Imagine stepping into a brightly lit tattoo studio. On the eccentric walls hang colorful flash designs, vibrant canvases filled with technicolor fantasy creatures and abstract patterns. But the key player behind these masterpieces often goes unnoticed – the silent warrior standing on the frontlines of the tattoo supplies arsenal – Tattoo Inks.
The Tales of Tattoo Inks
Tattoo inks have come a long way since my fledgling years in the industry in the early 2000s. I still remember pulling up a bar stool at my mentor’s dingy garage-turned-studio, closely watching him mix an exotic array of colored powders with distilled water and alcohol to create his own tattoo inks. Fast forward to today, we’re spoilt with a dizzying assortment of reputable brands providing pre-mixed, sterilized, and vibrant inks that have transformed the industry and essentially, the art itself.
In the past, tattoo artists took significant risks. We lacked the variety of colors and pigments we have today, and safety standards were questionable, at best. The evolution of tattoo inks has been monumental, offering artists an expanded color palette and safer, more reliable options to pour their creativity into skin art.
Spotting High-Quality Tattoo Inks
When it comes to tattoo supplies, the old saying, “you get what you pay for” rings inordinately true, particularly with tattoo inks. Quality inks are an investment, they’re the difference between a vibrant, long-lasting piece of body art, and a murky, fading creation. As an artist, your reputation rides on the quality of your work and no artist wants to be remembered for dull, disappearing tattoos.
In my experience, top-notch tattoo inks possess certain consistent characteristics. They offer a wide range of vibrant, non-fading colors, exceptional consistency for smooth application, and remarkable longevity. A couple of my all-time favorites are Intenze Tattoo Ink and Kuro Sumi.
Intenze, manufactured in the USA, offers a monumental array of colors and unique tones. Renowned for its top-tier sterilization process, it brings a sense of safety that’s paramount when diving skin-deep in your craft. Kuro Sumi, hailing from Japan, is prized for its bright, long-lasting colors, originating from non-toxic vegan materials. Both brands continue to push the boundaries for safety, quality, and color variety.
Safe Ink Practices
With great tattoo supplies, comes great responsibility. Safety encapsulates more than choosing the right equipment or ink – it extends to proper ink handling and storage. Always shake the tattoo ink before use to guarantee the pigment and carrier are adequately mixed. Use ink caps to avoid contamination and prevent spillage. Store your tattoo inks at room temperature and away from direct sunlight to preserve their shelf-life and maintain their consistency.
It’s also imperative to adapt to clients’ unique needs. With an increasing number of people having allergic reactions to certain pigments, vegan and hypoallergenic tattoo inks have become essential for any artist’s repertoire. Brands like StarBrite Colors and Eternal Tattoo Supply have made significant strides in this domain, offering vegan and hypoallergenic options that don’t compromise on color vibrancy.
Inking a Conclusion
Navigating the complex world of tattoo supplies can often be overwhelming, especially when it comes to tattoo inks. In this seemingly invisible part of the tattoo process lies the difference between good tattoos and great tattoos, between satisfied clients and ones that keep coming back for more.
To my fellow artists and shops, I implore you to invest in high-quality tattoo inks, educate yourself about the brands, and prioritize safety. Be more than just a tattoo artist – strive to be a curator of body art, a gatekeeper of pronounced, lasting impressions, and a visionary who enables color to bloom on the most beautiful canvas of all – the human skin.
