Tattoo Nerd,
Does tattoo ink really expire?
-Mike
The answer is both yes and no, but more yes than no.
Ink is simply a pigment (heavy metals, oxidized metals, plastics, or other materials), mixed with a carrier fluid (usually an alcohol like ethyl alcohol or glycerin and/or distilled water). The majority of tattooers use pre-dispersed ink (pigment that has been mixed with a carrier, or is wet) sold by a trusted manufacturer. A few tattooers mix their ink themselves. Materials are selected based on what will produce the brightest possible and longest lasting color, what is least likely to induce a severe reaction in the body (all materials produce a reaction, resulting in the permanence of the tattoo), what will most easily and evenly go into the skin, and what will be cost-effective to produce.
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| Expiration Date on Eternal Ink |
Technically, inorganic pigment materials have no expiration. The carrier fluid will eventually evaporate in most ink-bottles. The plastic of the bottle and seals will break down enough in time to allow the evaporated fluid to escape. In theory, adding more carrier fluid to a bottle of ink that has dried out would result in usable dispersed ink.
But, that is not the way to go.
Tattoo inks are regulated by the FDA, but it is a regulation that is rarely exercised. This is because the Tattoo Industry has become very good at self-regulation. The "shelf-life" of tattoo ink is often around two years, with most tattoo studios using up more common colors well before the expiration date. The best-practice in reputable shops is to throw expired ink away.
The idea of recharging a dried-out bottle of ink may be one considered for monetary reasons. After all, tattoo ink is one of the most expensive fluids on the market. On average, a one ounce bottle of premium tattoo ink costs between $8-$10. For the sake of comparison, an ounce of petroleum for your car is about $.02. At the time of this writing, an ounce of silver (the precious metal, not silver ink) is about $15. Again, despite the cost of ink, "recharging" is not the way to go. Studios that do mix their own ink do not do so for monetary reasons, but rather to have greater control of the color selection and quality (disbursement, longevity) of their ink.
While the materials in tattoo ink do not technically expire, they can become contaminated. Assuming that the ink was bottled and sealed in a sterile environment (which may not be the case with some ink manufacturers), ink is exposed to contaminants as soon as the seal is broken. While the rate of contamination is slight with a bottle that remains capped when not in use, the longer the bottle sits the more contaminants it potentially contains. When fluid is lost from the bottle, by pouring ink from it for use or due to evaporation, air from the environment replaces the volume of fluid lost. In the average tattoo studio, that is air which has been in the lungs of several people and has been contaminated by blood-plasma and other organic particles that result from the tattoo process.
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| Expiration Date on Intenze |
The expiration date, while arbitrarily determined based on the shelf life of the container and in order to prevent external regulation as well as meet local health-codes governing the tattoo industry, serves as an excellent guide to help minimize the possibility of contamination placing a client at risk. Though the risk is extremely slight, anything we can do to reduce the risk is better for our clients and the industry as a whole. You are best served purchasing ink from manufacturers that use expiration dates, by checking your bottles on a monthly basis, and re-ordering inks that are about the expire in what is hopefully the rare time when an exotic ink nears the end of its shelf life.
As an addendum, the best way to know what is a reputable source of ink is to take a look at a few tattoo studios in your area. Tattoo studios, to stay competitive, quickly move to new products or techniques if it appears that those products give another studio or artist an advantage. If you don't see your ink (or the ink of your tattooer) being commonly used in other studios, it is best to ask why. Cheap inks cause more problems than they solve.
Jason Sorrell is a writer, tattoo artist, satirist, artist, and generally nice guy living in Austin, TX. He loves answering questions about tattoos. Shoot him an email at https://www.facebook.com/tattoonerdz/
what if i order some inks online and they arrived expired 2 years ago??
ReplyDeleteWhen I order ink online, the first thing I do is check the expiration dates. If the ink were expired, I would demand a refund and never buy from that seller again. Since I only purchase from reputable sellers, I have never had to deal with this situation.
DeleteSend it back
DeleteI ordered tattoo ink about 4-5 weeks ago, it was opened once. I got a tattoo (with that ink) today, my cousin was a tattooist and he told me the ink was still fine to use. He said that tattoo ink should be thrown every 3-4 months, but the ink i got by Lizardstar should be fine, if its only been open for a few weeks? I'm freaking out really badly, he got a tattoo with the same ink too.
