I was having a hard time with my oldest son wanting nothing to do with anything other than video games. He is only 15 years old and I knew that if I didn't do something to encourage him to get out of the house a bit that he would spend all of his time playing those games. For his birthday, I bought him a really nice digital camera. I signed the two of us up for classes to learn how to use DSLR cameras to capture images that were works of art. This blog contains many of the tips that we learned together.
While humans come in a variety of hues, from albino white to the darkest shade of midnight, much of the tattoo techniques used and advice given is geared towards those on the lighter end of the spectrum. It's still possible to get a great tattoo if you have medium to dark skin, but there are a few extra things you need to do to ensure you get the design you want and that it looks good on your body.
Choose the Artist Carefully
First and foremost, it's essential you take time to choose an artist that has experience working on darker skin tones, and preferably someone who has worked on people of your same ethnic ancestry. An experienced tattoo artist can tell you which colors will work best with your hue. More importantly, though, your ethnic ancestry can affect how your skin reacts to the tattoo process, and an artist who understands this can take care to counteract any problems that may arise as a result.
For instance, people of African ancestry tend to develop keloids more easily that people from other ethnic groups. A tattoo artist who has worked on this skin type before can use alternative methods that will reduce scarring, such as avoiding going over the same patch of skin multiple times.
If you're uncomfortable asking a tattoo artist about the diversity of his or her clientele, just take a look at their portfolios. If you don't see people from your ethnic background represented, chances are high the artist may not have experience working on people of your skin type. However, don't forget to ensure the person is good at tattooing in general so you don't end up with a bad-looking tattoo because of lack of skill.
Choose Highly Pigmented Colors
Black is the best color for people with dark skin. However, if you want color in your tattoo, choose ones that are highly pigmented, such as vibrant reds, bright oranges, and vivid yellows. Contrary to what you may think, pastel colors tend to be translucent and won't provide enough contrast with your skin to make the tattoo really stand out. In some cases, the color may not show up at all or may fade to a duller version of itself that blends in with your skin tone.
Additionally, the design you choose should be bold. Unfortunately, tattoos that require a lot of detail or light strokes may not show up too well on dark skin. Pick designs that feature thick broad strokes for the best outcome.
For more information about getting a tattoo on dark skin, contact a knowledgeable tattoo artist from a reputable tattoo shop.
Share15 June 2017
