Black Light UV Tattoos

Get yourself a UV tattoo

UV tattoos or Ultra Violet tattoos or Blacklight tattoos are tattoos made using UV ink. UV ink is nothing but normal ink mixed with fluorescent ink.

What sets it apart is that it glows under blue light like the ones in a discotheque and is almost invisible under normal lighting. At the most it might look white, like it’s embossed on your skin.

Although you can get a UV tattoo in the mother colours which are blue, black, white, red and yellow, I have figured that only the ones done in white look great since the others can be seen under a normal light as well,” says tattoo artist Al.

It looks really cool and although, they have been around for ages, it’s not so common in India. In Thailand at least 20 to 30 people get a UV tattoo everyday. In India hardly anyone knows about it. Quips Al, “In my whole career, I have tattooed about 40 to 50 people with a UV tattoo”. One reason for a lack of takers for the UV tattoos could be ignorance while Aalim Hakim says, “These days people want their tattoos to be seen. They want to flaunt their body art. So the idea of a tattoo that can’t be seen unless they stand under disco lights just doesn’t interest them anymore.”

Also, UV tattoos look like a scar under normal light, which could be a deterrent since there doesn’t seem to be much of scarification scene in India. Besides, the inks are really expensive and have to be ordered from abroad. “I can tattoo around 20 people with one bottle. But due to a lack of clients, the inks mostly expire rending the whole bottle useless. It’s a huge waste of money,” rues Al. “Before doing it on anyone, we always test the inks to see what the results would be like. I try the UV inks on an animal and the colour tattered. That’s when I decided not to use it,” he adds.

It is said that these tattoos could lead to cancer in the long run. However, these allegations are absolutely untrue since it has the FDA’s approval. You must protect your tattoo from the ultra violet rays of the sun and avoid using scented lotions and creams while the tattoo is healing in the first three months or the ink will be damaged and might turn into normal ink. Aalim adds, “UV tattoos don’t last long. Basically, the ink fades away which is why the tattoo stops glowing after a few years. Mahesh Anand is the only celeb I know of who had a UV tattoo of a horse with wings that doesn’t glow anymore!”

The white or blue UV tattoos might yellow or turn mildly brownish when exposed to the sun too much and too often.

UV tattoos are a great option for people who don’t like to show-off their tattoos. It could also be revolutionary for those working in the hospitality industry and corporate offices since body art is frowned upon in such places.