How to Buy Tattoo Ink

In the past, tattoo ink colors were somewhat limited, but with modern technology comes the means to produce an unlimited number of colors and a variety of shades for each color. These new, vibrant pigments also last much longer than their former counterparts. Not all pigments are created equally, however, and learning more about specific brands will help you choose what tattoo inks will best fit your needs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Read reviews of different brands. Every tattoo artist develops their own preference when it comes to brand. They may even use multiple brands in which they've found one company whose black lining ink is better than others; but another who has more vibrant, longer lasting colors or simply has more varied color choices than others.
2. Get the opinions of as many tattoo artists who will share their vast knowledge about what brands of inks they prefer.
3. Learn about the makeup of tattoo pigments. By getting a better understanding of how each color is created, you can judge which ones might be more likely to cause allergic reactions in your customers.
4. Compare prices. In general, "cheap" ink will most likely produce just that, cheap looking tattoos.
5. Contemplate sizes. Tattoo supply companies sell bottles of ink in several different sizes. Black lining ink comes in the largest sizes, up to 12 ounces, because you'll use more black than any other color. For all other colors, typically, you can buy bottles as small as a ½ ounce or as large as 4 ounces.
6. Order a wide variety of colors. Although you don't have to carry every color ever invented, it's nice to give the client a number of choices. With a little practice you can even blend your own colors by combing two or more colors. This can come in handy for fading color within tattoo designs or discovering new colors not normally available.
7. Buy sets to save money over buying them all individually. Most tattoo supply companies offer sets of tattoo inks in each specific brand they carry.
8. Shop for bargains carefully. If you're looking for a better price on tattoo ink, you can check out the deals on eBay, but you should only use this route if you already know a lot about inks in general.

Tips & Warnings

• Complete tattoo kits tend to come with a variety of start up colors, but they may not contain the best brands for your needs. They also tend to come with small portions of each color, so you should supplement this initial supply.
• The thickness of tattoo inks varies from brand to brand. If you're not familiar with how to thicken or thin tattoo ink, then you should search for a brand that comes in a thickness you're comfortable using and works well with the way your tattoo machine is set up.
• You can also buy "Blacklight Ink," which reacts under ultraviolet light and appears to glow. Although it's found popularity for individuals into clubbing and raves, not all "glow in the dark" ink may be the completely safe for use on humans. Do your research very carefully before choosing a brand of blacklight ink.