment are finer than the powdered particles in stable pigment ink. This is where Dynamic Color’s suggestion about diluting its ink comes from, too.
When the finer powdered particles of pigment are mixed well with a carrier liquid, the resulting tattoo ink tends to flow better. In short, the diluted ink flows smoothly from the pen to the skin, a transition that also translates to better tattoos.
Since the tattoo ink becomes embedded in the skin faster and better, there’s little need to make numerous passes over the same area. This means a shorter healing period for the client.
- Suitable for use as is or as part of graywash
- Flows freely and smoothly
- Allows for faster healing of the tattooed skin
- Tattoo Ink lasts for a long time (Large bottle)
- Requires dilution
Buyers’ Guide for the Finest Quality Tattoo Ink: Things You Didn’t Know But Should Know Now
1. Pre-Dispersed Tattoo Inks versus Mixing Your Own

We suggest buying dispersed or pre-mixed tattoo ink because these have consistent high quality, particularly in terms of color saturation. There’s no need to experiment with the ratio between the pigments and carrier. Keep in mind that while mixing pigments and carriers is easy enough, it can result in less than desirable tattoo ink consistency and colors.
There’s also the matter of safety when mixing your own tattoo ink. The process involves choosing the right carrier, such as ethyl alcohol, purified water, and propylene glycol, and mixing it with the pigments. These substances may carry pathogens or have toxic ingredients, such as with denatured alcohol, ethylene glycol and aldehydes.
The risks of bacterial infections and other complications from using DIY tattoo ink is higher! This is the reason why most tattoo professionals use dispersed tattoo ink. Pre-dispersed tattoo ink is usually sterilized to kill possible pathogens and, thus, make them safer for inking on the skin.
2. The Main Tattoo Ink Ingredients

There are two main ingredients in pre-dispersed tattoo ink. First, the carrier can either be a single substance or a mixture of two or more substances. It has several purposes including keeping the pigment distributed evenly, preventing pigment clumping and preventing pathogen growth, as well as making the tattoo ink flow smoothly into the skin.
The most common and safest carriers are ethyl alcohol, purified water, witch hazel, glycerin and propylene alcohol. Surprisingly, some tattoo artists will use Listerine – yes, the mouthwash – as a carrier!
Second, the pigments are the substances that give the tattoo ink their colors, which can range from black and white to every hue imaginable. Ash, soot from burned wood and powdered carbon were the common pigments used in ancient tattoos. But modern tattoo ink use a combination of original mineral pigments and modern pigments.
Pigments can also be plastic-based or vegetable-based depending on the desired color. Research has shown that tattoo inks can contain as many as 200 different additives including colorants and preservatives. As such, individuals with allergies to these ingredients should consult with their doctors first before getting tattoos.
In general, nonetheless, modern tattoo inks bought from reliable manufacturers are considered safe for use on human skin.
3. Getting To Know the Tattoo Ink Deeper By the Skin
Making permanent tattoos requires puncturing the skin with hundreds, if not thousands, of pricks with needles. Every prick of the needle deposits a certain amount of tattoo ink into the dermis, the layer of skin below the epidermis. The ink then stays in the skin permanently unless otherwise removed, usually through a series of laser treatments.
But research has also shown that some of the tattoo ink particles can move from the skin to the lymph nodes via the lymphatic system and bloodstream. This shouldn’t be a cause for concern, since most of the ink particles stay in the skin and many are actually engulfed by the immune cells.
4. Benefits of Using a Vegan-Friendly Tattoo Ink
Non-vegan tattoo ink usually contains several ingredients sourced from animals. These include bone char used for enhancing black, gelatin sourced from hooves, and glycerine derived from animal fat, even shellac harvested from beetles. There’s also the fact that the stencil paper contains lanolin, a fatty materials from wool.
But vegan-friendly tattoo ink doesn’t have any of these animal-derived ingredients! If you’re a vegan, you will find that vegan friendly tattoo ink will not be in conflict with your beliefs regarding animal cruelty.
5. Things to Consider While Choosing Tattoo Ink

With dozens of brands of inks in the market, it can be a challenge to find safe inks! But with time and patience, you should be able to make the right choice.
First, choose from reputable brands with a great reputation in the tattoo industry. You can ask established tattoo artists about their preferred brands and make a shortlist from their answers. The most established brands are Kuro Sumi, Radiant Colors and Millennium Mom’s ink, to name a few.
Second, read the ingredients label. Think about it: Tattoo inks will become part of your body in the same way that food becomes part of your body, too. In both cases, you should be careful about choosing which ingredients will be ingested by your stomach and embedded in your skin!
You don’t want heavy metals, such as mercury, arsenic and lead, in your tattoo inks because these have toxic effects on your body. You want instead safe yet effective ingredients in tattoo inks, perhaps vegan-friendly inks, too. You can even ask the manufacturer about the specific ingredients in their inks and most of the reliable ones usually provide the information.
Third, decide whether you want pre-dispersed tattoo inks or powder-based inks. The main difference between these two types are in their consistency.
On one hand, pigment-based or powder-based inks require a liquid carrier to make a fluid matrix. These top tattoo inks are preferred by experienced tattoo artists who want custom colors and consistency. Emphasis must be made that beginner tattoo artists are well-advised to gain training first in mixing pigment and carrier before tattooing the mixture.
On the other hand, pre-dispersed inks are more common and popular because these are easy to use. There’s no mixing necessary and, as such, these can used straight from the bottle. These also have consistent high quality in terms of their colors and consistency, particularly in tattoo ink thickness and flow.
You should also consider making an investment in an tattoo ink set or a couple of sets from the same brand. This way, you have the assurance that the inks are of the same consistency and color saturation. These inks can then be combined in the same tattoo for an high quality.
6. Characteristics of Trustworthy Tattoo Ink Brands

