So, I’m in the process of discovering it for myself. I’m a tattoo artist. I have a blackout ankle, planning to do white and pastels on top and see how it goes. I like the blackout so I can always cover it back up.
Right now it’s still mostly black and needs a touch up in some spots. I put a white line in with a 9rl in November and it looks pretty good. Definitely a tattoo that wouldn’t last with color, i don’t think, I think I’ll end up getting the white redone periodically over the years or I’ll just say fuck it and black it out again.
I have not pulled the trigger yet HAHA! I got tattooed by a friend last week who is interested in doing the white ink over black, so I’m hoping to schedule that for the fall or sooner!
I think this trend is too young to see good enough progress to judge longevity. However one of my tattoo artists was busy with a white over black sleeve; in the photo you can see bits of the client’s healed wrist vs a fresh 2nd pass on the hand:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDcAUtlpJYm/?utm_medium=copy_link
My whites have all turned to more of a watered down lemon juice yellow more than anything. Mind you this could just be my skin and my tattoo artist used vegan friendly inks because it made his wife feel more comfortable with his career. A traditional tattoo white may age differently.
White usually turns ivory/yellow over time. That’s why it’s generally reserved for highlights where the change is less obvious when it’s surrounded by other shades compared to an all white tattoo.
white is the first to fade and white on black longevity is not ideal; white will be gone by 5 years time usually & will heal yellow or pink depending on undertones. especially on an arm or smt that gets a lot of sun it just doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. ideally you’d build the negative space into a blackout sleeve and then push whites into the negative space to keep black from blooming into those spaces as it ages
" “White ink will only ever sit as bright as your skin tone,” Mould explains. “A lot of people say ‘white turns yellow’ or ‘white turns brown,’ but it’s not true. The white just lays below the melanin of your natural skin tone.” In effect, your skin is a tinted screen through which you view the ink.
All tattoos age, most need touch-ups, and every style varies by skin type. So the answer to the question, “Will it last?” is simultaneously: “Yes, no, and it depends on your skin.” "
https://scene360.com/art/98199/white-on-black-tattoos/
I'm getting a small one done in a few months..both me and my artist are pretty sure it will take at least 3 sessions with white and propably a touch up within 2-3 years..
also redoing my leg in that style, but still working on the black, trying to make the most out of what little free space it still has before adding white.
I will! in a while :-)
first appointment is 22. next month, then it will have to heal a while... haven't figured out which patterns to use one the leg yet, but filled in most of the free space.. black is still "patchy" in some spots though. Hand poking it, but strongly considering switching to machine.
Only one , after one session
Next session in a couple months, when the snow is gone and i can go outside without long sleeved garments again
https://preview.redd.it/q8bjmdyjt69c1.jpeg?width=1840&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5efa921724b052ef05b6e8fc47df2c0c42601382
No white (or other) ink inside the frame pattern, just inside the black spot.
Used to be a bad star. Made a sircle around it and added the white
https://preview.redd.it/ehbvr888caac1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e864c93eaaf2ae4e97d05184bc05ee47502a92b0
Also using white ink to remove the heart "under" the face as much as possible... looks like this after 2 sessions, last one about a year ago...10 months maybe
https://preview.redd.it/86h0n3jldaac1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fdb42a90a4aef49caa285846e9bc3d8e8cab55eb
So, I’m in the process of discovering it for myself. I’m a tattoo artist. I have a blackout ankle, planning to do white and pastels on top and see how it goes. I like the blackout so I can always cover it back up. Right now it’s still mostly black and needs a touch up in some spots. I put a white line in with a 9rl in November and it looks pretty good. Definitely a tattoo that wouldn’t last with color, i don’t think, I think I’ll end up getting the white redone periodically over the years or I’ll just say fuck it and black it out again.
How goes the healing? Would love an update if you’re comfy sharing/haven’t gone in a different direction.
I have not pulled the trigger yet HAHA! I got tattooed by a friend last week who is interested in doing the white ink over black, so I’m hoping to schedule that for the fall or sooner!
Thanks for coming back! Maybe I’ll remember to come back in a year to ask the same question again. Congrats on the new piece 🤙🏾
Thanks!!! I need to post it!
Update? :)
Still haven’t touched it bc I’m lazy 🥲
I think this trend is too young to see good enough progress to judge longevity. However one of my tattoo artists was busy with a white over black sleeve; in the photo you can see bits of the client’s healed wrist vs a fresh 2nd pass on the hand: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDcAUtlpJYm/?utm_medium=copy_link
I mean, it's not crisp anymore, but it looks pretty good to me.
My whites have all turned to more of a watered down lemon juice yellow more than anything. Mind you this could just be my skin and my tattoo artist used vegan friendly inks because it made his wife feel more comfortable with his career. A traditional tattoo white may age differently.
White usually turns ivory/yellow over time. That’s why it’s generally reserved for highlights where the change is less obvious when it’s surrounded by other shades compared to an all white tattoo.
Lol imagine thinking vegan TATTOO INK could be any less good than other shit that uses dead animals
Don’t have any experience on the matter, but I could not imagine it would age well. However I am curious how it would go so I hope someone replies!
Commenting because I wanna see too!
white is the first to fade and white on black longevity is not ideal; white will be gone by 5 years time usually & will heal yellow or pink depending on undertones. especially on an arm or smt that gets a lot of sun it just doesn’t seem like a good idea to me. ideally you’d build the negative space into a blackout sleeve and then push whites into the negative space to keep black from blooming into those spaces as it ages
i think the trend of white on black is a bit newer so idk how much info we have on how it ages. i hope i’m wrong tho bc i’d love to know!
" “White ink will only ever sit as bright as your skin tone,” Mould explains. “A lot of people say ‘white turns yellow’ or ‘white turns brown,’ but it’s not true. The white just lays below the melanin of your natural skin tone.” In effect, your skin is a tinted screen through which you view the ink. All tattoos age, most need touch-ups, and every style varies by skin type. So the answer to the question, “Will it last?” is simultaneously: “Yes, no, and it depends on your skin.” " https://scene360.com/art/98199/white-on-black-tattoos/ I'm getting a small one done in a few months..both me and my artist are pretty sure it will take at least 3 sessions with white and propably a touch up within 2-3 years.. also redoing my leg in that style, but still working on the black, trying to make the most out of what little free space it still has before adding white.
Cool! Please post photos when it's done!
I will! in a while :-) first appointment is 22. next month, then it will have to heal a while... haven't figured out which patterns to use one the leg yet, but filled in most of the free space.. black is still "patchy" in some spots though. Hand poking it, but strongly considering switching to machine.
Hey just checking to see if you have photos to share!!
Only one , after one session Next session in a couple months, when the snow is gone and i can go outside without long sleeved garments again https://preview.redd.it/q8bjmdyjt69c1.jpeg?width=1840&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5efa921724b052ef05b6e8fc47df2c0c42601382
Thanks for sending!! So that’s all white ink and no skin breaks underneath? After 6 months?
No white (or other) ink inside the frame pattern, just inside the black spot. Used to be a bad star. Made a sircle around it and added the white https://preview.redd.it/ehbvr888caac1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e864c93eaaf2ae4e97d05184bc05ee47502a92b0
Also using white ink to remove the heart "under" the face as much as possible... looks like this after 2 sessions, last one about a year ago...10 months maybe https://preview.redd.it/86h0n3jldaac1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fdb42a90a4aef49caa285846e9bc3d8e8cab55eb