Tattoos have long been seen as an avenue of personal expression and individuality. Many have deep meanings and take years to design, while others are spur-of-the moment choices in college. Today, the kinds of tattoo ink available are about as numerous as the reasons for getting the tattoo in the first place. An important note is that tattoo ink and colorings are not traditionally regulated by the FDA.
Traditional Ink
The inks used in "traditional" tattoo parlor designs are a mixture of pigments that are suspended in what is called a carrier solution, which helps the pigments mix and become easy to apply. These inks run the color spectrum and include most colors such as blacks, blues, reds and yellows. There is no strict data on what is in the pigments, as different companies use different mixes and a tattoo artist may add his own mixtures. The pigment make-up varies by color. For example, green may have chromium oxide, yellow may have cadmium, and black may have iron oxide.
Henna Ink
Henna tattoo ink is an ink that is not injected into the skin like traditional tattoo inks. This ink is a paste mixture that is put on the outermost layer of the skin and is absorbed over time. Henna leaves are crushed with either a mild acid or lemon juice to make the paste. The paste must stay on the skin for four to 12 hours so that it sets; the longer the pigment is on the skin, the longer it will last. Henna inks can last from a few weeks to a few months.
White Ink
White ink tattoos can have metal oxides, vegetable dyes or synthetic compounds in their pigments. This kind of tattoo ink is used to make a design have a ghost appearance or to be more subtle. White ink is a thicker and sometimes higher-quality pigment when used on its own as the primary ink than when used in conjunction with other colors. Tattoos that are white ink can become dull or fade when exposed to sunlight often.
Ultraviolet Ink
The latest tattoo ink on the market is ultraviolet ink; the tattoo is not visible under normal light but is seen when a blacklight is used. This ink is FDA-approved for use in animals, but not on human skin. This is not a so-called glow-in-the-dark tattoo. The ink is a fluorescent dye mixed with polymethylmethacrlate suspended in ultraviolet sterilized water. The tattoo artist applies this ink under different lighting conditions, including a blacklight, to accommodate the ink and assist the artist.
Semipermanent Ink
Resulting from collaboration between Harvard Medical School, Brown University and Duke University, a semipermanent and more easily removable ink has hit the market. This tattoo ink has a lower level of pigment and a microcapsule that holds a laser target for removal, making the design easier to be removed if desired. This removable ink is not as easily available as traditional ink and is more expensive.
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