8 Best Vegan Tattoo Inks: [Reviews & Buying Guide]

The concept of veganism is a humane practice that we should adopt in every aspect of our lives. Thankfully, the body art industry has also caught up in this respect. Many tattoo inks in the industry now promise to be vegan.

However, this term is often loosely thrown around for marketing purposes. There are many ways to evade being truly vegan in production and testing. Also, as an artist, you need tattoo inks that are of excellent quality. You shouldn’t compromise on your standards and settle for subpar tattoo inks.

To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of the 8 best vegan tattoo inks that you should use. These tattoo inks are made with vegan ingredients and are cruelty-free in testing. Also, they do not compromise on the performance, boasting great colorization, and longevity, with fast healing.

But before I tell you about the tattoo inks, I’m clearing up a few common misconceptions about vegan tattoo inks that are afflicting the industry.

3 Misconceptions About Vegan Tattoo Inks

There are many misconceptions about vegan tattoo inks that plague the industry. Since some of these are propagated by tattoo ink producers, even artists are easily fooled by the spiel. I’ve briefly addressed the 3 most problematic and widespread ones here.

  • Vegan does not mean that the tattoo inks are completely organic. More often than not, the carrier liquid is made free from animal products. The pigments can still be made of metallic compounds and other non-organic materials.
  • Vegan tattoo inks can be made from vegan ingredients, but still be tested on animals. Unless the tattoo ink producers announce that the tattoo inks are cruelty-free, you can’t be sure.
  • Vegan does not mean safe. The vegan tattoo inks have vegan ingredients-based carriers. However, the pigments themselves can be toxic, such as lead and cadmium-based pigments.

Now that I’ve cleared up the misconceptions, let’s dive in!

8 Best Vegan Tattoo Inks Review

The Vegan Tattoo Inks featured on this list have been selected based on 7 categories.

  • Vegan Practices
  • Safety
  • Shade
  • Healing Rate
  • Longevity
  • Viscosity
  • Pricing

I’ve discussed how seriously these featured brands maintain their vegan standards. I’ve also featured tattoo ink sets here that have high performance and come as a bargain for tattoo artists.

1. Kuro Sumi Double Sumi Black

Double Sumi Tribal Black

Kuro Sumi is a brand well known for its organic Japanese formula. The brand makes tattoo inks from Japanese traditional ingredients. Kuro Sumi tattoo inks are favored by many artists for their healing rate and safety.

Why We Selected It in Our Top List

Vegan Practices

Kuro Sumi is famous for its organic formula. Double Sumi Black is manufactured from organic, vegan traditional Japanese ingredients, using a Japanese formula. The brand also declares Double Sumi Black to be completely cruelty-free.

Safety

When it comes to safety, few can boast to be better than Kuro Sumi. Double Sumi Black is made in a manufacturing facility with ISO 13485 rating. The rating is given to facilities that design, manufacture, install and service medical equipment. Also, the organic formula and ingredients that Kuro Sumi uses are extremely safe for all skin types, even for those with mild skin conditions.

Shade

The shade of Kuro Sumi Double Sumi Black is closest to Chinese Black on the Pantone color palette. It’s a deep black that’s not intense. You can compare the darkness to dried watercolor black on paper.

Healing Rate

Kuro Sumi Double Sumi Black is one of the market’s fastest healing vegan tattoo inks. Tattoos that exclusively use Double Sumi Black can heal within one and a half weeks. Also, tattoo ink is safe on sensitive skin. This makes Double Sumi Black the premiere choice for use on clients with skin issues.

Longevity

Double Sumi Black isn’t a long-lasting tattoo ink, but it’s no slouch either. The pigments can stay in the dermis layer for up to 5 years if the tattoo is well maintained. Tattoos won’t need any touch-ups until 3 years. Depending on skin conditions, it may not require any touch-ups at all.

Viscosity

Double Sumi Black is of typical viscosity. The tattoo ink isn’t too thin or watery. It doesn’t struggle to come out of the bottle, and the flow isn’t staggered or abundant. Overall, working with this tattoo ink is a good experience.

Pricing

A 1.5-ounce bottle of Double Sumi Black can cost around $18 to $20. The product-to-price ratio comes to 1:12. This makes Double Sumi Black an affordable tattoo ink with great value.

