Think ’ink’!
I’ve seen some articles lately about what to look for in a shop when you go for a tattoo. Among the things to look for are, or course, whether the shop uses single-use needles and other sterile practices. But lately I’ve been thinking about one of the things most people don’t even consider: the ink itself.
I thought about this the other day after being particularly pleased with how a blood-red color went into a piece I was working on, and Michelle suggested I write about it since most people don’t even think about how different inks affect the look of a tattoo. I’ve recently switched ink brands and immediately noticed a difference in how quickly I am able to put in color and how rich and full the colors appear to me. Both brands are professional quality and used in shops across the country, but the important thing is as a customer make sure you take a look at how your artist’s work comes out since there can be a difference in how each brand’s ink looks in people’s skin.
In the past there was a big difference in quality between the brands. Mostly it seems they did this for economical reasons (high-quality ingredients can be expensive), but rarely out of carelessness or for malicious reasons. Nowadays, low-quality, inexpensive inks should only be used by people first starting out who practice their skills on non-human targets and are still trying to figure out if tattooing is right for them before shelling out a ton of money on professional equipment and supplies. Even an apprentice should be using quality ink, but that is handed down to them by their mentors (which means if an apprentice is using cheap ink, consider the professionalism of the mentoring artist). The good thing is with tattoos becoming more mainstream, more companies are producing good quality inks. This means there’s no good excuse for your artist to not use top-notch color in your skin.
All-in-all, among all the things to look for when choosing a shop and artist for your next tattoo, check out the artist’s work to make sure the coloring looks good for the piece you plan to get, and don’t be afraid to ask what brand of ink they use. Remember, the ink is what is going to stay in your skin for the rest of your life. Make it count.
And, don’t forget to ask about single-use needles and other sterile practices while you’re at it.
Peace,
-Alex
