While the manufacturers are not obligated to specify what they put or conduct trials on, almost all tattoo inks contain some sort of pigmentation as well as a base or carrier substance. The former offers the inks with the colour while the latter make sure they are evenly mixed, which by the way, streamlines application to a great extent.
For further information about the composition, please go through the following write-up.
Carriers and Pigments Used :
The experts selling tattoo ink Australia said alcohol is the most common carrier since it increases skin permeability, thus, transfers a large amount of pigment inside the dermis. You may use denatured alcohols, rubbing alcohol, or ethyl alcohol.
Other carriers include glycerine, distilled water, and propylene glycol. Homemade tattoo inks have vodka as the carrier. Carriers are generally harmless and, when administered properly, can keep infections and ink poisoning at bay.
Earlier, pigments were made of ask or ground-up carbon. Several ancient tribes depended on soot from the charred woods to etch their skin. The modern-day inks have both mineral and organic pigments. Vegetable or plastic bases are added for acquiring the correct sort of colour. There was a controversy since some artists admitted using heavy metals to create specific shades:
• Lead for green, yellow, and white
• Mercury for red
• Nickel for black
• Cadmium for orange, red, and yellow
• Cobalt for blue
• Zinc for white and yellow
• Copper for green and blue
• Aluminium for violet
• Iron for black, brown, and red
To alleviate the cost of production, the artists will combine heavy metals with lightning agents. Pigments can also be derived from elements such as antimony, calcium, sulphur, arsenic, and beryllium.
Studies have found out that tattoo inks use approximately 300 different kinds of additives and colorants but not enough to affect procedures like MRI scanning or metal detection at the airports.
Some pigments were approved by the tattoo regulatory bodies for cosmetic usage, but a huge number were unfortunately restricted to the industrial realm. These have pigments in the printer ink and automotive paints, which never were meant for human skin.
Are Vegan Inks Safe?
The professionals providing the best tattoo ink in Australia said the shift towards vegan foods had compelled major segments of the population to believe that vegan inks are safer or healthier.
The organic inks contained animal products such as shellac from the beetles, bone char, beeswax, cod liver, and animal fat, but the vegan ink manufacturers moved on to eliminate the animal by-products. They utilise instead vegetable glycerine or Virginiana extracts.
Although a wide range of toxic compounds are missing from organic and vegan inks, they are not completely risk-free. There are chances of contamination during manufacturing and based on the sterilisation methods and production environments.
Bottom Line
The tattooists who are planning on starting their own business, as well as the ones who have been working in some shop for years, must keep the aforementioned discussion in mind. They, after all, have to purchase inks frequently. Now rely on a supplier only if he assures quality along with affordability.
