Body art is getting famous day after day. The craze of getting oneself inked has gained immense popularity, especially among youngsters. People get themselves tattooed for a variety of reasons. Some consider it to be a great fashion statement, while some do it for revealing certain aspects of their personality. For some people, it is a way of expressing feelings, and some consider it as a fabulous art. Whatever the reason be, body art is ruling the fashion and style-conscious world. There are variety of designs and types to choose from in tattoos. So, if you are thinking of getting inked, you may have to consider a lot of things, right from the place you want to get it done, the pattern and design, and also the ink colors. What is Tattoo Ink Made of? Ink is the substance that gives colors to the various tattoo designs. It is injected into the skin, where the color stays. Though it is meant to be permanent, it is prone to a little bit of fading over a period of time. The ink comprises the following two basic components:

• Pigments: Pigments are the substances that are finely ground to provide color. They can be anything, from minerals, plastics, vegetable dyes to metallic salts, like calcium copper silicate, iron oxide, chromium oxide, and zinc oxide.
• Carriers: Carriers are liquid substances that are used to deliver pigments under the skin. They distribute the pigment equally, without any clumping, and also have some disinfecting agents. Some of the commonly used carriers are listerine, propylene glycol, vodka, and glycerin.

Different Colors There are a variety of shades available in the market in tattoo inks. Not only are there many colors, but there are also many different recipes used by different tattoo artists to make these inks. The basic colors are:

• Green
• Red
• Purple
• Yellow
• Orange
• Blue
• Brown
• White

The artists use these basic colored inks to mix and make different shades. Most people are content with the standard colors; however, there are some who want specific colors or shades. Mixing inks comes to their help in such cases. Some suppliers offer an ink color chart to choose from, which has some special shades along with the basic ones mentioned above. Some of the special colors are:

• Gold
• Magenta
• Ecru
• Crimson red
• Mud red

Choosing a color for your tattoo can be quite challenging. One should choose a shade depending on their skin tone. If you have a fairer skin, avoid yellow, orange, or other light colors, as they would not complement your skin and will hardly be noticeable. Those with a darker skin too have a hard time choosing the right color. Dark reds, light pinks, or blues are some of the shades that will show clearly on dark skin. There are certain colors that are made specially for those looking for something beyond the normal shade.

• UV Ink: Body art made with this type of ink requires the presence of a UV/black light to glow. These tattoos appear in bright vibrant colors in normal light, and glow on exposure to black light. There are also some inks that glow in absolute darkness, but these are toxic and can have certain side effects.
• Henna: Henna has been used for body art since ages. It is obtained from the plant Lawsonia inermis. It is temporary, and can be used on any surface, like on the skin or on finger nails. Many people opt for henna tattoos, as they are relatively inexpensive and absolutely painless.
• White Ink: White ink tattoos are becoming popular all over the world, as they are much different than the traditional ones. Those who are not comfortable with the visible bold designs go for these faint white lines.

Choose the color that suits your skin the best, and your tattoo will be a hit among all your friends!