Many tattooists fear tattooing dark skin as it seems more challenging and will yield less desirable results. However, this is simply untrue! With proper technique and colors, color Tattoos look as beautiful on darker skin tones as on lighter ones.
When selecting an artist, requesting pictures of healed tattoos on people with your skin tone is beneficial, as this will show how it will age over time.
Pastel Shades Don’t Translate Well
Tattoos may only suit some; many find that colors don’t fit their skin tones well. Therefore, you must find an artist who can accommodate this when designing the final product so it will look its best.
Some tattoo artists assert that tattooing darker skin can be challenging due to the need for additional pigment, but this is often not true; often, artists compensate by running their machines deeper when tattooing darker skin and overworking the area, leading to keloids or scarring from overworking it.
Therefore, you must read reviews and select an artist with experience with all skin tones. Once you choose an artist, ask for photos of their finished work to better understand how their colors will complement your complexion.
Blues and Purples Can Look Muddy
Tattoo colors tend to look better against light skin than they do against darker skin, so as a general guideline, it is best to opt for warmer tones such as teal and orange as they will reflect more ink onto darker skin tones than cooler hues like lilac, emerald green, and sky blue which won’t reflect well due to melanin absorption by skin cells.
Instead, opt for lilac, emerald green, or sky blue to maintain clarity when worn against light skin tones.
Melanin is essential in protecting skin from sun damage, so you must consider how much time you spend outdoors versus inside. Spending too much time outside will cause melanin production to increase, leading to darker skin–a fantastic benefit in terms of anti-wrinkling benefits later on!
Tattoo artist Aimee Afrique doesn’t subscribe to the notion that tattooing darker skin is impossible, yet she does have some requirements for her artists; for instance, she won’t hire anyone without brown skin in their portfolios.
Artists Who Don’t Set Their Tattoos at the Right Depth
Tattoos don’t look the same on every skin tone. Over time, colors fade and can even fade out by the sun; therefore, artists must understand how to properly set tattoos so that they will last.
However, respect and empathy must also play a part in any professional job with dark skin tones. “If an artist tells me they only do black and gray work or won’t paint colors other than black on darker skin tones, that would be problematic,” according to Afrique.
When viewing artists’ portfolios, make sure they offer an array of colors and styles. Request to see work on people of various skin tones and how the healed colors appear; this can help you find an artist who understands melanin’s importance in tattoo art.
Getting a tattoo is an investment; choose carefully, as any mistakes won’t grow out! Hair grows back eventually, while an unwanted ink tattoo won’t.
Ask for Healed Photos
One common belief about colorful Tattoos on people with darker skin tones is that they will show up poorly, making it challenging for those searching for color inspiration to find an appropriate design.
However, that does not have to be the case; vibrant hues can look fabulous on people with darker complexions. When getting tattooed, finding an artist familiar with dark skin shades and obtaining healed photos as evidence of his/her work on that specific shade of skin is essential.
Customers should take extra steps to protect their Tattoos from sun exposure and maintain their longevity by applying moisturizer and sunblock regularly. Without protection, sun exposure will cause it to fade rapidly while damaging the skin underneath. By using some broad-spectrum sunscreen regularly, you can prevent this from occurring and prevent infections related to improper care of fresh tattoos.
With these helpful tips, everyone can have a tattoo they love for life!
