Ultraviolet Ink Tattoos

[@stephanie5872]

FYI I have talked to James and figured I would post the basics here since I'm sure some want to know the how/why There are essentially 2 kinds of UV reactive pigment, Organic and Inorganic They "work" by "absorbing" energy from the UV light which excites the unstable molecules and the glow is them giving off the excess energy, the only difference between glow in the dark v UV glow is the wavelength of the light spectrum they are absorbing and then giving off. Glow in the dark is always "glowing" if it has been exposed to light, you just can't see it because the wavelength it gives off is only visible in dark conditions... But here is where it gets nasty IFPs (inorganic pigments) zinc sulfide or zinc cadmium sulfide that has been made unstable with silver, copper, or manganese. These aren't suitable for human use/contact/consumption because they are highly toxic..... Therefore I'm going to assume (and hope) that the specificpigment they use to glow is an organic one. They are almost always derived from plants, fish, and alge which have a natural bioluminescence. Since none of the companies are required by law in the US to divuldge what the exact ingredientt list is, since arguably one would protect the formula if it is unique to you as a trade secret to prevent competition, you have no idea exactly where they got the organic pigment... So why is this problematic, well if you have a fish/shellfish/mold/algae allergy you potentially are injecting yourself with the allergen and allergic reactions from tattoo ink are nasty and the only fix in serious cases is to cut the skin that has the pigment out since you can't easily remove the allergen and you will keep reacting. Even if you don't have a known allergy these pigments are fairly allergenic since they are related to mold and algae. NOT TO MENTION... why they typically don't heal well and have a good life, well because like your glow in the dark shirt from when you were a kid... they yglow weaker over time because the molecules eventually burn out and don't get excited and therefore release the energy that you can see with the UV light. YES companies make claims and say it will glow for 10 years, but in the US they aren't regulated so anyone can claim anything, just like laboratory tested isn't a standardized thing. and to my knowledge there are no Tattoo pigments regulated or approved by the FDA.

[@JamesWithee]

Pinned this comment because it adds legit additional info. Thx for sharing Stephanie

[@stephanie5872]

No prob.

[@megalopolis2015]

Wow. Amazing complementary information. Thank you for taking the time to tell us about this.

[@Bonbon-C]

Thanks, was planning of having one.... but now very much dissuaded from getting UV inked. Thanks for the info =)

[@TheKianaRoe]

Amazing thank you so much

[@bradpalmer8473]

So I have a full sleeve where the bottom half (i.e. forearm) is a "space" scene, and I wanted it to just have a little bit of a difference to it so I researched UV inks for a while, with the intention to just use it as the fill colour for some of the stars and the sun which is on my elbow. I ended up importing from the US (I live in New Zealand), a bottle of the SkinCandy UV Yellow for it. The research I did suggested that the ink pigments themselves aren't actually the thing that causes the glow, it's actually the fact that they use a process that encapsulates the ink inside microscopic balls of some sort of polymer, which is the thing that causes the glow (kind of like how clear plastic bottles glow under UV light), and apparently it's based on a type of ink that they use to tattoo salmon so that they can "tag" them and count them as they swim past a black-light, back up their home river to spawn. (Apparently it's FDA approved for this use, but that's got f@*k-all to do with how safe it is to tattoo it into a human.) Now I actually have no way of verifying how true ANY of that is, so it could be complete bollocks, especially since I cannot find that info anywhere on the Skin Candy website these days, despite that being exactly where I found the info when I researched this about 10 years ago, so maybe they got told to take down their BS fantasy story, who knows? ANYWAY... point being that my tattoo artist had all sorts of issues with getting the ink into my skin, and he's a mutli-award-winning artist here in NZ with many many years of experience, not some backyard scratcher. He told me that it was really "thick" and just wouldn't get into the skin, and he had to go over the same areas multiple times to try and get anything even resembling good coverage (And let me tell you, having mutiple passes over the elbow is really not fun!). Some of it came out well and glowed nicely under UV, but some areas just never glowed very brightly even from the beginning. Now that it's 10-ish years later, barely any of it glows anymore, and only if you have the black-light basically touching the area where the ink is. Luckily I chose well in only using it to fill in the stars, which look fine without a fill colour anyway, and the sun was coloured with proper yellow ink as well (the UV was tattooed over the yellow) so it really hasn't affected the way my tattoo looks without black-light. Would I get it done again? Nah, waste of time, effort and money.

