The Truth About White Ink Tattoos: Instagram vs. Reality

Scroll through Pinterest and you'll see them: delicate, lacy white tattoos that look like elegant scars or subtle jewelry. They look incredible. But as tattooers, it is our job to manage your expectations. White ink is the most misunderstood pigment in the industry.

The 'Yellowing' Effect

Here is the science: When you get tattooed, the ink sits *under* your epidermis (the top layer of skin). When the tattoo heals, your natural skin tone grows back over the ink. If you are pale, the white ink looks white. If you have olive or dark skin, the melanin in your skin acts like a tinted filter over the white ink.

Over time, as your skin is exposed to the sun, that top layer tans. This turns the white ink yellow, beige, or even invisible. White ink does not stay 'paper white' forever.

Best Uses for White Ink

• Highlights: Use it to add 'shine' to eyes, metal, or water in a black and grey piece.
• Accents: Small decorative dots or lines in a larger composition.
• NOT Outlines: Using white for the main outline of a tattoo is risky, as it may fade to nothing in 5 years.

We love white ink, but we want you to know the maintenance required. Be prepared for touch-ups every few years to keep it crisp.