# Two Tattoo questions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657 "2010-06-10T14:48:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/1 "2010-06-10T14:48:47Z")
OK, a friend of mine is thinking of getting a tattoo and (kinda against my better judgment) I have agreed to ask dopers for their experiences. First: Have any of you gotten a tattoo with ultraviolet tattoo ink? She said she wants to get a tattoo that is hidden unless she wants to share it. I told her that my guess was, there would still be scar-like tissue, even if the ink didn’t show. Is this true? What else can you share (first hand) about black-light tats? Second: If she did \*not \*go with ultraviolet, which ink color lasts the longest? Note, yes she knows that the two questions have conflicting goals. Me: You know that the two questions are kinda at odds with each other? Her: (blank stare) Why do you gotta be like this? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/2 "2010-06-10T14:54:42Z")
1: Dunno 2: I would have to imagine it would be black. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/3 "2010-06-10T14:56:02Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > First: Have any of you gotten a tattoo with ultraviolet tattoo ink? I have many tattoos. I have been advised against UV ink by artists whose advice I value, so no. > [@Khadaji](#): > > Second: If she did \*not \*go with ultraviolet, which ink color lasts the longest? Black. Beyond that, it varies with starting skin tone, brand of ink, experience of artist, and most importantly aftercare of the piece. I would advise her to find an artist she trusts, get to know him/her and discuss her questions with them. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/4 "2010-06-10T15:07:45Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > First: Have any of you gotten a tattoo with ultraviolet tattoo ink? No. > [@](#): > > She said she wants to get a tattoo that is hidden unless she wants to share it. And happens to have a have a UV lamp around. 😉 If she wants her tattoo to be hidden, she can get it someplace it would be covered up by clothes. It seems easier. > [@](#): > > I told her that my guess was, there would still be scar-like tissue, even if the ink didn’t show. Is this true? I don’t think so. If there was any visible scarring it would probably be minimal and hard to see, although that would depend on the size of the tattoo she gets. The real scarring from tattoos is done on the dermis, not the surface. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/5 "2010-06-10T15:11:51Z")
Another option is one a friend of mine chose. She had a crescent shape tattooed on her upper arm using dilute white ink. After it healed, she had it repeated 4 or 5 times. The end result, after a few years of intentional sun exposure is a crescent shape scar that is cool looking, but looks accidental. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/6 "2010-06-10T15:14:38Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I have many tattoos. I have been advised against UV ink by artists whose advice I value, so no. Why were you advised against it? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/7 "2010-06-10T15:18:38Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > Why were you advised against it? All of my work has been done by a few close friends. They all offer UV activated ink in their shops due to demand, but when I inquired they said no way would they suggest it. I never pursued it beyond that. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/8 "2010-06-10T15:18:55Z")
No, I don’t have ultraviolet ink, because it’s not approved or proven safe. Yes, she might have significant scaring, depending on her skin type, the location of the tatt and the skill of the artist. My skin readily forms keloid scars (the raised kind), and each of my three tattoos have some amount of raising. The one on my decolletage done by a new artist (friend of mine - I was her third live tatt, I believe. Hundreds of oranges came before me) scarred the worst, as I expected it to. The one on my ankle done by a 60 year old salted expert scared the least. The weird thing is that sometimes, for no reason I can see, even the normally flat parts of my tatts “raise up” and you can feel them. This isn’t uncommon, from my conversations with other people with tatts. One thing she can consider for a subtle tatt is using very light colors: yellow, pink, white or flesh tones. I’ve seen a few of those, and they’re really neat. They may not last as long as the darker colors, but they’ll still last for decades. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/9 "2010-06-10T15:27:36Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > The weird thing is that sometimes, for no reason I can see, even the normally flat parts of my tatts “raise up” and you can feel them. This isn’t uncommon, from my conversations with other people with tatts. I think it is kinda cool when that happens. I notice it in the sauna, especially. And I have heard anecdotes about tattoos done using cooking oil that remain invisible until the person is in extreme heat, then the piece “uncloaks” and becomes apparent. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/10 "2010-06-10T16:39:23Z")
1. Last I heard the UV ink breaks down over time, turning an ugly brown. I wouldn’t get one until I’d heard different. 2. Aftercare is very important. I have a black ink tatt that I keep out of the sun and it’s still as clear as when I got it. If she likes to tan, her tatts will fade and get ugly. I agree with the others - she should get one in an area that can easily be covered. The back and ankles tend to be good from the anti-sag angle. Despite the bad reputation of tramp stamps, they’re easy to hide there and won’t stretch or sag as much over time. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/11 "2010-06-10T16:54:31Z")
When I was getting tattoos I asked my artist about UV ink and was told “that shit isn’t safe, man.” I let it go at that. ---
**Author:** ![Bayesian\_Empirimancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@Bayesian\_Empirimancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayesian_Empirimancer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/12 "2010-06-10T17:13:03Z")
Although, if they are safe, I’d want to get something like this: [![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dXDZmgVew5A/SXkRV4CcWrI/AAAAAAAAD7g/2-5C4GczhIU/s1600-h/blacklight+tattoo.JPG) ](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_dXDZmgVew5A/SXkRV4CcWrI/AAAAAAAAD7g/2-5C4GczhIU/s1600-h/blacklight+tattoo.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/13 "2010-06-10T17:23:14Z")
That looks cool. And it reminds me that somewhere in the [Science Tatoo Emporium](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/science-tattoo-emporium/), there’s a picture of a UV scorpion, which is cool because scorpions glow in UV light. Sorry, but I don’t have time to flip through the Emporium and find it. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/14 "2010-06-10T17:23:30Z")
Most stores about UV ink tend to be of urban myth variety, though they haven’t been around long enough to truly judge their safety or longevity. It’s probably a minimal risk. Black will last the longest with proper application and aftercare. ---
**Author:** ![Bayesian\_Empirimancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@Bayesian\_Empirimancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayesian_Empirimancer)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-tattoo-questions/542657/15 "2010-06-10T17:32:40Z")
If it helps, I just got my first tattoo recently. I’ll keep you guys updated on its progress, but it was a very simple design: [Facebook - log in or sign up](http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=46718076&id=15935148)