50 Shades of Grey or 50 Different Shades Entirely? | Tattoo Ink Suppliers 0

The Variation from One Ink Brand to Another  0

Despite all information you have from the articles that talks about top tattoo ink manufacturers, their histories, and the benefits that each brand has to offer you, it can still be difficult to choose which of those is perfect for your clients. What bother your mind are the things you need to consider when choosing the tattoo inks for your shop. 

When you try to recall all the information you had about the best tattoo ink brands, you will start to notice some connections that might serve as a good point in order for you to start choosing the right brand. Some of the major areas that you need to consider when weighing the advantages or disadvantages one tattoo brand have over another are the following: place of manufacture of the tattoo inks, its composition, whether they are stable pigment-based inks or pre-dispersed, color options available, the one in charge in innovation, and, of course, the price. Once you finish assessing all of these and see who offers what, you will slowly figure out which benefits are most vital to you. Then, you will be able to have a well-built foundation for making up your mind on which tattoo ink brand’s best suit you and your client. 

• For the type of ink 

Stable pigment-based inks are more likely to be used by old school tattoo artists while pre-dispersed inks are usually for new school artists. Prior to getting all the information like the cost and the color variation, you have to know first which brands offer the core type of ink you like better. 

Alla Prima is the stable pigment-based ink that is available in the market today. It is actually the only one Painful Pleasures carries at present. All of the other inks that the said place have are pre-dispersed and mostly ready to use right out of the bottle. You won’t have to be bothered about the mixing pigments and they will all have a fine flow that does not require the thinning and further mixing that stable pigments entail. 

• For the place of manufacture 

Eleven of the 14 top tattoo ink brands are made in the United States of America (USA). Those brands include Alla Prima Ink, Arcane, Bloodline (formerly Skin Candy), Dynamic, Eternal Ink, Fantasia, Formula 51, Intenze Tattoo Inks, Mom’s Ink by Millennium Colors, Inc., Radiant, and Starbrite Colors Tattoo Ink. The remaining three are made outside USA. Kuro Sumi tattoo inks are made in Japan and Panthera Black Ink and Sacred Colors are made in Italy. 

• Organic and Vegan Tattoo Inks 

In recent years, a brand new wave of non toxic tattoo inks has emerged. After some  

Of the chemicals used in many tattoo inks were linked to causing cancer, tattoo inks from organic pigments have been developed. Brands like Intenze, Eternal Ink, Formula 51, and Kuro Sumi are the leading brands that says that their pigments are all made from ingredients harvested straight from nature.  

Despite all information you have from the articles that talks about top tattoo ink manufacturers, their histories, and the benefits that each brand has to offer you, it can still be difficult to choose which of those is perfect for your clients. What bother your mind are the things you need to consider when choosing the tattoo inks for your shop. 

When you try to recall all the information you had about the best tattoo ink brands, you will start to notice some connections that might serve as a good point in order for you to start choosing the right brand. Some of the major areas that you need to consider when weighing the advantages or disadvantages one tattoo brand have over another are the following: place of manufacture of the tattoo inks, its composition, whether they are stable pigment-based inks or pre-dispersed, color options available, the one in charge in innovation, and, of course, the price. Once you finish assessing all of these and see who offers what, you will slowly figure out which benefits are most vital to you. Then, you will be able to have a well-built foundation for making up your mind on which tattoo ink brand’s best suit you and your client. 

• For the type of ink 

Stable pigment-based inks are more likely to be used by old school tattoo artists while pre-dispersed inks are usually for new school artists. Prior to getting all the information like the cost and the color variation, you have to know first which brands offer the core type of ink you like better. 

Alla Prima is the stable pigment-based ink that is available in the market today. It is actually the only one Painful Pleasures carries at present. All of the other inks that the said place have are pre-dispersed and mostly ready to use right out of the bottle. You won’t have to be bothered about the mixing pigments and they will all have a fine flow that does not require the thinning and further mixing that stable pigments entail. 

