s/o white ink tattoos

[Lucille Bluth]

Oct 17, 2012 14:57:39 GMT -5 Kore said:

Oct 17, 2012 14:47:50 GMT -5 winnied said:

Do you have a pic? I've considered a white one, too.

I love white ink tattoos. I want to see one IRL, though. Someone told me they're raised like branding, instead of "in" the skin. If that's the case, I don't want it as much.

I have been doing a lot of research on white tattoos, because I am planning to get one, too. Not all places will do them. Depending on the ink / skill of the artist and your skin tone it's possible it would need to be done a few times.

I think the skin tone also has a bit to do with how well it takes, but I've heard the paler the better. If you are darker they sometimes add a touch of blue or pink to help it hold better. Some people complain about them turning yellow or cracking and white ink is also supposedly the only one that cannot be removed, ever.

If a stencil is used, the artist must be careful to make sure that the ink from the stencil does not mix with the white ink being used - this can dull the brightness of the ink. Some things I've read also say to make sure the artist uses plastic tubing instead of stainless, because it can dull the ink.

From everything I've read the absolute best ink to use is called Intenze [http://www.intenzetattooink.com/]. (The site also lists artists who use their ink.) Another one that's among the best is MOMS. Do NOT go to a place that uses highlighter ink for white.

The only thing that gives me a slight pause is that it uses acrylic polymer (think house and car paints) and I cringe at the thought of plastic under my skin, because with all of this BPA and plastics in the world I just think that can't be good.

White ink hasn't been around that long and while many artists, at least those who use it, report having no problems with it, I'm still trying to decide if I should just go for it or not. 99.9% of all cured polymers are non toxic (cured = stable = not toxic) and the guy that made Intenze tried all of them on himself under many conditions, so I do believe they are the best and most stable ink out there.

I think the deciding factor for me lays squarely on whether or not the place across the street from me (which is the very best in the city) will do it, because I'm sentimental like that and what I want is something very delicate and symbolic of our city as well. I know they use Intenze, so now I just have to get my ass over there and talk to them.

This link has some photos and info:
tattooztumblr.blogspot.com/2012/09/white-ink-tattoos.html

I'm by no means an expert on this, but I thought I'd share this info, because it's been a bit of work finding out how all of it works. Or maybe I'm just a control freak.

[Deleted]

Oh my. I've never seen those before but that is super creepy.

[karinothing]

Strange! It looks like decorative scarring to me.

[cahabalily]

I'll show you mine, it was a white flower, but the aerist said white won't stick very wasily so he shaded everything in blue first so the white would have something to hold onto.

It worked, and stayed white until I started tanning without protecting it. Here's what it looks like now, and I need to have it re-inked....




Sent from my SGH-T959V

[Deleted]

I've always liked the look of white ink tattoos. I'm very pale, so maybe I'd have some decent luck with it. Thanks for the info!

[cahabalily]

Also, it was never raised like a brand, even before all the white came out from the tanning bed.

I have no idea what ink was used.

Sent from my SGH-T959V

[Lucille Bluth]

I don't want to quote you Peggy, since you want to DD the photo.

Yours is how I hope mine would look (with a different motif). It's really nice!

Do you mind me asking roughly what you paid? I have absolutely no idea what a quality tattoo costs, but I want the same size and placement.

[Kore]

Thanks for the info! This is interesting.

[SusanBAnthony]

I know nothing about tattoos, I will just say as a polymer engineer, that a cured polymer is not stable forever. It totally depends on the polymer, and small amounts are leaching out all the time, as nothing is ever 100% cured, plus they break down over time.

Now, we put tons of crap in our bodies, and unless you are eating 100% of your food from glass jars and ceramic dishes, and never using Tupperware or buying commercial canned food, you are getting BPA in your system anyway. And BPA is not the only concern by far, it is just the most studied one, so don't fool yourself thinking BPA free Tupperware is going to solve the problem. But the more plastics you expose your body too, the worse off you are, so personally tattoo ink with polymers in it squirms me out.

[Lucille Bluth]

Oct 18, 2012 9:02:12 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

I know nothing about tattoos, I will just say as a polymer engineer, that a cured polymer is not stable forever. It totally depends on the polymer, and small amounts are leaching out all the time, as nothing is ever 100% cured, plus they break down over time.

Now, we put tons of crap in our bodies, and unless you are eating 100% of your food from glass jars and ceramic dishes, and never using Tupperware or buying commercial canned food, you are getting BPA in your system anyway. And BPA is not the only concern by far, it is just the most studied one, so don't fool yourself thinking BPA free Tupperware is going to solve the problem. But the more plastics you expose your body too, the worse off you are, so personally tattoo ink with polymers in it squirms me out.

I appreciate this a lot. Thanks for the info.

I actually have switched to all glass and ceramic, although I do still buy canned foods. I've tried to drastically limit my use of plastic, because I am sure it's the tip of the iceberg.

I haven't researched what other inks are made from, but I like the idea of a white one not being overly noticeable. The polymer info is the big reason I'm hesitant.

[missajane]

I replied in the OP, but I didn't mention my skin tone. I have really yellow undertones and tan REALLY easily. Even with major sunblock and protection.

My white in my tattoo is all faded. It doesn't look yellow, but my skin tone has a yellowish tone to it, so perhaps it just blends.

I only got my tattoo in August and the white is all gone. Boo.