Heres How to Make Non-Toxic Homemade Tattoo Ink

Here's How to Make Non-Toxic Homemade Tattoo Ink The earliest tattoo inks came from nature. You can use non-toxic natural ingredients to make your own homemade tattoo ink. One common tattoo ink recipe is simple and has been used in various forms for thousands of years. Its sometimes called wood ash ink,  carbon black tattoo ink, or a poke-and-stick tattoo. How to Make Tattoo Ink The earliest tattoo inks were prepared by mixing ashes from completely burned wood together with water. The wood ashes were nearly pure carbon, which yielded a black to brown tattoo. While carbon is the base for modern tattoo inks, its not a great idea to use water as the liquid to suspend the ink (the carrier). While a homemade tattoo ink may be prepared using sterile distilled water, poking the ink into the skin will force bacteria on the skin into the deeper layers. A non-toxic disinfectant, such as vodka, is a better choice. Vodka is a mixture of alcohol in water. Any other white alcohol, such as rubbing alcohol or tequila, will also work. Prepare the ink from: one cup carbon black ashes (completely burned wood)just enough vodka to create a slurry Prepare the ink by mixing the carbon black and vodka in a blender (15 minutes to an hour). If the mixture is too thin, add more carbon pigment. If the mixture is too thick, thin it with a little more vodka. It is best to prepare fresh homemade ink for each use, though the ink could be stored in a sealed container away from sunlight and blended again. Its a good idea to wear a mask and gloves when applying a tattoo to prevent the spread of infectious agents. The tattoo can be applied using a pin or quill that is dipped into the ink and poked into the skin. Notes About Wood and Paper Some people make this ink by burning wood in a heat-proof bowl. The advantage of using paper is that it produces fine carbon particles. The disadvantage is that some types of paper are treated with chemicals (e.g. heavy metals) that may remain in the ashes.If youre using wood, be aware youll get slightly different results depending on the species of wood you burn.If you know youll need multiple batches of ink to complete a tattoo, its a good idea to use the same source for the carbon each time and to keep track of how much ash and liquid youre using. Careful measurement will help ensure each batch has the same particle density, which translates into color intensity. Tattoo Ink Safety Notes While you can prepare your own ink and give yourself or a friend a tattoo, this is not a good idea for most people.  Professional inks are much more consistent in quality and safer to use, so they will give you better results with less chance of a reaction to the ink. Also, tattoo professionals are trained in aseptic techniques, so you will have much less chance of getting an infection or accidentally puncturing a blood vessel if you get your tattoo inked by a trained artist. Source Helmenstine, Anne. Why People Use Vodka for Science Experiments. Science Notes and Projects, August 30, 2015.