Reasons to get
  • Fully vegan tattoo ink in manufacturing and testing.
  • Organic, skin-friendly ink produced in ISO 13485 rated facility.
  • One of the fastest healing rates.
Reasons to avoid
  • The shade of black isn’t impressive in intensity.

Verdict

Kuro Sumi’s Double Sumi Black is a great vegan tattoo ink in all respects. The shade it sports can seem unimpressive for its lack of intensity. However, the black translates to skin with impressive darkness, and it performs greatly with watercolor-style tattoos. And the healing rate is impressive, especially because it can be used on sensitive skin.

Additional Read: Best tattoo ink for sensitive skin

2. Kuro Sumi Master Set

Kuro Sumi Japanese Tattoo Color Ink Pigments Set

The Kuro Sumi Master Set features 7 master or base tattoo inks from Kuro Sumi. The set contains the 6 colors that an artist can use to create any shade and a white mixing tattoo ink that can aid in creating exact Pantone colors. This set is created with the idea of the ultimate starter kit for any tattoo artist in mind.

Why We Selected It in Our Top List

Vegan Practices

Every Kuro Sumi tattoo ink is made with authentic Japanese formula and organic and traditional Japanese ingredients. The resulting tattoo inks are of great performance and quality and are completely animal products and cruelty-free. As an additional benefit, all of the tattoo inks produced by Kuro Sumi are usable even on clients with mild skin problems and allergies.

Safety

Kuro Sumi tattoo inks are some of the safest tattoo inks on the market. An ISO 13485-rated manufacturing facility is used to make all the tattoo inks, which are certified as safe for producing medical equipment. On top of that, the formula and ingredients used to produce the tattoo ink create inks that are usable on clients that cannot be tattooed with any other tattoo inks. Overall, you’ll be hard-pressed to find any other tattoo ink that is safer.

Shade

There are a total of 7 vegan tattoo inks in the Master Set. The tattoo inks individual shades, and use cases are discussed here.

  • Tsunami Blue: Tsunami Blue is a matte blue color that has an intense shade. The color closely matches Medium Electric Blue on the Pantone color palette.
  • Double Sumi Black: The Double Sumi Black is a matte papery black color. The color has an eroded quality but it’s still deep. The color is closest to Chinese Black on the Pantone color palette.
  • Dragon’s Breath Red: Dragon’s Breath is a bold, crisp, vibrant red color that stands out. The color matches Mordant Red 19 closely.
  • Orochi Momma Green: Orochi Momma Green is a light pastel green color that seems to fade into grey. The color is a close copy of Hooker’s Green.
  • Koi Yellow: Koi Yellow is a vibrant, bright, medium yellow color. The color matches Philippine Yellow on the Pantone color palette.
  • Okinawa Orange: Okinawa Orange is a deep, vibrant, fiery orange color. The color Okinawa Orange matches on the Pantone color palette is Blaze Orange, which is an appropriate description.
  • White Rice: White Rice is a mixing ink, which is a type of white ink designed to combine with other tattoo inks to create the exact Pantone color needed. Typical white will add brightness and lighten the color, and throw off the resulting shade. White Rice matches American Silver on the Pantone color palette.

Healing Rate

The healing rate of all Kuro Sumi tattoo inks is remarkably fast. All tattoos that exclusively use Kuro Sumi tattoo ink will heal within One and half weeks. Combined with the ability to use the tattoo inks on almost every client’s skin, these vegan tattoo inks are the best choice.

Longevity

Kuro Sumi tattoo inks don’t have universal longevity. Some tattoo inks can last up to 3 years without touch-ups, while some aren’t as long-lasting. However, you can expect your tattoos to last 2 years without touch-ups and up to 3 if you take great care when using Kuro Sumi tattoo inks.

Viscosity

The viscosity of Kuro Sumi tattoo inks is also not universal. Most tattoo inks featured in the Master set have typical consistency that’s easy to work with. However, Dragon’s Breath Red is of low viscosity, making the tattoo ink very liquidlike with an abundant flow.

Pricing

The 0.75-ounce pack of the Kuro Sumi Master Set can cost around $77. The product-to-price ratio of this set comes to 1:10. Which makes the value of the set seem great. However, the value of the pack increases greatly if you consider the colors and mixing ink you’re getting in the set.

