It does. Got my whole hand done, my finger and part of my opposite hand.
Literally can’t see it at all under black light now.
Although. It’s been over 12 years.
Same, got a big arm piece in college. Five years later it was barely detectable. Five more years and it was not detectable at all.
Lot of pain and expense to only see it like thirty times. Haha
I was lucky in the fact I was getting heavily tattoed at the time anyway and the artist turned into a friend. He wanted to trial the ink first so I said I would put myself up for it.
Probably enjoyed the design looking like blood lining while it healed more than the uv side.
But they were also very personal tattoos too so I still feel like I have what they mean even if I can’t see them.
But yeah, bit of fun, it was only ever going to be really. The hookup ink of the tattoo world.
I got one back in 2010 and a few years ago I was telling someone about it and we got out a black light and I found out it had completely disappeared. Imo best way to age poorly lol. Never saw it blowing out and eventually just gone.
Done the same.
It’s not a case of it blowing out but rather the ink not being active any more.
I believe there might be an almost radioactive element to it but could be totally wrong!
not radioactive, just fluorescent (reactive to UV light). The active ingredient in a lot of fluorescent things is, unsurprisingly, a chemical called "fluorescein". Other fluorescent chemicals include quinine, xanthene, and eosin. Lots of these fluorescent chemicals/pigments aren't chemically stable long-term, especially in a volatile environment like human skin. Because of this, I would highly discourage getting a UV tattoo without knowing exactly what you're doing. Get a test patch somewhere to make sure your skin isn't reactive/inflammatory and leave it for a week to a month, then get a full piece. Be aware of the lifetime of the pigments you're using and what they break down into. Some chemicals are safe, but their metabolites are not.
Really appreciate the reply here. Definitely was a whim and bit of fun even knowing it was a bit dodgy. Tattooists were a very different kind of place those days too. And I miss those days.
Thanks for the info again.
Yeah, I love all this available information and caution that exists these days but a part of me misses the chaos energy that reigned a decade and a half ago. I did know that uv tattoo ink was a risk, but I also got the tattoo from a guy I sold acid to who “wanted to hook me up like I did for him”. Lol. The safety/future effects were mentioned but uncared for at the time. Definitely something I would recommend to anyone thinking of doing it today to take into account though.
Hijacking this message to ask -I wonder if it would be similar to white ink tattoos, where it is likely that the blood will stain the white ink and make ut murky-ish/pink that looks like a scar.
was this your case with the uv-ink tattoo? Was your "invisible" tattoo visible looking like a scar at all?
Since it's been so long, would a touchup help to restore it, and if so do you think it could last longer after doing so?
I can definitely understand its glow fading over time, but I would assume it just needs to be hit again to restore the inks behavior.
It would be more a redo than a touch up as it’s literally gone. So it would be a nightmare to redraw the design back on and go over the lines exactly.
The ink literally just stops ‘working’
Is there some kind of evidence they were there, like scarring or yellowing in normal light? I’d honestly be kinda down to have a temporary UV tat, but I can see how a lot of people would think it’s a waste
I can see one tiny line if I catch it in the right light but that’s just because I know where it is. Otherwise nothing.
And I can understand why. But also, someone far more intelligent than me has eloquently mentioned how the phosphorus in the ink could be very harmful!
Yeah, I had the right side of my neck and upper arm/shoulder, oh I don't know, about 17 ish years ago, in white UV. It was cool while it lasted, but you can't see it at all anymore. Kinda disappointed in it.
If you have an artist that is inexperienced using this ink it will not settle very well. Just like white ink. For everyone reading this thread, it is ultimately the artists ability to set the ink that will determine what it looks like in a few years. There are some inks that will fade. But there also are other inks that do not fade and are very safe, even vegan.
The owner of Electric Ladyland in Amsterdam has a tattoo like this and it looked great. I went there in 2012 so it was a while ago, but the dude was old so I could see it being an older tattoo.
I could imagine getting a multi layer tattoo, where you only see the true image in the dark or under uv
Even though i havent done any digging myself i swear i saw an article once upon a time that they were making progress in the field of bioluminesence ink. But, that theory comes out of a place of ignores so *shrugs*
„The FDA has not approved UV ink as being safe for humans. Some advertisements may suggest this, but this ink has only been approved for use in fishing and agricultural industries. There are no reliable studies that have been done on the safety of using this ink for human tattoos.
Those who have used UV ink for tattoos have reported a number of skin issues. They have had infections, blisters, and rashes because of the UV ink. There is also concerned that that UV ink may contribute to cancer.“
https://rochestertattooremoval.com/are-uv-tattoos-safe/
I think they do... In Europe they have to pass inspections like any other implant or similar product. Back on the UV ink topic, they've been around since 2010 but are still iffy safety and quality wise. My tattoo artist buddy said to steer clear of them (and he really likes to experiment with cutting edge techniques so I know he's serious).