[@JamesWithee]

hey man thanks for sharing your experience. i had another person hit me up and ig and tell me that the reason the uv ink doesn't glow forever is because the molecules in the pigment that get "excited," causing the ink to glow, only do so for a limited period of time before the energy wears off. not only that, but the molecules are always burning that energy regardless of whether they are exposed to UV light or not. so you can't even stretch the longevity out by putting it under a black light less often. unfortunately they just aren't permanent. sure, you can get them touched up, but is it worth it? not really in my opinion. good thing like you said you only had them in a few spots on your tattoo instead of basing the whole design around that type of ink

[@stephanie5872]

I explain this in the pinned comment so you know how they work

[@maxb.7096]

@@JamesWithee that's not how UV reactivity or molecules in general work

[@Honest-joe]

It's such a deep shame because I absolutely love the concept of UV tattoos or even glow in the dark. It would look amazing in raves, sure, but it's also a great way to keep a tattoo "secret" which is great for those who's parents don't approve with for example. Heck, even if it wasn't just UV and it was only used as sort of highlights or on the outline of their visible tat, it would just add an extra dimension to the artwork and if done right it'd be absolutely amazing. The quality isn't there yet but I hope more pros push the good brands to look into it so it can be at very least as good as a pale ink to be used as highlights in a design.

[@curtisengel7707]

I would love to hear your thoughts on the whole single needle and micro tattoo trend going around.

[@JamesWithee]

i'll add it to the list

[@phant0m0th_]

I hear it isn’t that great of an idea for several reasons. I’m sure he’ll cover it but... - if the artist doesn’t know what they’re doing, then they could make the ink “blowout.” - if the design is too small, the ink can bleed together or just fade away if it’s really diluted with the grey-wash (black ink with water)

[@BetteFoord]

Yes! Thank you! Was just about to ask you this

[@thedatavampire7383]

Like a single needle tattoo?

[@kimberlyfox8164]

Of course everyone is going be different, and everyone will have a different opinion. And that's a great thing. In no way am I bashing anyone. I can only speak for myself. For me, I have four tattoos that are completely UV and were done by a professional with Skincandy ink. I have had them for four years and they still look good. I have a ton of meaning behind my tattoos that remind me of how far I have come from a very dark time in my past. My tattoos are not for anyone else but me. Even the simple fact that you can't always see them has a huge meaning behind it for me. There are some things I did notice that were not mentioned, so I'll share a bit about what I learned with my UV ink. When I first got them it looked a little morbid because in normal light you couldn't see the ink. So it looked as if I took a knife to my forearm and the back of my hands. It isn't until you get a UV tattoo that you realize you also have to deal with scarring. With black ink you don't see the scarring like you do with UV. But depending on how deep the tattoo is done, the scarring can become very light after time. And like all tattoos, I know I'll eventually need to get them touched up. But if ever given the choice to redo my decision, I would choose my UV ink every time. I believe that ultimately if you are really wanting something, no one will be able to change your mind. And if someone does change your mind, then you weren't really wanting it to begin with.

[@JamesWithee]

an interesting perspective. thanks for sharing your uv tattoo experience without getting defensive at all. like i said in the video, i'm only giving advice based on my personal experience and there are no doubt thousands of uv ink tattoos out there that i haven't seen. so that means there are probably some out there that look pretty good. i just think it's a big risk is all. i haven't seen any good ones in person. also thanks again for adding to the topic and providing additional info

[@markibanez7215]

James Withee You handled this professionally, such a class act.

[@yahned]

Kimberly Fox I know this is a reallyy old comment, but is there any way you could send pics of these uv tats?

[@gyuwon9808]

Lol I͛ came in cuz I͛ was interested in UV tattoo, but I͛’m laughing at your hat. I͛’m Korean and that hat is saying “bad boy” lol cute.

[@LeaFsinger74]

I really appreciate your objective and rational stance. You acknowledge it's possible someone might have a good one, searched around, did your research on the inks, found as much info as possible, and concluded it's not highly likely you will end up with a good tattoo done with UV ink. You're a good example of critical thinking. :) We need more people like you!

[@tamcar04]

I'm so glad youtube recommended your video about tattooing on dark skin!! You're so knowledgeable and you're able to articulate so well! Just watching 3 or 4 of your videos has answered soooooo many questions for me. I'm subscribed!

[@DC_DOUGHNUTz]

I have a uv ink tattoo on my wrist that symbolizes that just because you cant see it doesn't mean I cant.

