Today’s tattoo style is a very special one, and maybe the newest of all this huge list, to be honest, because we are going to talk about glow in the dark tattoos.
Yes, that is correct.
And, because there is a lot of crap on the Internet talking about this tattoo style, I want to cover it completely, so, on this guide:
- First, I’m going to talk to you about what a glow in the dark tattoo is.
- Then, the different kinds of glow in the dark tattoos.
- All about glow in the dark tattoo fading.
- And a lot of tattoo designs for you.
What Are the Glow in the Dark Tattoos?
Well, maybe the definition can explain itself but, just in case:
There is a special kind of ink tattoo that glows in the dark and, when a tattoo has this kind of ink, we say it is a glow in the dark tattoo.
Of course, this glow in the dark tattoo can be inside another tattoo style, for example, you can have a cartoon tattoo with glow in the dark ink.
Super Mario Ghost Glow in the Dark Tattoo
As you can see, this one character of the Mario Bross saga, the ghost one with the crown, is the King of Ghosts.
So, it is a cartoon style tattoo, with saturated colors and a perfect linework and, moreover, some glow in the dark ink.
This tattoo is done by Noil Culture, a wonderful tattoo studio in South Korea focused in black ink tattoo but, as you can see, they can do some other things too!
There Are Two Different Kind of Glow in the Dark Ink
Technically speaking, there are two different inks to get this glow in the dark effect:
- On the one side, you have the UV-reactive ink.
- On the other hand, you have phosphorescent ink.
The difference between them is really easy: UV-reactive ink is only visible under blacklight, but phosphorescent ink absorbs light from the sun, and then glows temporarily in darkness, like some clocks do. The science principle is the same.
However, some tattoo artists mix UV-reactive inks with phosphorescent ones, and some parts of the tattoo glow only with blacklight, and other parts glow in darkness for a while due to phosphorescent ink.
Amazing, isn’t it?
Half Dragon, Half Tiger Glow in the Dark Tattoo
This time you can see a fantastic tattoo with two faces, half a dragon on the left, half of a tiger on the right.
This is an illustration and realistic tattoo, with some geometry and some sketch elements but, moreover, with this glow-in-the-dark effect.
The tattoo is done by Joe Bloodline, an incredible tattoo artist working in Bali, Indonesia, focused on hyper realism tattoos.
Does Glow in the Dark Tattoos Fade?
There is some bad news here.
Now, glow in the dark tattoos usually fade faster than traditional tattoos and, if you think about it, it makes all the sense.
First, the glow in the dark ink (UV or phosphorescent) is very recent, and you need some time to make the product perfect.
Moreover, some ink pigments and components are more sensible than the traditional color or black ink, so it is sure this ink is going to fade faster.
What Is the Typical Fade for a Glow in the Dark Tattoo?
Well, in depends on a few things (like the ink quality, the location or even the skin type) but, usually:
- UV-reactive tattoos are used on the face for 3-5 years.
- Phosphorescent ones used to fade in 1-3 years.
In the UV-reactive, the glow effect usually is reduced with the fade, and, in phosphorescent one, within months.
Are Glow in the Dark Tattoo Illegal?
Well, this question is a very tricky one.
In the United States, glow in the dark inks are not illegal, but the FDA has not approved phosphorescent or UV-reactive inks for tattoo use.
In Europe, as usual, it depends on the country, because in a lot of countries there are very strict legislations.
Another thing you may know, a lot of tattoo artists use to ink UV-reactive rather than phosphorescent, because it seems safer, you know, phosphorescent ink usually has phosphor, and it is a tricky chemical.
And Now, Some More Glow in the Dark Tattoos for You!
Enjoy with the rest of the list:
Anime Glow in the Dark Tattoo
And here you can see a very nice mix between an anime tattoo with some touches of glow in the dark too.
The tattoo itself is simple but, with this glow in the dark touches, it is much more, isn’t it?
The tattoo is done by Pretty Bratz.
Now, It’s Time for an Eagle Tattoo with Glow in the Dark Effect
Yes, as you can see, this tattoo is a mix between a simple illustration tattoo with some Classic American tattoo style, but then, the different glow in the dark inks in orange, blue, red and green colors give the design something very, very special.
This tattoo is done by Cesar, from Asheville, in North Carolina. He is very focused on this cartoon and illustration tattoo with a touch of humor I do like a lot.
Cactus & Owl Glow in the Dark Tattoo
And here you can see another very nice example of a mix between Classic American tattoo and glow in the dark ink, isn’t it?
The tattoo itself is a desert scene, with an owl trying to sleep in a cactus and the sun in the background, with thick lines and bright and saturated colors, but with some touches of glow in the dark ink in the owl’s eyes and the sun.
This tattoo is done by Kelsey Jerningan, a fantastic woman tattoo artist working at Anaheim, California.
Glow in the Dark Woman Tattoo
Here you can see a simple illustration tattoo about a woman’s body with some geometry in the head, it is like the connection between the body and the mind but, when the glow in the dark elements arise, the tattoo is completely different.
This tattoo is done by Yoshimatt, a wonderful tattoo artist from Mexico DF who is experimenting a lot with this glow in the dark ink, and I do celebrate it!
Glow in the Dark Cats Tattoo
One more time, a simple illustration tattoo, this time with two cats staring at something like a star, but with the glow in the dark touches it performs impressive!
The tattoo is done by Needle Woman, a marvelous woman tattoo artist focused on fineline tattoos based in London with several guest spots in Milan and New York City.
Toy Story Glow in the Dark Tattoo
And here you can see a very cute Toy Story tattoo about The Claw and all these alien toys.
The tattoo itself, done with a perfect Cartoon Style is very cute and delicate, and I do like the way the colors are saturated.
Moreover, the glow in the dark touches are perfect to make this Wow Effect, you know what I mean.
The tattoo is done by Amanda Carmel, a brilliant woman tattoo artist working at 13 Bats Tattoo & Piercing, in San Francisco, California.
Glow in the Dark Tattoos Can Be Awesome Too!
As you can see, glow in the dark tattoos can be really awesome.
I do love the way you can mix them with other tattoo styles with some touches of UV-reactive ink.
Some Glow in the Dark Tattoo FAQs:
How long do glow-in-the-dark tattoos last?
Glow in the dark tattoos fade faster than traditional ones. UV in 3-5 years, Phosphorescent in 1-3 years, but it depends on several factors.
Are glow-in-the-dark tattoos illegal?
Glow in the Dark tattoos are not illegal, but they have some restrictions in some countries in Europe and FAD does not approve any ink yet.
Is glow in the dark tattoo ink safe?
Yes, it is safe, in fact, UV-reactive ink is even safer than Phosphorescent one, so artists usually use this one.
How much are glow-in-the-dark tattoos?
Just a little bit more than a regular tattoo, because usually the ink is more expensive than the regular one, but the difference is not large.