ReplyDeleteI have been wrestling with how best to respond to your inquiry. I get that you are freaking out, and ideally I would like to offer some words of consolation to help ease your mind.
ReplyDeleteBut, I've got nothing. I could write a "things not to do" article about getting a tattoo and base it entirely off what you told me. Let me run through the highlights:
*If I understand this right, you bought open bottles of tattoo ink.
*Your tattooer required that you buy your own ink. You have not been trained to know the difference between good tattoo ink and risky tattoo ink.
*Your tattooer used ink that had already been opened (no idea what has been done to or added to the ink).
*Your tattooer gave you bad info about expiration dates. Professional-grade tattoo ink has an expiration date, and it is usually a couple of years after the manufacture date.
*If I had to guess, your tattooer is not a professionally trained tattooer working in a licensed studio.
*I googled "Lizardstar Tattoo Ink". They have no web-presence that I could find, not even a review. Professional tattooers will not use ink from an unknown and unvetted source.
My thought is that MAYBE you will be okay. MAYBE the worse thing that you will have is a bad tattoo (faded out, color not holding, etc). You really need to keep an eye on your tattoo, and hope for the best.
Good luck. I hope this is a lesson learned. Don't cut corners with something you are inserting into your body.
So I got my very first coverup tat from
ReplyDeleteMy artist, all my tats From him turned out perfect, but this coverup is very sore and the purple ink(intense ink) looks bubbled up and looks like Lil keliods. Is my tattoo infected or am I just allergic to the purple will it clear up I'm very afraid because none of my other tattoos did this just this one cover-up
Cover-ups are almost always more problematic to heal. Technically, a tattoo never really heals (if it did, all the foreign bodies in your skin, the ink, would be gone). The permanence of a tattoo is due to your body isolating the ink that your immune system cannot carry away. Your experience could be just your body responding to an already wounded area being re-traumatized. Your tattooer should be able to offer more concrete guidance about what is going on with the tattoo.
DeleteHi! Is it safe to buy inks from ebay? There is very cheap ink named Solong, i really wonder if even to try. The feedback is either very good ink or total crap.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Solong Ink. That alone would make me avoid it. Their website includes "Mickey Sharps" tattoo machines for $15.00. Those are shoddy fakes. Buy your ink from a reputable supplier.
DeleteI have tattoo ink that expired 2/28/2017 should i go ahead and just throw it out. I recently used it not paying attention but the tattoo does not look different from any others. I just felt bad for not paying close attention.
ReplyDeleteI would get rid of any expired tattoo inks in the shop. I do a weekly check of all my supplies as a part of my routine, throwing out anything that has expired.
DeleteI have used expired brand new bottles in the past, only after making sure seals were still air tight!..... if you have a brand new "expired" bottle take off the cap and squeeze it..... if it leaks from the seal it is absolutely to go into the trash..... if not I would say it's fair game as long as you live and work in a state where OSHA doesn't breathe down your throat!.... always redate the bottle. This is often rare as most artists blow through ink like crazy..... for me it's usually an odd ball color I don't frequently use
ReplyDeleteYou make some fair points, Eric. Most tattooers burn through their ink well before the expiration date, and your bottle-squeeze test would effectively detect a leak. My only argument would be about the need in tattooing to maintain high professional standards. I don't cut corners. The price of a tattoo more than covers the expense of a new bottle of ink, so I feel I owe it to my customers to use only the best materials so there is no question about the quality of what they are getting. Making exceptions can be seen as a slippery slope; if you cut this corner, where else may you have decided to make exceptions. I recognize that this may only be a matter of perception, but in tattooing the perception of what we do is a huge part of our success. For me, the best practice is to inspect your inks regularly and get rid of any inks that have expired.
Deletehi I bougth a electra tattoo ink today and the supply had it on discount they told me it was because they expired already still I said its ok ill buy it the bottle is completely new entirely seald it doesn't even leak at all but today its September 27 2019 but the ink expiration date was 07/2019 now here at my house ive been getting to think if it would be ok to use it since few people already told me to throw it away im only using ink and tattooing my self since im still learning . what can I do ?? what should I do should I throw it away or keep it and use it??
DeleteIf you are here asking, you already know you should not use that ink to tattoo.
