White Ink Tattoos

About White Ink Tattoos

White ink tattoos are different than traditional tattoos in that they don't follow the same outlining and stenciling in black. Instead, the tattoo itself is completely done with white ink - leaving a ghostly image that looks very 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 at work, for example. 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.

The artist can use a stencil 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 "going over' the area a few times to make sure that the white ink sinks completely into the skin. White is not as likely to be absorbed by skin as black or colored inks are.

While white ink tats are gaining in popularity, there are still some things that need to be thought about 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 become dull if exposed to the sun too much, 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