What is the best ink to use when tattooing?

Author: Reyes Dickens  |  Last update: Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Best Tattoo Ink 2025
  • FUSION INK.
  • ETERNAL INK.
  • PANTHERA INK.
  • CARBON BLACK TATTOO INK.
  • RADIANT COLORS.
  • VIKING INK BY DYNAMIC.
  • EMPIRE INK.
  • KWADRON INX.

What tattoo ink do most professionals use?

  • Black Ink: Typically made from carbon or iron oxide, black ink is the most commonly used color in tattooing.
  • Colored Inks: These inks come in a variety of hues, including red, blue, green, yellow, and purple.

What is the best tattoo ink for beginners?

I would recommend Eternal or Intenze, I have used both over the last year or so and have had no problems. 95% of the tattoo shops I know of use either one or both of these so that speak volumes to me.

Does it matter what tattoo ink you use?

Less Fading: Generally, black ink fades less than colored inks, making it a popular choice. If you're looking for longevity and versatility, black ink is a safe choice. However, if you want something more vibrant and are okay with the potential for faster fading, red or blue ink can make your tattoo stand out.

Which ink is best for black tattoo?

Union Black is a REACH-compliant black ink with an ultra rich and smooth consistency. It's perfect for lining and packing in solid and super dark black areas. BLKOUT, which is EU REACH-compliant, is formulated specifically for tattoo artists working on - as the name suggests - blackout tattoos and heavy black work.

What You Need To Know Before Buying Tattoo Inks

What black ink do tattoo artists use?

Obsidian is easy to work with, and versatile. It's the perfect black ink for any tattoo artist who wants to make a good impression.

What is the safest black tattoo ink?

Quantum Tattoo Ink is known for its commitment to quality, safety, and innovation. Our black tattoo inks are carefully formulated using only organic pigments and vegan ingredients to ensure optimal safety, performance, and durability.

What to avoid in tattoo ink?

Potentially Harmful Tattoo Ink Ingredients
  • Heavy Metals: Inks should be free from heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury, which can be toxic and pose serious health risks.
  • Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Aromatic hydrocarbons like benzenes and toluene are known carcinogens and can cause skin irritation.

What is the healthiest tattoo ink?

Are there any specific brands known for safe tattoo inks? Brands like Eternal Ink, Intenze, and Fusion Ink are known for producing safe, high-quality tattoo inks. These brands often use organic ingredients and have their products tested for safety.

How to tell if tattoo ink is good quality?

Quality tattoo ink should be free from harmful substances such as heavy metals, carcinogens, or allergens. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't regulate tattoo inks, so it's up to the artist and the studio to use reputable brands. Ask your artist about the ink's brand and research its safety profile.

What tattoo ink do the pros use?

Eternal Ink is highly popular among professional tattoo artists for its safety and ease of application. Offers a wide selection of colors and is known for its rich pigmentation. Intenze is designed to be vegan-friendly and cruelty-free, appealing to artists and clients with ethical concerns.

What size tattoo needle should a beginner use?

If you're just starting out, you'll want to focus on round shaders in sizes 3, 5, 7, and 9 for some shading and filling in small areas. Round needles use the same size tube, so if you're using a 9RL needle, you'll use a 9R tube.

What tattoo ink lasts the longest?

Black ink lasts the longest and is least likely to blur, making it the best choice of ink color for long-lasting tattoos. Black ink is so reliable it is usually used to help hold in color molecules.

What is the best ink for DIY tattoos?

We will show you how to spot a reputable brand and give you an overview of the best tattoo ink out there.
  • Eternal Ink.
  • Intenze.
  • World Famous Ink.
  • Fusion Ink.
  • Dynamic Black.
  • Panthera.
  • Eternal Ink MAXX Black.
  • Intenze Zuper Black.

What do tattoo artists use while tattooing?

Tattoo needles come in five general types — turbo, shader, flat, round, and magnum. Special types like cartridge needles and textured needles also exist for those more advanced tattooists. Within each category, you find various sizes. Choose your needles wisely because they determine the quality of your work.

What is the best beginner tattoo machine?

6 Best Tattoo Machines for Beginners
  • Cheyenne Hawk Pen. The Cheyenne Hawk is an all-in-one pen that offers less noise and low vibration sensations. ...
  • Dragonhawk S6 Tattoo Pen. ...
  • Inkclaw Tiny Tattoo Pen. ...
  • Inkjecta Flite Nano Elite. ...
  • STIGMA Streamer Rotary Tattoo Machine Kit. ...
  • The Bishop Power WAND.

What ink do most tattoo artists use?

Intenze Ink is used by many of the world's finest and most well-known tattooists, including Steve Butcher, Alex De Pase, Bob Tyrrell, Randy Engelhard, and Chris 51, who each have their own ink set.

Can you use rubbing alcohol to make tattoo ink?

The liquid involved in the ink mix is sometimes called the carrier. The distilled liquor used in most homemade mixes is usually a non-toxic liquid like vodka, which will work as it's also a disinfectant. Other clear alcohols like rubbing alcohol or even tequila will work.

What tattoo ink fades slowest?

Black ink tends to outlast any other color because it is super pigmented. Other darker colors like dark blue, dark green, gray, and dark purple will have a similar lifespan to black ink. Lighter inks like yellows, reds, oranges, whites, and any pastel tones tend to fade a bit more quickly than darker inks.

What is the safest tattoo ink?

With ISO and CTL certifications, safety data sheets, and 100% vegan and cruelty-free options, World Famous Ink is the safest ink in the tattooing industry. Choose World Famous Ink for the best-healed results with true color matching and elevate your tattooing experience.

What makes tattoo ink stay?

The dermis. The structure and nature of the dermis allow the tattoo ink to stay put there for years, without fading significantly. If the tattoo ink is injected into the epidermis, it will fade completely within a month. If injected into the hypodermis, it will become blurry.

What tattoo ink got recalled?

Nevada-based tattoo ink manufacturer Sierra Stain has recalled three of its 'Bloodline' products after tests found they contained high concentrations of bacteria that could potentially "present a health concern to consumers", according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What is the best tattoo needle brand?

What Are the Best Tattoo Needle Cartridges?
  • Bishop Da Vinci V2.
  • Kingpin Crown and Scepter.
  • TATSoul Envy Gen 2 and Gen 1.
  • Prime+
  • Cheyenne.

Is pink tattoo ink safer than Red?

Most malignancies in tattoos occur in red, black, or blue tattoo inks and no cases have been reported thus far of malignancy in pink or orange tattoo pigments.

What kind of ink is non toxic?

Answer: Yasutomo Non-Toxic Sumi Ink contains no shellac and dries to a matte finish. It is made out of pure vegetable soot with no additives or preservatives. The dense black ink is lightfast and water-resistant when dry.

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