The popularity of tattoos has been constantly growing around the globe as many people consider them a way to express themselves. But have you ever wondered what ingredients go under your skin while tattooing? Well, while making a tattoo, the machine’s needle penetrates the skin and ink reaches the dermis (the thickest layer of the skin), which makes the tattoo permanent. Tattoo inks contain a variety of ingredients that vary depending on the brand and colour of the tattoo ink. You will be amazed to know that some inks contain industrial grades chemicals, such as titanium dioxide, lead, chromium, nickel, iron oxides and carbon back. Read this blog before you plan on getting a tattoo.
Types of tattoo inks
Two popular types of tattoo inks include:
1. Stable pigment ink: It is a thicker, powder pigment-based ink that is widely used for tattooing. This ink is popular as it gives the tattoo a bright and bold appearance.
2. Pre-dispersed ink: These colours are ready to use right out of the bottle and do not require thinning or mixing.
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Ingredients Used In Tattoo Inks
Tattoo inks mainly contain industrial-grade organic, mineral, and plastic-based ingredients. The ingredients used in inks are commonly determined by the type of colour. Ingredients found in some of the most popularly used inks include:
- True Black: Pigment black, Acrylic resin, Glycerine, Water, Witch hazel, and Isopropyl alcohol
- High White: Titanium dioxide, Water, Acrylic resin
- Hard Orange: Acrylic Resin, Pigment red 210, Pigment orange 13, Glycerine, Water, Witch hazel, Isopropyl alcohol
- Red Cherry: Pigment Red 210, Acrylic resin, pigment blue 15, Glycerine, Water, Isopropyl alcohol, Witch hazel
- Bowery Yellow: Pigment yellow 65, Acrylic resin, Titanium oxide
- Dark Green: Pigment green, Acrylic resin, Glycerine, Water, Witch hazel, Isopropyl alcohol
- Baby Blue: Titanium dioxide, Acrylic resin, Isopropyl alcohol, Pigment blue 15, Glycerine, Witch hazel, water
- Deep Indigo: Pigment violet 1, Acrylic resin, Glycerine, Titanium oxide, Isopropyl alcohol, water, Witch hazel
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Why is it important to know about your tattoo ink?
People always look for the right kind of design and colour while going for a tattoo. However, it is more important to pay heed to the hygiene, safety precautions, and the ingredients present in the tattoo ink. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a plastic-based pigment that provides vibrant colour to tattoos, can result in allergies. Similarly, several metal-based pigments can also cause allergic reactions and other skin diseases. Therefore, you must ask your tattoo artist about the inks being used on your skin.
Safety Protocols While Getting A Tattoo
The tattoo studio should follow proper safety and hygiene protocols as it reduces the risk of developing an allergy or serious skin disease. Some of the measures that may help are:
- Before beginning, the tattoo artist should wash their hands and put on a clean set of protective gloves.
- Tattoo artists should sterilise every non-disposable equipment using a sterilising machine.
- Sanitise the tables, chairs and wash basins using a disinfectant after every appointment.
- Tattoo artists should discard the used needles, tubes, or pigments.
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