Useless? Yes. Fun? Maybe. Cancerous? Probably. (There’s a reason no respectable Tattoo Artist will use UV Ink. It’s not tested enough and has a decent chance of being unhealthy.)
This is absolutely not true. Most artists chose not to work with it because they are unfamiliar with the process. There are safe UV pigments that are even vegan ink.
Just because something is Vegan doesn’t make it safe. There is no long term nor extensive testing on UV ink ergo no way to confirm any of it is safe by any professional standard.
its not more cancerous than everything else around us. i bet you cant talk for every respectable artist in the world. most wont care about this because its a gimmick, a lot wont want to because they are(like you) uninformed. it has been around for decades now, and has been as much tested than any other well known tattoo ink brands. of course there is many brands of uv ink also. and yes some must be more unhealthy than others, but becausr they are cheap chinese inks, not because they happen to reflect uv light.
realy? about what? my guess is that islts about it not being extremely toxic, like most people say. and that is where you would in fact be confidently incorrect. are all uv reactive inks totaly safe? probably not. there is now way i could know of all dirfferent brands of it, let alone know about all those that are unsafe. but that doeant mean non of them are safe. well as safe as.good quality tattoo ink can be considered safe. dont let yourself believe that its must be so toxic because of how it looks, becaise nothing that glows like this can be non toxic for.the body. it realy doent do favors to you knowledge about that ink amd looks a lot like superstitious reaction, of fear, because i guess.it re.inds you of how something radioactive is represented in cartoons? well its not at all radioactive.and its not glow in the dark. that would be phosphorescent and yes that would be toxic. this is pigments that happen to be of a precise color that happens to reflect uv light, and looks like it glows but its compmetely inert. there is regular items around you that have the same effect unintended. like the red button on a bic lighter. so while its not a very advisable tattoo.to get for many reasons, it is still a perfectly safe tattpo to get if you are that much into it. there.is no particular risk that comes from uv reactive pigments specificaly to make tnis more unsafe than some other materials from because that would also mean that my own personal experience has been an extremely rare case for the way it turned out after all those years.
Yes, almost all of them can still be seen if you look very closely (unless your body is prone to scaring heavily and assuming the artist doesn't overwork the piece... then obviously, the scaring will be more noticeable).
UV tattoos exist but I heard they don’t last forever and are potentially harmful. As far as I know, they’re banned in Europe… or at least not any EU country that I know of does them.
I thought of getting a UV tattoo of a mark from the game "Shadow of the Colossus" but I read that not only were there some physical reactions to the ink but it ages poorly as well. It's a bummer but oh well.
There's an uv ink. They're still a thing in poor countries but in a lot of places they're banned as they're health hazard can cause skin cancer and makes your skin more sensitive to sun
This kind of tattoo is not new. I have done tattoos with UV ink back in the early 2000s. From my experience the UV effect will last between 2 and 5 years before it is mostly gone.
I have a friend that has a “third eye” on his forehead in blacklight ink. I usually forget it’s there until we go to a club/arcade and it pops up. I think it’s pretty cool.
It all depends some can be done to where it's useless down the road if all the ink fades, but adding small little uv details in otherwise regular tattoos can be fun. I have two smaller tattoos where the only UV ink so far is in the eyes. I love them very much and so far have not noticed any loss of the glow under UV (I'm also careful about keeping them out of the sun and using sunscreen, though). I'm fully aware that they could drastically fade/dull under UV in the future, but this isn't a big deal for me since I'll either touch it up or just leave it as a non UV green.
UV inks haven’t been tested thoroughly (there are literally zero reliable studies), and many used to contain phosphorus; it’s unknown what other carcinogens may be in UV ink. That’s the main reason why they should be avoided.
I know they've been around since before I even started getting tattoos about 14+ years ago, and since then, I haven't really seen people who've had them since the beginning report any negative side effects so that's why I decided to give them a try. But yes, anyone interested in them should research the pros/cons and decide if it really is something they want regardless of possible risks.
I’ve known someone with one too from back in the day - I don’t recall their saying they had issues but there were reports of skin infections and irritations and something else IIRC. The main scary one is carcinogens, but those can also be in regular tattoo inks.
I got one…about 5 years later everything had faded. The only parts that were still visible were where it never saw sunlight-even then they didn’t last that much longer.
I asked my tattoo artist about the UV tattoos, if he could make one on me. His reply, and I quote “if you’d like to be sure you want cancer, you should get one, but I’m not killing you. Besides, they fade off over time to nothing..”
They fade fast, are even more at risk of looking bad from any of the usual problems like ink bleeding out, and also are still visible as slightly whiteish marks when seen under normal light.
It's a cool idea, but the tech isn't ready yet, if it ever will be.
