Tattoo ink is one of the most underrated components of a tattoo. People do extensive research to find the best tattoo artist, the best tattoo design that suits their personality, the perfect tattoo aftercare, etc. But most often they forget to do research on the ink they will get injected with. The quality of the ink can either provide a vibrant rad tattoo that lasts for decades or a faded tattoo that looks dull. That is why avoiding bad tattoo ink brands is crucial.
There are tons of tattoo ink brands out there. Choosing the right one for your skin can be a bit difficult if you do not know what ingredients or brands you should avoid. Worry not, as I have provided detailed information on what tattoo ink brands to avoid and more in this piece.
Key Takeaways:
- Tattoo ink is made of ink pigment and liquid carrier, tattoo artist uses this ink to make eye-catching tattoo designs.
- Reasons why tattoo ink quality matters are appearance and clarity, longevity, health and safety, reduced risk of allergic reaction, consistency, professional reputation, and less chance of infection.
- Ingredients you should avoid in tattoo ink are nickel, mercury, cadmium, lead, iron oxides, carrier ingredients, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, formaldehyde, and alcohol.
- 3 tattoo ink brands to avoid are Color King, Scalpaink, and Element Tattoo Supply.
- Ways to identify bad ink products are unknown and unrecognizable brands, bad ingredients, inconsistency, sterilization, and safety labels, lack of information regarding ingredients, patch tests, poor reviews, and reputation.
- 3 tattoo ink brands to use are Kuro Sumi, Intenz, and Dynamic.
Tattoo Ink: Short Primer
Tattoo ink is what your tattoo artist injects deep into your skin to make tattoos. Tattoo inks are made of ink pigments and carriers. There are no fixed ingredients when it comes to tattoo inks. Various ink brands use various ingredients to make their ink.
The tattoo ink has a major impact on how your tattoo looks. So, make sure to choose a reputable ink brand that does not have any harmful components. Bad tattoo ink brands will not only give you a washed-up tattoo outcome but also have the potential to cause an allergic reaction and other health issues.
7 Reasons Why Tattoo Ink Quality Matters
If you want to save some bucks and go for cheap quality tattoo ink then let me stop you right there. There are many reasons to choose high-quality ink even if it costs a bit more. I have listed a few reasons for you below.
1. Appearance and clarity
The appearance of your tattoo depends on the quality of the ink quite a bit. Your artist will not be able to make sharp lines and perfect shading if they use bad-quality ink. For the tattoo outline and design to clear you have to use good quality tattoo ink. Poor quality tattoo ink may lead to tattoo fading, tattoo appearing blurry, and other issues.
2. Longevity
Tattoos are quite expensive. So once when you get a tattoo you want to make sure that it lasts long in a crisp shape. However, using a bad-quality ink can cause the ink’s life span to shorten. If you want to lengthen the longevity of your tattoo then go for a high-quality tattoo ink.
3. Health and safety
Getting a tattoo is cool and all that but your health and safety comes first. Would you risk getting an infection and other serious health issues by using low-quality ink? I know I wouldn’t. Choose a reputable tattoo ink brand that ensures your health and safety.
4. Reduced risk of allergic reaction
Cheap and unbranded tattoo ink has a higher chance of causing allergic reactions. Trust me, experiencing an allergic reaction while your tattoo is healing is not so nice. It can provide you with many discomforts. However, a reputable tattoo ink brand has a lower chance of causing an allergic reaction as they tend to avoid allergen components when formulating their ink.
5. Consistency
The consistency of the ink you are using can affect how the tattoo looks. Tattoo ink that has consistency will make it easier for your tattoo artist to work without any disruption and achieve flawless results. On the other hand, tattoo ink that does not have consistency can provide a botched and uneven tattoo. So, make sure to choose high-quality ink that maintains consistency.
6. Professional reputation
A professional tattoo artist using cheap or unbranded tattoo ink can ruin his reputation. So, to maintain a professional look and reputation an artist should always use high-quality tattoo ink.
7. Less chance of infection
Unbranded ink has a higher chance of being contaminated. Contaminated ink can cause infection and other serious issues. On the other hand, a reputable tattoo ink will always maintain hygiene during the making and packaging of the ink. High-quality inks are not contaminated so they are less likely to cause any infection.
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Tattoo Ink: 9 Ingredients You Should Avoid
As I said tattoo inks are made of various ingredients. Before you select the ink to get your tattoo, make sure to learn about the ingredients it is made of. I have listed some ink ingredients below that you should look out for.
1. Nickel
Some black and grey tattoo ink contains nickel. If you are someone who has an allergy to nickel then using such ink to get tattooed can cause an allergic reaction to your skin. It is crucial to inform your tattoo arctic in case you have an allergy to nickel so that they can use ink that does not have nickel in it.
