Best Red Tattoo Ink [Review] in 2021

Red tattoo ink has been famous and a popular choice amongst famous tattoo artists and celebrities, but what makes red ink so great? Well red in general is the meaning of lvoe and passion but red in general can spice up any boring tattoo design.

The world is your oyster when it comes to red tattoos, you can create hearts, roses, snakes, even some henna looking designs are brilliant in red. I personally love black and grey designs where they have one object in red– just to blow up the design! 

But finding a good tattoo ink is even more cirtical for the color red, poor quality red tattoo inks can contain harmful chemcials that can be dangerous for the skin– no one wants that! 

Lucky for you I’m here to guide you through what you need to look for and what to avoid when it comes to choosing red tattoo inks. Longevity and vibrancy  in a red tattoo is crucial, so the gorgeous color can last for years to come. 

Let’s break down everything you need to know.

Finding reliable brands is so important when on the hunt for tattoo ink, as it is going into the skin and will remain in the skin for a long time. However, there are some brands you should avoid on your hunt for red tattoo ink.

Now without saying names, I am going to go through some factors you should avoid when getting red tattoo ink:

Now all tattoo inks from the USA and the EU have a set of safety rules and regulations to follow when creating tattoo ink. They prevent heavy metals and other poisons from going in the creation of products based on the FDA rules. If you buying in the US I would recommend buying tattoo inks made in California as they follow higher standards for safety.

Buying tattoo inks made in Asia on the other hand, do not follow the FDA rules and regulations regarding the creation of tattoo ink. I would never recommend buying from there, no matter how much cheaper it may seem.

Good bands will also allow you to see the full ingredient list, so if the company won’t provide that information then that is a big red flag– it may mean they’re using harsh chemicals in their products that they don’t want you to know about.

All in all, buying from top quality, reliable companies is the best way to go, also buying from companies made in either the EU or the US is critical as they all follow a rough guideline and strict safety standards over countries out of the EU and the US.

All companies will argue that their product is top quality, but in fact, this isn’t always true. Some brands just aren’t as good as others, plus some red tattoo inks may suit someone else but not you. 

Here are my top things to consider before buying red tattoo ink so you can be sure you’re getting the very best product:

Purchase from trusted brands: 

If you purchase your tattoo ink from a trusted and well-known brand you’re guaranteed to be getting the top quality products. Well-known brands tend to be very stringent in the creation of their product and have high-quality safety standards to follow. 

You can tend to trust a well-known brand that has been in business for years over a newer one because they have years of experience and years of customer feedback, so if the product isn’t good you’re more likely to know with a well-known brand. 

Quality control is one of the top priorities in popular brands, they test their product so many times before supplying it to the market. If their brand is also being used by famous tattoo artists around the world then that is also a good sign that you’re getting top quality. 

Getting a tattoo is a lifelong investment, it can be quite dangerous is if you get ink that doesn’t work for you, so not only make sure you’re getting good quality products but also make sure those products work for you too.

Pigmentation 

We can all agree here that pigment is the most important factor to consider when getting red tattoo ink, we want a tattoo ink that is vibrant enough to last for years to come, it needs to be versatile. 

Whether you’re outlining or filling with your red tattoo ink, you need red ink for every purpose. Red is one of the top colors to fade quickly (especially deep reds) it’s crucial that you find top-quality inks in the first place that are built to last. 

When choosing a red tattoo ink, it is crucial you keep in mind the pigmentation, the best red tattoo inks will be highly pigmented and very vibrant that at first, it may take you back– but this is a good thing, it means it’ll last. 

The right and pigmented red color catches the eye instantly.

Longevity: 

Longevity is the top thing to look for in red tattoo ink as red tends to fade easily (much quicker than black). I would recommend going for a red tattoo ink that is extremely durable– alcohol-based tattoo inks give the best durability. 

This is because alcohol-based pigments are properly consumed by our skin, however, in alcohol-based pigments there tend to be a few chemicals that can cause discomfort for our skin over water-based inks.

Water-based tattoo inks are made with biological and tend to have organic pigmentation and vegetable colors, they tend to be much more gentle on the skin but don’t tend to last as long.

I would recommend going for a balance, going for a durable red tattoo ink that isn’t too harsh on your skin.

Consistency 

The thickness of the ink is crucial in any tattoo ink, you need different consistencies for different techniques; for example, a thick ink for the outline and a thinner ink is better for shading.

Before you buy any ink, even red ink you need to consider the purpose of that ink, if you’re looking for a red ink for shading then thinner consistency will be the one you need, otherwise, you may struggle to handle the ink.