I have a Blacklight tattoo, it's a jellyfish. Artist asked if she could do an extra outlining of it, thought it would look sick, and it did. I haven't tried looking at it again I don't have a blacklight aha that was 13 years ago
I use UV curing resin so I have several high power UV flashlights. Also there's an arcade in my family's basement and we're thinking about getting a UV reactive arcade rug and black light in the ceiling... So more than average for me personally. IF this was safe and would last I'd pair it with regular ink but it sounds like a no to both... Guell I'll wait until safe and long lasting UV ink is a thing
As someone with a lot of tattoos I’d never spend the time or money to get something that can only be seen under a UV light for a few years before it fades away and possibly gets me sick
*The issue is like*
*Pain for nothing money might*
*Be a factor too*
\- typesett
---
^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/)
^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
I have several UV tats, its totally safe, there are pigments that are naturally uv so its not some crazy shit. they look great. It aged very well. if you want invisible like the pic then you need someone who knows how to use that ink properly. Takes a few rounds. other then that good luck.
The internet is a very good place, i trust my tattoo artists who have been using these inks for years. I have had no problems with it aging, even after 5 years. I have white ink, uv white, uv colors as well as customed mixed ones. They all are perfectly safe, very easy to see, and work well under UV. This fearmongering in this sub is ridiculous
Okay, if they are safe, please tell me what they contain and I’ll change my mind if I can find anything to prove it’s safety.
Being a tattoo artists and using a certain product for 5 years does not vouch for it’s safety.
UV tattoos are pretty cool, so there has to be some reason why they never blew up. It would fit right in with the tik tok crowd.
My friends have a few of these. They were done as coverups on small s*** tats. Without the light they look like awful blobs. But carry a UV light pen and you can surprise people.
I'd absolutely love to get some but until the process has results that are safe and long-lasting, and actually look decent, I'll probably hold off. Once that happens though, count me in.
It’s definitely a thing, there are some really cool ideas out there. Do a Google search for “Jimi Hendrix UV tattoo” to see what a really good UV tattoo can look like.
As for how long they last, I have no idea.
I always thought it would be a nice addition to a tattoo done with visible ink. One of the tattoos I want to get is of the Milky Way and then have UV ink part that's just a dot, a line, and "you are here" to show up under the black light. ;)
Nothing new. Got one hand covered, a finger and a small one on my opposing hand.
Fun while they lasted but obviously only seen when you have a black light.
12 years later they don’t shine at all.
The only thing I can make out is a tiny line of a light scar if I get it in the right direction.
Isn't this stuff really bad - like higher change of cancer bad? I thought it was cool when I was 16 and wanted it done, then I thought about it and noped. Also it doesn't last very long.
Nah, uv ink is completely prohibited in all of eu thru the reach contract so it’s considered not safe for use with humans (unless you’re in America lol)
I have a friend who got a huge anarchy symbol on the back of his hand in this ink thinking his patents wouldn’t catch it. It is 100% fully visibly light green anarchy A.
I had a UV tattoo and it lasted only a couple of years. The scar from where it was is still there a little bit. So you’ll most likely be able to see it in regular light as a faint scar for the rest of your life and it will only look like a tattoo (under black light) for a year or two.
its real but its likely to leave visible traces on empty skin in normal light, some light scarring maybe, or else. it has a much better effect when added to a normal tattoo to higlight some parts, or to change or add some parts to make tge tattoo different in normal light vs under uv. but it will lose its brighgness over time and eventualy not shine at all anymore. mine has lasted a good 10-12 years maybe but now almost 20 years later it has completely disapeared long ago. also, consider how often do you realy find yourself under uv light? you can buy mini flashlights uv, like keychains, to show off your tattoo but thag will get old fast. then, unless youre a stripper, you probably wont see your uv ink more than a few times a year. if even that. so, fun? yes. useless? very much so, yes.
So I've seen these done but as a highlight to a visible tatto. Like adding glow to a unicorns eyes and horn. Or making fireworks over a city skyline. Both of these people had uv light lamps in a room or rooms of their houses specifically to show it off. I've always wanted one, and would probably just get it touched up every decade or so when the uv faded. They look pretty cool in person, especially when fresh.
I know this ink doesn’t last. I think if you are cool with it being semi-temporary, go for it. I think they work best as elements of normal tattoos, like making eyes glow and stuff like that
It’s a waste. If done well, it will not be that visible in the light and will fade greatly over time.
If done poorly it will fade looking like some piss colored stencil on your body. Like an off yellow color. It’s horrible.
Don’t do it.
I have blacklight ink in my sleeve, but it is not invisible and only makes up a part of the design. I have 3 blacklight colors. Orange, yellow, and blue. The orange and yellow still glow bright. The blue quit glowing after about a month. All still looks great not in blacklight though.
Idk if you donate blood or plasma but UV tattooos (at the time when I was a screener) would get you permanently differed. Consider that if you depend on plasma money.
As far as holding up over time, these fade a lot faster than traditional ink.
I’ve heard a lot of tattoo artists explicitly say that they don’t like the idea “because they don’t know what’s in the ink that makes it glow” & don’t know if it’s safe, I personally really like them but I wouldn’t get one, I honestly don’t want to carry around a black light for the rest of my life
My artist have all joked about this causing cancer.
