What You Need to Know About Black And Grey Tattoos

Black and grey tattoos have been used (and loved) since black and grey tattoos came to life in biblical times. This age-old art form became part of the culture of many tribes and social groups across the world and is still incredibly popular today. Black and grey tattoos rely heavily on an excellent tattoo artist who understands shading and contrast which help your tattoo last for a lifetime.

The black and gray tattoo (popularly spelled with an “e” but also with an “a”) is not strictly speaking a tattoo style. It’s an artistic choice that can be used for many different styles. By diluting the black ink, a tattoo artist can create different shades of gray, and play around with shadows, 3D effects, and incredible depth, especially for the realistic tattoo style. 

Here are some things you need to know about this OG ink color for marking your skin.

Old-school tattooing never gets old 

According to the tattoo artists’ knowledge, with the development of new techniques in the tattoo industry over the last twenty years, it is now possible to use almost infinite levels of gradation and shading. If you’re thinking of getting tattooed, black and gray colors offer a multitude of design opportunities and unique variations.

Black and gray tattoos’ visual rendering can be close to a drawing made with graphite. It is particularly suitable for large, elaborate tattoos that contain a lot of details. You can also choose it with sacred geometry, small designs, or lettering. No matter what style you’re interested in, you’ll get that timeless, sexy look, with tattoos that stand the test of time. 

The benefits of a black and grey tattoo

Black and gray tattoos offer more freedom than colored tattoos in that they work well with any design, skin tone, or personality. It is both delicate and bold and suits all types of outfits. 

Detailed artwork tends to work better in black and gray, and the readability is perfect even at a small scale. They also have the advantage of maturing better than colored tattoos, as black fades less quickly. 

Lastly, there’s evidence of colored ink being dangerous, whereas a typical black tattoo comes with very little risk of infection.

Infinite possibilities of tattoo styles

Although black and gray tattooing uses only diluted black ink, it offers the possibility for each tattoo artist to fully express his or her style: variations in the techniques, in the shades and gradations, and in the level of contrast, allow for very different results depending on the artist.

If it is often associated with realistic tattoos and portraits, but the black and grey tattoo is also the foundation of the Chicano tattoo and can be found in all tattoo styles:

• Ornamental
• Graphic
• Dot work
• Stippling
• Blackwork
• Lettering 

Get in touch with one of the best black and grey tattoo artists

Tattoo artists have moved away from the classic templates and flash tattoos that customers can get tattooed upon arrival at the tattoo studio.

From portraiture to exploring new graphic avenues, you can challenge the artist to create a totally personalized work of art with a great and unique black and a great tattoo. Just be sure to take great care of it during the tattoo healing.