Tattoo Artists’ Attitudes Toward Tattoo Removal and Tattoo Inks
Since Tattoo MD works in cooperation with many local tattoo artists, we often share ideas and opinions on everything tattoo-related. Tattoo artists welcome and appreciate the ability of laser to remove or lighten old tattoos that are difficult to cover up. They know that in many cases, a cover-up will look much better if the underlying work can be removed. Usually, if not always, the prior work was done by a different artist. However, they often express the desire and belief that if someone were to get a new tattoo with them now, it should be permanent.
It is true that there will soon be an instantly-removable ink on the market, called Freedom-2 ink. This is the ink that takes only 1 laser treatment to be completely removed. When I ask artists if they plan to use this ink, most of them don’t like the concept of their work being able to be so easily removed. Many, if not most, feel that this introduces vanity into tattooing and say that they would refuse to use it. On the other hand, the marketplace may dictate the use of this ink, if enough people demand it and refuse to get any other ink put on.
It’s not just an issue of using Freedom-2 ink, though. It is also known that certain types of tattoo inks are much harder to remove than others. Organic charcoal or india-ink based black inks are much easier to laser remove than metal oxide-based black inks. Some tattoo artists know this and prefer to use the metal oxide inks because they are so permanent.
So the point is, if you are getting a tattoo and are concerned that you may want to possibly have it removed in the future (even a tiny chance), you should consider the kind of ink that your artist is going to use on you. Agree on the type of ink before they start, as it will be too late once it’s in your skin.