• For the place of manufacture 

Eleven of the 14 top tattoo ink brands are made in the United States of America (USA). Those brands include Alla Prima Ink, Arcane, Bloodline (formerly Skin Candy), Dynamic, Eternal Ink, Fantasia, Formula 51, Intenze Tattoo Inks, Mom’s Ink by Millennium Colors, Inc., Radiant, and Starbrite Colors Tattoo Ink. The remaining three are made outside USA. Kuro Sumi tattoo inks are made in Japan and Panthera Black Ink and Sacred Colors are made in Italy. 

• Organic and Vegan Tattoo Inks 

In recent years, a brand new wave of non toxic tattoo inks has emerged. After some  

Of the chemicals used in many tattoo inks were linked to causing cancer, tattoo inks from organic pigments have been developed. Brands like Intenze, Eternal Ink, Formula 51, and Kuro Sumi are the leading brands that says that their pigments are all made from ingredients harvested straight from nature.  

Tattoo Styles Guide for Newbies 0

Tattooing has been around for centuries, and it's only natural that tattoo styles have evolved over time. From traditional style tattoos to modern variations like the geometric tattoo style, the possibilities are virtually endless.

Read more about different tattoo styles today

Tattoo and its beginnings 0

Having a tattoo in any part of your body seems to be a lot more acceptable in the society today than before. People used to think that tattoos are only seen in the bodies of criminals and the likes. But now, it has even become an accessory to some people. 

By using  needles and ink, a tattoo is a kind of art that is engraved in the skin permanently. The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word “tatua”. This means “to mark.” Despite the fact that tattooing have been practised for hundreds of years by people of various cultures, it has gained social acceptance everywhere just recently. 

Tattooing eye-catching illustrations to the skin has been a widely known practice since the ancient times. Throughout the centuries, various types of tattoo art have been put into practice by a lot of diverse world cultures. One example is of the Japanese culture. Around 500 B.C., they started using tattoos for cosmetic and religious purposes. They even used it as a punishment for criminals by branding them. This method by the Japanese involved piercing the skin of the individual with fine metal needles in order to craft designs with different colors. In addition, the Eskimo tribes also established their own technique by using bone needles in order to draw the soot-covered thread through the skin. 

Over the last 200 years, the art of tattooing kept on growing. In the nineteenth century, this said fame caught the attention of the upper class men of England. One example is Lady Randolph Churchill, mother of Winston Churchill, who had a snake tattoo on her wrist. In the United States, tattoos have been linked to prison inmates, sailors, and motorcyclists because before, tattoo shops were thought to be dangerous and socially unacceptable. But this type of perception has greatly changed since the 1980s. Tattoos are already becoming popular to men and women of all ages all over the world.  

“Flash” is what you call a tattoo design.  It can be made up of any type of artwork ranging from the simplest symbols or letters to thorough sketches and cartoons. Flash can be composed with different colors. Tattoo parlours show a large variety of flash on their walls with the larger ones having approximately 10,000 to choose from. Also, clients may carry with them their own preferable design or they can work with the tattoo artist to develop custom flash. 

Always bear in mind that whenever you choose a tattoo design you must consult with the artist to know a suitable size and placement for the tattoo. The artist can also give you aid in deciding which color schemes to use that will determine the price of the final art. Caring for your tattoo is a must and that is why there is a need to conduct a research whether your tattoo parlour follows the guidelines that were set by the Association of Professional Tattooists (APT). 

Basic Tattoo Materials and Equipment 0

• Flash 

The tattoo design or commonly called as “flash” is simply a sketch or a piece of line art that is used to make a tattoo. It can be black, white, or any colour. They are mounted on the walls or displayed in books in the tattoo parlour. 

• Stencil 

A stencil is just a copy of flash however it is crafted on a special copying paper. The stencil permits the inked outline of the design of the tattoo to be transferred to the client’s skin in order for it to be marked out by the artist. 

• Ink 

Special inks that are used in order to produce great tattoos are sold by tattoo supply shops. They are usually available in a different kinds of colours and are typically packaged in 4 oz plastic squeeze bottles so they are easily handed out. These inks are liquid dispersions of pigments. They are permitted by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States. The ink is composed of dyes that come from metal components. Due to this reason, allergic reaction to the type of ink used is more likely. 