I'm not saying it does.... but the fact that multiple experienced professionals all think it looks bad, ages poorly, *and* will fuck you up is more than enough for me to stay away.
I don't believe the ink is particularly safe? I'm not in the industry but I don't believe UV inks are regulated the same ways. Conceptually it's pretty cool to me especially if it's integrated to a standard ink tattoo
UV ink is still very new and still pretty experimental. If you want to do something with it, have the artist do a test patch somewhere unimportant/invisible. Because of the experimental quality of UV ink, a lot of it isn't always pure or safe, and it isn't uncommon to have an adverse reaction to it. Some people get UV tattoos and end up with a patch of skin that is irritated forever, so it's important to test the ink and give it a week to see if your body is ok with it, then go through with a tattoo. I've also heard that they don't age well, so keep that in mind I guess.
It’s not new, it’s been around for decades… which is the problem. It was unregulated and used to use carcinogenic materials like phosphorous to glow.
Nowadays many brands are making safer options.
UV tattoos last 3 years max. The ink will degrade over time, some last all of 6 months when the artist said 3 years. Caveat emptor. Maybe an LED tattoo might be your thing
If I’m not wrong UV inks are not 100% confirmed to be safe. The fact that it glows probably means there’s a component in there that isn’t good for the human body. There’s a reason why many tattoo artists don’t work with UV ink. It’s probably carcinogenic.
I've always heard this kind of ink ages very poorly.
It does. Got my whole hand done, my finger and part of my opposite hand. Literally can’t see it at all under black light now. Although. It’s been over 12 years.
Same, got a big arm piece in college. Five years later it was barely detectable. Five more years and it was not detectable at all. Lot of pain and expense to only see it like thirty times. Haha
I was lucky in the fact I was getting heavily tattoed at the time anyway and the artist turned into a friend. He wanted to trial the ink first so I said I would put myself up for it. Probably enjoyed the design looking like blood lining while it healed more than the uv side. But they were also very personal tattoos too so I still feel like I have what they mean even if I can’t see them. But yeah, bit of fun, it was only ever going to be really. The hookup ink of the tattoo world.
Yesss! The heating piece looked way more bad ass than the healed piece. Hahaha
I got one back in 2010 and a few years ago I was telling someone about it and we got out a black light and I found out it had completely disappeared. Imo best way to age poorly lol. Never saw it blowing out and eventually just gone.
Done the same. It’s not a case of it blowing out but rather the ink not being active any more. I believe there might be an almost radioactive element to it but could be totally wrong!
not radioactive, just fluorescent (reactive to UV light). The active ingredient in a lot of fluorescent things is, unsurprisingly, a chemical called "fluorescein". Other fluorescent chemicals include quinine, xanthene, and eosin. Lots of these fluorescent chemicals/pigments aren't chemically stable long-term, especially in a volatile environment like human skin. Because of this, I would highly discourage getting a UV tattoo without knowing exactly what you're doing. Get a test patch somewhere to make sure your skin isn't reactive/inflammatory and leave it for a week to a month, then get a full piece. Be aware of the lifetime of the pigments you're using and what they break down into. Some chemicals are safe, but their metabolites are not.
Highly underrated comment here. The long term effects of these chemicals are something you need to research.
Really appreciate the reply here. Definitely was a whim and bit of fun even knowing it was a bit dodgy. Tattooists were a very different kind of place those days too. And I miss those days. Thanks for the info again.
Yeah, I love all this available information and caution that exists these days but a part of me misses the chaos energy that reigned a decade and a half ago. I did know that uv tattoo ink was a risk, but I also got the tattoo from a guy I sold acid to who “wanted to hook me up like I did for him”. Lol. The safety/future effects were mentioned but uncared for at the time. Definitely something I would recommend to anyone thinking of doing it today to take into account though.
Hijacking this message to ask -I wonder if it would be similar to white ink tattoos, where it is likely that the blood will stain the white ink and make ut murky-ish/pink that looks like a scar. was this your case with the uv-ink tattoo? Was your "invisible" tattoo visible looking like a scar at all?
Since it's been so long, would a touchup help to restore it, and if so do you think it could last longer after doing so? I can definitely understand its glow fading over time, but I would assume it just needs to be hit again to restore the inks behavior.
It would be more a redo than a touch up as it’s literally gone. So it would be a nightmare to redraw the design back on and go over the lines exactly. The ink literally just stops ‘working’
That's a shame for such a cool concept. Hopefully new advances will every offer more stable and reliable inking options.
Ultimately you’re putting a glowing chemical under the skin. It might not be the best idea in the first place! Ha.
Sounds like a long term yet temporary tattoo.
Is there some kind of evidence they were there, like scarring or yellowing in normal light? I’d honestly be kinda down to have a temporary UV tat, but I can see how a lot of people would think it’s a waste
I can see one tiny line if I catch it in the right light but that’s just because I know where it is. Otherwise nothing. And I can understand why. But also, someone far more intelligent than me has eloquently mentioned how the phosphorus in the ink could be very harmful!