If you do not have an allergy to nickel then you may use nickel-included tattoo ink without any issue. As long the quantity is not too high you are good to go, Even the Council of Europe made a rule that forbids the use of too much nickel in tattoo ink.
2. Mercury
Mercury was a regular part of tattoo ink in the old days. Nowadays no reputable tattoo ink brand uses mercury, but some traditional or non-reputable ink brands may use mercury. Mercury may cause you some serious health issues, which is why it is essential to steer clear of any tattoo ink that uses mercury.
3. Cadmium
Cadmium is a heavy metal that can be found in some unbranded tattoo inks. It can be highly toxic if you inject it into your skin. A huge issue is, if you use ink that contains cadmium by mistake then this cadmium stays within your body for the rest of your life. Scary, isn’t it? It is not clear how cadmium toxicity causes health issues but it can affect the tissue in your body which can lead to other health issues.
4. Lead
Lead is another ingredient you should avoid. Some ink bran may still use lead which is a heavy metal. It can cause metal toxicity and other health issues if you use an ink that contains lead.
5. Iron oxides
Iron oxides are a common ingredient found in many tattoo inks. It is generally safe but it can cause skin reactions in some individuals. So make sure to do a patch test first before getting a full tattoo using ink that has iron oxides.
6. Carrier ingredients
Beware of what carrier ingredients are being used for the tattoo ink you have chosen. There are some carrier ingredients that may cause negative reactions to your skin, make sure to avoid them. A few such ingredients are:
- Methanol
- Denatured alcohol
- Formaldehyde
- Antifreeze
7. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
ABS or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is a common ingredient that many ink brand uses. The reason why it is so popular is it has high heat resistance. Not to mention the vivid and vibrant color it provides. But the issue is it is a plastic-based component, which may trigger allergic reactions in many people. You can use ABS just make sure to do a patch test to know if you are allergic to it or not.
8. Formaldehyde
Many tattoo ink brand uses formaldehyde in their ink formula. Excessive amounts of formaldehyde on your ink may cause many issues if you use it to get a tattoo. It can cause shortness of breath, and skin rashes, and in rare cases, it can cause lung issues as well.
9. Alcohol
Alcohol is a safe ingredient to use on tattoo ink. Now, you might ask, if it is safe to include alcohol in tattoo ink then how come it is on the list of ingredients I should be avoiding? Because alcohol can thin your ink and no matter how much ink you use, the tattoo will fade quickly. Not to mention it is difficult to get a vibrant look when you use ink that contains alcohol.
3 Tattoo Ink Brands To Avoid & Why
In this portion, I have provided a few tattoo ink brands you should be avoiding. Which are:
- Color king
- Scalpaink
- Element tattoo supply
I have elaborated on why you should avoid these tattoo ink brands below.
Color king
Color King is one of those tattoo ink brands that uses a lot of heavy metal in their ink formula. This excessive amount of heavy metal can cause skin irritation, cancer and in some cases it can cause fertility toxicity as well. Most likely the manufacturer is careless and that is why this ink has such a bad reputation. Apart from heavy metals like nickel it also contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
The TUKES tested various ink brands in 2019 and found out that a few ink brands had heavy metals and harmful chemicals in them. Color King was one of the brands. However, the test was done using just a single lot of color king ink. But even if that is the only time the brand made a manufacturing error, you should still avoid this brand. There is no guarantee they will be more careful and not use harmful chemicals in their ink anymore.
Scalpaink
Scalpaink is another brand that people should not use. FDA found out that Scalpaink ink is contaminated. The price might be a bit more affordable for you, but using Scalpaink or any other contaminated ink could lead to tattoo infection and other serious issues. So, steer clear of such tattoo brands.
Element tattoo supply
The ink comes in pre-dispersed mode which means you can use it without diluting it. But unfortunately, the ink is a bit too thin. It is not possible to get a deep, dark, and vibrant tattoo using this ink. And your tattoo will fade away faster. That is why I recommend avoiding the Element tattoo supply brand when it comes to tattoo ink.
7 Ways To Identify Bad Ink Product
How would you recognize if a tattoo ink brand is bad or not? I have listed ways that you can use to identify bad ink products and avoid using them.
1. Unknown and unrecognizable brands
You may come across brand names that you are not familiar with, but the brand advertisement claims to provide top-quality ink that too in a reasonable price! Steer clear of such products. Never go for an unknown tattoo ink brand and never fall for those juicy discount offers. These are signs of a bad ink product.
2. Bad ingredients
Look for the list of ingredients they used to make their ink. Most of the time bad ink products use excessive heavy metal components and harmful chemicals that can cause an allergic reaction or other skin-related issues.