[@korterkaks]

10:02 In Japan tebori tattoos are often made so that they can be easily covered up by shirts and the such, because it is kind of taboo. Believe it or not a lot of people get tattoos but pretty much never show 'em, they have the tattoos as their own little secret, an invisible tattoo could be very useful since you could still visit public pools and bath houses (the ones that ban tattoos) and have tattoos, you could take off your shirt but still not show your tattoos, if you wanted to see them yourself however you could install some uv lights in your house idk. Too bad that the uv reactive ink seems kinda bullshit, maybe in the future it'll be developed more and we'll get some uv reactive ink that is high quality and heals well.

[@TrashSmile]

Came across your vid cuz an acquaintance on ig posted a photo of her tattoo in dark light. Came here to understand more about it. When I first saw your vid, the very first thought that came to my mind was how clean you looked man. Maybe it is a stereotype, cus usually on tv, they show tattoo artists with loads of tattoos on ‘em including their face, neck and chest with one too many piercings. Thanks again for explaining and giving your thoughts about uv tattoos. It is very educational. 🙂

[@MzBleuBunni]

What? Are these tattoos real? I want to get a whole bunch of invisible tattoos. Edit: After watching the video. Nevermind.

[@danezeen2116]

Chocolate Chunkz I have a few that I’ve done on myself. Bloodline ink has the best uv ink that I could find in my opinion. The trick is to do small, simple pieces and don’t go too deep, you’ll bleed out your ink. I have some that stayed the first pass very well and some that need two passes. Just be safe

[@Est.Her414]

Dane Zeen have you had any reactions to the ink? And how long have you had them? Thx

[@danezeen2116]

Chrysa w I’ve had a couple for over s year now and they’re not bad. I only do small uv pieces so they’re easier to heal, helps reduce chance of infection in my opinion. I’ve never had a bad reaction because of this method but they do fade easily

[@microponics2695]

SO I totally agree.. I think the dye is made with phosphors which use Chemiluminescence to emit light so there is a chemical reaction taking place and this type of chemical is also degraded by oxidation easily. I know there is a ink that encapsulates the Phosphorus in a coating of acrylic that is used in tagging wild life.

[@kaylafranks9980]

I have a UV tattoo that turned out amazing and still glows strongly after 6 months. I have no idea what brand the ink was but I love it.

[@stephanie5872]

Kayla Franks then count yourself lucky. The way the pigment works and what they use to make it glow can be very problematic.

[@AmadeuShinChan]

@@stephanie5872 [ I read, that UV is vegan-ink... but I am curious what label the original-poster used... can you find out @original-poster?]

[@AmadeuShinChan]

@_____ [ sh*t up, Mossad]

[@shreyakshirsagar780]

Is it visible without the uv light??

[@SLEAZER86]

@Kayla Frank's how the tattoo now two years later?

[@imacoolmom2757]

Thanks for posting this. I was considering getting a tattoo with UV accents, but ima pass on that now.

[@imacoolmom2757]

I wanted to get a crescent moon made up of flowers and my tattoo artist approached me saying that she had just ordered UV ink and it would look cool to color the flowers in with that. And I considered it, but you're right, it's not like I'm gonna be just carrying around a fuckin blacklight all the time :P and now I'm questioning if she's even that good of a chick to go to. Fuck

[@JamesWithee]

just because she was trying to recommend uv ink doesn't mean she's a bad artist to go to. but yeah i'd pass on the uv highlights. a regular tattoo that's done well is cool enough without them

[@TheLmack8]

I love the idea of UV tattoos, thinking I have a secret glowing tattoo that is only visible under special light. I have visible tattoos, and i never go to clubs. You get all the fun of planning, getting and having a tattoo without the need of showing it off, or having strangers touch you randomly. They have a magic vibe, they have a science vibe, the idea is really cool. I love your videos, and your advise! but lots of people might want ink for themselves, and not to show off or act like status symbol. All that being said, I won't get one becasue they do look like poop when they heal.

[@Dan-oy7pr]

Been watching a few of your vids now and decided to finally subscribe. Clear and concise info with no fancy bullshit and someone in the industry that does it professionally. Kinda tired of just collectors speaking out like they know it all. Hope to see this channel grow, keep up the good work man.

