Many vegan tattoo artists are turning to vegan tattoo ink in order to create beautiful vegan tattoos for their vegan clients.
But what makes tattoo ink non-vegan?
The ingredients and how it is made!
Tattoo ink traditionally contains pigments, water, glycerin (vegetable or animal), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and sodium hydroxide. For the vegan artist, the only ingredient that needs changing is the pigment from a non-vegan dye to a vegan dye.
In this post, we will discuss what makes vegan tattoo ink vegan and why you should be using it!
Why Vegan?
Veganism is about avoiding causing any unnecessary harm. We don’t need to use animals to create beauty products to decorate our homes, nor do we need them to create ink for our tattoos, so why should we use them?
Vegan Tattoo Ink
Vegan tattoo ink typically contains vegan dyes, vegan glycerin and water.
The vegan dye used in vegan tattoo ink is a plant pigment that has been approved by the FDA for cosmetic use. The most popular colours are from vegetable carbon (charcoal) or minerals such as iron oxides, titanium dioxide and mica which are all vegan approved.
Cruelty-Free Tattoo Ink
Vegan tattoo ink is not only about the ingredients within it but also about whether or not it is cruelty-free.
Vegan tattoo ink is cruelty-free, vegan and vegan approved. Our vegan inks are not tested on animals or shared with any animal products.
Plant Based Vegan Tattoo Ink
Many people don’t realise that vegan tattoo ink can be plant-based! As well as being vegan certified the best vegan inks are made from plants such as sunflowers, sugar cane or even algae!
Many of our customers love this option because it allows them to feel good about their choice for an environmentally friendly product while also feeling great about getting a vegan tattoo done by using only plant-based products during the process.
What brands of vegan tattoo ink are there?
There is an ever-growing range of vegan tattoo inks on the market, including Intenze vegan tattoo ink, Quantum vegan tattoo ink, and Black Cat vegan tattoo ink.
How vegan tattoo ink is made
In order to create vegan tattoo inks, which are by definition cruelty-free and animal product free, most brands will use a combination of vegetable carbon (charcoal) or minerals such as iron oxides, titanium dioxide and mica which are all vegan approved. These ingredients also have the added benefit of being strong pigments that offer great colour saturation with rich depth.
Vegan ink can be just as vibrant against the skin too! Some vegan brands add botanical extracts like jojoba oil into their mix for nourishing properties while still remaining 100% vegan friendly. This allows vegans to get tattoos without compromising on quality! Another brand called Intenze uses plant-based glycerin along with aloe vera and vitamin E to create vegan-friendly tattoo ink.
Vegan tattoos are great for vegans who want a lasting vegan statement! They’re also fantastic for anyone looking to get inked with plant based, cruelty free materials that will last just as long as traditional vegan tattoos made from animal products like bone char or shellac.
Is all vegan tattoo ink safe?
No, it is always best to do a patch test before getting your first vegan tattoo. If you have never had a tattoo done before or experienced any allergies this will also help ensure that there are no adverse reactions from the vegan dye that’s being used for your new vegan tattoos.
Just as with regular non-vegan products and hair dyes, just because they’re labeled “natural” does not mean they’re 100% free of chemicals. In fact, some people can still have an allergic reaction even if something has been labelled “natural”. There’s only one way to be sure – by doing some tests!
What vegan tattoo ink is safe?
The vegan tattoo inks that you want to look for are vegetable dye. These dyes will be made from plant-based materials and not tested on animals or any other creatures, making them vegan tattoos! Some of these vegan tattoos may contain synthetic ingredients but they’re still free of animal products. For the best results, it’s important to make sure your artist uses vegan tattoo ink as well as doing some home tests before getting your first vegan tattoo done.
Your local art store should have all the information regarding which brands offer cruelty-free, vegan-friendly options too so there’s no need to go hunting online if you don’t feel comfortable with this just yet.
Our Vegan Tattoo Ink
We use all vegan, cruelty-free, plant-based tattoo inks which keep your skin feeling and looking natural.