Can you get a tattoo as a Vegan | Everything You Need to Know

Getting a tattoo is a way of expressing your beliefs. It will also raise some questions that are going to be helpful in expressing your audience. In this article, we are going to check out different aspects of a vegan tattoo and find the answer to the question can you get a tattoo as a vegan.

Vegan Tattoos True or False

One of the main goals in living life is to live cruelty-free, so the first aspect we are going to explore is how to have a quality-free tattoo. In order to understand the subject better we are first going to Define if we can tattoo and compare it to the common tattoos in the case of traditional tattoos, we often see that ink contains animal-based components which makes it acceptable for a weekend and that’s not all.

Both during and after this process we came face to face with more red lines such as Glycerin stencil papers and many of the Aftercare products. In return, you often find plant-based Alternatives in a vegan tattoo shop. This will help you to be sure that no animals are involved or harmed in the process.

Is Vegan Tattoo healthier and safer?

Although there is an ongoing debate surrounding the safety and health benefits of vegan tattoos it’s important to mention that vegan ink might not be superior in these fields it won’t also pose any danger or risk to your skin. These products do not contain carcinogenic chemicals or other harmful substances.

Is Vegan Food Healthy For You

Finding your certified vegan tattoo artist

If you are one of the vegans looking to get a tattoo, make sure to find a certified vegan tattoo artist in order to stay safe and healthy. There are some resources available that can be helpful in your search. There are some websites such as “Tattoos Wizard” and “Weekend Tattoos Studio” that provide the information you need.

With the help of these platforms, you can have a detailed search and for example: sort the information by City, the style, and even tattoo artist.

Products used in the tattooing process:

•  Ink

inch is the first product we are going to discuss, since it plays a crucial role in the tattooing process it’s important to ensure it is cruelty-free. The common ink is made of a bone char which is extracted from animal fat gelatin (from Hooves which is and sometimes even shells)

On the other hand, we can tattoo ink consisting of organic pigments:

* Kosher vegetable glycerin:

It is a plant-based sugar alcohol which makes it cruelty-free.

*  Ethyl alcohol:

It’s an anti-aseptic and disinfected with antifungal and antibacterial properties.

*  Eucalyptus:

These leaves are one of the famous hairball plants famous for their antiseptic antibacterial and anti-inflame inflammatory properties.

* Menthol:

The substance is a change from Mensa plants and it’s used because of its scent. But this alcohol has some analgesic properties too.

In colored ink, we have some different ingredients like:

• Black – carbon and logwood
• White – titanium dioxide
• Yellow – turmeric
• Green – monoazo, a carbon-based pigment
• Blue – sodium and aluminum are the main substances but some of these inks contain copper.
• Red – contains Naphthol which might be a reason for a reaction
• Purple – this color comes from carbazole and dioxane

You might ask whether or not you need to be tested before getting a tattoo with this vegan ink. The answer to this question is usually no, however, if you think you are allergic you can consult an expert in order to put some on your skin to find out for sure.

All the substances involved are just some of the ingredients used in the production of vegan inks.

Now we are going to introduce some of the producers of this product in the list below:

• Kuro Sumi
• Skin Candy / Bloodline
• Crazy horse
• Southeast Tattoo Supplies
• Eternal Ink
• Electric Ink USA
• Dermaglo
• Silverback Ink
• World Famous Tattoo
• Dynamic
• Alla Prima
• Waverly Color Co
• Feldman
• Pelikan –black is vegan
• Stable
• Star brite
• Fusion Tattoo
• Classic Color Systems
• Good Color
• Intenze Tattoo Ink
• Unique – Perma Pro
• I Max Tattoo Inks

I Max brands include these products: Makkuro Blacks, Makkuro Colors, Azayaka Live Tattoo Colors, Cobra Inks, Universal Blacks, Glam Colors, Pure Colors, Flashing Colors

• Stencil transfer paper

In the case of vegan tattoos, this product can be avoided if the tattoo artist is going to draw the design freehand. In most cases, these extensive papers may contain lanolin as a moisturizing ingredient which is a derivative of sheep’s wool. But we can transfer papers like Repro FX using vegetable waxes.

•  Razors

One of the steps in the process of getting a vegan tattoo is getting the skin shaved gently. Since the lubrication strips on razors are not vegan and in most tattoo shops, we see the usage of disposable razors for hygiene purposes considering that we suggest bringing your own razor or choosing an all-vegan tattoo studio to avoid such problems.

Note that Some of these lubricants on razor blades contain glycerin. So be sure to let your tattoo artist know if you want products one hundred percent vegan.

