When you think of a tattoo, you'll almost certainly imagine it made up of either black or colored inks. However, there some tattoo designs that contain nothing but a single white ink, and their delicate and subtle nature is becoming more and more popular.
We here at Bored Panda have put together a list of white ink tattoos that embrace the lighter side of things. Either as standalone, tasteful works that are nearly invisible, or using the contrast of white against darker colors, these truly unique tattoos will have you planning your next ink in no time! Scroll down to see them for yourself, as well as find out more about this subtle tattoo style.
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Getting a white tattoo isn't a decision to be taken 'lightly,' they are harder to do correctly and require an experienced tattoo artist to pull off well. Ideally, the artist will already have worked with white ink before, because it takes a well-trained eye to see the ink as it is added. Much depends on the color of the skin of course.
Artists that have worked with white ink tattoos before will know that the tattoos can look much more striking and professional if a small splash of color is mixed together with the white ink. The additional color, no matter what it is, will bring the white out more, making it ‘pop’ and be much more noticeable. Because the amount of color added is so miniscule, it will still appear white to the naked eye.
Look like you can run your finger down her arm and feel the texture. It is a beautiful design.
oowww how do people get tattoos on their necks? it just sounds painful. imma wimp lol
If you choose to go with a pure white ink, the tattoo may fade and end up being nearly invisible, and look instead like a raised scar. Simple tattoo ideas that are well suited to white ink are always a good idea, which is why choosing to go ahead with white must be thought out properly, and planned carefully.
Does it stay raised like that when done with white ink??? Mine is flat as the skin it’s on...😳
...in the eye of the beholder. I would have chosen rose leafs, but thats just me...
While white tattoos are subtle and discreet in normal light, it's a completely different story under UV light. The white ink will glow, making your tattoo spring to life in the nightclub. Keep this in mind when planning your white ink tattoo!
If the picture wasn't focused on the whale I would have never noticed it
I hate most white ink tattoos, but I don't hate this. The artist packed the color in thick and it actually stand out nicely.
That look ready good and even if he had a shirt on the art work that shows is flattering.
AHHH i don't care if you hate my opinion and downvote me but gosh I hate this one!! Why would you tattoo a scar onto yourself?? Gah this frustrates me...
White ink tattoos are probably most commonly used in small ornaments or in tattoos on otherwise atypical body places.
I bet that look weird from a distance, because the white isn't that visible
Someone needs to make a compilation of that on BP!
Load More Replies...quick question- why are most of the snakes? (i still love them-im just curious)
For when you want the experience of getting a tattoo, but don’t want anyone to be able to see it.
This is from genuine research. A study found evidence that particles from tattoo ink can spread into lymph nodes – but it hasn't been proven that tattoo ink causes cancer. There has been very little research into that. Research was by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, and the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Germany, and the Department of X-ray Spectrometry European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France. The research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports on an open-access basis, so it's free to read online.
Load More Replies...a couple examples https://old.kennwilson.com/2007/09/white-ink-tattoo-three-years-later/ https://news.bme.com/2013/01/31/another-white-palm/ kinda look like scars
Load More Replies...I didn't know this was a things until today, and now I love them! When I'm old enough, I may get one, but hopefully if I choose right it will not fade.
These are cool I know for a fact I want 3 one that says (un)lost(My favorite song by the Maine) a crescent moon on my finger and when I met all time low I got them to sign a poster I had and the guitarist put a star by his signature and I wanna get that
seems like an awful lot of pain for a tattoo that won't even be visible in a year (if that long), not to mention money
I think that is mostly the point. In time they will still be visible but more as scarring and very subtle. Especially on light white skin, they will never be super visible to begin with so the subtly is what people are after.
Load More Replies...I can't wait to be old enough for a tattoo! (Im 14. In Illinois you have to be 17 or 18 to get a tattoo. If you are 17, you have to have a written note from your parent to do so.) The artwork of tattoos on your skin makes you feel like as though you're in a group where you belong and that's a beautiful thing.
done with tattoos, people are covered in them, sad to see women with them all over their arms and chest
I liked these. Perfect for the "Should I or Shouldn't I" sort of person - like me, who is 70 years old and never thought I'd even contemplate liking a tattoo.