Reasons to get
  • Fully organic, animal product, and cruelty-free.
  • Arguably safest tattoo inks on the market.
  • 6 basic tattoo ink shades capable of creating any other Pantone colors.
  • Comes with a mixing ink.
  • One of the fastest healing rates.
  • Great value for the set.
Reasons to avoid
  • Average longevity.
  • High price for the package.

Verdict

The Kuro Sumi Master Set is probably the best deal for vegan inks for any tattoo artist. The set features the basic colors with a mixing ink that can create exact Pantone colors. Also, all tattoo inks on the set are incredibly safe, meaning an artist can work with them on any client. The price may seem high, but the amount, colors, and safety offered in the Master set far outreaches it in value.

3. Viking Ink Black Dynamite

Viking Ink Tattoo Ink Black Dynamite Colour

Viking Ink is another brand that produces vegan tattoo inks with traditional formula and ingredients. The tattoo inks they make are excellent for creating tribal tattoos and feature rich colors. The tattoo inks are also completely organic and safe for most skin types.

Why We Selected It in Our Top List

Vegan Practices

Black Dynamite is made with fully organic, vegan ingredients and a traditional formula that forgoes animal cruelty. The brand produces tattoo inks that are truly vegan and organic, in both carrier and pigments. Viking Ink takes its commitment to veganism seriously.

Safety

Just like Kuro Sumi, Viking Ink produces some of the safest tattoo inks on the market. The brand doesn’t have an ISO-rated manufacturing facility. However, Black Dynamite is declared non-hazardous by OSHA under 29 CFR 1910.1200(d). The declaration pronounces all parts of Black Dynamite to be fully safe for human use, an achievement that very few tattoo ink brands can boast of.

Shade

Black Dynamite is a deep, rich black shade that’s intense. The tattoo ink’s shade is closest to the color Jet Black on the Pantone color palette.

Healing Rate

Because Black Dynamite is an organic ink, it boasts a healing rate similar to the Kuro Sumi tattoo inks. Any tattoos made solely with this vegan tattoo ink will take somewhere between a week and a half to 2 weeks to heal properly. The quick healing time is matched with Dynamic Black’s harmless nature, which makes it usable for most skin types.

Longevity

Dynamic Black is a long-lasting tattoo ink that can last up to 4 years on the skin. The tattoo ink pigments will fade if the client’s neglectful and careless, but even that will take up to 2 years to show. With care, the tattoo ink will stay on the skin for 4-5 years without the need for any serious touch-ups.

Viscosity

Black Dynamite is a little thicker than typical tattoo inks, but not by much. Its high viscosity is probably caused by the pigments mixed into the carrier. However, the thickness doesn’t affect the tattooing process at all and doesn’t cause staggered ink flow.

Pricing

A 1-ounce bottle of Viking Ink Black Dynamite will cost around $10. The product-to-price ratio of this vegan ink is 1:10. The tattoo ink is incredible for any tribal tattoo work, which raises its value exponentially.

Reasons to get
  • Organic, cruelty-free vegan ink.
  • Rich, deep, black shade.
  • Boasts a non-hazardous rating from OSHA.
  • Fast healing rate.
  • Great longevity.
  • Great for tribal tattoos.
  • Great value.
Reasons to avoid
  • Higher viscosity than typical tattoo inks.

Verdict

While Viking Ink’s Black Dynamite cannot match Kuro Sumi in safety or healing rate, it trumps in the longevity category. The vegan tattoo ink is still much safer than most of its competitors and can be used on most skin types. Combined with its performance in tribal tattoo styles, it’s a formidable competitor for your personal best vegan tattoo ink.

4. World Famous Legendary Outlining Black

World Famous Tattoo Ink - Outlining Black

World Famous is one of the market-leading brands in safety and color. The shades produced by the brand are always vivid, rich, and intense, different from other brands. And World Famous’s attention to manufacturing and packaging safety makes it one of the safest tattoo ink producers in these regards.

Why We Selected It in Our Top List

Vegan Practices

Legendary Outlining Black is made from a fully vegan formula. The tattoo ink doesn’t contain any animal products in its carrier or its pigments. The vegan tattoo ink is cruelty-free, meaning no animal testing has been conducted. However, the pigments aren’t organic.

