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Skin is a tattoo artist’s canvas. When tattooing dark skin, the canvas needs to be approached differently. A good analogy is comparing watercolor canvas to canvas for oil paint—the paints and tools you use are similar but not the same.
The type of skin you’re working on will determine how well the ink takes. When it comes to the tone, it acts as a filter that will change how the ink looks. As you can see, it is vital to choose the right ink if you’re planning on tattooing darker skin. After all, you want your tattoos to look rich and vibrant no matter what skin type you’re tattooing on, right?
Beginner tattoo artists don’t always think about the disparity between inking on light-colored skin and creating a tattoo on darker skin. They don’t realize that ink that works on light skin may not be the best option for darker skin.
Don’t worry, we’ve got you! In this article, we share with you the best tattoo ink for dark skin.
6 Best Tattoo Inks For Dark Skin Overview
Table could not be displayed.6 Best Tattoo Inks For Dark Skin
1. Bright Red Tattoo Ink by Intenze
This is a wonderful ink for darker skin. It stays true to color after application and looks vivid against darker tones.
Intenze tattoo ink is loved by many professional tattoo artists. The brand uses only the best ingredients in its tattoo inks. They pay particular attention to the pigments used to make sure it comes out vivid enough to work on darker skin tones.
When it comes to consistency, Intenze ink has just the right thickness to use with rotary or coil tattoo machines. You can even use it for stick-and-poke tattoos if you dilute it a little. Also, always give the bottle a good shake to mix everything inside thoroughly.
Another great property of Intenze tattoo ink is that it helps tattoos heal faster.
Furthermore, the company uses a third-party sterilization facility to make sure their ink is safe and clean for your use. Add to that the fact that it comes in a sealed container and you can apply this ink to your client’s skin without a worry of any safety issues arising.
It also doesn’t contain any plastics, metals, iodine, sulfur, silicon, or other potentially harmful ingredients. As a bonus, Intenze doesn’t test its products on animals and it is vegan friendly.
What makes Bright Red Tattoo Ink by Intenze the best tattoo ink for dark skin?
- It is a vivid red that won’t fade.
- It’s vegan friendly.
- It’s made by a brand that is safety conscious.
- It doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients.
2. Black Onyx Tattoo Ink by Millennium Mom’s
This is one of the best tattoo inks on the market—for all skin types. What makes it a great ink for dark skin is the fact that the company uses pure, uncut, homogenized dispersed pigments in their inks. That’s a fancy way of saying the ink has a high pigment count that will show up nicely on darker skin. Add to that the fact that Mom’s Ink has been tried and tested by tattoo professionals for years. The consensus is the ink’s vibrancy doesn’t fade with time.
Black Onyx is a smooth ink that goes from needle to skin effortlessly. It is a rich black that looks even more intense on darker skin.
Mom’s Ink is made in the U.S. and is regulated by the FDA. So, safe and non-toxic are definitely two words you can use to describe this ink.
Why choose Black Onyx Tattoo Ink by Millenium Mom’s as the best tattoo ink for darker skin?
- Ink is highly-pigmented.
- It is fade-resistant and will look vibrant for years.
- It’s approved by the FDA making it safe and non-toxic.
- It’s vegan-friendly.
3. Millennium Mom’s Nuclear UV Blacklight Tattoo Ink
Mom’s Ink is making its second appearance on the list. We’ve already established that it is a quality tattoo ink trusted by many professional tattoo artists. So, what makes this ink more special? Well, Mom’s Ink developed “nuclear ink” that is blacklight and ultraviolet sensitive. How awesome is that?
This ink has the highest pure pigment content possible so you can be confident that it will look great on darker skin tones. Add to that its extraordinary staying power and you have a tattoo ink that will make your work come to life.
Why choose Millennium Mom’s Nuclear UV Blacklight Tattoo Ink
- It has the highest pigment content possible.
- It glows in the dark.
- It’s long-lasting.
- It has all the other positive attributes Mom’s Ink is known for.
