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The best tattoo inks maintain their color consistency on the skin, flows so well from the pen to the skin and contain 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 ink will become a permanent part of your clients’ skin and, thus, of their body! 
As a tattoo artist, you will want only the best ink 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! Check all the available tattoo ink reviews. 
13 Best Tattoo Ink: Choice of Tattoo Artist Around the World
1. Millennium Moms Nuclear UV Ink Set- Best Ink Master Tattoo
If you’re looking for the best red tattoo ink, then you should consider Millennium Mom’s ink 9-color tattoo ink set. Ultraviolet (UV) ink is 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. 
Quick Summary
- Set contains nine 1-ounce bottles
- Tattoo ink colors are Purple Haze, Red Dawn, Invisible Fallout, Atomic Green, Radiant Pink, Raging Magenta, Afterglow Yellow, Smoldering Orange, and Blue Smoke
- Comes as a homogenized carrier and pigment mixture
- Made in USA
We have to say that Millennium Moms may not sound badass but it’s widely considered as the best glow in the dark tattoo ink. This is because the ink is 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 blacklight tattoo are usually invisible in natural light but can still be visible as scars at first glance.
THINGS I LIKED ABOUT IT
- Wide range of colors
- Smooth and consistent flow
- Colors remain rich after application
- Comes from a reliable brand
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE
- Large box isn’t easy to carry around
2. Pastel Intenze- Best Colored Tattoo Ink
There are many reasons why these 10 bottles of Intenze Tattoo Pastel are the best tattoo ink for darker skin 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 Pastel Intenze company continues to produce over 250 distinctive colors tattoo ink through the years and it’s among the industry’s recognized leaders. 
Quick Summary
- Package contains 10 ½-ounce bottles
- Intenze: intenze colors are Rose Pink, Creamsicle, Banana Cream, Lavender, Bahama Blue, Baby Blue, Platinum, Carol’s Pink, Peach, and Sea Foam Green
In the past, tattoo were largely made of black tattoo ink because it was the readily available color from nature at the time. 
Tribal tattoo made of symbols and shapes, as well as names, numbers and portraits. But with the introduction of colored ink, tattoo artists and enthusiasts quickly expanded their repertoire. Indeed, colored tattoos are as popular as the black-and-gray ones, thanks to these developments.
- 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- Best Color Tattoo Ink
The one of the best tattoo inks usually comes from a well-known brand because its manufacturer has been around for years. As such, world famous 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.
Quick Summary
- Package contains six 1-ounce ink
- Vegan-friendly ink
- Sterilized through gamma radiation
- Made in the USA
Started by Lou Rubino, Jr., World Famous tattoo ink has been around for over 50 years. It definitely knows what its customers want – the best black liner tattoo ink that give great value for the money. 
World famous company that has also introduced innovations and complied with regulations in terms of the safety of its products.
- 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- Best Black Ink for Tattoo
The Millennium Moms is arguably the best black tattoo ink for lining to go over black because the manufacturing process went through proper care and 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 inks. This isn’t surprising as Millennium Moms only use uncut homogenized pigments in their ink, and there are more than 70 colors to choose from.
Quick Summary
- Comes in a 12-ounce bottle
- Contains CI# 74160, 77226, 12475, 84696-19-5 as well as glycerine, witch hazel and water
- Suitable for shading and outlining
The best quality tattoo ink and liked by the great artist all around the globe is usually more diluted than colored tattoo ink for a good reason. 
Millennium moms 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.
- Flows quickly and easily
- Allows for mixing colors
- True black ink color
- No going back over lines
- May be too watery for some professionals
5. Millennium Mom’s Tattoo Ink- Best UV Tattoo Ink
Yet another one of the best grey wash tattoo ink 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.
Quick Summary
- Package contains 14 bottles
- Made in the USA
- Contains 14 colors in ½-ounce bottles
If you’re looking for a complete tattoo color 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.
- Flow so well into the skin
- Retains its color over time
- Wide range of colors
- No need for mixing
- Some customers say it is watery
- Pricey
6. Kuro Sumi Tattoo Ink Manufacturers- Best Black Ink Tattoo
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 is known for their purely organic ingredients and vegan-friendly manufacturing processes. 
Quick Summary
- Package consists of three 6-fluid ounces bottles
- Three colors: Graywash shading ink, black ink and soft graywash shading tattoo ink
- Vegan-friendly
Black lining and shading ink is just as important as the color ink and shading ink for many reasons. Thus, kuro sumi choice should also be carefully made. These top, 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 items 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.
- Made of non-toxic ingredients
- Blackest black tattoo ink and true graywash ink
- Reasonable price with free shipping
- Impressive color consistency
- Minor issue with the bottle cap
7. Kuro Sumi Tattoo Ink Set- Best White Ink Tattoo
The kuro sumi ink and graywash color set above may be one of the best 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.
