Tattoos can fade over time. This is due to the body’s immune system working against the ink in your skin. They can’t get rid of it due to how large the pigments are so they have to do it slowly. As the years go by, your tattoo will start to lighten in color. However, there are ways to lighten your tattoo without having to wait. One such way is to use white ink.
So how to lighten a tattoo with white ink? You might be thinking that if you can color over the old tattoo ink with white, it will eventually start looking clearer. However, that is not the case. Pigments in the tattoo ink do not mix like that, especially on white ink can only slightly change the shade of the existing pigment. While it may be difficult to do so, it is still possible to lighten (not fully) your tattoo with white ink.
Key Takeaways
- Most tattoo artists will avoid lightening with white ink because of the difficulty of using white ink on the skin.
- To lighten your tattoo with white ink, consider an artist who has prior experience. As a tattoo artist, you should practice before you attempt it.
- Instead of just lightening with white ink, you can do cover-ups and unique designs can make your tattoo visibly lighter than before.
- It is dangerous to use DIY methods to lighten your tattoos. Always consult a registered tattoo artist on how to lighten your tattoos.
Why Artists Avoid Lightening with White Ink?
The difficulty of working with white ink is well-known in the tattoo industry. One of the main reasons this is the case is because white does not look good on the skin. Here are some reasons why tattoo artists do not like white ink.
Poor visibility
It might look good on paper or in painting but because you are seeing the ink through the skin layer, it will look diffused and not as clean. Tattoos are meant to stand out but white does not really stand out. It is even worse on pale skin, where you won’t be able to see the tattoo at all. That is why when you lighten with white ink, it makes only a small difference because of how white looks on the skin.
Difficult to pack
When an artist says pack, it means to put as much ink in the skin as possible so it sets properly. This is difficult with white ink because when you are getting tattooed, blood comes out. This might get mixed with the ink and will look pinkish, making it difficult for an artist to gauge how much is actually being packed.
Poor longevity
One of the main reasons why tattoo artists don’t like white ink tattoos is that it does not age well. Black will last you years but white tattoo ink will start to stain relatively quickly, becoming brown or yellow as the years go on. White ink on already existing tattoos will lighten as a temporary solution. At the year’s end, you will notice that your tattoo is back to its original state.
Difficulty with touch-ups
When lightening tattoos with white ink, it becomes very difficult to touch up the skin. The existing tattoo ink does not really white out. Instead, it will mix and make only a slightly lighter shade at best. That is why you will only find very few artists who are willing to work on lightening tattoos with white ink. It is easier for them to either cover up the tattoo after slightly whitening existing the tattoo.
Lightening Tattoos with White Ink
In my opinion, the only way that lightening with white ink is possible is if you are up for it. My experience of doing this has not been great. It takes many sessions to do it, but it is still possible.
Here is how you can go about doing this:
As a client
If you are a client, then you should seek out someone who has experience with working on lightening tattoos. If they are not experienced at it, then you should not get it done. It is already a difficult process and having someone who has no idea how to lighten might end up ruining it. Your artist will tell you that it will take multiple sessions to completely lighten a large tattoo so be prepared for the many trips you will have to make.
As an artist
If you have experience with it or want to start trying to lighten, I would suggest you practice first. Here are some guidelines for you to look over when you are practicing
- Choose opaque white tattoo ink
- Apply in thin layers, moving your machine in small circles to do so
- Wait for it to dry before applying a new layer
- Keep repeating the process until you are happy with the coverage
- Apply a transparent ink top coat to make the ink last longer
Make sure to have as much practice as possible before you ever do it on yourself or a client. It is incredibly difficult to do so but with practice, you can start doing it.
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Other Ways to Lighten Tattoos with White Ink
There are many reasons why someone might want to lighten a tattoo. Here are some that I had encountered over my years of tattooing.
Cover up
I have had clients come with small tattoos that they wanted to lighten to make them less noticeable. Some came because it was a bad tattoo job or they wanted to have the design changed. As that is not completely possible, I suggested they lighten it so that they can cover it up. When the tattoo becomes lighter than they were, it becomes easier to cover the tattoo with another tattoo on top of it. That way, when the white ink fades faster, they already have it covered!
Unique design
White ink on blacked-out tattoo designs is incredibly unique to look at. White lines are better if they are used to make lines. If you have a sleeve that is blackout and wants to add some designs to it, using white ink can be just what you are looking for! It will both add a unique design to it and help make the tattoo look a lot less dark. My favorites are to either add flower patterns or geometric shapes to blackout sleeves or do tribal designs. They are incredibly challenging to do on existing tattoos because of the pigment interactions but it makes for some incredible designs!
Best Way to Lighten Tattoo: Laser Removal
I’ll be completely honest, white ink is the best way to lighten your tattoos. It will be a temporary fix that you will need to get touched up again in a year or two. If you really want to lighten your tattoos, there is no better way to do it than laser removal procedures.
You might think of laser removal as complete removal, but laser removal can also be done in a way that only partially removes your tattoo instead. There are specialists who can use the intensity of the laser to only lighten your tattoo for you.
Along with that, it will take way fewer sessions to get your tattoo lightened. White ink lightening will take many sessions with larger tattoos which will take just a few laser removal sessions instead. They will also make cover-up jobs way easier! Instead of having to whiten it, you can simply get a tattoo over it. It is also much safer to do as the old pigments are removed and you can get new ink added to your skin without having to add white ink over it first.
Dangers of DIY Lightening Methods
Speaking of safety, there are many DIY methods to lighten tattoos going around on the internet. Not only will these work, but they will ruin your tattoo and destroy your skin too! I have seen people adding baking soda or using lemon-salt rubs on their tattoos to slowly ‘lighten’ or ‘remove’ them tattoos. This is incredibly dangerous and will do your skin more harm than good. It might also cause a reaction with the tattoo ink can cause damage to your skin and tattoo simultaneously! Never attempt to lighten your tattoos with these sorts of methods. It is best to consult a professional about this first!
FAQs
Are blackout tattoos healthy?
Because blackout tattoos completely cover up the skin, it makes it harder to see any find and identify skin diseases.
Is white tattoo ink safe?
White tattoo ink is very dangerous because of the presence of titanium oxide which is carcinogenic. Its thicker consistency hinders the healing process and causes skin irritation.
Are blackout tattoos expensive?
They are relatively expensive. As blackout tattoos completely cover the area of the body, it means more usage of ink. More ink means a higher cost so it increases the cost of blackout tattoos.
Final Thoughts
Overall, tattooing with white ink is a hassle that most tattoo artists will want to avoid. They are incredibly difficult and the complaints of white ink after a year or two makes tattoo artist not want to deal with it. But, white ink is still a viable option to help lighten your tattoo. It may not lighten it how you would like, but it can make for a cool cover-up or add a unique design to your tattoo. Laser removal is still the best way to lighten your tattoo with the right specialist.
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