4. Bloodline Tattoo Ink All Purpose Black
Many tattoo artists use this as their go-to black tattoo ink for dark skin tones. It’s an all-purpose ink you can use for bold lines, outlines, shading, or colo-packing in black.
The pigment used in this tattoo ink is bold and sucks into the skin with ease. You won’t need a second pass to correct ink saturation. When it comes to consistency, you can expect a thick ink that applies smoothly.
There’s a reason why this ink has a 4.5-star rating on Amazon and if you read the reviews, one thing will become clear: professionals can’t get enough of Bloodline’s All-Purpose Black tattoo ink.
What makes Bloodline stand out, even more, is the fact that they don’t use toxic carriers in their ink, instead, they use water. This makes it significantly gentler on the skin and tattoos will heal faster.
The durability of the ink contributes to Bloodline’s much-loved status. Tattoos on dark skin won’t fade away but stay as vibrant as when you first put ink to skin. The company also has a sharp focus on finding new ways to improve their ink.
Overall, Bloodline is one of the premium tattoo inks on the market and the All-Purpose Black ink is one of the best tattoo inks for dark skin.
Why choose Bloodline’s All-Purpose Black for your darker skinned clients?
- It contains a durable and bold pigment.
- It won’t fade with time.
- It has a smooth consistency that’s easy to apply.
- It’s recommended by tattoo professionals the world over.
5. Leaf Green Tattoo Ink by Dynamic
Dynamic ink doesn’t need much introduction. Tattoo professionals have been singing its praises for years. As a pre-dispersed ink, you can expect it to be of high quality and safe to use on your clients’ skins.
This brand is particularly known for its bright and bold colors that never fade. Leaf Green is no exception—even on darker skin. Although this isn’t the only ink from Dynamic that perform well on darker skin tones, green is one of those colors that don’t always translate well on richer skin tones.
However, Dynamic nailed it with Leaf Green. You may be surprised by how dark it is and worry that it will show up almost black, but when applied to darker skin, it shows up as an eye-catching natural green that will leave you (and your clients) stunned.
We also appreciate that you can mix Dynamic inks to create your own custom colors. This is a great way to get just the right color for any skin tone!
Dynamic ink is made in the United States and falls under the guidelines of FDA. It definitely meets all the regulations since it doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients. It’s also not tested on animals and doesn’t contain any animal by-products. Perfect for our vegan friends.
Why make Leaf Green Tattoo Ink by Dynamic your top pick to tattoo on dark skin?
- It has a natural finish on darker skin tones.
- It is bold, bright, and long-lasting.
- It’s non-toxic and vegan-friendly.
- You can mix Dynamic inks to create your own color.
6. Viking Ink for Dark Skin
Viking Ink is one of the top contenders for the title “best tattoo ink for dark skin.” They stand steadfast that their pigments are so rich, they will work on even the most demanding skins. Tattoo artists agree; their ink penetrates darker skin with ease and leaves bright, long-lasting color.
When it comes to Viking Ink’s black, it may be the truest black you can find on the market. It is a durable black that won’t fade into another color over time. You can use it to line, shade, and color-pack.
It is a high-end brand, with high-quality results—all you need to do is add your talent and skill to the mix.
The ink is also cruelty-free and vegan-friendly.
What makes Viking Ink stand out as the best tattoo ink for dark skin?
- It’s highly pigmented.
- It takes to the skin well.
- The brand has darker skin tones in mind.
- The ink is long-lasting.
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to turn away clients who have darker skin. Done right, using ink that works well on richer skin tones, they can walk away with beautiful works of art.
Although you’ll face some challenges, if you ensure you’re using the right ink, the final result will make all the obstacles worthwhile.
In general, black is the best color to use on darker skin. Reds and greens also work well since they stand out against richer skin tones. Just make sure to choose darker shades and avoid neon or pale ones when tattooing dark skin.
The bottom line is, don’t believe anyone who says you can’t do wonderfully detailed pieces on black or dark skin. With the best tattoo ink for dark skin, anything is possible.
