Tattoo Ink

Tattoo Ink

Ask ten artists what brand of tattoo ink to use for any given design, and you’ll get ten different answers—and half of them will involve mixing and matching different brands of ink. The reason for such passion is clear: no matter how talented the artist, if the ink itself is sub-par, then the tattoo will be as well.  Shop for Intezne here:  Intenze Tattoo Ink

It’s absolutely essential for artists to use quality tattoo ink that they know inside and out. For those of you considering trying out a new brand or just starting out as a professional artist, here’s some common wisdom about different brands of ink that might prove helpful.

Black Tattoo Ink

Which brand of black ink is the “best” is one of the eternal questions debated endlessly by tattoo artists. Many prefer to mix and match depending on the individual tattoo design, and many others add just a touch of royal blue, purple, or red to the black for a “truer” black. Here’s a breakdown of some of the more popular brands.

Kuro Sumi – This brand of ink, imported from Japan, is great for outlines, but can be finicky with shading.

Talons – Solid all-round brand of black ink, this brand has been in use since 1984.

Pelikan – Great ink for shading, but it tends to heal too light for solid black. Some artists mix it with distilled water or witch hazel to improve shading.

Intenze – Manufactured by Mario Barth, this is good for solid or dark black, but for lining, it’s a bit thin.

Dynamic – Good for shading, this brand reliably stays dark.

Sumi for Lining- dynamic for shading.  Depending on the other colors in the piece. I'll add a drop of opposing colors to black, just to offset it from the rest.

Color Tattoo Ink

Each artist has his or her own preference when it comes to color inks, but here’s a quick breakdown of some of the more popular inks. If you’re considering switching to a new brand of tattoo ink, try and get a sample pack before buying in large quantities.

Kuro Sumi – Solid colors, but beware imitations—there are a lot of cheaper knock-offs available, so be sure to buy from a reputable supplier.  That pretty much goes for all tattoo ink brands!

Classic Color Systems – The Troy Glen system, these are solid, thick inks that are also 100 percent organic.

Dynamic – Another solid tattoo ink brand that’s great for softer shades.

Eternal – Thick and pure with rich color, this brand is manufactured by the owner of Eternal Tattoos, Terry “Tramp” Welker.

White Tattoo Ink

White ink tattoos are currently in vogue, featured on celebrities like Lindsey Lohan; however, artists have been using white tattoo ink for years, mostly to complement color tattoos—frequently as highlights.  Here are a few white tattoo ink brands.

Starbrite’s Brite White – This color keeps its brilliance well, although there have been some reports of allergic reactions when Starbrite is used with reddish colors.

Moms Power White – Moms pack as much pigment as possible into its ink for bright colors.

Eternal – As with their other colors, Eternal’s white ink generally get’s good reviews.

Tattoo ink is one of, if not the most important ingredient in your arsenal of creating great tat's!