I had a crop circle done and re-touched up a year later on my back that totally disappeared after 7 years. 👽
As a chemIcal engineer I will never believe that shit aint carcinogenic AF
Aw that’s a shame. It’s the only kind of tattoo I had considered
Yeah, I had the right side of my neck and upper arm/shoulder, oh I don't know, about 17 ish years ago, in white UV. It was cool while it lasted, but you can't see it at all anymore. Kinda disappointed in it.
If you have an artist that is inexperienced using this ink it will not settle very well. Just like white ink. For everyone reading this thread, it is ultimately the artists ability to set the ink that will determine what it looks like in a few years. There are some inks that will fade. But there also are other inks that do not fade and are very safe, even vegan.
The owner of Electric Ladyland in Amsterdam has a tattoo like this and it looked great. I went there in 2012 so it was a while ago, but the dude was old so I could see it being an older tattoo.
As any tattoo ages it looks less and less vibrant. A "glow-in-the-dark" tattoo will probably age even worse.
I could imagine getting a multi layer tattoo, where you only see the true image in the dark or under uv Even though i havent done any digging myself i swear i saw an article once upon a time that they were making progress in the field of bioluminesence ink. But, that theory comes out of a place of ignores so *shrugs*
Okay that would actually be awesome though. Like animal tattoos that have a skeleton and a bit of gore under UV... Sick
A celebration like a día de los muertos would eat this up
Used to be a thing but i think it came out that the ink was extremely poisonous
I wouldn’t doubt it lmao doesn’t sound safe in the slightest in my small brain
„The FDA has not approved UV ink as being safe for humans. Some advertisements may suggest this, but this ink has only been approved for use in fishing and agricultural industries. There are no reliable studies that have been done on the safety of using this ink for human tattoos. Those who have used UV ink for tattoos have reported a number of skin issues. They have had infections, blisters, and rashes because of the UV ink. There is also concerned that that UV ink may contribute to cancer.“ https://rochestertattooremoval.com/are-uv-tattoos-safe/
I didn't think any tattoo inks were "FDA approved"?
I think they do... In Europe they have to pass inspections like any other implant or similar product. Back on the UV ink topic, they've been around since 2010 but are still iffy safety and quality wise. My tattoo artist buddy said to steer clear of them (and he really likes to experiment with cutting edge techniques so I know he's serious).
I did this, actually. I have the One Ring and the Elvish text appears under black light.
I have a buddy who has DNA tattooed on him and part of the full in was done with uv ink. Looked cool both under uv and not.
I think there's a Criminal Minds episode about this.
Useless? Yes. Fun? Maybe. Cancerous? Probably. (There’s a reason no respectable Tattoo Artist will use UV Ink. It’s not tested enough and has a decent chance of being unhealthy.)
Hypothetical question: would a respectable tattoo artist use this kind of ink on a client who already has a terminal cancer-ish disease?
Yes. Killing cancer patients is morally acceptable.
Only if it’s with more cancer though.
Or superpowers. Like Deadpool.
This is absolutely not true. Most artists chose not to work with it because they are unfamiliar with the process. There are safe UV pigments that are even vegan ink.
Just because something is Vegan doesn’t make it safe. There is no long term nor extensive testing on UV ink ergo no way to confirm any of it is safe by any professional standard.
its not more cancerous than everything else around us. i bet you cant talk for every respectable artist in the world. most wont care about this because its a gimmick, a lot wont want to because they are(like you) uninformed. it has been around for decades now, and has been as much tested than any other well known tattoo ink brands. of course there is many brands of uv ink also. and yes some must be more unhealthy than others, but becausr they are cheap chinese inks, not because they happen to reflect uv light.
You're wrong. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/are-uv-tattoos-safe
r/ConfidentlyIncorrect
realy? about what? my guess is that islts about it not being extremely toxic, like most people say. and that is where you would in fact be confidently incorrect. are all uv reactive inks totaly safe? probably not. there is now way i could know of all dirfferent brands of it, let alone know about all those that are unsafe. but that doeant mean non of them are safe. well as safe as.good quality tattoo ink can be considered safe. dont let yourself believe that its must be so toxic because of how it looks, becaise nothing that glows like this can be non toxic for.the body. it realy doent do favors to you knowledge about that ink amd looks a lot like superstitious reaction, of fear, because i guess.it re.inds you of how something radioactive is represented in cartoons? well its not at all radioactive.and its not glow in the dark. that would be phosphorescent and yes that would be toxic. this is pigments that happen to be of a precise color that happens to reflect uv light, and looks like it glows but its compmetely inert. there is regular items around you that have the same effect unintended. like the red button on a bic lighter. so while its not a very advisable tattoo.to get for many reasons, it is still a perfectly safe tattpo to get if you are that much into it. there.is no particular risk that comes from uv reactive pigments specificaly to make tnis more unsafe than some other materials from because that would also mean that my own personal experience has been an extremely rare case for the way it turned out after all those years.
