When it comes to tattoo ink, there are a tonne of brands out there to choose from. It's great to have a lot of colour options, but it can be a bit overwhelming, especially for new tattoo artists who are still trying to figure out which inks and colour palettes work best for them. The vibrancy and finish of tattoo inks can vary quite a lot from brand to brand, so it's important to find out which inks will give you the best results whilst ensuring they are high-quality, safe tattoo inks from reputable brands.
Aside from the choice of colours, the main differences between ink brands are the ingredients and the quantity of each ingredient used. It's important to choose brands that contain organic ingredients. Organic inks tend to use carriers such as purified water and pigments made from natural elements, making them much safer to use. Avoid brands that refuse to disclose their ink's ingredient list.
The safety of your customers is paramount, so your tattoo inks should be produced to the highest industry and health standards, pre-sterilised, and packaged safely. Nowadays, most tattoo inks are vegan-friendly, and this is a really important factor for a lot of artists too.
Most tattoos will fade over time, but opting for the best tattoo ink brands will ensure that the inks fade a lot less. Of course, it's important to continue to look after tattoos once you have them done, but good quality inks will certainly help with the longevity of the tattoo. Some inks are made specifically for lining, while others are intended for colouring solid areas. The style of tattooing you do will influence the type of ink and coverage you go for.
Talking with other artists is a great way to get honest, tried and tested opinions on different ink brands. It's important to remember that what may work for one artist may not necessarily be right for another, so try out different brands and find out what works best and feels right for you.
Here are some of the top tattoo ink brands available:
Radiant Colors
From Los Angeles, Radiant Tattoo Ink has been around for over 10 years, providing the tattoo industry with top-quality, bold and brilliant colours. In 2016, Radiant reformulated its ink, making it better than ever. Working with renowned artists worldwide, they created a sterilised, uncut homogenised organic pigment that produces solid, long-lasting, and bright colours. Radiant Colours are also vegan-friendly.
Eternal Ink
Eternal Tattoo Ink is one of the most trusted brands, known for being non-toxic and vegan-friendly. Founded by Terry “Tramp” Welker in the 1980s, Eternal is dedicated to supporting artists in creating high-quality, lifelong designs.
Intenze Ink
Intenze Tattoo Ink was founded by Mario Barth, who dedicated years to producing high-quality sterile inks. Intenze has one of the largest colour ranges and meets both USA and EU quality standards. Their inks are vegan-friendly, flow smoothly, and maintain crisp, vibrant colours for years.
Kuro Sumi Ink
Kuro Sumi Tattoo Ink is a superior-quality ink rooted in centuries of Japanese tattoo artistry. Made from vegan-friendly and organic elements, it’s renowned for its outstanding lining and shading inks, offering unique finishes like Cherry and Bronze Shading Ink.
Solid Ink
Solid Ink is made with high-quality organic pigments and is 100% vegan-friendly. It’s super concentrated for maximum saturation, easy to work with, and approved by CTL Lab in Germany for safety and compliance with EU regulations.
Fusion Ink
Fusion Tattoo Ink was developed by Adam Everett and features organic colours with a thicker consistency and high pigment value. The inks are vegan-friendly, sterilised, and designed for smooth, easy application.
Obsidian Ink
Obsidian Black is the perfect black tattoo ink—deep, smooth, and versatile for lining, shading, and filling. Made in the UK with high-purity carbon black pigment, it’s vegan-friendly, hypoallergenic, sterile, and ResAP 2008 compliant.
Nocturnal Ink
Nocturnal Ink was created by Franco Vescovi and Jack Rudy, designed to mimic classic drawing inks while being darker and smoother. It’s made specifically for tattooing and is vegan-friendly, popular among black and grey artists.
Which tattoo ink brand is best?
The “best” tattoo ink depends on your personal preference and tattooing style. We hope this guide helps you explore some of the most trusted brands. Other factors like your tattoo machine and needles or cartridges also play a big role in your results.
To explore our full range of tattoo inks—including more great brands, shading solutions, and cosmetic inks—visit our online store.
Studio supplies
Power & batteries
Aftercare
Apprentice
Piercing & jewellery
PMU supplies
New arrivals
Gift vouchers
Shop all