DeleteI have ink that have never been open but its old is it still good
ReplyDeleteIf it is old (past the expiry date), then I would throw it out. Think of it this way, if I were making you a sandwich, and you looked at the expiry date on the slices of meat I was using and saw that it was past, would you want to eat it? Would you consider me a chef who cares about his patrons?
Deletemy boyfriend for Valentine's Day instead of buying me a dozen roses bought me a. Dozen bottles of ink it's the intense ink which I usually use a eternals I've always used that are Starbright I've never used intenze. they separate overnight and I was wondering if this is normal because I've never had ink do that before. I'm asking you cuz I send an email to intenze about this and their response was if they make a good quality ink that wasn't my question I know it's a good quality ink I just don't know where he purchased it through and that's got me a little worried with all the fakes going around
ReplyDeleteWhere did your boyfriend buy the ink from? Because of both Intenz's popularity and ease of access, alot of off-market manufacturers produce counterfeit Intenz ink, their own cheap ink bottled and labeled to look like Intenz. The Intenz website has a list of reputable distributors. If your boyfriend bought them from anywhere but one of those distributors, it is likely he bought a counterfeit.
DeleteHi i have some Ink left from my last tattoo , it was opened few months ago and expire date is 2019 , csn i still use it for my next tattoo ? bottle was open to fill the cups .Intenze ink
ReplyDeleteIt would depend on how you opened the bottles. Intenze Ink bottles have a nozzle that allow you to fill your caps and then close the bottle. The intent is that the remaining ink be used on future tattoos. As long as you didn't do something crazy like take the nozzles off and leave the open bottles exposed to the air or poor the ink from your caps back into the bottle, there should be no problem. In other words, if you used the ink as intended, the remainder should be fine to use until the expiration date.
DeleteA friend did a tattoo down my rib; he had used black & grey ink that is quite a few years old. Also, while he was in the process of moving, the ink sat in his tattoo bag at a friend's house in the backyard for about 2-3 months & It was over 100° outside during that time. The tattoo looks great & has healed just like normal. My question is, can there be possible health hazards later on? Thank you for your time.
ReplyDeleteWhile it sounds like the conditions under which the ink was stores were not ideal, most health concerns would have manifested within the first year. I won't say there are no possible issues, but if you have experienced no problems at this point you are highly unlikely to see an issue related to the way the ink was stored.
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteMy hubby does his own tattooing and we can't find an expiry date on the Immortals bottles he has but we've had them a number of years (six, as he got them while with his ex and he's been here nearly 5 years). The ink in them has separated into solid and liquid but shakes back together really easily... should they stay or should they go?
There are Immortals online selling with expiry dates of 2026 and so we're wondering... do they have a long shelf life so a shake will do, or should they go to be safe? He bought them new.
Thanks for any help.
x
I am unfamiliar with the ink, but I see it is commonly sold with inexpensive tattoo-kits on Amazon and Ebay. If you feel you have need to ask if the ink should be thrown out, I would throw it out and get new ink.
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ReplyDeleteSo I have Blacker ink that's expired had it about almost six yrs and seems fine about 6 mos ago but been in and out of hot/cold weather in storage unit..told my buddy it. Could possibly effect the tattoo and it his risk if he still want to do so, anything I can do to make the ink a little revived in spite of clearly needing to throw it out. Going against my own gut but enter at your own risk was established anything is considered as long as it so t get infected because of the expiration everything is very well cleaned sanitary and absolutely no reused needle tu es or grips.not uneducated on the matter just need to know every precautions so no surprises the client ist totally aware of for lack of better words ..bro I did tell ya..thAnks..no bull carp haha answers either just need a had more info appreciate the feed back
ReplyDeleteI would go with your gut. Sure, your buddy knows the risks, but when he tells his friends about the tattoo he got from you that got all gnarly because of the ink (because that is what he will assume has happened), it is your reputation on the line.
DeleteI have some eternal ink that expires in 2020 I have used it twice on myself but then sealed it back and stored it. Is it still good if it looks and pours normally?
ReplyDeleteCapped-ink (ink in the bottle with the pour spout attached) should be good stored on a shelf until the expiration date.
DeleteThanks for the reply. I was hoping it should be fine because I just opened it, poured it into ink cups and closed it. Then gave it a shake every few months but eternals website says one year after opening it should be replaced but I think that's just for liability reasons.
DeleteI have 28 bottles of eternal ink unopened that exp.2016 what should I do with them thats a expensive loss.
