More on the increasingly popular trend....
Even the most skilled tattoo artists have difficulty in keeping the
ink purely white during the transfer to skin, and even if the process is
completed successfully, the ink has a tendency to heal raised,
yellowed, or transparent. Despite the risks, countless people are
dishing out big bucks to model this cutting edge fashion.
Women are especially drawn to this type of tattoo; there is a
subtlety and privacy to the faint white lines that is provocatively
delicate and feminine. Some sport a white ink tattoo to please employers
or loved ones who frown upon visible, bold designs. Others do so to
follow in the footsteps of fashionable celebrities like Lindsay Lohan,
who had the word “breathe” tattooed in white ink on her right wrist
after surviving a severe asthma attack.
Errors in Tattooing Process
No matter the recent popularity of such tattoos, there are risks in
obtaining all-white designs. Even the most experienced tattooists
hesitate to give white ink designs because of the difficulty of the
process. The three most common techniques—stencil, bloodline, and
freehand—all have their downfalls.
Traditionally, a stencil of purple dye is applied to the skin before
the tattooist begins inking. However, if this method is used, the artist
risks mixing the white ink with the dark stencil ink, which gives the
tattoo a permanent grey tint.
Another option is to use a bloodline, a process by which the
tattooist uses a water-filled needle to draw blood in an outline of the
design. This process is risky because the tattoo receiver’s blood may
mix with the white ink, tainting the tattoo pink.
Most artists admit that the safest way to do a white tattoo is
freehand, without use of any type of stencil or guideline. The problem
with this process lies in the color of the ink—white ink is so light
that it is difficult for artists to see where they are injecting the
pigment.
Errors in Tattoo Healing
Even if a tattoo artist does manage to transfer the pigment
successfully, there are still risks involved in the healing process. The
ink used for white-ink tattoos heals white in some people and pale
yellow in others. Sometimes, the ink even heals transparent and will not
show at all. But in the worst of cases, the tattoo scars during the
healing process and raises so that the final result looks embossed or
brand-like.
However, even in the event that an all-white tattoo is performed
effectively and heals correctly, its upkeep is more bothersome than the
upkeep of colored designs. White ink shows up the best on light-colored
skin that is infrequently exposed to the sun. Even if slathered in
sunscreen during the summer, white ink tattoos tend to fade over time
and need frequent touch-ups (every few years) to maintain visibility.
No matter the recent popularity of such tattoos, there are risks in
obtaining all-white designs. Even the most experienced tattooists
hesitate to give white ink designs because of the difficulty of the
process. The three most common techniques—stencil, bloodline, and
freehand—all have their downfalls.
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