60 White Ink Tattoos - Ideas, Pictures & Designs

White ink tattoos have become very popular in recent years. A white ink tattoo can be of any other tattoo style except that it is drawn in white ink. At first glance, a white ink tattoo can look more like a scar than a tattoo.

The white ink can give the tattoos a completely different look than a regular tattoo. The effectiveness of a white ink tattoo depends a lot on skin colors. White ink tattoos are best for people with darker skin. If you have pale skin, a white ink tattoo will tend to look quite transparent.

One advantage of white ink tattoos is that they are much less noticeable than tattoos in black or brightly colored ink. If you want to get a tattoo somewhere quite prominent, like on the wrist, but keep it low-key and discreet, then a white ink tattoo could be an excellent choice. A small white ink tattoo on the inside of the wrist would only be noticeable under pretty close inspection. It’s almost like a secret tattoo. It makes them a good choice for people who want a tattoo in such a place but need to project a certain image for their work or personal life.

Contents

1 History of White Ink Tattoos
2 Pros & Cons
- 2.1 Pros
- 2.2 Cons
3 Celebrities with White Ink Tattoos
4 Placement
5 White Ink Tattoo Designs and Ideas

History of White Ink Tattoos

Traditionally tattoo artists only used white ink to highlight small parts of a traditional tattoo design. The use of white ink for a complete tattoo is a relatively new phenomenon, and it’s probably impossible to place its exact origin. There are many reasons why a person might choose a white ink tattoo over a more colorful design. While many think of tattoos as something to make a bold statement, this isn’t always the case. Tattoos can be deeply personal and hidden.

A white ink tattoo design takes this a step further by being much more subtle and easier to conceal than a colorful tattoo. Perhaps you want a tattoo with a lot of meaning but is only really noticed by yourself and the people close to you that you want to share it. A white ink tattoo design can be a perfect choice.

However, not everyone chooses a white tattoo design for its subtlety.

Many people just like the way a white tattoo looks after it has healed. The result can often resemble an intricate scar. In fact, White ink tattoo designs are often used as a less messy alternative to scarification. Pretty much any tattoo design could be rendered in white ink. However, it is probably best to stick to relatively simple designs as a detailed design might be very hard to see.

Pros & Cons

As a tattoo artist, from time to time, we’ll get clients to come in and ask us the question, can I get a white ink tattoo with no black outlines, no other colors, no nothing, just white ink? It’s a viable question. If someone could get a tattoo that’s only black ink, why wouldn’t you be able to get a tattoo that’s only white ink? But is it a good idea to get a white ink tattoo?

Here, we are going to talk about the pros and cons of white ink tattoos.

Pros

White ink tattoos have many advantages over regular tattoos. Many people have careers that prevent them from having tattoos on the forearms or hands and other highly visible places. A discreet white ink tattoo design can be a great way around this. However, they are far from invisible. Would you spend money on one if they were? They can be subtle enough to get away with somewhere that a more colorful tattoo would drop you in trouble.

Cons

You do need to be quite careful when you choose a White ink tattoo design. Many tattoo artists are pretty wary of white ink tattoo designs, as there are few guarantees on how it will turn out. Everyone has different skin color, which means the results are very hard to predict. White looks different on the skin than it looks on a painting or a white charcoal drawing. The skin can significantly affect the way the white looks. Unfortunately, until you try it, there is no way to know for sure. Against certain skin colors, white ink tattoo designs can look slightly cream or yellow. Upon darker skin, they can go translucent.

Another reason why it’s a bad idea to get a white ink tattoo is their poor longevity. In tattooing, different pigments age differently. Black pigment being carbon-based lasts the longest before you have to get it touched up. Out of all the pigments out there, white is the worst in terms of longevity. Due to their very nature, White ink tattoos also tend to fade much faster than darker and more colorful tattoos. This cannot be very pleasant for both the customer and the artist if you decide to go back and complain. Just remember it’s not his fault. White ink tattoos work differently on everyone, and it’s a pretty safe bet he warned you about this at the start!

Celebrities with White Ink Tattoos

Model Kate Moss has a white ink tattoo design of stars on the side of her body.
Model Jasmine Lennard has a white ink tattoo design on her right wrist.
Actress Lindsey Lohan has a white ink tattoo design on her wrist.

Placement

A White ink tattoo is just another tattoo rendered in white ink, so where you choose to get a white ink tattoo depends on what you are trying to achieve.

Depending on which style you choose, it is possible to place a white ink tattoo anywhere on the body. It is probably best to try and stick to a relatively simple tattoo design, as a very detailed design may not be particularly visible.

Many people choose to have text or writing in white ink placed in a prominent place, where a more colorful tattoo could be a problem.

If you are thinking about getting a white ink tattoo, check out the collection of white ink tattoos below.