• Tattoo Machine 

The tattoo machine is composed of a hand held needle gun attached to a power unit that makes it possible for the pressure to move the needles. The needles can come in different sizes and shapes and are packed jointly on a needle bar in various types of patterns depending on the needs of the artwork. The unit is connected to a power supply that is started by depressing a foot pedal on the floor bedside of the work station. When the pedal is depressed the tattoo needle bar moves up and down quickly. Imagine that of a sewing machine. It makes a way into the skin to inject the dye 3000 times per minute. 

• Miscellaneous Supplies 

For the whole tattoo procedure the artist may use supplementary supplies like skin disinfectants, petroleum jelly, bandages, razors, and biocidal cleaning supplies. 

• Tattoo Removal 

Sometimes people with tattoos come to a point in their lives where they decide to have their tattoo removed. Tattoo removal is now possible, thanks to advance technology, however the process is not easy, costly, and sometimes not fully successful. Not so long before, a wire brush was used to rub the skin and wipe out the first and second layers where the ink is present. In order to leach out the ink, salt solutions and acid were used to burn the skin away. 

All of these methods are costly, painful, and not very effective. Even though the tattoo can be removed, the affected area may lose its capability to produce normal skin pigment and some scarring will be unavoidable. Today, lasers have been developed to remove tattoos, as it can tear down most of the ink pigment with very little scarring. 

Places Where Tattoos Hurt Most 0

Rule of thumb is, the thinner the skin, the more it hurts. Having said that, pain is temporary, but tattoos are forever.  

Before getting a tattoo, you should have already accepted the fact that the process will hurt, especially if it is your first time. This might be one of the reasons why people don’t get a tattoo. But don’t let that fear hinder you from expressing yourself with body art. Once you set your mind to it and prepare for the tattooing process you'll find that your body has the ability to withstand the pain under most circumstances. It is really important to be extra sure of your decision, you have to make sure that it is really what you want. 

Being informed is important. Below are five spots where placing a tattoo hurts the most.  

Behind the Ear  

Knowing the area around the ear having thin and delicate skin is an obvious cause that this tattoo placement is going to hurt a lot more. This area is very sensitive since it does not have much fat. However, don't let that stop you from inking an easy to conceal design. Whether it be a single phrase or an insect tattoo, your tattoo artist can help numb the anticipated pain with a specialised cream. It may be of minimal help, but hey, at least it helps. 

Chest  

Chest tattoos are a popular choice for both men and women. Either way, most chest piece tattoos are going to be painful unless you have lots of body fat or muscle. If you're skinny or of small frame, be prepared to endure a little more for your Old School swallow tattoo.  

Ribs  

Getting tattooed on the rib cage is considered one of the most painful spots to get inked. Due to each person’s unique size, shape and natural curves, rib cage tattoos can also be more challenging for tattoo artists.  However, the rib cage offers a beautiful spread of canvass. The thin skin, however, across the ribs can cause quite a bit of a challenge for those being tattooed. You may find starting small and then gradually adding to a side rib cage design is the best way to test the waters first.  

Ankle  

When you get a tattoo made on your ankle, you can feel the reverberations and the friction of the needle throughout your feet. It won’t feel like tickling, it is pain; real pain. Even a small tattoo could hurt so much, since there is nothing but bone in your ankle. Delicate as they may seem, ankles pull their weight as one of the hurtful spots to ink regardless of their size. 

Foot  

A lot may testify that getting a foot tattoo is the least option a tattoo artist may give you since it gives uneven and poor healing results, not to mention the pain that comes with this placement. The feet and toes are all about bones. When you are getting a tattoo done on your feet, the needle will hit the bones and it will most definitely hurt a lot. The foot has a small distribution of body fat so you'll feel much more of the process. But that doesn't mean a dragon character or a minimal feather won't always look gorgeous, so have at it if you must.