5 Best White Tattoo Ink – Comprehensive Guide + Best Brands

The majority of tattoos are done using black ink. However, sometimes the shading or watering down of the black ink is not enough to do details and highlights on a tattoo. In such cases, white ink is indispensable. Without white ink, no tattoo can get that realistic, shaded, highlighted, and detailed final form.

In the following paragraphs, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive guide for white tattoo ink, as well as share with you some of our favorite white ink brands. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

White Ink: Everything You Need To Know

Why Is White Tattoo Ink Important?

White tattoo ink is essential, as we mentioned, in case a tattoo design requires highlighting certain aspects of the tattoo or requires a particular effect or pattern. No other ink can achieve such results, especially when it comes to realistic, life-like tattoos. Without white ink, many tattoos would appear dull and would have a messed-up dimensional appearance.

Is White Ink Skin Friendly?

Professional tattoo artists only use white ink brands which have their products tested by dermatologists and other professional tattooists. In most cases, such white ink brands make their products using natural ingredients only. That is why some white ink brands refer to themselves as ‘vegan-friendly as well.

On the other hand, there are white ink brands that use animal ingredients and toxic chemicals to enhance the pigment and color payoff on the skin. Such ink is not recommended for skin use, since it can promote skin irritation and skin damage. And, in the majority of cases, animal-ingredient white ink doesn’t last long and promotes color fading.

However, health risks associated with white ink are the same ones associated with black ink. Both need to be free of toxic ingredients and used properly, with clean and sanitized tools.

Does White Ink Last As Long As Black Ink?

Unfortunately, white ink fades much faster than black ink. Since the pigment is bright already, it is more susceptible to fading, especially if the tattoo is exposed to sunlight or UV light. However, some white ink brands make longer-lasting white ink. However, in such cases, the ink is much more expensive, and even then, lasts shorter than black ink.

Does Tattooing With White In Hurt More?

Overall, we would say that tattooing with white ink does hurt more. The reason for this lies in few important aspects;

• Tattooing with white ink is only done after the black ink part is completed.
• White ink goes over the black ink, which requires repeated tattooing in certain, already tattooed areas.
• The tattoo needle needs to go deeper for the white ink to lay properly over the black ink.
• White ink tattooing requires more skin stretching, which makes the skin thinner and the process more painful.

Obviously, the white ink tattooing can be less painful in case the tattoo is smaller or placed somewhere where the skin is thicker and doesn’t have as many nerve endings. However, if you’re doing a tattoo that is partially or completely white, for example, or done in highly sensitive areas, you can expect higher pain levels for sure.

Can You Get Rid of White Ink Tattoos?

Getting rid of a tattoo is incredibly hard, regardless of the color of the ink. But, some factors do ensure easier removal factors; for example, if the ink is black or the skin is brighter in tone, the removal will be faster and more efficient. All of this only applies to laser removal though; other methods aren’t nearly as effective as laser tattoo removal.

But, when it comes to white ink tattoos, things can get even more complicated. Considering that laser tattoo removal is the most efficient removal method, with white tattoos is can be difficult.

The reason for this lies in the fact that white ink reflects the laser light instead of absorbing it. Because of it, the laser light cannot heat the ink and dissolve it, as it does with black ink. Therefore, white ink tattoos may require double the number of laser removal sessions compared to black ink tattoos.

And, such a journey can be rather expensive; in some cases, it is pricier than the tattoo itself.

Does White Ink Change Color as It Heals?

Generally speaking, high-quality white ink will stay white even when the tattoo heals completely. However, in some cases, the ink can turn a bit grey or yellow, depending on the skin tone on which the ink was used.

For example, if white ink was used on a darker skin tone, the ink is more likely to turn greyish or brownish during the healing process. Many in the tattoo community blame this phenomenon on the way our eyes perceive white color on melanin-rich skin. It seems that the ink stays white, but it appears of another color because of melanin reflection in the color.

However, regardless of the skin tone, white ink will fade and change color as it fades. That is just the way this type of ink interacts with the skin. It is not as damage-resistant as the black ink, and it is almost impossible to touch or fix when the fading starts.

Also Read:

White Ink Tattoos: 6 Pros And 4 Cons

White Ink Tattoos On Dark Skin: 20+ Best Design Ideas

Which White Tattoo Ink Brands Are The Best?

