What’s in Your Tattoo Ink?

 We’ve called it ink, paint, color, and all sorts of other names. In the 20 years I’ve been tattooing I’ve seen people use drawing ink straight from Michael’s, and worked for people who mixed their own inks. The contents of tattoo ink varies wildly and practically because there’s no actual regulations for it. Recently there’s been a lot of noise about MOCRA and regulating inks causing certain colors to go away (see my other blog on tattoo ink and cancer). While ink does vary from company to company there are a few basic components of tattoo ink that are standard. I’ll also go over my preference for how I choose certain brands to ensure client safety so you know why I choose my inks the way I do. 

The Basics

Tattoo ink is essentially a pigment and carrier mixture. They can come from different sources and be either synthetic, organic or inorganic. There’s no right or wrong about these, but obviously the chemical mixtures of those created from metals and lab chemicals can have their own risks. For cosmetic ink these have to be inorganic and are usually metal based so that they can be temporary. 

Organic Pigment : Made using Carbon or Plant-based material. These are vibrant and long lasting colors. 

Inorganic Pigment : Made using metals or minerals like titanium or iron oxides. Most cosmetic pigment is iron oxide based. 

Synthetic Pigment : Made in a laboratory. These usually have the widest range of colors and also tend to cause the least amount of allergic reactions. They are mode chemically stable and can better survive treatment processes like sterilization. 

Carriers are simply the liquid used to suspend the pigment. Some inks will separate quickly so you can see the two in the bottle. The reason you’ll see me shaking my bottles each time or using the ink mixer is to make sure that the pigment is well distributed even if it hasn’t separated before I pour. Even distribution means that when I’m tattooing the color comes out smooth. Ink often has more than one carrier in it as they can serve secondary purposes. One of the things Virginia requires is that we keep SDS sheets on our ink. While most studios don’t do this (I keep one or two on hand if asked) but since each ink has a proprietary blend this means that every company, color, or even artist specifically sponsored ink brand can be different in mixture. The most common carriers you’ll find mixed in ink are:

Water : The most often used. Easily sterilized, cheap, and the least likely to cause problems. However, it’s also easy to contaminate. 

Alcohols: These are often added to prevent contamination and sanitize the ink with Isopropyl Alcohol being the most common. Certain colors “hurt” more? Maybe the burn isn’t just from the needle but also from the alcohol content of the pigment.

Glycerin: This is a thick and slimy substance and it’s used in a lot of cosmetics. It helps to provide a smoother and thicker texture. The “ooze” you’ll see from some thicker ink brands is a higher glycerin content. 

 Propylene Glycol : This is a humectant which is a type of moisturizer. It draws water from around it, e.g the air, and into itself. This helps keep your ink from drying out but also improves the skin as it goes in so it’s a win-win. There are also some chemical properties that help it keep ink from separating and staying mixed.

Common Colors

All colors are not created equal. Some brands are better because they use better quality pigments that are more refined, and sterile. One of the first thing you’ll notice in these colors is black. When people talk about being allergic to tattoo ink it would be practically impossible to be allergic to carbon black if you eat barbecue or toast. It is the safest color. 

BLACK INK

• Carbon Black: A highly purified form of soot, used for its deep, rich black color.
• Iron Oxide: Sometimes used for a softer black or gray tone.

WHITE INK

• Titanium Dioxide: A mineral-based pigment that provides opacity and brightness.
• Zinc Oxide: Another white pigment, though less commonly used due to potential skin irritation.

RED INK

• Iron Oxide: Provides earthy red tones.
• Naphthol Red: A synthetic pigment offering vibrant red shades.
• Cinnabar (Mercury Sulfide): Traditionally used in red inks but largely phased out due to toxicity concerns.

YELLOW INK

• Cadmium Sulfide: A vibrant yellow pigment, though its use has decreased due to safety concerns.
• Curcumin: A natural pigment derived from turmeric, offering a golden yellow hue.
• Monoazo Pigments: Synthetic options that provide bright yellow shades.

BLUE INK

• Copper Phthalocyanine (CPC): A stable and safe pigment used in most modern blue inks.
• Cobalt Blue: A mineral pigment, though it’s less common due to potential skin reactions.

GREEN INK

• Chromium Oxide: A mineral-based pigment that provides a muted, earthy green.
• CPC Green: Derived from copper phthalocyanine, offering vibrant green shades.

PURPLE INK

• Dioxazine and Quinacridone Pigments: Synthetic pigments that create vivid purple and violet tones.

Most tattoo ink brands use the same color or chemical to create their ink. It’s why it’s quite easy to swap brands and keep my colors the same. Recently, a lot of you have heard about the problems I’ve been having with Eternal Ink, a brand I’ve used for almost 20 years, and how I’m now swapping to two different brands. If you look at these bottles together the colors are almost identical but the newer inks contain lower percentage of Glycerin and a higher alcohol content. They’re thinner and they’re less clumpy but also safer. That isn’t to say that my previous ink wasn’t, but we’re moving with the times and these other companies also have lids that do a better job at preventing contamination and oxidation. 

Other Considerations

Beyond color inks can also be marketed as Vegan. The glycerin that is mentioned above can either be vegetable based or animal based. Most companies these days do choose vegan to keep their clients happy but it’s also more expensive. Animal glycerin is a byproduct of the meat and dairy industry but vegetable has to be produced exclusively. I personally prefer vegan ink brands but it’s not an intentional choice. 

UV reactive is another popular sub type of ink. Unlike conventional ink the glow from this is created from phosphorous. Phosphorous as a chemical is highly carcinogenic. These inks have no approval for human use and have been around for about 20 years. There’s no official testing and no real study done on their long term effects. Many artists use UV colors and won’t even tell their clients because the neon color of the pigment comes out looking so bright which makes them happy. I had some in my back as an apprentice years ago and it took almost 4 years to stop the “new tattoo itch”. On top of that the “glow” fades within a year or two and the pigment tends to heal patchy. 

Phosphorous itself is highly carcinogenic, even small amounts of exposure are dangerous. Since the pigments aren’t regulated there’s little knowledge about whether these inks will cause cancer in the long run. I refuse to use them in part from my own experience but also because they seem highly dangerous.  

Almost all tattoo ink these days comes sterilized. These bottles are sealed but the moment they’re opened they’re vulnerable to being contaminated. I only use brands that are sterilized to avoid things like spores being in the ink before it even gets to me.

By knowing what’s in my ink I make sure I can keep my clients safe and make an informed choice about what I’m using beyond just “pretty colors”. I’ve tattooed myself, which means I trust in my own products enough to put it in my own body. If your tattoo artist can’t say the same and doesn’t know what’s in their ink how can you trust them to tattoo you?