Furthermore, most inks come in a medium consistency that suits beginners as well. Also, several inks serve all purposes. These links are the best because you don’t have to buy different inks for different purposes– these are far more convenient.

Shelf-life 

The shelf-life is the life of the ink after it has been opened for the first time. The rule about shelf-life is simple. The longer the shelf-life of ink, the longer you go without buying a new one.

On average tattoo ink tends to have a shelf life of around two years, which is good, especially for colors like red that don’t get used on the day-to-day.

You should look for an extended shelf life of around 2-3 years as, again, red isn’t the most commonly used tattoo inks, so you can open the tattoo ink with complete confidence that you won’t need to worry for 2 years.

Packaging:

The packaging is another crucial factor to consider when buying tattoo ink. Make sure the bottle is sterilized and is sealed perfectly well.

If the seal is broken in any way, there are chances that the ink is contaminated. Furthermore, try to avoid bottles made from glass. They are prone to break and cause accidents.

Ingredients 

Because tattoo ink has to go within the layer of the skin, it needs to be safe. So, the best red tattoo ink especially is made from organic or natural harmless ingredients.

It will be cruelty-free and free from harsh chemicals like iron and nickel. In short, you need to make sure it is safe to use and doesn’t have any adverse effects on the skin.

However, before you apply any tattoo ink, make sure the person receiving the tattoo doesn’t have any allergies. In that case, you will need to double-check our ink’s ingredients.

Red tattoo ink is actually more likely to cause an allergic reaction than others, and a reaction to red ink is very common. For most people, the symptoms are milk such as redness, swelling, itchiness.

However, in some less common cases, people have had serious allergic reactions to red ink– this would make your tattoo experience an absolute nightmare! They experienced pimple-like bumps, blisters, and scaly patches on their tattoo.

Just to be on the safe side, consult with your tattoo artist and do a patch test before your appointment to be on the safe side, also go for vegan and natural formulas rather than harsh ones.

Why are people allergic to red tattoo ink?
Most allergic reactions caused by red inks result from mercury sulfide, iron oxide, cobalt chloride, and manganese found in red tattoo inks. Lichenoid allergic reactions are rare but do tend to be related to red tattoo ink.

This causes red bumps and redness around the tattoo area; it can also cause swelling and discomfort. They can happen straight away for a few days after.

What is red tattoo ink made from? 

In most red tattoo inks, cinnabar (mercury) is used to produce the red hue. This was the traditional way to make red tattoo ink, but companies have switched to a more gentle formula using organic materials in recent years.

Organic methods use Naptha-derived chemicals, which are much more gentle on the skin.

Why does red tattoo ink fade quicker than other colors? 

Red tends to be the first color to fade because the sun bleaches red colors much quicker than any other color, so rather than a rich red, it will turn to more of a pinkish hue. The brand of ink plays a massive role as cheaper inks don’t tend to be as durable.

Red doesn’t tend to last as long as black because black colors tend to have a more dense and bold appearance over red, allowing them to last longer. Wearing SPF 50 sunscreen on the area and regularly moisturizing will allow the vibrancy to last much longer.

Sometimes there’s nothing you can do; sometimes, your skin is the culprit for fading red tattoo ink too.

How do you treat an allergic reaction to red tattoo ink?

The best way to relieve an allergic reaction due to red ink is to use a cold compress to relieve any pain and swelling. Take an antihistamine to reduce itching and discomfort. 

Keep applying topical OTC ointment or hydrocortisone cream to help soothe the inflammation of the area. DON’T cover the area with a plastic wrap as it will cause the skin to warm up and may cause the reaction to worsening– allow the skin to breathe. 

Before you even get a red tattoo to avoid this, make sure you have a patch test with the ink for 48 hours; this will give you and your tattoo artist a rough idea of whether it will react with your skin. 

Although all the above-mentioned tattoo inks are of premium quality and made from all-natural ingredients, I have found that the Kuro Sumi Dragon’s Breath Red Ink is the best red tattoo ink brand of the lot.

Their innovative technology and the perfect blend of traditional and modern ingredients create a unique formula that has become a choice of almost all famous tattoo artists in the world.

Its bright red color is the perfect shade of red visually and catches the eye instantly. Also, the ink is easy to handle and can be used by both beginner and expert tattoo artists.

So, whether you are a tattoo artist looking for a beautiful eye-catching bright red color or a dark tone of red, we recommend that you buy any of the products mentioned above because each brand clearly produces the best red tattoo ink in its own way.

Happy tattooing!