Choosing the best tattoo ink for a stick and poke is extremely important if you want to achieve the best results. Read on to find out more about your options.
Stick and poke tattoos provide unique results that differ entirely from those you can achieve with a machine. But, the quality of your designs will depend on the equipment you use, and ink is no exception. Using the best tattoo ink for your stick and poke is essential if you want a tattoo that looks good, lasts a long time, and is free of health complications.
In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the different types of ink commonly used for stick and poke tattoos as well as highlight those that we recommend if you want the best results possible.
The Different Types of Ink
People use different types of ink to create stick and poke designs. Often, their choice depends on their resources, what’s available to them, and unfortunately, impulsive behavior. Here are some of the most popular options:
Pen Ink
Pen ink is available to virtually anyone but, when it comes to tattooing it is by far the worst option. While it’s easily available and cheap, it is highly toxic and unsterile. It can, therefore, lead to infection and various other health complications. With this in mind, avoid using pen ink at all costs when creating homemade tattoos!
India Ink
While India ink is natural, non-toxic, carbon-based, and less likely to cause infection, it still isn’t the best alternative for tattooing. This affordable option will not provide you with the same quality of tattoo and will not hold up as well in time as professional tattoo ink.
Professional Tattoo Ink
As the name suggests, professional tattoo ink is created specifically for tattoos. This form of ink is sterile, provides great end results, and lasts a long time without fading. There are two types of professional tattoo ink: stable pigment-based ink and pre-dispersed ink.
Stable pigment-based inks have to be mixed and are seen as an old-school alternative that isn’t as common or easy to use. Pre-dispersed inks, on the other hand, don’t require any mixing. All you have to do is give the bottle a shake and you’re good to go!
Components of Professional Tattoo Ink for Stick and Pokes
Before choosing the best tattoo ink for stick and pokes it’s important to know which ingredients to look out for. Typically, professional ink is made up of pigments and carriers. Pigments can be made using vegetables, metals, or plastic. Before being mixed with the carrier, they appear as powder.
The carrier is often made of witch hazel, water, glycerine, propylene glycol, or alcohol. Aside from providing an even mix with the pigments, they act as a disinfectant to ensure the ink is free of harmful pathogens. Witch hazel is a plant-based solution that can reduce skin redness, ink rejection, and bleeding.
High-Quality Vs. Low-Quality Tattoo Inks
While professional tattoo ink is by far the best option, not all manufacturers make their products the same way. Here’s what to look out for when choosing your ink:
Ingredients List
If the manufacturer doesn’t disclose the ingredients in their products, steer clear of them. Remember that you’re inserting the ink into your body so you want to know what exactly is in it. To put your mind at ease, opt for organic ingredients that haven’t been tested on animals.
Credibility
A quick online search will tell you which brands are reputable in the tattoo industry. Yes, they may be slightly more expensive than other alternatives but, this is because they will provide you with the peace of mind you need when creating your DIY designs. No matter how short of cash you are, avoid low-priced products as these are often made with toxic or low-quality ingredients.
Country Regulations
Before buying professional tattoo ink online, check the manufacturer’s country of origin. By knowing the country of origin you can ensure that the company complies with local health and safety regulations. U.S and E.U-based products that adhere to regulations will be your best bet.
Choosing the Right Color
Professional tattoo inks come in a huge variety of colors for you to choose from. The most common color is black, however, white, red, and violet tones complement fair-skinned people well. On the other hand, bright blues, greens, and oranges are great alternatives for those with darker skin tones.
If you want to try your hand at creating DIY tattoos from the comforts of your living room, why not buy a professional stick and poke tattoo kit? Our kits all come with sterile materials as well as a selection of different colored vegan inks, all of which have been tried and tested to meet high-quality standards.