Thorp and Sailor's Grave Board

question for the TATTOO ARTISTS here...

XHonusWagnerX - 8-25-2006 at 10:57 AM

HELP!!


Im having a bad reaction to the RED in my most recent tattoo. Its all bubbled and bumpy and hard and itchy even though I cared for it the same as the others. I went back to see the artist and he said it was a reaction to the red and just keep caring for it and we will see what it looks like once its healed. Since the color is looking bad (what I can see of it) Im assuming its gonna need to be redone and Im thinking that red is a bad idea.

Im bummed cause the next 2 things I wanted to get done are both primarilly red. Any suggestions? Ideas? Have you heard of this problem before? What can I do? Anything?

sinister - 8-25-2006 at 11:24 AM

I'm not a tattoo artist but have some experience in red ink problems... this was my arm after I got red ink done:



I'd had a little red before (tear from b4b tat on my leg, avatar pic) which was fine but that time it was a different brand and shade of ink. Red is always the most common colour to cause problems 'cause it has some kinda metal (iron oxide or something?) in it for the colouring.

Anyways, it was raised and itchy as hell for about 3-4 months but did eventually settle down completely, by that time the red ink looked more or less completely gone. I tried all sorts of stuff on it like antihistamine cream + pills (anti allergy stuff) but they made no difference, also got some hydrocortisone cream which did help with the itching a bit but you can't use that stuff longterm.

Other than that I don't think there's a lot you can do, just keep it clean and stuff 'cause some people can have an even worse reaction to red where it prevents healing and then you gotta be real careful not to get it infected.

XHonusWagnerX - 8-25-2006 at 11:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by sinister
I'm not a tattoo artist but have some experience in red ink problems... this was my arm after I got red ink done:



I'd had a little red before (tear from b4b tat on my leg, avatar pic) which was fine but that time it was a different brand and shade of ink. Red is always the most common colour to cause problems 'cause it has some kinda metal (iron oxide or something?) in it for the colouring.

Anyways, it was raised and itchy as hell for about 3-4 months but did eventually settle down completely, by that time the red ink looked more or less completely gone. I tried all sorts of stuff on it like antihistamine cream + pills (anti allergy stuff) but they made no difference, also got some hydrocortisone cream which did help with the itching a bit but you can't use that stuff longterm.

Other than that I don't think there's a lot you can do, just keep it clean and stuff 'cause some people can have an even worse reaction to red where it prevents healing and then you gotta be real careful not to get it infected.


So basicly all the red on your arm was rejected by your body? So you cant keep red in areas larger than the tear or did you get it redone?

sinister - 8-25-2006 at 11:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
So basicly all the red on your arm was rejected by your body?


Yup, that's exactly it.
Quote:
So you cant keep red in areas larger than the tear or did you get it redone?


I never tried any more red (wouldn't risk it after the months of scratching!), got my arm re-done with different colours and it was totally fine.

Voodoobillyman - 8-25-2006 at 11:40 AM

It sounds like an alergic reaction to compounds in the ink. Unfortunately you can't do much but what your artist told you, keep caring for it and wait to see how it heals. I would recommend using a different brand of ink if you still want significant red coloring in some of your future work, I have never had any issues with starbrite red in any shade. If it gets worse go see a doctor, you do not want an infection as old boy said above.

XHonusWagnerX - 8-25-2006 at 11:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Voodoobillyman
It sounds like an alergic reaction to compounds in the ink. Unfortunately you can't do much but what your artist told you, keep caring for it and wait to see how it heals. I would recommend using a different brand of ink if you still want significant red coloring in some of your future work, I have never had any issues with starbrite red in any shade. If it gets worse go see a doctor, you do not want an infection as old boy said above.


Cool... Thanks voodoo... Ill have to ask about 'Strabrite' inks at the place I goto and see what he says. I really want a sacred heart and I want it (obviously) done red. I also want a more medical looking heart that would also have a bunch of red in it so I'm pretty bummed right now!

gavin - 8-25-2006 at 11:51 AM

you need to use natural ink
i know that "national" uses it
i have heard that people who have reactions to red have better luck with natural ink

gavin - 8-25-2006 at 11:58 AM

i just talked to one of my boys i work with
he said the same thing i thought
alot of people use this predisposed red which is no good
it has to be natural to not get a reaction from it
ask the people you get tattooed from if they use natural ink
if not, i would go somewhere else since you have a reaction to the non-natural stuff

dig it

XHonusWagnerX - 8-25-2006 at 12:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBadVibes
i just talked to one of my boys i work with
he said the same thing i thought
alot of people use this predisposed red which is no good
it has to be natural to not get a reaction from it
ask the people you get tattooed from if they use natural ink
if not, i would go somewhere else since you have a reaction to the non-natural stuff

dig it


Any idea on some brands that would be "Natural" inks?
Whats does Natural vs. Not Natural Ink mean?

gavin - 8-25-2006 at 12:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBadVibes
i just talked to one of my boys i work with
he said the same thing i thought
alot of people use this predisposed red which is no good
it has to be natural to not get a reaction from it
ask the people you get tattooed from if they use natural ink
if not, i would go somewhere else since you have a reaction to the non-natural stuff

dig it


Any idea on some brands that would be "Natural" inks?
Whats does Natural vs. Not Natural Ink mean?



what its mixed with
i know for a fact that "nation tattoo association" uses only natural inks

XHonusWagnerX - 8-25-2006 at 12:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBadVibes
Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBadVibes
i just talked to one of my boys i work with
he said the same thing i thought
alot of people use this predisposed red which is no good
it has to be natural to not get a reaction from it
ask the people you get tattooed from if they use natural ink
if not, i would go somewhere else since you have a reaction to the non-natural stuff

dig it


Any idea on some brands that would be "Natural" inks?
Whats does Natural vs. Not Natural Ink mean?



