White Ink Tattoos: Should You Get One?

What Are White Ink Tattoos?
White ink tattoos are permanent skin designs, similar to black or colored tattoos, that are made only using white tattoo ink. These tattoos are different from the standard ones in the sense that they're more subtle, and may even glow when exposed to UV light! [ See:  Glow In The Dark Tattoos?? ]

This type of tattoos have become increasingly popular during the past few years, mainly because the white ink is able to emphasize beautifully crafted designs in a way that black or colored ink is not able to.

White ink tattoos are usually more visible and better looking on tan or dark skin. What's more, it is highly important that the design is performed by a skilled tattoo artist, otherwise the result may be far from ideal.

Why a White Ink Tattoo?
A white ink tattoo may be a good choice if you're looking for a beauty statement, but your career does not allow you to sport regular tattoos. A tattoo performed using white ink is delicate and almost invisible, especially if it's small.

Problems with White Ink Tattoos
There are several issues you need to take into account before deciding to get a white ink tattoo. First of all, white ink is usually fickle, meaning that it may or may not stay for a long time on your skin. To be more precise, your stunning white ink tattoo may discolor after a while and look more like a scar.
Secondly, your body may not respond very well to white tattoo ink. Therefore, instead of getting what you pay for, your healed white ink tattoo might look like a protuberant, swollen, oozing scar.

Last but not least, keep in mind that a healed white ink tattoo may be quite different from what you imagined. If a properly healed tattoo will be smooth and white, there are cases when the tattoo gets a yellowish tinge, or no color at all! These are the main reasons why many tattoo artists don't dare or are unwilling to tackle the white ink tattoo issue.

Remember also that white ink tattoos should not be exposed to the sun - at least not as you would do with the rest of your body! Sun rays, and other harsh weather elements may ruin the white tattoo ink, washing it off.

White Ink Tattoos Cost
White ink tattoos cost may vary, but you should keep in mind that this kind of designs are usually more expensive, as they require more work than a regular tattoo. And when deciding to get a white ink tattoo, you should definitely be prepared to invest in this personal statement: better artists charge higher fees, but at least you'll know that you (probably) get what you pay for.

White Ink Tattoo - Know Before You Get

First of all let us look at what exactly are white ink tattoos. This is a tattoo that is drawn making use of UV white ink.

This ink is hardly visible and has the property of not leaving a visible mark. People who know about this know that it is for the people who have fairer skin, though now more and more people with darker or tanned skin are also going for this. Most times you cannot make out that there is a tattoo as it looks really pale and only appears clearly when viewed in clear and natural light. This form of tattooing has found a niche among both the genders.

This is a form of tattooing that makes a statement without being too loud.
People with white ink tattoos can make their mark but still stand out from the crowd. While white ink tattoos have many advantages they are not without disadvantages. If done in a poor or slapdash manner they can look really bad and leave unsightly marks for the rest of their lives. You need to pick out an artist who specializes in this. This is a very precise art which has no margin for mistakes. Because once the pigments mix with the bloodstream then there is a chance of the color traveling to other parts of the skin.

The best way to describe a white ink tattoo is that it makes your skin look like it has a lace like pattern or looks as if the skin has a self design.

It is beautiful piece of body work that excels due to the sheer subtleness of the work and the way it leaves you wondering if this really is a tattoo or a part of your skin pattern itself. But to get this effect you have to be careful, research carefully and carry out a due diligence process not just limited to the location and design but also include things like the artist you want to work on this. If you are willing to invest that kind of time and dedication then you will have a tattoo that everyone will admire.