Safety

Legendary Black isn’t a fully organic tattoo ink like Viking Ink or Kuro Sumi tattoo inks. However, this vegan tattoo ink is superior in terms of manufacturing and packaging safety. Just like Kuro Sumi, World Famous also has an ISO 13485 certification since 2020. Legendary Outlining Black is produced in a facility that is safe for medical-grade equipment manufacturing.

However, World Famous takes packaging safety to a level that no other brand on the market does. The bottle for Legendary Outlining Black comes is a uniquely designed crystal-flex bottle that is impossible to cheaply replicate. The bottle also sports a tamper, transit, and waterproof seal. As a final layer of foolproof protection, every bottle of Legendary Outlining Black has a QR code on the label, scanning which can confirm that it’s authentic.

Shade

Legendary Outlining Black has a rich, deep, intense black color that is unique in the market. The color that comes close to its shade is Eerie Black. This is a standout black color that is specialized for lining work.

Healing Rate

Thanks to the extreme lengths that World Famous goes to keep their tattoo inks safe, Legendary Outlining Black has a good healing rate. Used exclusively, you can expect a tattoo to heal up within 2 weeks. The formula doesn’t allow for use on sensitive skin. But it is safer than any other typical vegan tattoo ink to use for clients with no skin issues.

Longevity

Legendary Outlining Black is a truly long-lasting vegan tattoo ink. The pigments can last on the dermis layer for up to 5 years without any real care and touch-ups. The intensity will fade without care, but no signs of pigment fading will be visible. With care, a client can go up to 6 years without any need for touch-ups.

Viscosity

Legendary Outlining Black has a high viscosity. However, the thickness of the ink is just shy of problematic. It has a slightly staggered ink flow but doesn’t have trouble dispersing into the skin.

Pricing

A 1-ounce bottle of World Famous Legendary Outlining Black can cost up to $10. This tattoo ink’s product-to-price ratio comes to 1:10, which is a good value by price. However, the tattoo ink is also long-lasting and has a unique vibrant shade, which raises its true value.

Reasons to get
  • Extreme care for safety.
  • Unique, vibrant shade.
  • Good healing rate.
  • High longevity.
  • Great value and price.
Reasons to avoid
  • Non-organic formula.
  • High viscosity.

Verdict

World Famous Legendary Outlining Black is a vegan tattoo ink with high value and should be in every tattoo artist’s collection. The tattoo ink has a shade that is great for lining work, and it’s a long-lasting black tattoo ink. As many tattoos are done with black and negative spaces, this is the perfect ink for making long-lasting, safe, and dazzling tattoos.

5. Bloodline Best Selling 7 Color Set

Bloodline Set Best 7 Selling Colors

Bloodline is a tattoo ink producer that is known for producing vibrant colors. The Best Selling Set has 7 basic colors that are meant to be the ideal basic kit for a tattoo artist. Bloodline tattoo inks are also high-dispersion tattoo inks, meaning the pigments rapidly reach and disseminate onto the dermis layer of the skin.

Why We Selected It in Our Top List

Vegan Practices

Bloodline produces fully vegan tattoo inks, with the carrier free of any animal products. The pigments contain metallic compounds, but they are also void of animal products. The vegan tattoo inks are never tested on animals, so they are cruelty-free.

Safety

Bloodline has no safety rating for manufacturing, nor any declarations of safety from any institutions. However, Bloodline claims to take its product safety seriously. The brand produces its tattoo inks in a 4000 square feet manufacturing facility that is fully sterile.

Shade

The Best Selling Set contains tattoo inks of 7 shades that are most commonly used by tattoo artists. The colors can also be mixed as needed to produce many custom shades as needed. I’ve detailed the matching Pantone color and description of each tattoo ink here.

  • All Purpose Black: All Purpose Black is a deep, rich black color that is eye-catching. The shade closely matched Rich Black on the Pantone color palette. This vegan tattoo ink is great for lining work.
  • All Purpose White: All Purpose White is a pasty but somewhat bright white color. The color is a close match to Alabaster. The tattoo ink is good for filling out negative spaces and highlighting. However, mixing with it won’t produce exact Pantone colors.
  • Bellbottom Blue: Bellbottom Blue is close to Rich Electric Blue. It is pale, but a bright blue color that is good for shading and adding minute details.
  • Redd Kross: Redd Kross is a deep, rich red that has a very bright tone. The tattoo ink shade matches UE Red closely on the Pantone color palette. It’s a good tattoo ink for highlighting and colorization.
  • Bright Red: Bright Red is a brighter but less vibrant shade of red. The color matches Rosso Corsa color and is good for subtle highlighting work.
  • Canary Yellow: Canary Yellow is a slightly dark, but rich and deep yellow. The color matches Cyber Yellow on the Pantone color palette. It’s good for overall applications of yellow.
  • Iris Mist: Iris Mist is a deep, but bright purple that catches the eye easily. It matches the color Midnight very closely. This tattoo ink is the best in the selection, as it is a good all-purpose color.