[@JamesWithee]

same here. when i was first entertaining the idea of starting a youtube channel i browsed around and checked out a bunch of the preexisting tattoo related content. most of it is garbage. either tattoo artists that aren't good at explaining things or even worse, tattoo collectors running their mouths about shit they have no real experience with beyond their dozen or so trips to the tattoo shop. thinking that you can educate people about tattoos because you collect them is like thinking you can practice medicine because you've been to the doctor a bunch of times. youtube needs more information from real professionals, and i'm trying to fill that void. thanks for the sub man

[@Missvampunk]

I had the UV tattoo. It was awesome when it was first done. My artist asked if I wanted to try it. I knew nothing about that ink. I got the hot pink color. It faded to almost nothing. I recently had it redone with regular color. It was neat when I went to a black light 3d maze. So using the glasses it looked 3d on my arm.

[@jeevanj8592]

I want that uv tattoo bro

[@jeevanj8592]

Where r u from

[@jeevanj8592]

Tell me the address of uv tattoo artist

[@AwkwardlyGood]

When you come for UV tattoo info and you just get roasted for wanting a UV tattoo

[@althechicken9597]

You can buy a uv light to use somewhere other than the club lmao I don't think it's a gimmick, the ink might be a gimmick but the idea is pure genuis.

[@LexYeen]

I've been an interested observer of UV-reactive tattoos as a phenomenon for years now, and I think I may know why UV inks behave so differently from what you're used to: The particle size of the UV reactive pigment may be larger than what you're used to, as the last time I checked the only way to make UV pigments bio-safe is to encapsulate the pigment itself in PMMA - a bio-safe transparent polymer. (IIRC, PMMA microspheres filled with UV reactive pigment are the same technology used to tattoo fish and game animals that may end up on someone's plate - there was a UV ink company years back boasting about using the same tech, at any rate.) This could easily lead to the "separation" behavior you've described, as the larger and heavier particles would more readily settle out of suspension than the un-encapsulated dye particles found in more traditional inks. This may also contribute to, or even be the direct cause of, the splotchiness you described seeing in healed/aged UV-reactive tattoos - larger dye particles will just be more difficult to lodge in the skin, by virtue of _being larger._

[@samuelcampos9438]

Have you seen or read about one ink company better than the other in UV?

[@mireille0115]

aww shucks. i’ve been thinking of a uv accented tattoo because i absolutely love glow in the dark stuff but this made me reconsider :( thanks for highlighting this side of it because we hardly ever get to see pictures of them when they’re healed or aged

[@RatgenerationX]

There is a video of a 4 year old uv tat

[@lautaroc123]

solid points that go well beyond the 'it causes cancer' argument I mean, I can see why someone would want a secter tattoo, especially if it aligns to a certain group or club, but other than than this was a really solid perspective

[@markacesuarez8285]

Sobrang gwapo naman nito. 😍😍😍

[@keithknight749]

I want to thank you for your insight. And you brought up some things I didn't even know was an issue. I was asked to do a uv tattoo and wasn't very comfortable with the idea to start with. But you helped me make a choice. Thanks again

[@mybubbles5552]

I love your honesty!

[@t3rror5am]

Liked and subbed, I love your work and I admire your insight and knowledge on all things in regards to your craft.

[@trixiesquixie8093]

A hidden tattoo isn't just for someone who wants one but doesn't want anyone to see. It's the same as getting a tattoo in an intimate area...It's all about WHO gets to see and WHEN. Just my two cents. I'm not saying no one gets dumb tattoos for dumb reasons!

[@mrs.thomas-usmcwife5686]

Thank you for this video! It is more informative than someone screaming about it causing cancer. The idea that it looking really bad after paying for nice tattoo is a big turnoff. You have definitely helped me make up my mind about them. BTW, I have "secret tattoos". That means that I have tattoos that can't be seen unless I want you to see them because they are in discreet places.

[@danezeen2116]

He makes very good points, everything he says is correct. I have a few uv tattoos I’ve done myself and it’s tricky to do. Be safe and smart, do a simple and small design everything should be good. Some of my uv tats stayed perfectly first pass and healed great, some faded and needed touch up. It’s definitely more risk for infection but your body can take it if you keep it small. Bloodline ink has the best quality of uv ink in my opinion but definitely listen to this video when thinking about a blacklight tattoo. Go to a professional, if you can’t find one that does uv tattoos, you probably shouldn’t get one anyways

[@vuhuy2127]

Will you plan to do a video about water colour tattoo? Love your content

[@JamesWithee]

vu huy for sure that one is on the list

[@ayajade6683]

If you want the glow of a UV tattoo just get body safe paint that's a color that glows under a black light and paint it onto a healed tattoo. It's cheaper and washes off

[@tempotempotempo]

Verrrrryyyyyy straight forward, thank you for your information transfer.

