Black ink tattoos, if applied correctly, have consistently strong results throughout the healing process.
This makes them excellent on all skin types and colors.
Why?
Tattoo ink is deposited and stays in the dermis, the middle layer of skin - under the epidermis and above the subcutaneous layer. The epidermis (top layer) is where the melanin lives in your skin. This is what pigments your skin tone. Since your natural pigments are in the layer above where the ink stays, you must imagine viewing the ink's color through your natural color. When you get a fresh tattoo the ink is dispersed throughout the damaged epidermis as well, which makes the tattoo appear brighter/darker. During the first month the epidermis repairs and heals, which regrows that melanin layer on top of the ink.
A very general rule of thumb: you will always get great healed results with an ink color that is darker than your natural skin pigment.
This is absolutely not a strict rule, as skilled color artists should be trained in how to work with all skin types.
See Jeanine’s work below, for example!
Tenderfoot’s artists are trained to work with all skin types, and work with you to make the very best custom design for you!
Here are just a few examples of how Tenderfoot’s artists look on a gradient of various skin tones!
