You will know several people in your life that have a tattoo, some of which will be vegetarian and some of which will be vegan. It’s no secret in the tattoo industry that most tattoo products and tools are not cruelty-free. Several animals are involved in the development and manufacture of these products in order for people to achieve the desired ink on their skin.
What makes a tattoo vegan?
When getting a tattoo supplies, there are specific tools and ingredients used to do the job that are necessary, however, the products and ingredients most tattoo artists use are derived from animals. So as a vegan, these are the things you should keep an eye on when getting a tattoo:
Tattoo Ink
Perhaps the most important product when getting a tattoo is the tattoo ink. This is also the first thing you need to consider when getting inked as a vegan.
There is glycerin coming from palm oil, soybeans, or synthetic ingredients, and you can opt for these ingredients. Although they are not commonly specified on the products, you can always ask the tattoo artist about it or maybe source your own ink if you can. When it comes to gelatin, some tattoo inks contain shellac instead of animal ingredients, or bone char for more pigment.
Gelatin, a binding additive is often derived from animals. Additionally, Glycerin is often used as a stabilizer, providing a glossy shade, but this does not always have to be animal-based either.
One popular vegan tattoo ink is World Famous Tattoo Ink. This is used by several vegan tattoo artists to work in line with their ethos. These inks are never tested on animals and contain no animal products.
Razors
A razor – really? Yes really!
In tattooing, the artists need to make sure that the ink goes straight into the skin and to be able to do that razors are used to shave the treatment area and ensure the place of the tattoo is hair-free.
Most tattoo artists use disposable razors with a moisture strip containing gelatin. Alternatively, you can opt to bring your own razor containing a lubricant strip that is plant based, or you can ask your artist about it.
Vegan tattoo stencil paper
Another important element or tool to achieve the perfect tattoo on your skin is the stencil paper used by your tattoo artist. This is how many artists create an outline of your tattoo before the actual ink application.
However, lanolin is mostly used with stencil paper, and this is a fatty substance coming from sheep’s wool making it a non-vegan tattoo option.
For vegan tattoo artists, Spirit stencil paper is more desirable, and some artists even choose to do freehand tattooing with only drawing on the skin as a guide and avoiding tattoo stencil papers altogether.
Vegan tattoo aftercare?
If you are used to getting a tattoo or are familiar with the process, you know that having a tattoo does not end with the actual tattooing on the skin; aftercare is an important part of the healing process and there are a number of vegan tattoo aftercare options available to you.
To maintain the quality of the tattoo and to ensure quick skin healing, an aftercare process must be undertaken by everybody who has been tattooed. Your skin is vulnerable to infections and scarring, so you need to properly care for your new tattoo.
Several aftercare balms containing beeswax or lanolin are used by tattoo artists. However, to do aftercare in a vegan way, you can choose plant-based products, like those containing olive oil, shea butter, or jojoba oil. There is a huge range of vegan aftercare products being introduced to the market and you should find it easy to pick up leading brands in a vegan option.
Do healthy tattoo inks exist?
We can say that the tattoo industry is really progressing and becoming more open when it comes to these kinds of things. Hopefully, more tattoo artists will choose cruelty-free and vegan ingredients and products for a healthier lifestyle and a better tattoo.