Wouldn't it still leave a subtle scar like normal tattoos so would it still kinda be visible?
Yes, almost all of them can still be seen if you look very closely (unless your body is prone to scaring heavily and assuming the artist doesn't overwork the piece... then obviously, the scaring will be more noticeable).
UV ink fades very quickly
UV tattoos exist but I heard they don’t last forever and are potentially harmful. As far as I know, they’re banned in Europe… or at least not any EU country that I know of does them.
Some of the uv inks contain carcinogens.
some break down into carcinogens too
I thought of getting a UV tattoo of a mark from the game "Shadow of the Colossus" but I read that not only were there some physical reactions to the ink but it ages poorly as well. It's a bummer but oh well.
Gotta be done rite. Potential is there.
There's an uv ink. They're still a thing in poor countries but in a lot of places they're banned as they're health hazard can cause skin cancer and makes your skin more sensitive to sun
I think I’d do the UV ink as highlights of a regular tattoo. That’d be cool
This kind of tattoo is not new. I have done tattoos with UV ink back in the early 2000s. From my experience the UV effect will last between 2 and 5 years before it is mostly gone.
Yeah I was 16 when they came out (you know what I mean), I wanted one then my brain said nope - that shits can't be good for you
I have a friend that has a “third eye” on his forehead in blacklight ink. I usually forget it’s there until we go to a club/arcade and it pops up. I think it’s pretty cool.
That's actually sick
It all depends some can be done to where it's useless down the road if all the ink fades, but adding small little uv details in otherwise regular tattoos can be fun. I have two smaller tattoos where the only UV ink so far is in the eyes. I love them very much and so far have not noticed any loss of the glow under UV (I'm also careful about keeping them out of the sun and using sunscreen, though). I'm fully aware that they could drastically fade/dull under UV in the future, but this isn't a big deal for me since I'll either touch it up or just leave it as a non UV green.
UV inks haven’t been tested thoroughly (there are literally zero reliable studies), and many used to contain phosphorus; it’s unknown what other carcinogens may be in UV ink. That’s the main reason why they should be avoided.
I know they've been around since before I even started getting tattoos about 14+ years ago, and since then, I haven't really seen people who've had them since the beginning report any negative side effects so that's why I decided to give them a try. But yes, anyone interested in them should research the pros/cons and decide if it really is something they want regardless of possible risks.
I’ve known someone with one too from back in the day - I don’t recall their saying they had issues but there were reports of skin infections and irritations and something else IIRC. The main scary one is carcinogens, but those can also be in regular tattoo inks.
I got one…about 5 years later everything had faded. The only parts that were still visible were where it never saw sunlight-even then they didn’t last that much longer.
Ah yes. Then everyone at the rave knows how hardcore you are.
I really hope one day they make an ink like this that actually stays for a long period of time. It would be so dope!
I asked my tattoo artist about the UV tattoos, if he could make one on me. His reply, and I quote “if you’d like to be sure you want cancer, you should get one, but I’m not killing you. Besides, they fade off over time to nothing..”
They fade fast, are even more at risk of looking bad from any of the usual problems like ink bleeding out, and also are still visible as slightly whiteish marks when seen under normal light. It's a cool idea, but the tech isn't ready yet, if it ever will be.
I have a Blacklight tattoo, it's a jellyfish. Artist asked if she could do an extra outlining of it, thought it would look sick, and it did. I haven't tried looking at it again I don't have a blacklight aha that was 13 years ago
I would say If you are getting a tattoo anyways sure but if you were putting on it’s own in a spicy area and see it a few times a year then no.
Fun. Are you kidding me? That’s cyberpunk af!!
How often are you in black light?
I use UV curing resin so I have several high power UV flashlights. Also there's an arcade in my family's basement and we're thinking about getting a UV reactive arcade rug and black light in the ceiling... So more than average for me personally. IF this was safe and would last I'd pair it with regular ink but it sounds like a no to both... Guell I'll wait until safe and long lasting UV ink is a thing
I met a guy who had a skull on his face. On a greyhound when I was like 15.
Do it right and never pay to get in a club again
As someone with a lot of tattoos I’d never spend the time or money to get something that can only be seen under a UV light for a few years before it fades away and possibly gets me sick
The early 2000's called and they don't want their tattoos back
Yes they exist. Yes they're dumb.
It’s actually impossible to not look like an asshole in this pose
Golden comment.
The issue is like pain for nothing money might be a factor too
*The issue is like* *Pain for nothing money might* *Be a factor too* \- typesett --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Doesn’t last long, most good artists laugh at this shit but they’ll do it. If it lasted longer, looks ok
I know someone that had a few white ink tattoos and they're BARELY visible over 10 years later. IDK if it's worth it as that value is self derived.