Healing Rate

Any tattoo that exclusively uses Bloodline tattoo inks will take about 2 weeks to heal. Unfortunately, Bloodline tattoo inks aren’t guaranteed to be safe for all skin types.

Longevity

The vividity of Bloodline tattoo inks comes at a cost of longevity. All Purpose White is bound to show signs of fading within a year after tattooing. Bellbottom Blue, Redd Kross, and Bright Red will lose their intensity over the course of 2 years and need touch-ups. Only Iris Mist and All Purpose Black can last up to 4 years with great care, and even these colors will show wear by then.

Viscosity

Bloodline tattoo inks typically have a high viscosity and staggered ink flow. The tattoo inks in the Best Selling Set are all thick in consistency and struggle to come out of the bottle. However, the high dispersion formula is very effective at allowing the pigments to reach the dermis layer quickly and spread evenly. This formula allows it to perform without issue when tattooing.

Pricing

The Bloodline Best Selling 7 Color Set goes for $40 and up. The product-to-price ratio for this set is 1:11. Unfortunately the value for this pack falls short aside from the price. You won’t get a full range of colors from the set, and there’s no mixing ink to create exact Pantone colors.

Reasons to get
  • Cruelty-free vegan tattoo inks.
  • Good attention to safety.
  • Vivid, rich shades.
  • Good healing rate.
  • Good price.
  • High pigment dispersion.
Reasons to avoid
  • Lack of longevity.
  • Lack of full range of colors.
  • Can’t create exact colors through mixing.
  • High viscosity.
  • Low value for the pack.

Verdict

Bloodline Best Selling 7 Color Set is a decently priced, affordable set that contains popular shades that an artist would need. However, its performance is average, and the tattoo inks aren’t long-lasting. The biggest downfall is the lack of green and mixing ink in the set. Without these, it cannot create exact colors as the Kuro Sumi Master Set can.

6. Dynamic Color Co. Black

Dynamic Black Tattoo Ink

Dynamic Color Co. is a well-known and respected brand in the tattoo industry. The company is known for producing high-pigment, and high dispersion tattoo inks that spread into the dermis layer quickly.

Why We Selected It in Our Top List

Vegan Practices

Dynamic Color Co. produces tattoo inks devoid of animal products and testing. The company claims to be sincere about its commitment to the environment and animals. The brand claims that its Black tattoo ink is created to be environment friendly and very safe for humans. However, only the carrier is truly vegan, as the pigments are metallic compounds and come with risks.

Safety

Despite being one of the oldest companies to produce tattoo inks, Dynamic Color Co. lacks any certifications of safety. Dynamic Color Co. Black is praised by many artists to have a great performance and healing rate. However, the FDA cited Dynamic Color Co. in 2019 for having microbial contamination in its Black and White tattoo inks. While the market praises Black, the brand’s recent history doesn’t corroborate it.

Shade

Dynamic Color Co. Black has an inky black color that is quite dark and intense. The tattoo ink’s shade comes closest to Smoky Black on the Pantone color palette. The tattoo ink is known for great across-the-board performance.

Healing Rate

Dynamic Color Co. Black has an average healing rate. A tattoo that’s used the tattoo ink exclusively will heal within 2 weeks. Even without the contamination incident, this tattoo ink is not recommended for sensitive skin.

Longevity

Dynamic Color Co. Black is a long-lasting tattoo ink that can last up to 6 years. The tattoos made with this ink stay in great condition even without much care for up to 4 years. With good care, you can expect it to last over 6 years with ease.

Viscosity

Due to the high pigment content, the tattoo ink has high viscosity. The thickness of the tattoo ink is borderline problematic to work with. However, just like Bloodline tattoo inks the high dispersion formula is effective at spreading the pigments and doesn’t cause issues with tattooing.

