I've been a bit of a lurker around here, and I'm happy to finally be making my first post. Since all of you seem pretty knowledgable, I thought this would be the place to ask the following question.
I'm an African-American young lady and I really REALLY want a tattoo, but there's one factor that truly decides what I get or even if I get a tattoo at all- that's the colors that my skin tone will be able to show.
I've done some research and found a whole host of infomation, but some of it is quite contradictory. I read that I can only get black and red (the sources seem to agree that red and black show up the best, but a tattoo artist told me ONLY red and black..then when he saw my skin he said I could get blue and purple), I 've read that blue would look okay, and that purple and green would look muted (I asked the artist if purple could work, wouldn't green and he said he'd only do purple, blue, and red), and that yellow or orange mostly likely wouldn't show up, and certainly not white.
So I need to know, will purple, green, and blue show up the way I want them to (that's what determines whether or not I get my sparrows)? Basically, what will look good and what won't? Anyone have experience with this issue? I look forward to your responses!
i would suggest to go to as many shops as you can discuss it with the tattooist, feel them out and get a good overall consensus based on all the info you gather.
**Congrats** on making your first post! I really think you should go in person to the tattoo shops. The pShops that you feel comfortable with. Ask your questions plus they will be able to gauge your skin. Even try to view a portfolio that includes tattooing on dark skin. Hope his helps. ps I like your ink idea of using "sparrows"
Originally posted by vinniedonuts: it also depends on how dark your skin is.
I was gonna say that also.
All the black people I know with ink have gone with black, even the lighter skin ones have gone with black. Color doesn't always make or break a tattoo, I've seen some awesome black ink work.
I have a white that shows real well on African people, did a potrait on one the other day and he is in the middle of the road as far as how dark he was. Have done several others and when I added that same white to the other colours I used it all stay well in comparison to what I have seen. I would say that it varies from person to person and also how well the artist is experienced with colour and with the African skin. Probally over half of my customers in my lifetime have been black. I have worked a lot on Spanish people as well as some Mexicans who fairly dark skinned. There are so many differant styles and it has a big baring on the artist and what he or she is used to working with. Ask what percentage his clintele is or rather how much experience they have with African people. Their porfolio should prove what or who they work on the most. I wish I could show you some pictures of the white and how it Healed up on some of the work I have done with African people. Good luck.
debra wilson of mad tv has a color tattoo on her she is caramel maybe a little darker and it looks fine, you might have to put vitamin e ointment to brighten it up or keep it moisturized.or you could always do a mike jackson an bleach yourself(just kidding)
I think it all depends on the color of your skin, too be honest. Black ink will undoubtedly show up quite nicely but different colors may not.
I had a friend in college who was black. The one tattoo that he had looked like on old sailor's tattoo; i.e. the sorta-faded blue-black look. I had another friend who was bi-racial (black & white, FWIW) who had tattoss with black, red and blue ink. Her tattoos were quite lovely and really stood out nicely. Sadly, we've lost touch or else I'd try to get you some pics.
If I were you I'd visit as many shops/conventions in your part of the country and talk to the artists. See what kind of opinions you get. Check out their portfolios.
Hello Ginger. I just wanted to add in what I have experienced with this subject. In the shop I work at we have alot of Darker skinned poeple get color work done. The best thing for you to do as others here have said is to go into as many shops as you can and look at their work (hopefully they will have work done on darker skinned clients in their books. If they dont ask if they do have pics that just are not in the books). Ask them how well they do with darker skin. Some darker skin I have found to take light purples, blues, as well as white and yellow even better than white skin. At our shop we call it the blaze affect. The darker skin makes those lighter colors stand out beautifuly. Also as the others have said your skin tone will make an impact. But just because you are of a darker complection do not let others decide against a color tattoo for you. The one artist in our studio did a large David Bollt butterfly about 6 inches tall by 8 inches wide a few days ago and it came out georgous. She was in the middle as far as how dark she was. Not to light of a brown but not extremly dark. No matter what take your time and find an artist you are comfortable with. Take care and good luck
Justin
Oh here is a link to some of the one artists work. 3rd collum down on the left is a butterfly done on a darker woman. The flash on the camera made her skin look much lighter thatn it actually is. just to give you and idea. Tattoos by kenny Link to check out
Sorry this reply is so late Ginger, but I am a woman of color and have a few tattoos. As you've already heard, look at the portfolio and see if the person has done people w/ your complextion, not just people of color. Two of mine are in full color. One is the bust of Nefertiti on my bikini line and the other color one is my name in heiroglyphics around my wrist. The yellow/gold on my wrist is faded quite a bit (but you can still see it) because for one it's on my arm and since it's my left arm that is always getting sun when I drive, it's bound to fade. Nefertiti is blue, gold, green and shaded to show my skin tone as her own - it's just beautiful now. Just make sure you shop around; I didn't but I was lucky with the first ones. The last one I made sure he did people of my own complexion and then some; he also re-did one that was not so nice and made it beautiful. Good luck girlfriend!
Hi Ginger, I am a woman of colour as well. I had a tattoo done that has blue, green, white with little touches of yellow and orange. It didn't seem to be a problem and I've not had any tattoo artist tell me that any colour would be a problem. Find an artist that you are comfortable with and who can translate what you you are looking for onto skin. Good luck.
Thanks for all the help everyone! And I'm sorry I've been away (school stuff... boo!)... I know I'm going to go from artist to artist finding out more and more info, but I'd hate to argue with an artist b/c I feel like they're the expert. I understand there's a tactful way to do everything, but... I dunno.. I just think it'd be awfully awkward.
Which leads me to another question, still semi-related. Howmuch artistic liscense should I afford the artist? If they refuse to do certain things, or are really reluctant to do what I want, should I go somewhere else?
i wouldn't go too crazy but giving the artist some creative space is cool, just make sure your on the same page and you know whats going to happen beforehand.getting a tattoo is also a vibe thing for me,i have to feel comfortable not only with the artists work but the whole set up.if it doesn't feel right dont do it.make sure you and the tattooist are on the same wave!
I actually am thinking of getting a new color tattoo in a few months. Do you have any suggestions for tattoo artist who work on people of color? Also I was thinking of getting a hummingbird flying into a hibscus plant.. do you have any samples of tattos similar to this?