[@miserereonward1666]

If you a techno head and you in the club 24/7 go for it.

[@sonicleaves]

I'm glad I never got one. But the rave scenario you mentioned happened to me once. I was at this concert and afterwards went to a club and this guy was trying to talk to me but I was dancing and hanging out with my girlfriends and he said Hey you want to see my tattoos, I just got them today! And pulled up his shirt, on his forearm were 3 big stars all glowing as bright as can be. This was like 2002 or so, UV tattoos were pretty new, I know I'd never seen one before and it did make me stop and stare for a minute and then a bunch of girls kind of flocked over and started oohing and aahing over his arm. I was glad the dude left me alone because it was basically girls night for my friends and I and he was being pretty pushy. But I'm sure it ended good for the guy. ha But it made me laugh to myself when you mentioned that because I've seen that scene play out. Maybe if you rave all the time, it would be cool, if you are looking for attention. But I will pass on one personally... Btw, you are absolutely gorgeous, peace.

[@JamesWithee]

Haha thanks. That's crazy u saw one in person in that exact scenario. I've seen ppl at raves with florescent body paint but never with one of these tattoos. Prolly the only reason his was visible was cuz he got it that day. If I were a gambler I'd bet that his healed like crap just like all the rest of em. But anything is possible. Hopefully it did get him laid that night so that he at least got his money's worth lmao

[@ericafeldenzer3520]

Man, the fresh UV tats look pretty cool, but it concerns me that there aren't that many pics of them healed or aged...also, if I'm in the club with a uv ink tattoo, nobody is gonna care because most people are wasted anyways. Love your informative videos man!

[@JamesWithee]

yup. another strange thing is that when you google "healed uv tattoo" it also shows a bunch of infected tattoos and poorly done regular tattoos. it's like google just lumps them all into the same category

[@aprilianindy3200]

I love your nappeun namja hat. Simple and subtle.

[@JamesWithee]

thx. my uncle gave it to me last time i was in dongtan

[@ISpillSprite]

Thank you for making this video, I've not had any plans for getting a UV tattoo but it has been in my mind over the years since I first saw these exist. In my initial research I saw it was sketchy at best getting one. Seeing this video has made me even more sure that these are a bad idea.

[@asilduin4594]

Hopefully this technology gets better over time, because I would really love a tattoo like this.

[@CarminaVillamizarBeautyDiva]

Your so funny, UV anything is a waste of time . 🙌🙌🙌🙌😂😂😂😂

[@kidlokimusic]

Hi, does UV tattoo glows in the dark? or it would just shows up under a black light?

[@abrahamramirez8036]

Can you make a video on cover-ups like bright colors over black or if laser removal is necessary or different methods on trying to do cover-ups.

[@ardscholar8208]

Abraham Ramirez yes please!!

[@JamesWithee]

sure i'll make a video on that soon

[@forrest1968]

You did this awhile ago. I saw where two dermatologist designed a brand of ink that's polybonded. Their reason it's easier to break down if person decides to remove it in future. Unsure of UV ink, if it's made as well. The bonded ink is supposed to stay longer idk.

[@cascadianrangers728]

Excellent. Very educational, well spoken, and objective. Awnsered all my questions, talked me out of it

[@ghosthunter0404]

So typically from what I've experienced getting UV tattoos honestly most tattoo artists think they have to be a heavy hand to get the ink in the skin in 1 pass I dont know if your buddies as tattoo artists did the same thing honestly just set the needle length for the proper length of how deep normal ink should go take it slow as everyone knows to deep can cause problems for your tattoo and to shallow will cause problems

[@xavierhernandez958]

I agree with him mostly until the end, a motive for a UV tattoo is every individuals choice, to each their own.

[@megalopolis2015]

I have wondering about his for years, since I saw it on Ripley's Believe it or Not. Thank you for putting this issue in a new light (pun intended--sorry).

[@CLRwellium]

This guy is 100% right I wish I had watched the video before I messed around with the uvink but I’m glad I got a small test tat instead of the full fledged piece

[@FalkaRiannon]

To the point about tattooinks not being regulated: That's not necessarily true for every country. For example germany has laws regulating tattooinks (strict laws in germany what a shock XD) and in general inside the EU tattooinks need to have the ingredients listed so if you got allergys you know wich inks to avoid. US inkmanufacturers don't have to print the ingredients on the bottles so usually they don't. So it varies from place to place. I guess most of the viewers here are US americans but if you happen to be from somehwere else there might be regulation in place. Same goes for age regulations and all that jazz ofc.