3. Inconsistency
Just like the consistency of the tattoo ink makes it a quality ink, likewise, inconsistency can make a tattoo ink of bad quality. Ink not being able to hold the same texture is a sign of a bad ink product. Avoid using any tattoo ink that can not maintain consistency.
4. Sterilization and safety labels
A bad ink product will not have sterilization or safety labels. However, a high-quality tattoo ink brand will maintain a completely sterile environment while making and packing the ink and will have safety labels on the packaging.
5. Lack of information regarding ingredient
A bad ink product will have a lack of information regarding the ingredients it uses to make the ink. They may do this to hide all the bad components they have used to make the ink. However, a high-quality ink brand will not hide any information regarding the ingredients used to make their ink. Reputable brands are always transparent when it comes to informing customers what exactly is being used to make the product.
6. Patch test
A simple patch test can tell you if the tattoo ink product is bad or not. You can ask your tattoo artist to do a small patch test on your skin and wait a few hours to see any negative reaction. If you notice any negative reaction then the ink product is bad.
7. Poor review and reputation
Check customer reviews on their website to see it the reviews are mostly positive or negative. A bad tattoo ink product will have mostly negative reviews. And do a bit of research regarding their reputation. You will hear some good stuff if it is a reputable tattoo ink brand.
Editor’s Choice: 3 Recommended Tattoo Ink Brand To Use
I have listened to my personal favorite brands below. All three of these are of high quality and never fail to provide consistency. Let’s take a detailed look, shall we?
1. Kuro Sumi
The Kuro Sumi is one of the most renowned tattoo ink brands out there. The colors get easily absorbed into the skin and the superior consistency will fatter any tattoo artist in the world. The ink was originally formulated in Japan but they are produced in the USA now. How cool is that? You will able to use ink that is related to Japanese history while it is being made in the USA, the best of both worlds. The Kuro Sumi provides both shading and lining ink for you to use.
2. Intenz
The Intenz tattoo ink brand is a choice for many reputable tattoo artists. The only reason am putting on number 2 and not 1 is, that it is a bit high priced. But still, the high-quality ink it provides can justify the price completely. You can use their ink to do any sort of tattoo work. You will be surprised to know that they can provide you with 250 colors to choose from. Using Intenz you can create your dream tattoo that lasts decades without any sign of fading.
3. Dynamic
Dynamic is another popular tattoo ink brand. The brand started in 1990 and provides high-quality ink to date. If you are looking for ink to do a tribal or lining tattoo work then Dynamic might be the right choice. You can use this ink for any sort of tattooing as well. The brand has an array of colors for you to choose from. But I think their Dynamic Black Ink tops pretty much any black ink from other reputable brands. They have one of the finest black ink I have seen in my tattooing career.
FAQs
Can I face a tattoo infection issue if I choose a cheap quality ink?
Choosing a cheap or unbranded tattoo ink does not mean you will face a tattoo infection for sure. But it increases the chance of getting a tattoo infection by a lot.
Is it necessary to purchase an expensive tattoo ink brand?
No, the price is not a factor you should consider when choosing a tattoo ink brand. The brand should have a high reputation and the ink must not contain any harmful chemical or component. If you can get yourself high-quality tattoo ink within a limited budget then that is good and nothing is wrong with it.
How to know if the ink will cause an allergic reaction to my skin or not?
To know if the ink will cause an allergic reaction or if it would suit your skin, do a patch test. Ask your tattoo artist to inject the ink just like he makes a tattoo on a very small portion of your skin. This way you can test if the ink is safe or not without experiencing any major backlash.
Can I make my own tattoo ink at home?
It is possible to make tattoo ink at home, but I strongly recommend not to do it. As you won’t be able to maintain complete sterilization while making the ink. There is a high chance of contamination if you try to make ink at home.
Can I choose the ink my tattoo artist will use to make the tattoo?
Most tattoo artists will give you the freedom to choose a tattoo ink brand from the high-quality ones. But there are tattoo artist who uses their own ink and will not accept any recommendation from you. So make sure to do your research to find a tattoo artist you let their clients pick the ink brand.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right tattoo ink brand is as crucial as choosing the right tattoo design and a professional tattoo artist. As quality of the ink determines how your tattoo would look later on. A bad quality ink may provide a dull-looking tattoo which may fade away faster than usual. Not to mention bad-quality tattoo ink may cause tattoo infection or other serious health issues.
Do not go for an unbranded tattoo ink just to save a few bucks or just because your friend recommended it. Take your time and do your research before selecting an ink brand. A reputable ink brand that does not use any component that you are allergic to or any harmful chemical should be your criteria.
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