How to Make Permanent Tattoo Ink

If you’re comfortable mixing chemicals and pretty well versed in the art of tattooing, you can make your own ink in your kitchen. You’ll only need a few supplies easily available form a chemical supplier, a blender and some time. It’s incredibly satisfying to create your own tattoo design and actually paint it with your own ink as well. Talk about unique! You can mix and match your own pigments and shades in a few steps.

Things You'll Need

• Paper mask
• Gloves
• Blender
• Vodka
• Glycerin (available form a chemical supplier)
• Propylene glycol (available form a chemical supplier)
• Dry pigment (available at a tattoo supply house)
• Sterile ink bottles

Instructions

How to MAke Permanent Tattoo Ink

1. Put on a paper mask and gloves.

2. Mix about 7/8 quart vodka, 1 tablespoon glycerin, and 1 tablespoon propylene glycol until clear.

3. Add an inch or two of powdered pigment in a blender and stir in enough liquid from step 2 to create a slurry.

4. Blend on a low speed for about 15 minutes, then on a medium speed for an hour. If you are using a jar on the blender, release pressure buildup every fifteen minutes or so.

5. Use a baster to siphon ink or pour it through a funnel into ink bottles. You may add a sterile marble or glass bead to each bottle to aid in mixing.

6. Store the ink away from sunlight or fluorescent lighting, since ultraviolet radiation will alter some pigments.

7. Keep track of the amounts of liquid and powdered pigment so you’ll make consistent batches and improve your technique.

Tips & Warnings

• You can use smaller amounts of glycerin and propylene glycol, but probably not larger amounts. Too much glycerin will make the ink oily and too much glycol will form a hard shell on top of the ink.

• While your supplies should be clean and sterile, do not heat-sterilize pigments or their mixtures. The pigment chemistry will change and may become toxic.