ReplyDeleteIf the ink is still fluid, you could use it to paint with. You could color your tattoo flash with it. Eternal Ink looks great on paper.
DeleteI do my own tattoos and I don't share ink, it is expired but the tattoos I have I kinda mess with the ink beforehand anyways (I mix bactine into the ink and a drop of alcohol to help it dry and I push thick globs into my skin instead of working with a fluid) since the ink itself actually doesn't expire and I've really no concern for contaminated ink (I keep it put up keep my hands sterile when handling it and nobody else is near it ever) is there any risk to using ink that's a few months old? I've used it before and I like it but I'm thinking I have really no use to get new ink if the properties of it don't actually degrade, I'm just scratching lines so ink quality isnti really important to me (we did this shit with ashes and blades back in the day so I'm sure any ink will stay well with a good practice) anyways, just wanted an unadultered opinion (if that's even possible from 'professionals' xD)
ReplyDeleteIf the ink is expired, don't use it. That is my opinion.
DeleteHello Jason.... I am using Bloodline ink and cant find it anymore (loved it)... Now I have to change ink and looking at " Dynamic ink" do you know anything about it... Its about $8
ReplyDeleteIf it is the ink I am thinking of, Dynamic does a black lining ink that some tattooers I know swear by. I have not seen much of their color ink being used, and have not tried it myself.
DeleteHi i bought Indiana tattoo ink, its blue but it has no expiry date and its really thick. do u think its safe to use?
ReplyDeleteI am not certain what companies are making tattoo ink in Indiana, but if you are concerned enough to ask the question, you are smart enough to know you probably shouldn't use the ink.
DeleteCan I use tattoo ink that's 4months old expired
ReplyDeleteIf the ink is expired, don't use it. That is my opinion.
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ReplyDeleteHi , i have ink using and expires today, sept 20, 2019, can i use it or i need to throw it away? please let me know, i have a client wants to get inked!, thnx you..
ReplyDeleteIf you are questioning the safety of the ink, you shouldn't use it.
DeleteMy son is just starting out and I bought him some Bloodline inks. They are all supposed to be 1/2 oz bottles. They all seem to be different weights and thicknesses. Like the white is super thick compared to say the red. Is this normal?
ReplyDeleteI have not used Bloodline ink, but what you describe appears common to the reviews I have read. It could be due to different pigments having different consistencies for that brand, or due to bad seals on the bottles resulting in dehydration. The inks I use have a consistent viscosity.
DeleteHi boss can i ask
ReplyDeleteI used expiry ink tattoo i forgot to check the date i used the tattoo month of feb 20 2020 the expiry date is dec 10 2019
What will.happen to that thanks
I might use expired ink to paint with, but never for a tattoo. Let's say we were talking about food. Would you eat expired meat? Would you serve expired meat at your restaurant? Do what is right for your clients and yourself.
DeleteI have read a of questions here about expired ink , but i don't see reputable ink supplier sugestion, i have the same issue I bought ink and needles back in 2012 the ink still looks good like it dont look like is breaking down or anything and needles still in package, any coments ? thanks
ReplyDeleteRegarding reputable suppliers, start at the source. Visit your preferred ink-brand's website. Most list retailers they work with. Avoid auctions sites as a source for your tattoo ink.
DeleteTo your second question, Let's say you are making sandwiches. The deli meat you are using looks fine, but is older than the "best-by" date. Would you use that meat anyway? Would you serve sandwiches with expired meat to someone you care about?
How do you read a expiration date on the eternal ink bottle if it says HE049934 ?
ReplyDeleteI do not recognize that value from what I see on my own bottles of Eternal Ink. The expiration date is clearly delineated on every bottle I currently have. It is possible that the value you posted is a lot number, although that also doesn't line-up with what I am familiar with. It could be that you have purchased counterfeit ink.
DeleteEternal is a great company, and I am certain they would be happy to clear this up for you. You could also contact whoever sold the ink to you for clarification.
Hi I bought half dozen or so bottles of skin candy from reputable tattoo supplies firm online few years ago,expiry date was 2016.It is for my personal use and only used on myself at home.Do you think they will be ok or not?
ReplyDeleteIf you bought a half dozen loaves of bread from a reputable grocer a few weeks ago and they were now all expired, would you eat them? There is no scenario were I will say using expired ink for tattooing is alright. The risk, no matter how minor, is not worth it in my opinion.
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