Of course, the most trustworthy tattoo ink brands have been around for years and, thus, their companies have enjoyed the opportunity to establish their reputation. For an ink brand to be considered trustworthy, it should be widely used and recommended by tattoo artists for their excellent overall high quality.
Aside from the reliable track record, trustworthy tattoo ink brands typically have these characteristics.
- These are in compliance with the health and safety regulations, as applicable, issued by the government’s regulatory agencies. (Note: Tattoo inks made and sold in the United States, particularly in the State of California, and in the European Union are subject to more stringent standards.)
- These use organic and safe ingredients that are safer for the skin in particular and the body in general. These shouldn’t have potentially toxic ingredients like heavy metals.
- Their colors and color palettes are comprehensive, from blacks and whites to all colors of the rainbow in numerous shades and hues. The colors should also be vivid and stay true to the intended hue, whether pastel or bold. These top tattoo ink colors should also work well together.
Be sure to check that, indeed, the tattoo ink manufacturer has a satisfactory customer services system! You should be able to contact them in case you have issues with the inks, perhaps get replacements or refunds.
7. The Tattoo Ink Brands to Avoid
We cannot say with certainty the tattoo tattoo ink brands to avoid in terms of actually naming names. But we recommend being aware of the product recalls issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These product recalls area good indicator of the tattoo ink brands that you may want to avoid buying – at least, until the companies have improved their manufacturing processes.
In May 2019, for example, the FDA has recalled several brands of inks that were contaminated with microorganisms. These include Scalpaink AL basic black, PA and SC inks made by Scalp Aesthetics and Solid Ink-Diablo, a red ink made by Color Art Inc. These inks may cause serious infections with symptoms like lesions and rashes in the areas where these were applied, about two to three weeks after their application.
8. Should I Bandage My Tattoo Every Night?

First off, we have to say that wrapping a new tattoo isn’t just for show! It actually has numerous practical reasons including:
- It provides a protective barrier against pathogens like bacteria, which can increase the risk of infection otherwise.
- It gives an extra layer of protection for your new tattoo and its surrounding skin from discomfort, even pain, in case of accidental contact.
- It provides your new tattoo with a more controlled environment that allows your skin to heal better and faster.
Plus, most states require new tattoos to be wrapped in sterile bandage or cling wrap as a way of limiting infections.
With that being said, you are well-advised to wrap your new tattoo every night just before hitting the sack for the abovementioned reasons. You should also wrap it on your journey home after your tattoo session, when you’re wearing tight clothing over it, and when you’re planning on engaging in contact events. But you should also wear loose clothing over your new tattoo and avoiding contact sports where your newly-inked skin can be subjected to forceful pressure.
And then there are the instances when you shouldn’t wrap your new tattoo. These include after getting home for at least two hours to let it breathe, so to speak; while showering but don’t indulge in long baths just yet; when relaxing in loose clothes and engaging in non-contact everyday activities.
9. Are Cover-Up/Layering Tattoos More Painful?

In a tattoo cover-up, the tattoo ink deposited from the last tattoo become mixed with the ink being deposited during the new tattoo. These two ink layers are deposited in the same layer of the skin, the dermis, resulting in the mixing of the inks and their colors.
In most cases, the mix results in a new color but the dark inks usually become the dominant hue. For example, purple can be the result of blue from an old tattoo and red from the new tattoo being combined. Black is also a common color used in cover-ups because these can be mixed with nearly all colors from a previous tattoo.
We must also point out that cover-ups should only be done by an experienced tattoo artist. The consummate skill required to cover up an awful or undesirable tattoo can come only from years of extensive experience.
So, are cover-up tattoos more painful than standard tattoos? Yes, the layering of tattoos are said to be more painful, sometimes 10 times more painful. The main reason: The cover-up tattoo tends to be larger than the old tattoo so as to completely cover it.
The level of pain, of course, depends on the area being tattooed. In general, the closer the tattoo is to the bone, the more painful it will be.
10. Will The Tattoo Inks Cost Me Health Problems?
No, for as long as the tattoo inks used are from reliable manufacturers! You may, nonetheless, consult your doctor before getting your first tattoo in case you have allergic reactions to dyes or you have an underlying medical condition. The latter can increase the risk of bleeding, slow healing and infections, such as for people with diabetes.
11. Can White Ink Tattoos Pose Danger On My Skin?
The best white tattoo ink shouldn’t pose a health risk to your skin and your health! The trick here is to choose a white tattoo ink from a reliable brand and ask the best white ink tattoo artist to do your new body art.
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Picking The Ultimate Professional Tattoo Ink for You
The best black tattoo ink brand if you’re an amateur or professional tattoo artist. You want only the best black tattoo ink for your clients because your reputation partly depends on their overall performance and partly on your skills as an artist. Your clients will come back for more tattoos and cover-ups of their old tattoos with every excellent result.
And thee best black tattoo ink for dark skin in our opinion is the 16-color Kuro Sumi set! The wide range of colors make it suitable for use by both amateurs and professionals who specialize in colored tattoos. The colors are bold and bright with a vibrancy that stays true when applied on the skin.
The inks themselves don’t require mixing with carriers since these are pre-dispersed inks. These also flow so smoothly and evenly on the skin that the tattoo session can become shorter. In other words, everything that you want in tattoo inks are in Kuro Sumi’s inks!