Why white ink tattoos hurt more — MARKD TATTOO | SYDNEY TATTOO ARTISTS (2024)

FAQs

Why white ink tattoos hurt more — MARKD TATTOO | SYDNEY TATTOO ARTISTS? ›

White ink tends to be thicker. Extra effort is required to get the ink in, and to top it off, a lining needle is used which also generally hurts more.

The process of tattooing involves puncturing the skin, which naturally leads to some level of pain. However, when it comes to white ink, the repeated passes over an already tattooed area and the potential for deeper penetration can irritate the nerve endings more intensely.

The chemical composition of White ink is different to black ink, which means it spreads in the skin a lot more than black ink, which means delicate and detailed designs will spread and look blurry.

During the healing process, a white ink tattoo may look raised or puffy. This is temporary, and as the skin settles, the true nature of the white emerges. The initial lack of contrast may give way to a stunningly different appearance, as the tattoo fully takes shape.

Factors That Affect Tattoo Pain

The style of the tattoo can also affect the level of pain. Fine lines and intricate details may require the tattoo artist to work more delicately, potentially causing more discomfort. Another factor to consider is the experience and technique of the tattoo artist.

They may change color while they fade

White ink fades quickly. When they do, the color can change to a yellow or off-white color that isn't very attractive. This sometimes makes it more difficult to touch up or regain their original brightness. In reality, many people end up covering them.

The reaction can start within a week of getting the tattoo or months to years later. White ink used in tattoos can cause allergic reactions. Body lotions, chemical sunscreens, and sunshine can all affect white ink tattoos.

Tattoo artists inject white ink deeper into the skin than black or colored ink. Unfortunately, white ink molecules do not hold in place well and require extreme stretching of the skin and heavy applications to be visible. As a result, white ink tattoos over ten years will become distorted and faded.

Fresh black ink doesn't hold white ink very well, so if you're looking to go black/white, handle the dark color first and then head back to the shop for the detail once it's fully healed. An alternative to tattooing white ink on dark skin is to go the Henna route.

Sunlight will cause white ink tattoos to fade more quickly than other colors. If you must be in the sun, make sure to cover up your tattoo with clothing or sunscreen. Keeping your skin moisturized will help to keep your tattoo looking fresh and vibrant.

Are white tattoos better yes or no? ›

Though white ink tattoos can be really cool and striking, they may require more frequent touch up than other tattoos because of how quickly they fade. Some clients report that faded white ink tattoos can look like scars, which is appealing to some, while others may not like the look.

So in answer to your question - can you add color ink on top of a white ink tattoo - well - absolutely. You can always add anything dark on top of anything lighter - that will stand out much more than the other way around. How much time does the white filling in a tattoo take to fade away completely?

Tattoo Shading

Color and shading simply provide more dimension than line work. Contrary to what you might expect, many people report that the shading hurts significantly less than the outlining of the tattoo. If you've already made it through your line work, pat yourself on the back.

Below is a pain chart from Tattoos-Hurt.com that explains it all using color, with yellow being the least painful to purple being excruciatingly painful. It's not surprising that the most painful areas are also considered the most vulnerable areas of the body.

In Summary. Color ink is not inherently more painful than black or grey ink. Getting a tattoo with color canbe more painful than a black or grey tattoo because some colors require more ink, which means thicker tattoo groupings and more passes over the same spot with the tattoo gun.

It's especially difficult to remove flesh-colored or white ink and permanent makeup tattoos because the pigment in these colors can oxidize, turning black, when treated by laser. After the pigment has oxidized, it can't be treated by laser.

"When getting white over black, just be aware that the tattoo will not be as bright as if it were over fresh skin," Will adds. "[White ink on black tattoos] tend to hold together much better over time when the artwork is pretty bold and graphic.