Tattoo Ink Colors

From LoveToKnow Tattoos

You may be surprised to discover that not only are there many different tattoo ink colors, but there is also a wide variety of "recipes" of ink colors that are used by tattoo artists all over the globe. Some recipes of ink colors offer vibrant, bright colors.

Vibrant tattoos need vibrant colors.

Professional Tattoo Parlors

Rarely do professional tattoo parlors create their own tattoo ink colors. Instead, tattoo ink is usually purchased in bulk from companies that specialize in producing ink. Colors are often sold in packs which can be combined to create other colors and shades. This gives the tattoo artists the option to provide customers with custom colors that may not be considered traditional.

For this reason, even though there are limited ink colors commonly available for purchase, a professional tattoo artist who combines colors proficiently can offer a huge spectrum of colors to customers.

Common Tattoo Ink Colors

Basic colors commonly purchased by tattoo studios include:

Red
Green
Yellow
Purple
Orange
Blue
Brown
White

By using these basic colors and mixing two or more colors, tattoo artists can offer an impressive color palette. Of course, some customers are content with the standard ink colors just the way they are and there is no mixing required. For customers who want a specific color or shade that is not commonly stocked by tattoo parlors, mixing offers a creative option.

Additional Colors

Ask for the colors you really want.

Some tattoo ink suppliers offer a catalog of colors beyond the basic colors listed above. These colors have already been premixed to create shades that can be both lively and surprising.

For example, SkinCandy, a popular supplier of tattoo inks, offers untraditional colors such as:

Ecru
Dark Magenta
Gold

Different shades of classic tattoo colors are also available. For example, red tattoo ink is available in a variety of unexpected shades such as:

Crimson Red
Mud Red
Bright Red

Purchasing these colors premixed allows tattoo artists to eliminate any guesswork associated with mixing colors to achieve a certain shade.

Special Inks

A skilled tattoo artist can mix and blend existing colors to achieve almost any shade a customer wants. On certain occasions, a customer may be looking for something beyond a particular shade or color. A good example of this is UV tattoo ink. This tattoo ink provides bright, vibrant colors in normal light, but when exposed to a blacklight the tattoo ink actually glows. This was once extremely popular among avid club goers who spent a great deal of time under blacklights, but has since become more mainstream.

Tattoo Ink Myths

Colors can make all the difference.

Tattoo ink colors have been subject to plenty of myths, including:

Dark tattoo colors hurt more when applied.
Light tattoo colors hurt more when applied.
Tattoo ink for outlines hurts the most.

Most tattoo professionals will tell you that these myths are not true at all. In fact, it is not the tattoo color that causes any pain experienced by the customer, but instead it is the needle that is the cause of the discomfort. For this reason, people should not avoid one color or another in an attempt to avoid pain.

Additionally, people should understand that bright colors are completely possible for tattoos, so if you ask your tattoo artist for a bright red cherry on your ankle, don't be surprised if the red color is indeed shockingly bright red.

Retrieved from "http://tattoos.lovetoknow.com/Tattoo_Ink_Colors"

Tattoo Johnny »