Tattoos and Jewelry: Friend or Foe?
Whether you’re a fan of tattoo art or not, let’s face it, there is an element of mystery surrounding the men and women who serve as human billboards to these ink masterpieces. The truth of the matter is that the majority of tattoos seen today are not designed with real ink, but instead they are created with color pigments. I confess! Like you and many others, my interest is piqued when I see individuals decorated in tattoos. Amazed at the symbols and colors these advocates choose, the combination of intricate lines, shapes and color form an elegant display of bodily art. Without question, tattoos are stylish and their presence is often intensified with jewelry. In many cases, jewelry befriends tattoos and vice versa. It’s a relationship of sorts wherein each complements the other. However, on occasion, the union of tattoo and jewelry does not always result in relationship bliss. It is for this reason that I caution tattoo enthusiasts.
Don’t panic! If professional tattoos are in your near future, then by all means proceed forward. Just do so with the understanding that you may or may not be able to wear your favorite piece of jewelry following the procedure.
How can the inquisitive tattoo seeker know if he or she will be able to wear the latest styles in pewter rings, silver watches, necklaces and fashionable pendants? It’s simple! Knowing the answer doesn’t require you to purchase a test kit at your local store or endure expensive testing in a lab. Since most all color pigments contain metals, your answer comes from your reaction to the tattoo itself. In essence, if you experience a negative reaction on or around a specific color pigment, it is likely you will be unable to wear jewelry containing the same metal used in creating the color. Curious as to what constitutes a negative reaction? A negative reaction is described as the reddening, blistering or inflammation of the skin that occurs immediately or over time.
As co-owner of MenAndBeyond.com, I have found that customers who experience an adverse reaction to blue and green color pigments, which contain metals, chromium and cobalt, will likewise, experience the same type reaction to jewelry that contains nickel.
Here’s a hypothetical situation to further illustrate: You visit your local, yet reputable tattoo artist and decide on a stylish and colorful tattoo. After the work is completed, you notice a negative reaction around the red colors of your tattoo. What do you do? Where do you start in determining which metals were used in creating the red color? The answer lies within the tattoo artist! Please read the next sentence carefully. By law, manufactures, as well as tattoo artists are under no obligation to consumers to disclose the ingredients used in creating their palette of colors. Many of these are considered trade secrets, kept close to the vest so to speak, to prevent duplication from competitors. As colors are visually different, they are equally different in their composition. It’s important that you maintain a positive relationship with the tattoo artist you used so that in the event you experience a negative reaction to the tattoo, they will be willing to disclose which metals they used.
While the below list should not be implied as a full disclosure, it does state the common pigments used by the majority of manufacturers in creating the colors commonly used in tattoos.
Black: The color black is made of iron oxides, carbon or logwood.
White: White color pigments are made of lead white (lead carbonate), titanium dioxide, barium sulfate, or zinc oxide.
Red: Red is made of cinnabar, cadmium red, iron oxide, or napthol.
Green: Green colored pigments are made of made of chromium oxide (“Casalis Green” or “Anadomis Green”), Malachite, Ferrocyanides, Ferricyanides, Lead chromate, Monoazo pigment, Cu/Al phthalocyanine, or Cu phthalocyanine.
Brown and Flesh tones: Brown and flesh tone pigments are made of ochre. Ochre is composed of iron (ferric) oxides mixed with clay.
Yellow: The color yellow is made from Cadmium Yellow, ochres, curcuma yellow, chrome yellow, or disazodiarylide.
Orange: Orange pigments are made of disazodiarylide, disazopyrazolone, or cadmium seleno-sulfide.
Blue: Blue colored pigments are made of minerals including copper (II) carbonate (azurite), sodium aluminum silicate (lapis lazuli), calcium copper silicate (Egyptian Blue), other cobalt aluminum oxides and chromium oxides
Violet: Violet pigments are made of made of manganese violet (manganese ammonium pyrophosphate), dioxazine/carbazole, quinacridone and various aluminum salts.
(Source: http://wiki.bmezine.com/index.php/Tattoo_ink)
About the Author
For an extensive selection in the latest fashion styles available in men’s and women’s jewelry, visit http://www.menandveyond.com/. Irit Zeevi is co-owner of MenAndBeyond.com, an online jewelry store specializing in men’s fashionable jewelry. MenandBeyond.com features a wide selection of men’s jewelry, including Silver Plated pendants, men’s bracelets, stylus chains, chokers, rings and more.
Ghost Ghost – “Cadmium Red” (video)