White tattoos have taken the stage and certainly peeked many of us ink lover's curiosity — especially mine. The biggest question that keeps me from running out to get a beautiful white ink tattoo on my body forever though, is not really knowing what white ink tattoos on dark skin look like. All of my tattoos are black, and I've never been interested in getting color done because of the concern that the color doesn't hold up over the years. Sticking with black ink lowers the likelihood of future touch-ups and most importantly, keeps me content with my finished product. Still, now that I've done some research, I'm kind of tempted to get some white ink. The contrast of white ink on darker skin looks seriously dope.
According to Tattoo Me Now, the lasting effect of white ink tattoos is really determined by the amount of pigment in your skin; paler skin tones are going to have stronger results with white ink. While they may look insanely ghostly and beautiful while you saunter out of the tattoo shop, it's likely that your new tat is going to fade much quicker than you expect, leaving you saying, months later, "Dayyum. This white tattoo ink is racist."
Not necessarily true: White ink has a hard time retaining its color on most skin types. Overtime, the white ink will fade into the skin, but for anyone looking for a more discrete tattoo that won't be noticeable on your wedding day, important job interview, or inauguration day may benefit from going with a cool white ink tattoo. According to sources at Precision Body Art, white tattoos fade on everyone, but when they are performed on dark-skinned babes, they tend to fade completely after the healing process, which is why many tattoo artists are hesitant to perform them in the first place. This isn't to be jerks: They just want to keep the integrity of their work and make sure you're totally happy with what you are paying for.
Fortunately, there are some ways you can get the exquisiteness of a white tattoo without wasting your cash. Artists at Precision Body Art suggest that if you have an older, healed, black ink tattoo, it's easy for the artist to layer white ink on top — and the color will hold much better. 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. White henna tattoos are breathtaking and can last anywhere between a week and a month, depending on the exposure to sunlight and how many times you jump in a pool this summer. When you consider how quickly tattoos heal and how quickly white tattoos fade on dark skin, henna is definitely an equally if not more desirable way to achieve that stunning look.
Still gung-ho about getting some white ink? I don't blame you. Talk to your future tattoo artist in advance about any concerns regarding fading and see if you can't sooth your nerves and keep your color lasting forever.
Image: @dre_renee11/Instagram; Giphy