[@slakkes-slak]

It is a gimmick. Tell your clients and be open about it. Add some for a fun gimmick not as a mainframe.

[@outlawphil]

Well now Bloodline makes a UV line, I would put them in the same realm as MoM’s. I think you need an artist who works a lot with them, but I would never do a full UV ink tattoo just for accent and effects that doesn’t affect the look, like going over the center of a lightsaber so that the 99.9% of the time they are not hanging out under black lights they still have a killer tattoo.

[@richardponton3920]

Interesting idea for a topic: different brands of inks.

[@UUUUII-IIIOOOO]

does it typically hurt more to get a tattoo if you're skinny?

[@LeaFsinger74]

nope! :) Generally, they hurt more in certain areas with more nerve endings. Sometimes those are bony areas, like hands, ribs and feet, but other times they are fleshy areas, like the inner arm. It all depends on you, your pain threshold, and if your artist uses a numbing cream. :)

[@JamesWithee]

she's right. it all depends on your individual pain tolerance and body weight doesn't affect how much it hurts

[@JaneSmith-rx6kx]

I'm not really skinny,but when I got my tattoo,part of it was close to my spine,close,not on,and that hurt a lot! Felt like I was getting my liver tattooed from the outside all the way in. So my tip is place your tattoo away from bones. The shoulder didn't hurt so bad,guess I had enough fat there

[@quintonritchie6029]

Can you explain the master and apprentice relationship? Like what all entails on what it's like having an apprentice and being an apprentice. what steps should be taken to do both. The do's and don'ts from both sides. Cons and pros.

[@JamesWithee]

sure. i'll be making a whole series of vids that explain apprenticeships

[@rizot0ny1996]

So hey question I hope you can answer, would I be able to add the UV ink over a tattoo that I already have. What I’m saying is I wanna get a tattoo that is already visible (black) but also at night for it to glow is that possible?

[@Space_cadet111]

I have one that I’ve had for 6 months that still is very vibrant my room is decked out in black lights so I enjoy it a lot. 👀

[@kfung4]

Any updates on the quality of the ink?

[@jiminssi7145]

When I read the words on his cap lol... "bAg gUy"

[@Howtoeatrocks]

I've seen some amazing ones recently. But they incorporate normal neon coloured ink into them as well so they're still visible under normal light. I feel like it's a temporary accent choice for people with the right money and that kinda lifestyle

[@it-girl2203]

Nice hat bad boy💀👍

[@SquishyTheVampire]

Black light tattoos just seem cool to me lol i wish they were more viable. I wanted to get it as a highlight to the main tattoo i wanted. But i guess not.

[@forrest1968]

I did get UV ink in my back piece. Does it still glow? Idk it's been 10 years or so. Ink still looks good. My impression was it only lasted a few years due to skin shedding. So I'm happy with my results. But I did as much research as I could at the time so there were no surprises

[@EMMETproxy]

Great info, thanks

[@kathrynroa1823]

is bloodline reputable?

[@LP-qn9th]

Thanks for weighing in. Was considering Sagittarius constellation.

[@jasongaudreau2075]

My consideration of UV tattooing is a traditional tattoo base. Particularly a grey scale (Kat Von D style) portrait in grey scale, with pure white highlights. And at the very peak of light direction within the white highlights, UV added to make them stand out under black light situation, but fully visible in daylight as a white highlight within a grey scale portrait tat. Any opinions?

[@aliakhatri4633]

Thanks James u really explained well... I'm super impressed...

[@GTea411]

My cousin got a UV tattoo on her ears! 2 months after... the tattoos are gone... like they completely disappeared. Do you know why this may have happened? I'm not at all interested in getting a UV tattoo, just curious why her tattoos naturally went away

[@jasoncervantez]

Actually really happy I came across this video. I wanted to get a UV tattoo but having seen this video I’m totally not gonna do it.

[@OneShot6101]

Love your videos, straight to the point and all the information out there. Ive been looking for advice on getting my first tattoo and all of your videos haven help out a lot. I’m here in Arizona and for sure gunna check out your shop first in the future after hearing the great advice, info, and seeing the amazing artwork you and other artist at your shop have created that is in your portfolios. Keep up the good work!

[@JamesWithee]

thanks! stop by anytime and we'll try our best to get you taken care of

[@007lamiss]

Thanks brother James, we appreciate you 🙌

[@clockworkclockwisepro4925]

Does that hat say "Bad Man" in Korean? Its difficult to read but looks cool 😎

[@mariazaragoza9181]

New sub! Totally love the way you explain each topic, get into detail, and you're hella cute. Keep it up, very talented all around! Much love from Cali! Xoxo

[@JamesWithee]

thank you!