Are most of those ones that were just done when they took the picture? Because most have skin that is red around them. Is that something that lasts?
They look clean, when some tattoos just look dirty - but - they also look like burns.
This would be a cool way of doing the Auryn from Neverending Story. untitled-5...bb8ab5.png
Would like to see them healed and having shed the layers of skin that are more intense in color. Not even black looks black once healed. White would be even lighter than these designs show now. Also, white is one of the most painful colors to choose since you really need to pack it in there so that it's noticeable.
I love white ink tattoos, I think they can be so pretty! I love this simple and subtle ones!
I think the white tattoo are beautiful, I can see why people would want one now!
Not always true. I have a tattoo, colored, in a place that where I can hide it if I chose. ( it's on my neck, I have really long hair) But I got it for me, not anyone else. I dont tell anyone it's there either, unless they ask. Tattoos, imo, should be for you, not necessarily to show off or to just say you have one.
Load More Replies...Someone needs to make a compilation of that on BP!
Load More Replies...quick question- why are most of the snakes? (i still love them-im just curious)
For when you want the experience of getting a tattoo, but don’t want anyone to be able to see it.
This is from genuine research. A study found evidence that particles from tattoo ink can spread into lymph nodes – but it hasn't been proven that tattoo ink causes cancer. There has been very little research into that. Research was by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, and the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Germany, and the Department of X-ray Spectrometry European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in France. The research was published in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reports on an open-access basis, so it's free to read online.
Load More Replies...a couple examples https://old.kennwilson.com/2007/09/white-ink-tattoo-three-years-later/ https://news.bme.com/2013/01/31/another-white-palm/ kinda look like scars
Load More Replies...I didn't know this was a things until today, and now I love them! When I'm old enough, I may get one, but hopefully if I choose right it will not fade.
These are cool I know for a fact I want 3 one that says (un)lost(My favorite song by the Maine) a crescent moon on my finger and when I met all time low I got them to sign a poster I had and the guitarist put a star by his signature and I wanna get that
seems like an awful lot of pain for a tattoo that won't even be visible in a year (if that long), not to mention money
I think that is mostly the point. In time they will still be visible but more as scarring and very subtle. Especially on light white skin, they will never be super visible to begin with so the subtly is what people are after.
Load More Replies...I can't wait to be old enough for a tattoo! (Im 14. In Illinois you have to be 17 or 18 to get a tattoo. If you are 17, you have to have a written note from your parent to do so.) The artwork of tattoos on your skin makes you feel like as though you're in a group where you belong and that's a beautiful thing.
done with tattoos, people are covered in them, sad to see women with them all over their arms and chest
I liked these. Perfect for the "Should I or Shouldn't I" sort of person - like me, who is 70 years old and never thought I'd even contemplate liking a tattoo.
Are most of those ones that were just done when they took the picture? Because most have skin that is red around them. Is that something that lasts?
They look clean, when some tattoos just look dirty - but - they also look like burns.
This would be a cool way of doing the Auryn from Neverending Story. untitled-5...bb8ab5.png
Would like to see them healed and having shed the layers of skin that are more intense in color. Not even black looks black once healed. White would be even lighter than these designs show now. Also, white is one of the most painful colors to choose since you really need to pack it in there so that it's noticeable.
I love white ink tattoos, I think they can be so pretty! I love this simple and subtle ones!
I think the white tattoo are beautiful, I can see why people would want one now!
Not always true. I have a tattoo, colored, in a place that where I can hide it if I chose. ( it's on my neck, I have really long hair) But I got it for me, not anyone else. I dont tell anyone it's there either, unless they ask. Tattoos, imo, should be for you, not necessarily to show off or to just say you have one.
Load More Replies...