How to Thicken Tattoo Ink

Tattoo ink comes in a variety of colors and consistencies. Some inks are thicker than others; some brands are easier to use, and create a better work of art. With advances in technology, tattoo ink now is often tailored for various techniques and applications, and thus the tattoo artist will use different brands of tattoo inks to complete a work of body art. Bradley Montgomery, a tattoo artist of 15 years, says you can thicken tattoo ink with a few simple tools at home.

Things You'll Need

• Carbon pencil
• Pocket knife
• Razor blade
• Piece of paper
• Stir stick

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Shave all the wood off your carbon pencil until only the carbon stick is left. Begin at the tip of the pencil and shave the wood away from you to avoid cutting yourself.

   • 2

     Scrape the carbon stick into a fine powder with your razor blade over a piece of paper.

   • 3

     Hold the paper over the tattoo ink, blow a small amount of carbon into the ink and use your stir stick to mix it well. Repeat this step until you reach the thickness you desire.