Quick Summary
- Comes in 16 1-ounce bottles
- 16 organic tattoo colors
- Long lasting and vibrant color
- Vegan-friendly tattoo ink
- Available in four different sets
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.
- 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 Zuper Black 12 oz- 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 Zuper Black.
Quick Summary
- Zuper Black made with C.i.77266; Aqua, Glycerine, Hamamelis, and Virginiana Extract
- Comes in a 12-ounce bottle
- Long lasting and vibrant color
- Sterilized tattoo ink in a tamper-proof bottle
- Extremely dark
According to the Intenze Tattoo Ink 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. 
Pastel Intenze Zuper Black 12 oz color saturation essentially remains the same on the bottle as well as on a fresh tattoo and a healed one.
The Intenze Zuper Black has a cold color tone that makes it such a great accent to warm colors.
Intenze has a very good light fastness, a good feature in a solid color, as well as able to cover other colors extremely well.
Intenze can be used with a wide range of needle sizes, too, from 1 to 14, as well as suitable for all skin tones.
The bottom line: It’s the kind of Intenze 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 Intenze black tattoo on a more obvious part of your body for this reason.
- Deep, dark black perfect for lining 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 tattoo.
It prides itself on working with the best tattooists from all over the world in the production of its tattoo ink. This 7-color primary ink set is one of their more popular sets. 
Quick Summary
- 7 colors in the ink set
- Long lasting fade proof color
- Tattoo Ink come in ½-ounce bottles
- Made in USA
- Easy pigment dispersion
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.
- Colors stay radiant on the skin even after complete healing
- Easy to apply
- Suitable for all skin types and tones
- Flows easily, sticks well
- Bottle cap can cause leaks when not closed securely
10. Dynamic All Around Black- Best Lining Black Tattoo Ink
Dynamic Color Co. has been in the business since 1990. Most 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.
Quick Summary
- Dispersed black tattoo ink
- Suitable for shading, lining and graywash
- Long lasting fade proof color
- Made in the USA
- Vegan-friendly
- Comes in 8-ounce bottle
This dynamic black 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.
- Suitable for use as is or as part of graywash
- Flows freely and smoothly
- Allows for faster healing
- Tattoo Ink lasts for a long time (Large bottle)
- Requires dilution
11. Starbrite Tattoo Ink Tribal Black
The starbrite colors starbrite are vibrant and vivid because starbrite colors have among the highest pure pigment content. 
Quick Summary
- Starbrite is the all steak no sizzle brand of tattoo ink
- While applying, you will never face any problem
- Ingredients include carbon black, isopropyl alcohol, acrylic polymer, and water
The starbrite colors tribal black 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 with an excellent flow rate. Then again, we have to point out that all Starbrite’s tribal black inks are formulated in this manner, and it’s one of the reasons for its enduring popularity.
12. Skin Candy Tattoo Ink
Skin Candy’s beauty lies in the element of surprise, a now-you-see, now-you-don’t kind of effect. Many people who want tattoo but want to be more discreet about it like blacklight tattoo, as well as people in the rave party scene who like them for their uniqueness. 
Quick Summary
- Combo includes all attractive and shinny colors
- Their product meets the strictest health standards
- Made in the USA
These tattoos fluoresce, or glow in the dark, from purples, reds, and blues to whites depending on the tattoo ink applied on the skin.
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.
13. Eternal ink
What we liked most about the tattoo ink from Eternal is that these retain their vibrant saturation over time. In some cases, the colors become even more vibrant when the tattoo has completely healed! 
Quick Summary
- There is a wide variety of colors available
- They are transparent anyone can see their safety data sheets
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 tattoo ink pigmentation technology.
These top items are in nature instead of being pigment, a difference that means there’s no need for mixing with other ink.
Their fairly thin consistency allows them to flow from the needle to the skin so smoothly, too.
14. Bloodline 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.
Quick Summary
- Long lasting and vibrant color
Bloodline tattoo ink 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.
Most importantly, bloodline tattoo ink 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.
Buyers’ Guide for the Finest Quality Tattoo Ink: Things You Didn’t Know But Should Know Now
1. Pre-Dispersed Tattoo Ink 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 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 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.
3. Getting To Know the Tattoo Ink Deeper By the Skin
Making permanent tattoo 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 ink on 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 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: ink 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 ink because these have toxic effects on your body. You want instead safe yet effective ingredients in 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 inks or powder-based inks. The main difference between these two types are in their consistency.
On one hand, pigment-based or powder-based ink requires a liquid carrier to make a fluid matrix. These top inks are preferred by experienced tattoo artists who want custom colors and consistency. Emphasis must be made that beginner 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 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: 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.
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 tattoo 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 body 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.
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 Best Tattoo Ink Sets for You
The best 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 the best tattoo ink in our opinion is the 16-color Kuro Sumi set! The wide range of colors makes 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.
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!
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