Pricing

An 8-ounce bottle of Dynamic Color Co. Black will cost around $24. The product-to-price ratio comes to 1:3, making this the most attractive pricing. However, the value of the tattoo inks sinks greatly when you consider the history of contamination and lack of safety certifications.

Reasons to get
  • Animal products and cruelty-free tattoo inks.
  • Rich, deep, black shade.
  • One of the longest-lasting tattoo inks.
  • Great pricing per ounce.
Reasons to avoid
  • History of microbial contamination.
  • No safety certifications.
  • Not recommended for sensitive skin.

Verdict

Overall, Dynamic Color Co. Black is a vegan tattoo ink with a problematic history. It’s a paradoxical situation where the market and the artists love it, but the data regarding safety demonstrates its issues with safety. The price and long-lasting nature of the tattoo ink make it a compelling buy, but doing a spot test before proceeding with every client should be a must.

7. Hawink Super Black

Hawink Tattoo Ink Vegan-Friendly USA Standard Pigment Super Black

Hawink is a body art company that specializes in producing tattoo machines, needles, and pens. The company also retails 3 tattoo ink lines which are quite popular. The Hawink tattoo line is a cheap tattoo ink collection that is not meant for professional use but makes for great practice tattoo inks.

Why We Selected It in Our Top List

Vegan Practices

Hawink isn’t very clear on how attentive they are to the vegan process. They state that Super Black is a vegan tattoo ink but don’t clarify if the carrier only is vegan with metallic carriers or fully organic. They also don’t clarify whether Super Black is cruelty-free.

Safety

None of Hawink’s tattoo ink lines have any manufacturing or product safety certification. The artists who use Hawink tattoo inks state that these are good as practice tattoo inks for beginners. However, Super Black isn’t recommended by most artists for professional use in terms of safety. It’s best to spot test Super Black and avoid using it on sensitive skin.

Shade

Super Black is deep black color that matches the Rich Black color on the Pantone color palette.

Healing Rate

The healing rate for Hawink Super Black is quite long. It takes over 2 weeks to heal a tattoo done with Super Black. Also, there is very little information officially available about the tattoo ink composition to comfortably use it regularly.

Longevity

In terms of longevity, Super Black loses out. The tattoo ink pigments are incapable of lasting for more than 2 years without noticeable wear and tear. Touch-ups can prolong the lifetime, but the tattoo is typically faded over everywhere, and require a do-over.

Viscosity

Super Black is too watery and easily spills from the bottle. It has one of the lowest viscosities among vegan tattoo inks. This causes an abundant flow that is difficult to work with.

Pricing

A 6.7-ounce bottle of Hawink Super Black costs around $18 to $20. This makes the tattoo ink’s product-to-price ratio a solid 1:3. The cheap price per ounce is why Super Black is known as a good practice tattoo ink for beginners. Compared to other practice tattoo inks, it performs much better.

Reasons to get
  • Very affordable cost.
  • Good for practicing.
Reasons to avoid
  • No clarifications on the tattoo ink’s vegan aspect.
  • Long healing time.
  • Very short lifespan.
  • Problematically low viscosity.

Verdict

As most artists say, the Hawink Super Black is one of the best vegan practice tattoo inks. It’s a good quality practice tattoo ink that won’t break the bank. However, it lacks any quality to be used for professional tattooing.

8. Solong True Black

Solong Tattoo Ink True Black USA Standard Pigment

The Solong tattoo ink line is another tattoo ink line retailed by Hawink. The brand is not advertised as such, but it’s used by most artists as a practice tattoo ink for fake skins only.

Why We Selected It in Our Top List

Vegan Practices

Just like Hawink, Solong doesn’t provide many details on how True Black qualifies as a vegan tattoo ink. It simply states that True Black is a vegan tattoo ink in the description. There are no details about the True Black being cruelty-free, so it is impossible to confirm what is correct.

Safety

Solong is a more troublesome brand than Hawink when it comes to safety. Similarly, there’s no safety certification available for True Black, and there’s nothing about the manufacturing process. True Black comes with a warning to do a spot test on its description, and rightly so. Every artist would state that Solong tattoo inks are only to be used on fake skin.

Shade

True Black is a deep black color that you can compare to black leather shoes. It matches the Flat Black color in the Pantone color palette.

