White Ink Tattoos

A Typical Tattoo Experience

When you go for a tattoo, the experience is usually much the same for everyone. You speak with the artist at the shop, pick out a design (such as flash or your own creation, and the process begins. After a stencil is applied where you want your tattoo to be, the first part of the actual tattoo begins - with black ink. Black ink is used to outline tattoos, in order to give the tattoo its shape, as well as to create an image which then can be colored or shaded. Without this black outline, many tattoos would not look "normal", or be as sharp. For years, tattoo artists were unwilling to do a tattoo without a black outline to follow as a guide; however, things have started to change.

White Ink Tattoos

White ink tattoos do not follow the usual tattoo process of stenciling and outlining in black. Instead, the tattoo itself is completely done with white ink - leaving a ghostly image that looks quite different from a traditional tattoo. These tattoos can look like brands (or scarification), or they can appear to be very subtle - a good idea for someone who wants a tattoo but can't have something obvious in their work environment. The white ink used for white ink tattoos is not the same ink you might have seen used for mixing shades in a color tat - instead, it is a thicker, high quality white ink that is specially made to stand out on its own.

A stencil can be used with a white ink tat, or the tattoo can be done freehand. If a stencil is used, the artist must be careful to make sure that the ink from the stencil does not mix with the white ink being used - this can dull the brightness of the ink. Also, white tattoos can require several passes over the area to make sure that the white ink sinks fully into the skin. White is not as likely to be absorbed by skin as black or colored inks are.

White Ink Issues

While white ink tats are gaining in popularity, there are still some issues that need to be worked out with this type of tattoo. Many people (especially those of darker skin) can not "take" enough of the white ink for it to appear brightly on their skin. Some of these people may also find that they have a reaction to the white ink. This is much more common than a reaction to black tattoo ink. In some cases the white ink areas will swell and itch, and the white ink may ooze from the tattoo. This can be a sign of your skin actually rejecting the white ink, and you may end up with no tattoo in that area at all.

Another issue with white tattoos is that these tats are not ideal for areas of the body that will be in the sun and elements. White ink can turn quite dull if exposed to the sun frequently, so it's important to choose an area that will be covered when outdoors - such as your chest or back, or even the underside of your arm. White ink is not a good idea for hand tattoos or tats in other exposed places.

White Ink Ideas

A simple image works best.

What sort of tattoo looks good in white ink? Well, one tattoo artist suggests only simple designs - these are easier for the artist to ink, and less likely to have complications. Small hearts, tribal designs and little Celtic patterns are all good ideas for white tats. One celebrity who has a white ink tattoo is Lindsay Lohan. She has a small white ink tat on the inside of her wrist that says "breathe". White colored tattoos such as these can be a good way to have a tattoo that's "just for you"... a personal mantra or important word or symbol as an affirmation that you don't want just anyone to be able to read.

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