10 Best Tattoo Black Inks 2024 in the United States

Over one-fifth of adults in the United States have received a tattoo. Whereas people used to go to salons to have tattoos done, there are more people who try their hand at tattoo art themselves. There are three types of tattoo guns, which differ in their principle of operation:

• Electromagnetic, which is used primarily for lines and shades

• Rotary, for coloring large patches,

• Pneumatic, which is air-driven by means of a foot pump.

With a tattoo gun, a group of needles injects ink into your skin at a depth of 1.5-3.5 millimeters. You dip the tip of the needle into tattoo ink, and the gun injects the ink into the skin at a rate of 2000-3000 times per minute. You will notice that there is a difference in the quality of tattoo ink. Some inks will be thicker, for coloring, while others will be more watery, to produce finer lines. There are inks that are very dark, so they are expected to remain permanent for many years. Others may fade with time--which may be preferable for people who try tattooing themselves.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a tattoo black ink. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of tattoo black ink,

• See useful tips about that particular type of tattoo black ink,

• Read reviews of different tattoo black inks, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of tattoo black ink, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

We can classify inks by the type of artwork that you wish to perform:

• Outlining black: There are black tattoo inks that are primarily for outlining. It will typically be a more diluted form of ink, so as to make fine lines that outline the figure that you are trying to create. Kuro Sumi Tattoo Ink is a vegan ink, made from organic materials, that is primarily for making outlines in black.

Kuro Sumi Tattoo Outlining Ink

• Filler black: These are more concentrated inks, that may spread through the skin when applied. You can use outlining black for filler, but not vice versa: The outlining ink will remain in place without spreading. If you wish to use filler ink for outlining, you should dilute the ink first. Some brands, such as Bloodline Tattoo Ink, recommend diluting ink to a 3:1 ratio with distilled water or witch hazel.

Bloodline Tattoo Ink

• Temporary ink: You can also find ink that lasts for up to two weeks. They will typically be based on Genipa Americana fruit juice. Other options are henna tattoos. These inks are drawn on the skin, instead of being injected into the skin. After drawing, you wait 1-2 hours, and wash off any excess. It develops into a tattoo within 24-36 hours.

• Stick and poke technique: Some “do-it-yourself” people take the initiative of performing their own tattooing, known as “stick and poke” tattooing. You must make sure to maintain proper hygiene when performing this, however. It requires only buying sterile black ink and sterilized liner needles. A pack of 10 needles will allow you to perform 10 tattoos.

• Gray wash: If you get black ink, you can also create a “gray wash”, with different shades of gray. You dip the tattoo gun in black ink, which sucks ink into the gun’s tube. You then dip the gun in water--either tap water or distilled water will do. This creates a diluted color. You then inject this into the skin, adding more black or water as desired.

• Proper consistency: The Skin Companion Black Ink is a perfect consistency so that it is not so thin that it would flow like water, nor too thick that it should clog the tube of the tattoo gun.

• Tattoo removal: If you ever regret getting a tattoo, it can be very expensive (and painful) to remove. Tattoos that cost $115 to receive can cost $800 to remove! For this reason, you may want to investigate using tattoo inks that fade with time.

• Constituents of ink: Tattoo ink will consist of 1) pigment, and 2) carrier. The carrier can be a substance like glycerine, ethyl alcohol, or purified water. The carrier conveys the pigment from the applicator needle under the skin. The pigment itself can consist of metallic salts, with the color of the dye depending on the metal used: copper or cobalt producing blue, mercury producing red, and cadmium sulfite producing yellow.

• Vegan inks: People are now very conscious that the substances that they use in tattoo ink are safe. Some inks contain heavy metals, such as cadmium or mercury, which can break down over time and enter your bloodstream. This is a distinct risk if you ever decide to have a tattoo removed. For this reason, people now look for organic dyes, as well as ink that doesn’t contain any animal by-products. They will use logwood or carbon for a black color, turmeric for yellow, sodium for blue, and so on.

• Allergic reaction: There can still be a concern of allergic reaction to ink, so you should pay attention to any irritation that develops after getting a tattoo. You should apply the ink to a small patch of skin, to check for any possible allergy. Take note of any inflammation, with the skin becoming red and swollen. This can be a normal reaction to the needle injecting the ink into the skin--but it could also be more serious. Also, take note if the skin develops a bumpy texture or a rash.

• Sterilizing equipment: You should clean your machine after completing a tattoo. You soak the tube that holds the needle in a solution of soap and bleach. The needle should be disposed of properly in a container for sharp hazardous waste. The tube part should be sterilized in an ultrasonic cleaner to remove any residue.

• Mom’s Ink is a brand of Millenium Colors, Inc. Their ink is checked repeatedly to ensure that the color will remain consistent over time. They have a selection of 84 different shades, including black light sensitive ink.

• Skin Companion is located in Oceanside, New York. They make inks and markers that are specially designed for tattoo art and permanent makeup.

• Bloodline is a brand of Skincandy Tattoo Supply Inc. They were started in 1996 in San Francisco. They make permanent body ink, with a palette of 125 different colors. Skincandy also makes tattoo machines, needles, medical supplies for sterile application, and body piercing equipment.

• Solong Tattoo has been in the tattooing industry since 2008 in Yiwu City, China. They make tattoo machines, tattoo needles, pigments, power supplies, permanent makeup tools, and tattoo removal kits.