Blackout tattoos are a type of

tattoo A tattoo is a form of body modification made by inserting tattoo ink, dyes, and/or pigments, either indelible or temporary, into the dermis layer of the skin to form a design. Tattoo artists create these designs using several tattooing ...

that involves tattooing an area of the body completely black. Although many people get blackout tattoos as a standalone piece, they are also a method of covering up unwanted tattoos.

History

Modern blackout tattoos are influenced by traditional Polynesian tattoos and graphic art. Their designs also often incorporate aspects of neo-tribal tattoos. The technique originated as an alternative method of covering up unwanted tattoos, instead of the more expensive

tattoo removal Tattoo removal is the process of removing an unwanted tattoo. The process of tattooing generally creates permanent markings in the skin, but people have attempted many methods to try to hide or destroy tattoos. The standard modern method is t ...

. However, blackout tattoos became increasingly popular as an aesthetic choice in

South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth descr ...

during the 2010s, a practice which largely derived from local tattooing techniques such as Bornean traditional tattooing. They soon spread internationally as a fashion

trend A fad or trend is any form of collective behavior that develops within a culture, a generation or social group in which a group of people enthusiastically follow an impulse for a short period. Fads are objects or behaviors that achieve shor ...

, having been popularized by Singaporean tattoo artist Chester Lee whose designs went viral on Instagram. The practice has received criticism for cultural appropriation, and has been compared to blackface in some circumstances.

Characteristics

The main and defining characteristics of blackout tattooing is tattooing a portion of skin completely solid black. These tattoos often have abstract geometric designs. Blacking out a portion of skin can take several hours, as the artist needs to ensure that the

tattoo ink Tattoo inks consist of pigments combined with a carrier, used in the process of tattooing to create a tattoo in the skin. These inks are also used for permanent makeup, a form of tattoo. Professional tattoo inks are available in many colors and ...

is evenly deposited, while also minimising scarring. Blackout tattoos are sometimes completed in multiple sessions because the process may be painful and time-consuming, and to ensure that ink has fully saturated the skin. As the ink fades, blackout tattoos may need to be retouched, although some people choose to let them fade with age. If the technique is not applied properly, the ink may heal unevenly, with some areas lighter or darker than others. The edges of the blackout tattoo may end in shading, or with designs that make use of the negative space between the tattoo and the bare skin tone. Blackout tattoos may also be used as a background for color or black-on-black patterns and designs. In some cases, designs in white ink are placed on top of blackout tattoos after they have healed to create visual contrast.

Scarification Scarification involves scratching, etching, burning/branding, or superficially cutting designs, pictures, or words into the skin as a permanent body modification or body art. The body modification can take roughly 6–12 months to heal. In the ...

is sometimes used on top of blackout tattoos. This provides a similar effect to white ink tattoos without the risk of fading.

Health effects

Blackout tattoos have associated health risks, including health risks associated with tattooing in general. Because they cover a large area of skin, blackout tattoos tend to cause increased swelling, as well as risk of keloid scarring and infection. The dark pigments typically used to create blackout tattoos often contain

carcinogens A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that promotes carcinogenesis (the formation of cancer). This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes. Several radioactive subs ...

such as benzo(a)pyrene, and toxic ingredients such as

titanium dioxide Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania , is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula . When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6 (PW6), or CI 77891. It is a white solid that is insolub ...

, chromium,

nickel Nickel is a chemical element with symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel is a hard and ductile transition metal. Pure nickel is chemically reactive but large pieces are slow ...

and lead, which can cause allergic reactions when used over a large area. Large blackout tattoos may also make it difficult for dermatologists to perform cancer screenings, as it obscures possible signs of cancer such as abnormal moles and melanoma. The iron oxide used in black ink can also interfere with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams.

References

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