what its mixed with
i know for a fact that "nation tattoo association" uses only natural inks


Ok so now I feel like the KING of STUPID questions.... but whats the Nation Tattoo Association?

gavin - 8-25-2006 at 12:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBadVibes
Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBadVibes
i just talked to one of my boys i work with
he said the same thing i thought
alot of people use this predisposed red which is no good
it has to be natural to not get a reaction from it
ask the people you get tattooed from if they use natural ink
if not, i would go somewhere else since you have a reaction to the non-natural stuff

dig it


Any idea on some brands that would be "Natural" inks?
Whats does Natural vs. Not Natural Ink mean?



what its mixed with
i know for a fact that "nation tattoo association" uses only natural inks


Ok so now I feel like the KING of STUPID questions.... but whats the Nation Tattoo Association?



its a tattoo supply co. that has been around forever
pretty easy for shops to access

BDx13 - 8-25-2006 at 01:39 PM

red is a problem color for a lot of people. i've heard the same thing about natural, though.

gavin - 8-25-2006 at 01:44 PM

natural red is not mixed with anything you should have a reaction to

Jason the Magnificent - 8-25-2006 at 01:57 PM

I've had red ink from a couple different artists using different inks, they all heal BAD...months of bumpy itchy patches. The plus side is it does EVENTUALLY heal on me and the color looks good, it just literally took like 3 months for it to look as healed as the rest of the piece. I just stopped getting red to solve the problem.

BDx13 - 8-25-2006 at 02:31 PM

sorry, i meant i've heard the same thing about natural, meaning that it works well for people.

gavin - 8-25-2006 at 02:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BD
sorry, i meant i've heard the same thing about natural, meaning that it works well for people.



i know bro
i was just reiterating it

XHonusWagnerX - 8-25-2006 at 06:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBadVibes
Quote:
Originally posted by BD
sorry, i meant i've heard the same thing about natural, meaning that it works well for people.



i know bro
i was just reiterating it


Millennium colorowrks
Redrum

Clycerine, water, alcohol,
Cl# 12475, 12466, 11891

Would that be a "natural ink"??

XHonusWagnerX - 8-25-2006 at 06:56 PM

This is the ink that I am having the reaction to....

distilled water, glycerin, alcohol. Cl # 12315

Starbrite colors

DaveMoral - 8-25-2006 at 10:44 PM

Hmm I have red on my lower back and it healed just fine.. and my wife has a huge space of red that healed great(in fact, it's still nearly as brillant as the day it was done!).

Discipline - 8-25-2006 at 11:38 PM

I've never had a problem with red ink, but I know a few people who have.

tireironsaint - 8-26-2006 at 12:25 AM

Yeah, I have quite a bit of red and never had any different reaction than any other color.

Voodoobillyman - 8-26-2006 at 09:48 AM

wow, you reacted to the starbrite red? Thats a first for me hearing about it. Sorry I recommended them, what an ass:(

XHonusWagnerX - 8-26-2006 at 01:58 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Voodoobillyman
wow, you reacted to the starbrite red? Thats a first for me hearing about it. Sorry I recommended them, what an ass:(



No dont feel like an ass! I reacted to it before you said anything!!

Got any other suggestions?

Voodoobillyman - 8-27-2006 at 01:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XHonusWagnerX
Quote:
Originally posted by Voodoobillyman
wow, you reacted to the starbrite red? Thats a first for me hearing about it. Sorry I recommended them, what an ass:(



No dont feel like an ass! I reacted to it before you said anything!!

Got any other suggestions?


go with what Bad Vibes said and try the natural route. I run National machines and swear by em, never tried there ink, but they are a solid company with staying power, I trust their products whole heartedly.

GabeTexasGAMC - 8-28-2006 at 12:45 AM

AAAAAAAAAAAH STARBRIGHT!
I dont know anything about "Natural" inks... but i do know that Starbright reds have the worse reaction rates ever!
Ive used Eternal Ink and that shit has been pretty nice and smooth.
We mix our own inks at the shop... rather than uses crap like rubbing alcohol and witch hazel... we use Everclear. If you can drink it, you should be able to tattoo with it!
Eternal tattoo ink should be a good way to go, or try INTENZE, thats worked pretty well.
Just ask your artist if he uses either.
If he doesnt, ask him to order it, if he wont, stop going to him, or stop getting red tattoos!
ha!

XHonusWagnerX - 8-30-2006 at 09:56 PM

What does this mean?

Inks
HOMOGENIZED COLORS

GabeTexasGAMC - 8-31-2006 at 01:30 AM

INTENZE

XHonusWagnerX - 8-31-2006 at 08:22 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by GabeTexasGAMC
INTENZE



You think that Intenze ink will work on me?

I cant seem to find ETERNAL INK anywhere online and I looked for NATION INK like someone else suggested and I cant find that either. Im trying to do my own research so that I understand the whole thing as much as possible.

gavin - 8-31-2006 at 11:00 AM

http://www.tattoonational.com/home.htm

GabeTexasGAMC - 8-31-2006 at 02:09 PM

we use national.
its good stuff.

XHonusWagnerX - 8-31-2006 at 02:29 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBadVibes
http://www.tattoonational.com/home.htm


Which one? The Homogenized colors? What does that means exactly?


BLACK PELIKAN INK

DRY COLOR DISPERSING SOLUTION

DRY POWDERED COLORS

HIGGINS BLACK MAGIC INK

HOMOGENIZED COLORS

TALENS DRAWING INK

TRIPLE BLACK INK