Healing Rate

The healing rate for True Black isn’t constant. The best healing rate for the tattoo ink is over 2 to 3 weeks. And in many cases, the tattoo ink causes serious skin issues for clients. However, it is sold on the market as tattoo ink for fake skin, so it may not matter.

Longevity

Similar to Hawink tattoo inks, True black has a short lifespan on human skin. The tattoos made with True Black will start showing signs of fading within months of use. No amount of care can retain the luster of the color of the tattoo, and a complete do-over is the only option as a touch-up.

Viscosity

Contrary to Super Black, True Black has typical viscosity. There’s no issue regarding ink flow and tattooing.

Pricing

A 4-ounce bottle of Solong True Black will cost about $16. This brings this tattoo ink’s product-to-price ratio to a good 1:4. This makes the value of this tattoo falter in the end, as it’s pricier than Super Black and doesn’t have the same usability.

Reasons to get
  • Universally usable shade.
  • Best practice skin tattoo ink.
  • Good viscosity.
Reasons to avoid
  • Questionable claims about being vegan.
  • Unusable on human skin.

Verdict

True Black is overall an inferior choice compared to Hawink Super Black. The tattoo ink costs a bit more, but cannot be used on human skin. The company is mute about the issue, but the artists insist that it should only be used on fake skin.

How to Pick a Personal Best Vegan Tattoo Ink?

best vegan tattoo inks

At the end of the day, the market favorite isn’t always going to suit your needs. As an artist, you’ll want to choose your personal best vegan tattoo ink. A tattoo ink must suit your style, your needs, and your client’s demands. Here are a few things you can watch out for when looking for the best vegan tattoo ink.

Usability

The best vegan tattoo ink should be an ink that you end up using often. So, it should be a high-performance, highly safe, fast-healing tattoo ink that has good longevity. Your clients will demand vivid bright colors, and a moderate lifespan in most cases.

Style

Style is often overlooked by young tattoo artists. Your art style should always be prioritized after usability, as this determines what tone of colors you need to work with. If the vividity, color tone, brightness, or intensity doesn’t go with your style, you’ll create tattoos that look off. Do not compromise in this regard.

Color

The color will impact how your tattoos look. You’ll want shades that are unique and stand out in a tattoo. Black tattoos are the most requested ones. Even for black, you want to use a shade that is unique and eye-catching.

Price

The cost of the tattoo inks will add to your operations cost. You have to choose a tattoo ink that is of excellent quality but won’t break the bank. Depending on the clientele that you cater to, your tattoo prices can vary drastically. Don’t compromise on quality, but don’t choose something that’ll drive up the cost and scare away clients.

Conclusion

Building a collection of tattoo inks is one of the biggest priorities of a tattoo artist. However, practicing tattoo artists never have time, whether they are new or professionals. You have to spend time on marketing, stencils, consultations, and tattooing. So, you can’t waste time researching intensively about tattoo inks.

To help you out, I’ve provided 4 of my picks for 4 occasions that you’ll face. Understand that this is essentially a TLDR, and you’ll be ignoring other vegan tattoo inks and details. I recommend that you search a bit more about my picks before you pull the trigger.

If you want a tattoo ink that you’ll use no matter the occasion, pick up Kuro Sumi Double Sumi Black. Black inks are the most used tattoo inks. Double Sumi Black is a high-performance, fast-healing tattoo ink that’s usable for almost every client with moderate longevity. The only times you can’t use it will be times when you have to decline a client.

Kuro Sumi Master set is worth its weight in gold. This is a set that comes with a white mixing tattoo ink and all the basic shades. You can create almost every Pantone color with this set. That aside, the tattoo inks are arguable the safest in the industry, and you really can’t understate safety.

The World Famous Legendary Outlining Black has a unique shade of black. This vegan tattoo ink is great for full black tattoos and works that use negative space. The tattoo ink may not be fully organic, but the steps they take for ensuring safety are unmatched. Use this tattoo ink when you want the black in your tattoos to stand out.

Finally, if you’re new to the tattoo industry and you need to practice, pick up Hawink Super Black. The tattoo ink is the cheapest on the list, and it can be used on human skin if needed. You can tattoo yourself and learn with it.

There are many other vegan tattoo inks out in the market for you to try. If you have the time, investigate any vegan tattoo inks that you can find. Use the categories I’ve provided in the article to find your personal best vegan tattoo ink.