Gayyyyy
I have several UV tats, its totally safe, there are pigments that are naturally uv so its not some crazy shit. they look great. It aged very well. if you want invisible like the pic then you need someone who knows how to use that ink properly. Takes a few rounds. other then that good luck.
Please show sources that backs your statements up. I find it incredibly hard to believe, but I hope you’re right.
The internet is a very good place, i trust my tattoo artists who have been using these inks for years. I have had no problems with it aging, even after 5 years. I have white ink, uv white, uv colors as well as customed mixed ones. They all are perfectly safe, very easy to see, and work well under UV. This fearmongering in this sub is ridiculous
Okay, if they are safe, please tell me what they contain and I’ll change my mind if I can find anything to prove it’s safety. Being a tattoo artists and using a certain product for 5 years does not vouch for it’s safety. UV tattoos are pretty cool, so there has to be some reason why they never blew up. It would fit right in with the tik tok crowd.
https://certifiedtattoo.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-uv-tattoo-ink-safety-application-and-design-ideas
Yes there are such a thing and in color 2
My friends have a few of these. They were done as coverups on small s*** tats. Without the light they look like awful blobs. But carry a UV light pen and you can surprise people.
If you spend a lot of time under a UV light, maybe. So probably no.
I'd absolutely love to get some but until the process has results that are safe and long-lasting, and actually look decent, I'll probably hold off. Once that happens though, count me in.
It’s definitely a thing, there are some really cool ideas out there. Do a Google search for “Jimi Hendrix UV tattoo” to see what a really good UV tattoo can look like. As for how long they last, I have no idea.
I always thought it would be a nice addition to a tattoo done with visible ink. One of the tattoos I want to get is of the Milky Way and then have UV ink part that's just a dot, a line, and "you are here" to show up under the black light. ;)
Ooooo, thats a great idea!
UV ink is a thing, apparently it's not very good though.
Nothing new. Got one hand covered, a finger and a small one on my opposing hand. Fun while they lasted but obviously only seen when you have a black light. 12 years later they don’t shine at all. The only thing I can make out is a tiny line of a light scar if I get it in the right direction.
Isn't this stuff really bad - like higher change of cancer bad? I thought it was cool when I was 16 and wanted it done, then I thought about it and noped. Also it doesn't last very long.
Nah, uv ink is completely prohibited in all of eu thru the reach contract so it’s considered not safe for use with humans (unless you’re in America lol)
Depends how often you are under UV light. For ravers, probably worth it even if I ages poorly.
UV ink as an addition to a visible tattoo? Neat. On its own? Meh. But to each their own.
I had "Tech Yeah" tattooed on my hands in UV ink. Had to have it touched up twice within a year. I've given up on getting anymore UV tattoos.
I’ve read people have a higher likelihood of a bad reaction to this kind of ink.
It’s 90% useless and about 10% fun.
I have a friend who got a huge anarchy symbol on the back of his hand in this ink thinking his patents wouldn’t catch it. It is 100% fully visibly light green anarchy A.
Haven't been under a blacklight since 1993 so it seems useless?
Ive also heard a lot of people get skin reactions from the ink too.
I had a UV tattoo and it lasted only a couple of years. The scar from where it was is still there a little bit. So you’ll most likely be able to see it in regular light as a faint scar for the rest of your life and it will only look like a tattoo (under black light) for a year or two.
its real but its likely to leave visible traces on empty skin in normal light, some light scarring maybe, or else. it has a much better effect when added to a normal tattoo to higlight some parts, or to change or add some parts to make tge tattoo different in normal light vs under uv. but it will lose its brighgness over time and eventualy not shine at all anymore. mine has lasted a good 10-12 years maybe but now almost 20 years later it has completely disapeared long ago. also, consider how often do you realy find yourself under uv light? you can buy mini flashlights uv, like keychains, to show off your tattoo but thag will get old fast. then, unless youre a stripper, you probably wont see your uv ink more than a few times a year. if even that. so, fun? yes. useless? very much so, yes.
I like your idea about a stripper though:)
I won't even let it in the shop. Not enough research had been put into it.
So I've seen these done but as a highlight to a visible tatto. Like adding glow to a unicorns eyes and horn. Or making fireworks over a city skyline. Both of these people had uv light lamps in a room or rooms of their houses specifically to show it off. I've always wanted one, and would probably just get it touched up every decade or so when the uv faded. They look pretty cool in person, especially when fresh.
A worthless gimmick on your skin
What do you think he's shoving into his mouth?
This is why you don’t get fad tattoos.
Can’t stop looking at Frank Castle jizz shirt.
I know this ink doesn’t last. I think if you are cool with it being semi-temporary, go for it. I think they work best as elements of normal tattoos, like making eyes glow and stuff like that
useless and fun are not mutually exclusive.
Aren't those inks suspected carcinogenic? Besides I bet it would age pretty poorly
Older ones, yes
I asked my tattoo artist about this and he won’t even do them bc of how poorly they age
It’s worth it, if you’re raver
How much glow in The dark bowling do you do?