[@cantworkitout]

If I were to get a UV tattoo it would probably be just to accent a regular tattoo, rather than be entirely UV ink, like, getting a tattoo of the moon and having stars in UV, or just the outline of the moon or something, and then at least that way if the ink disappears or something it won't be a total waste because all the normal ink is still there, lol, i don't have any tattoos yet though, so maybe my idea is silly, i do want one, UV or not, i just never really decided on something I really want

[@kittyhardy23]

Are you familiar with the ashes of loved ones getting turned into tattoo ink to use? I know it sounds a bit morbid but also quite beautiful.... I couldn’t find any of your videos referencing this but would love to get your feedback! 💜

[@onlive99able]

Literally just had my first tat done last week, I love it but wish I saw your videos on it first. Keep up the good work bro and if i'm ever in az I'll be sure to hit you up for some ink

[@onlive99able]

Not that I got a uv tattoo its regular ink

[@JamesWithee]

nice. glad you like the vids man. just make sure you give me a good notice if you are looking to get tattooed by me. i usually book 3 - 4 months in advance

[@onlive99able]

James Withee will do

[@brianroagers6894]

What tattoo ink brand do you use? Thanks

[@yiyita92]

I work with flourophores that flouresce under certain lighting, I'm assuming similarly to the mechanism of the uv tattoo and my assumption is that there is only so much active reagent that will glow over time. Similarly to glowsticks that after a while they die off is because the reactive reagent has been used up. So because it's activated my a UV sources like a black light and the UV emitted by the sun then the reactive ingredient gets used up pretty quickly and it stops being flouresce after a short period of time. Also I know that flouresce reagents tend to be very unstable at room temperature I am sure they also degrade quicker at 37C. Our reagents that we use in the lab are maintained for up to 6 months at 4C (which is a fridge temperature) and are very unstable at room temperature 25C they could maybe last a week at most so I assume at body temperature 37C they will degrade quite quickly. This are my assumptions on why they might not last long in addition to your explanation.

[@recklessmermaid]

All I know is, my friend has a uv tattoo and it looks like it healed badly. kinda looks like a scar edit: now that I've watched farther, you just said you have never seen one heal properly. Add her to the list i guess

[@maximilian333]

UV tattoos are a thing in Japan, because having a tattoo is totally taboo there due to its associations with organized crime and prostitution. So kids are getting tattoos that will show up in the club but won't be seen by family, or bosses, or staff at a hot spring or swimming pool there. It's a Japan thing. Your concerns about ink are legit, but my concern would be this- are the inks carcinogenic (cancer-causing)

[@i-amproxy945]

I love your videos they are super informative and are a great help as I plan on getting a tattoo in the near future. The information has helped a lot but I was wondering as a tattoo artist how do you and others in your profession feel about clients bringing in a design of their own creation and asking you to tattoo it on them?

[@JamesWithee]

tough one. it really depends on whether or not the piece of art is good, and also whether or not it is tattooable. most of the time i gotta redraw the whole thing. sometimes that's because the art isn't anywhere near professional quality (which sucks to have to tell the client), and sometimes it's because the drawing isn't drawn with the knowledge of what works and what doesn't in tattooing. some clients don't want me to change a thing. if i feel like stuff needs to be changed and they aren't willing to let me, i turn down the project. but in general, tattoo artists don't think this is offensive or think badly about this type of client. we just don't wanna put our name on something unless it's gonna be a good tattoo, so we decide based on that

[@i-amproxy945]

James Withee oh man thanks for responding I understand that there are going to be some requirements with designs. Would you have any advice for clients who want to design a tattoo of their own?

[@michaeltaylor8519]

I was just thinking about copping some for a flying Dutchman tat. Thanks I was unsure about adding it

[@JamesWithee]

No problem glad I could help

[@mikeEshroom]

what do you think about Bloodline?

[@alecbalsley4370]

Didn’t kuro sumi have a uv line? And what about bloodline? They got uv inks and honestly there blacks are pretty decent IMO

[@JamesWithee]

I dunno, they might but I hadn’t heard of them having them at the time I made this video. I like kuro sumi black too, although didn’t care for any of their colors. Never heard of bloodline

[@jeffsarbacker2712]

Another awesome fucking video. Thanks dude!