Learn how to choose a white ink tattoo: The first thing that we are going to reiterate is the importance of choosing an artist who is knowledgeable and has the absolute confidence to do this kind of work. An expert artist will guide you on the subtleties and nuances of coloring when it comes to the white ink tattoo. Yes! There is going to be  a little bit of subtle color added to white to make it suitable to your skin. If you study the color white you will see subtle shadings like ivory, pale mauve, very light blue, a bit of subtle yellow or even some pink. If this sort of shading is not added your tattoo will look more like a scar. An expert tattoo artist will work with a lot of gray like hues to outline the design before starting in with the white. [ see: Awesome White Ink Tattoos. ]

Even considering that white Ink tattoos have become a little safer due to the regulation from the industry with regard to the training of the artists, there is always a chance that you may come across some artists who are not as expert as they claim to be. You are well advised to go with the experts in this regard even if it costs you more. You can do your research by reading reviews or better yet talking to people who have had it done. Then you can go about getting that unusual white ink tattoo done.  [ see: Unbelievable White Ink Tattoos. ]

White Ink Tattoo - Should You Get One?

Impressions Of The White Ink Tattoo

This new type of tattoo, which is inked exclusively with white pigment, is favored by more and more people. Lindsay Lohan has a white ink tattoo that says "breathe". A white tattoo is more subtle than other tattoos and thanks to the relatively smaller and simpler designs, it can be easily hidden when needed in different occasions, that is probably one the reasons why it is so popular.

Another issue with white tattoos is that these white tattoos are not ideal for areas of the body that will be exposed to the sun and weather elements. White pigment can turn quite dull if frequently exposed to the sun, so it's important to choose an area that will be covered when outdoors such as your chest, back or even the underside of your arm. And if you have to do that, make sure you consult your artist and take care of it.

One particular type of ink that offers a very opaque white ink that does seem to hold up well over time is the brand produced by Intenze. Intenze inks are made with the usual pigments and carrier fluids, but have an added difference. According to the MSDS sheets that tell what the ingredients of inks are, Intenze inks also include a finely ground acrylic polymer. Acrylic polymers are used in car paints, house paints, and other applications. There has been some discussion in online forums between artists that there is a fear that the acrylic polymers may melt and solidify in the skin and make a patch of tougher skin than the surrounding areas. I have been using Intenze inks for over 5 years now and have never had one single complaint from any customer about this problem.

The ink used is completely different from base white inks which tint other colours. When used as the primary ink, you get a much thicker, top quality mixture which is created solely to stand out as much as it can.

White ink tattoos will lose a portion of their brightness and clarity if they are constantly in the sunshine. If you get this type of design, be sure to keep it out of the sun as much as possible. The easiest way to do this is to get inked in an area which you normally cover up. Your back or chest make for ideal areas. If you normally wear clothes with a bit more cover in the summer, you could also try using your shoulder or just below the ankle.

Something else to think about is white pigment is harder to remove, and requires more trips to a tattoo removal specialist than a colored image, and at several hundred dollars a visit, can become very costly. The primary advantage of a white ink tattoo is its unique look, subtle but distinctive, often appearing as a brand, but capable of more intricate detail and the added dimensional advantage of the slightly raised skin.

Recently, a new tattoo ink manufacturer has come out with a line of nonencapsulated UV black light inks. I have tried the Tokyo Pink and find this ink to be thin, not as bright in the skin as in the bottle, and a couple of clients have come back after 3 - 4 months saying that their pink areas are not glowing under a black light anymore. [ read: Know before you Get it. ]

Facts About White Ink Tattoo

First, there are two distinctly different types of white tattoos being done currently. One is done with white ink only, will be slightly visible under natural daylight and is permanent. The other is done with white UV black light ink and may not be visible at all once healed fully and may or may not last a long time.

The first type is done with only white, normal tattoo ink. There are many brands of white ink on the market today and new brands are showing up all the time. Brands like Starbright, Millenium "Moms', Kuro Sumi, Fantasia, Eternal, Iron Butterfly, and others basically use titanium white powered pigment in a carrier fluid.

When most people think about body art, they think of stark and immediately eye-catching visuals, and this is largely fair. Even the slightest tattoo of stars on a wrist, meant to be concealed, pops when exposed. Not everyone, however, wants to be purely bold in how they express themselves; some people delight in playing their boldness against the minimalistic or the subtle. For many of these people, a white ink tattoo fills this purpose. Made of a thicker, higher quality ink, the completed white ink tattoo is quite pale, may appear slightly embossed, and will bear a resemblance to branding or scarification once fully healed.

