Black and Gray vs. Color Tattoos

There are many things to consider when getting a tattoo.

One major decision you will have to make is whether you want a full color or black and grey tattoo. There are pros and cons to each. The most important thing to remember is to listen to your own gut instinct. But if you really can’t figure out which style to go with, here’s a guide to help you decide.

Black and gray tattoos go back centuries. They are the oldest forms of tattooing and were considered fashion luxuries back in they day. Only the richest people could afford tattoos. The demographic for tattoos has changed, obviously, since then. A black and gray tattoo? A way to decide if a black and gray tattoo design is right for you is to ask yourself what you are looking for in a tattoo. Some designs simply might look better in black and gray.

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A pro for black and gray tattoos is that they hold up better than color tats over time. Sunlight is a killer for tattoos. It can damage the integrity of the overall tat and breaks down the pigments. Since less ink is used with black and gray tats, sunlight has less of an effect on the overall design. Also, it takes much longer for dark inks to fade. This is not the case for color tats.

If you do decide to get a black and gray tattoo, there are a few things you should expect from your artist and the overall experience. Since black and gray only use one to two colors of tattoo ink, picking the right artist is very important. Color tattoos can hide imperfections and don’t need to be as detailed. The inks used with black and gray tattoos are black and sometimes white. The white is used when highlighting a specific part of the tattoo as well as for dramatic effect. For example, in portraits white ink is used to highlight the white of the eyes and the teeth.

Now, on to color tattoos. These tattoos are bigger attention grabbers, so keep that in mind. A con for color tats is the fact that some people have allergies to the ingredients in the tattoo inks. You may want to consider black and gray tattooing if you have known allergies to ink dyes. However, this is pretty rare and the allergy commonly only applies to one color. The reason why people have these allergies is because of the ingredients that go into making the ink. Finding exact ingredients for each ink is nearly impossible as companies that make ink guard the recipes fiercely. Think of the “secret family recipes” your grandmother has stashed away.

The idea of having a bad reaction to the ink can be kind of scary, but don’t let it frighten you away. Color tattoos are overall the most visually appealing! However, if you want your color tattoos to stay as lustrous as the day you got them, you need to take proper care of them. Yes, I’m going to talk about sunlight again. That’s because it only takes one bad sunburn to permanently damage your tattoos. However, using sunscreen whenever you spend an extended period outside can prevent sun damage for both color and black and grey tattoos! Cool weather makes it easier to protect a perfect tattoo; many people just cover their tattoos by wearing a long sleeve shirt.

Whether this is is your first or twentieth experience getting a tattoo, make sure you are using only professionally trained artists to ensure your visit turns into a fantastic memory!

For the best selection both black and gray and color tattoo designs, click here!