[@JamesWithee]

no problem thx for watching bro

[@JonMak13]

Has this changed from 3years ago?

[@blueparkmedia2673]

Can you talk about new school tattoos, how they heal and hold up over time.

[@JamesWithee]

new school tattoos age pretty similarly to traditional / neotraditional. there are a lot of bold lines so they will hold nicely over time

[@lizzieflint6940]

This isn't really related but how long does a black and grey tattoo typically take to heal? I am wanting a shoulder piece that is quite dark, if that makes a difference?

[@JamesWithee]

most tattoos take 4 to 6 weeks to heal, whether black and grey or color

[@sabrinapaul]

Thank you for making this video. I was considering a UV tattoo.🤦🏼‍♀️🙌

[@blade_xd6905]

Okay so im new to the tattoo community, what if you apply it like temporary tattoos, say for a party or so. Will you be able to spray it on with a stencil? I'll appreciate any input on this.

[@christophercurran7405]

I used the mom's uv in a few tattoos and wouldn't recommend when in the sun uncovered it bubbles up kind of like a new tattoo feels and burns would not recommend..

[@moskito80]

I get your points about safety about getting a uv tattoo, but how the hell can you not understand the appeal of it. Really you see no use for it? Wauw that seems idiotic to me. An artist not understanding the appeal of disapearing and glowing ink, because its just a gimmick,... Uhuh??

[@ValentinaCarias]

Hey James! thanks for these awesome videos :) I had a question that maybe you can cover in a video or if you can reply here too that's cool. Is it alright to go to different tattoo artists to get the same tattoo idea sketched out and then pick the artist you like best after that? or is that a waste of time for the artists? do a lot of people back out after having the tattoo sketched out?

[@JamesWithee]

hi valentina, glad you like my stuff. it is bad etiquette to shop around in the way you are describing. a good tattoo artist won't sketch something for you just to see if you like it. he or she is going to take a deposit to make certain that you're serious about getting it beforehand as well. if you went to a bunch of different artists and put down deposits for sketches then bailed on all of them but one in the end, you would be likely to burn bridges and build a bad reputation as a client in your area. tattoo artists might put u on blast on social media for shit like that too. it's better to just pick one artist who is the right artist to begin with. if you like the stuff in their portfolio, most likely you'll love what they draw for you because it will be a similar level of quality. to answer your last question, no, in my experience, the vast majority of clients don't back out of a tattoo after having something sketched. that happens to me maybe once a year. you gotta be careful about showing that sort of apprehensiveness when you're dealing with artists that are at a higher level in their career too, if that's the kind of artist you are looking to go to. usually those guys will just refuse to work with you if you seem overly concerned with whether or not you'll like the tattoo or whatever because most people they tattoo just let them do whatever they want and they don't wanna waste time with clients that are finicky like that. i hope that helps. also, check out my deposit video. some of the info in there is related to your questions

[@ValentinaCarias]

thank you so much for taking the time to reply and with so much detail, very helpful answer! I'll check out that video about deposits too :D

[@somesortofdeliciousbiscuit3704]

Wouldn't a TiO2-based white pigment glow well under UV even though it is white under normal illumination?

[@DoorKicker]

Great info. Helped me dodge a bullet. That said, would it be better to go with just bright or even white ink instead of the UV stuff?

[@JamesWithee]

white ink is not recommended, but yes it would be a better decision than uv ink

[@cosplaymemories1487]

I was curious and thank-you very much for the info man!

[@amandabrighouse8626]

Thanks for the video. I think you are pretty spot on on all your information and opinions. I do have a UV tattoo and it definitely didnt glow long. I feel like i got pretty lucky though because the theme of mine is marvel SHIELD and Hydra and you can see the shield logo and the hydra logo was hidden with the UV ink. As my UV faded my skin reacted to whatever happened and the octopus became slightly visible so now when you look at it you see SHIELD and if you look carefully you can spot the Hydra logo so for me it is still pretty perfect and got the effect I was looking for from the UV ink. But i did learn the lightning UV tattoo I wanted wasnt going to work so wont be doing it again.

[@Peterbilt359]

You are exactly right. People listen to him don't do it. My wife got large one over her fireworks on her back, 3 weeks later it's almost gone 2 small spots left. She went to good shop guy only charged 60 so not out much will probably go back talk to him. If anybody knows any secret to make it work post comment.

[@4L13NWD-40]

Its crazy to me that tattoo ink is not being regulated by the FDA 🥶🥶🥶

[@PINEAPPLEKELLY3]

Where are you located?