1. POWER WHITE Millennium Moms White Tattoo Ink

• Best-selling on Amazon
• Rich and pigmented
• Vibrant and fade-proof
• Affordable
• High-quality
• Vegan and never tested on animals

The Power White Millenium Moms white tattoo ink is currently one of the best-selling white ink brands on Amazon. The reason for this lies in its high-quality, affordable price and exceptional smoothness and consistency.

This white ink is made to last longer than an average white ink, and retain the rich and pigmented appearance for years to come. It is currently recommended in the tattoo community as one of the best choices for tattoo highlighting or a completely white tattoo design.

2. Dynamic White Tattoo Ink

• High-quality
• Long-lasting
• No fading issues
• Rich and pigmented
• Stays vibrant on the skin
• Doesn’t change color as the tattoo heals
• Vegan and never tested on animals

For a more high-end option, we’ve decided to include the Dynamic white tattoo ink on the list as well. For a bit higher price point, this white tattoo ink does wonders. It is pre-dispersed ink intended for professional use only. The ink is easy to mix with other ink colors, which enables the tattooist to create their own shades and blends.

The ink is made in the USA, so you know is it safe and skin-friendly; speaking of which, the ink is completely vegan, has non-toxic chemicals and ingredients, and is never tested on animals. If you as a tattoo artist are looking for quality and performance, the Dynamic white ink is for you!

3. Viking Ink White Ultra Tattoo Ink

• Bright and pigmented
• Long-lasting
• Affordable
• Remains white even after healing
• Perfect consistency – not watery
• Vegan and never tested on animals

Many tattoo artists find it important to get high-quality products for a lower price, if possible. And, not every ink brand can deliver such expectations. However, the Viking Ink white tattoo ink falls into the category of the high-quality and best price.

This white ink is incredibly pigmented and bright. It is designed to last long and remain white even after the tattoo heals completely. Some white inks turn greenish or greyish as they heal, but not this one. The quality, performance, and consistency are all perfect with the Viking Ink.

4. Kuro Sumi Samurai White Tattoo Ink

• Bright and pigmented
• High-quality performance
• Perfect non-watery consistency
• Vibrant and long-lasting
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• Affordable

Another white ink brand that provides quality and value is Kuro Sumi. Their white ink known as Samurai White is one of the best on the market and has been one of the leading tattoo ink for the past two decades.

The ink is designed using non-toxic chemicals and made for long-lasting, bright, and pigmented effects. It is also vegan and cruelty-free, which means it is made from natural ingredients and has never been tested on animals. So, if you’re looking for a high-quality, reliable white ink that is also affordable, then go with the Kuro Sumi Samurai white; you can’t go wrong with this one!

5. StarBite Colors Tattoo Ink Brite White

• High-quality
• Vibrant and long-lasting
• Safe and reliable
• Fade-proof
• Sterilized and irradiated
• Pigmented and bright even after tattoo healing
• Vegan and never tested on animals

Another authentic ink brand that has been around for years is StarBite. Their inks are incredibly good and high in quality. You won’t have to spend a fortune for a StarBite white ink as well, as their prices remain affordable.

This white ink comes sterilized, irradiated for safety, and sealed. It has a long expiry and is designed to last long on the skin as well. The ink has a perfect consistency and it is very easy to work it. You can use it for highlighting and color filling or to blend with other inks and create your own shades. The ink is made in the USA and meets all the quality and ingredients standards.

So, Is White Ink Worth It?

If you buy good-quality white ink, it is surely worth it. Without white ink you cannot achieve the perfect highlights nor can you enhance the tattoo design. White ink is critical for a high-quality tattoo and every tattoo artist should consider using it.

However, we have to point out that straight white ink can be difficult to work with if you’re just starting. For example, high-quality white ink is thicker in consistency, so for certain effects, it needs to be thinned down. However, if you thin it down too much, the ink is useless.

White ink requires certain levels of skill and expertise. It is not recommended for amateur tattooists to work with white ink without proper practice. It also requires knowledge about skin tone and the way white ink behaves on melanin-rich skin.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, our comprehensive guide in regards to white ink was helpful. The white ink brands that we recommended are all vegan and cruelty-free, so they’re safe and reliable. Since this article is intended for professional tattooists, make sure to let us know if there’s something we didn’t include but is very important for this topic.

For more information about the world of tattoos, make sure to check out our other articles; there’s something for everyone, the curious, the amateurs, and the professionals.

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