How to Make Greywash Tattoo Ink

Greywash is a type of tattoo ink that looks like a watered-down black ink, but actually has more ingredients. Tattooists believe that this type of ink also helps aid in the healing process, with customers reporting that their new tattoos heal faster than others done with different ink. The process of making tattoo ink yourself is fairly easy, as long as you follow the directions carefully and use clean materials.

Things You'll Need

• Latex/rubber gloves
• Sterile mask
• 1 qt. vodka
• 1-½ tbsp. propylene glycol
• 1-½ tbsp. glycerin
• 1 cup black pigment
• Lidded jar
• Strainer

Instructions

1. Cover your hands with rubber or latex gloves and put on a sterile mask, like the ones doctors wear. Some of the ingredients used in tattoo ink can be volatile. Taking proper care will allow you to stay safe during the process.

2. Mix together 1 qt. vodka, 1-½ tbsp. propylene glycol and 1-½ tbsp. glycerin in a small bowl. Continue mixing this until it looks completely clear, like water. At first, it may look oily or gray in color, but keep mixing until it turns clear and everything is well-mixed.

3. Add 1 cup of black pigment into a lidded jar and cover with ½ cup of your liquid. Mix the ingredients together until the product looks like a thick paste. You may need to add more liquid to achieve this look. Continue stirring the mixture constantly until the ingredients react and create a liquid ink.

4. Pour the liquid through a strainer to catch any lumps or pigment that might still be in the mixture. Then pour your greywash ink into glass storage bottles for future use. The glass bottles should have a stopper in place to keep foreign objects from entering the mixture.

5. Keep your greywash ink in a safe place, away from heat and light. Light can cause the ink to break down over time, and heat will cause the mixture to separate. The final tattoo ink can be used for months with proper storage.

Tips & Warnings

• If you’re having problems locating the powdered pigment, you can find it on tattoo-supply websites. It’s the best choice for making your own tattoo ink, and far superior to liquid pigment.

• Always wear the proper safety gear when handling this mixture. Breathing in the fumes can cause you to feel sick or even have respiratory problems.