What is the benefit to owning a white tattoo?

Lindsey Lohan, (poor girl), has a wonderful example of how a white tattoo can be significant. It says...

"Breathe"

It's located on the inside of her wrist, visible only to those who know it's there. Probably one of the wisest things she has done in the midst of her tragic life struggles.

A white tattoo works best with smaller images of stars, hearts, Celtic designs and small words, that are designed to be a silhouette in design. It's a great way to create an image "just for you" that expresses a small personal mantra or motivational reminder.

White ink shouldn't be combined with a colored design because the other colors will bleed into the white ink, distorting the image. They are also much more sensitive to sun damage and can fade to a yellowish color, or even totally disappear. Because of this you can expect a trip or two back to your artist for a touch up to maintain its original look.

Tattoo art has come a long way from being insignias of gangs or a good way to pass the time in prison. Tattoos are now considered a form of art and even grace Hollywood's hottest. But even if almost everyone you know has got a tattoo, you can choose to still be different by taking it a step further like Lindsay Lohan or Kate Moss. Try a white ink tattoo or a UV ink tattoo to definitely stand out from the crowd.

As with any ink, if you do not put in the effort to take special care of your new tattoo, you might end up with something that only barely resembles the art you wanted. Don't scratch or touch the area. Always keep the gauze on for the minimum of 2 hours. Never ever cover up a new tattoo with plastic/saran wrap.

White Ink Tattoos

It is a great way to get inked in a more private way. These marks are usually only really visible when you deliberately show it someone. It is the best of both worlds.

To perform a white tattoo is generally a risky and difficult task for a tattoo artists. There are mainly three ways that are used to perform a white tattoo.

The first one is the most traditional one, namely, a stencil of purple dye is applied to the skin before the artist begins tattooing. However, this method is the last choice for white tattoos, because it is very easily for the artist to mix the white ink with the dark stencil ink, and finally leaves a permanent grey tint on your white tattoo.

The choice would be to use a bloodline, in this process, the artists use a water filled needle to draw blood in an outline of the design. This method is also very risky because your blood may mix with the white pigment, resulting in a pink tatoo but not a white one.

The choice is to use freehand. It is by far the most secure way of performing a white tattoo. Freehand performing means performing a tattoo without any type of stencil of guideline. But to do this, an artist must be skilled, experienced and careful. Because white pigment is very light and it is very hard for a tattooist to see where they are going and where the pigment is injected.

The ink used is completely different from base white inks which tint other colours. When used as the primary ink, you get a much thicker, top quality mixture which is created solely to stand out as much as it can.

White ink tattoos will lose a portion of their brightness and clarity if they are constantly in the sunshine. If you get this type of design, be sure to keep it out of the sun as much as possible. The easiest way to do this is to get inked in an area which you normally cover up. Your back or chest make for ideal areas. If you normally wear clothes with a bit more cover in the summer, you could also try using your shoulder or just below the ankle.

Impressions Of The White Ink Tattoo

If a stencil is used on your white ink tattoo, the artist can either make the outline in your own blood or with purple dye. As a warning, your blood can sometimes tint the ink pink, and the purple can also mix. Your best bet is to have a pro do a simple design without a stencil. Ask your tattoo artist if he or she has much experience with white ink before you let them draw on your skin.

Follow normal aftercare directions and in a few weeks your new tattoo should look great. If you do suspect a problem or are unhappy with the outcome, take a trip back to your artist to address your concerns. On final note: When searching for a tattoo artist, ask for someone who is experienced in white ink tattoos, ask them if you are a good candidate, and make sure they are going to use pure white ink, and as always, ask to see examples of their work. [ read more: Impressions of The White Ink Tattoo and The Facts. ]