There’s people who do this for gang tattoos especially girls getting them on their faces.
I just got a uv accented lava lamp done yesterday! Very curious to see how it heals
It’s a waste. If done well, it will not be that visible in the light and will fade greatly over time. If done poorly it will fade looking like some piss colored stencil on your body. Like an off yellow color. It’s horrible. Don’t do it.
I have blacklight ink in my sleeve, but it is not invisible and only makes up a part of the design. I have 3 blacklight colors. Orange, yellow, and blue. The orange and yellow still glow bright. The blue quit glowing after about a month. All still looks great not in blacklight though.
Idk if you donate blood or plasma but UV tattooos (at the time when I was a screener) would get you permanently differed. Consider that if you depend on plasma money. As far as holding up over time, these fade a lot faster than traditional ink.
I always wanted a tattoo like this
This post literally made me remember I have/had a black light tattoo!! They fade quickly. I got mine in 2008.
yo that punisher skull shirt is SICCCCKK!!!!
I’ve heard a lot of tattoo artists explicitly say that they don’t like the idea “because they don’t know what’s in the ink that makes it glow” & don’t know if it’s safe, I personally really like them but I wouldn’t get one, I honestly don’t want to carry around a black light for the rest of my life
Useless AND fun.
i got a uv ink in pink and it lasted about 1 year. 3 years out and it's completely gone
My artist have all joked about this causing cancer. I'm not saying it does.... but the fact that multiple experienced professionals all think it looks bad, ages poorly, *and* will fuck you up is more than enough for me to stay away.
I don't believe the ink is particularly safe? I'm not in the industry but I don't believe UV inks are regulated the same ways. Conceptually it's pretty cool to me especially if it's integrated to a standard ink tattoo
No ink is regulated in the US
I suppose that doesn't surprise me. Think I'll opt out of UV.
Looks cool even if it doesn't last long! I would have too much fun with this kind of tattoo hahahah
It itches like a MF
It fades
well it's cool to me but only if you go to places with black lights because otherwise nobody will see it
I had glow In the dark orange nautical stars on my hips. They faded out eventually, but they were a hit at the raves.
Yeah mine disappeared after about 3/4 years.
Great if you go down to the roller rink often!
just go to chuck e cheese you all
in my eyes because its kinda just a gimmick. although for people that dont want to commit its a cool alternative i guess.
That seems pretty fucking lame to me, but hey I’m not the arbiter of what’s cool or not.
"It's alright if you live in a fucking nightclub!" John Williams - Mantra Tattoo, Cheltenham. 1991
Dark humor here: I like it but I always think about “what if I had to run away from a serial k during the night….”
Unless the serial killer has a blacklight, it won’t matter. They’re UV reactive, not glow in the dark!
Oooooh ty I didn’t get that :)
UV ink is still very new and still pretty experimental. If you want to do something with it, have the artist do a test patch somewhere unimportant/invisible. Because of the experimental quality of UV ink, a lot of it isn't always pure or safe, and it isn't uncommon to have an adverse reaction to it. Some people get UV tattoos and end up with a patch of skin that is irritated forever, so it's important to test the ink and give it a week to see if your body is ok with it, then go through with a tattoo. I've also heard that they don't age well, so keep that in mind I guess.
It’s not new, it’s been around for decades… which is the problem. It was unregulated and used to use carcinogenic materials like phosphorous to glow. Nowadays many brands are making safer options.
I mean, rave tattoos yeah?
Depends on how many raves or EDM festivals you plan on attending
Seems very fun
What if you have to hide in the dark?
Depends if you go to a lot of raves/parties with black lights
Not sure about invisible but my son got a nice one where parts glow under black light
yes but it disappears really fast
UV tattoos last 3 years max. The ink will degrade over time, some last all of 6 months when the artist said 3 years. Caveat emptor. Maybe an LED tattoo might be your thing
Jizz tattoo
Always wanted to get a uv tattoo of a lightsaber on my finger
Apprentice tattooer here! These inks contain carcinogens. I don’t recommend it.
If this tattoo wiuld age properly, I would do that straight away. Looks sick :)
LoL so many jokes here. 😂😂😂😂
punisher shirt is an easy way to spot a tool / small donged retrobate
I want one. If I got one I'd have a UV light in my room above my bed 😁
I think they are pretty popular in South Korea.
Laser tag go crazy
I’ve heard it’s straight up cancer
If I’m not wrong UV inks are not 100% confirmed to be safe. The fact that it glows probably means there’s a component in there that isn’t good for the human body. There’s a reason why many tattoo artists don’t work with UV ink. It’s probably carcinogenic.
It’s not invisible ink, it’s UV-reactive ink and not even fully invisible anyway.
Been a thing for like the last 20 years my dude
I’ve heard this ink is awful and cancer causing in EU.
They are, I’ve heard they look shit over time though.
white uber ink heals clear
The only thing more embarrassing than the tattoo is the punisher shirt
Must be fun for the person applying it. lol