Here are some of vegan razor brands to choose from:

1. Athena Club.
2. Billie – 100% vegan.
3. Bulldog Skincare for Men – 100% vegan.
4. Every Man Jack.
5. Oui the People.
6. Preserve.
7. Personna.

•  Soap

Soap is one of the things used during the tattooing process in order to clean the area. If the soap used by your tattoo artist is not vegan you can either request a vegan soap or bring your own vegan and cruelty-free soap to make sure your tattoo is vegan.

There are some vegan soap brands available such as:

1. Aegean which is a hundred percent Natural Bar Soap
2. Anatolia Daphne which produced Soap Bars from Olive Oil
3. Crate 61 produces two different lines which are Cold Process Bar Soap and “For Him” Bar Soap
4. Dr. Bronners produces Liquid & Bar Soaps
5. Dusan Artisans is a producer of Handmade Soap Bars
6. Kiss My Face makes Bar Soaps using Pure Olive Oil
7. Mrs. Meyers is a producer of Liquid Hand Soap
8. Peet Brothers who produce Shea Butter Bar

Aftercare products

Before restarting to talk about tattoo aftercare we are going to dive into the whole purpose of needing the aftercare after the process. When you have put your time and money on the line to get tattooed you surely want to be sure that the finished result is going to look great for many years in the future.

In order to make it happen you must be devoted to properly taking care of your skin and tattoo. This phase usually takes weeks. Using the correct aftercare products plays an important part in this phase and you’re chosen tattoo artists can be a great resource for getting a good recommendation.

Since most people don’t even realize that some of the products in the market are toxic and poisonous it’s essential to take your time and have a thorough investigation on what you are going to apply to your body. To see that the market is flooded with different products don’t feel guilty about putting time into choosing the aftercare product.

If you are a vegan, you must centrally agree with what you put on over body. And how we choose to live is as important as what we put in our bodies. So now that you aligned your life to a cruelty-free lifestyle and diet, it is plausible to go looking for a vegan option for the tattoo aftercare.

Just as we see in the Veggie foods, Also most vegan tattoo after cares in the market are both cruelty-free and free up any animal by-products.

The main constituents’ members of these products are plants, natural oils, and minerals. Some of these ingredients are named below:

• Coconut oil
• Lavender
• Green tea
• Prepare meant
• Old garden from plants such as sunflower and grape seed
• The oil extracted from rosemary
• Of essential oils
• Natural scents
• Aloe butter

As per said tattoo aftercare products do not accommodate chemicals and synthetic ingredients to irritate the skin after the tattooing process. Instead, these natural-based products can help you in order to have a faster healing phase while also being able to work well with a wide variety of skin types even if you have sensitive skin that can be irritated easily.

While there are overwhelming reasons as to why you must choose vegan tattoo aftercare products make sure to know that when you are allergic to a certain natural product in order to avoid and replace the product. Since these products usually work with different skin types some people even continue to use the product long after healing the tattoos to ensure smoother skin and greater hydration.

Although vegan aftercare products usually have a shorter shelf life, they are certainly a much safer bet for any customer.

Some of the brands that supply vegan tattoo aftercare products are listed as follows:

• Hustle Butter Deluxe – Tattoo Butter
• After Inked Tattoo Moisturizer & Aftercare Lotion
• Phat Tat
• Rose Tattoo Care
• The Merry Hempster
• Punk Medics
• Lush Ultra balm
• Superdrug
• H2Ocean Tattoo Aftercare
• Ohana Organics
• Tribal Tattoo care

So I got a Vegan Tattoo, Experience on the subject

Reading about other people’s experiences can be helpful too. The first we are reading about is user “anonavegan” who wrote :

I got it to celebrate my veganism (~ 3 years). Got it done at Gristle Tattoo in Brooklyn (Landon Morgan). This is my first and only Tattoo so far, and the experience there was amazing. They used vegan ink and vegan lotions/razors/etc. during the process.

Going Vegan has been the best choice I’ve ever made, and I wanted to recognize it somehow…. this seemed fitting.

Or “Americanoize “wrote:

Less than a year ago I found myself needing to scratch my tattoo itch. It had been years since I had been inked in large part because I was doing a bunch of fitness modeling, and the more tats you have, the less likely you are to be hired. Having finally been able to move on from modeling with the success of my 6-Week Plant-Empowered Online Coaching Program, however, I decided to celebrate by getting my vegan ink on!

Unlike the other tattoos that I had gotten in my late teen and early adult years, I wanted art that wholly represented who I am and what I stand for. I also wanted to be certain that the ink used was 100% vegan.

Finding a vegan tattoo shop was the best-case scenario because they would truly “get it” and I’d have nothing to worry about. And guess what… Vegan tattoo shops DO exist!

I ended up choosing an artist, James Hamilton, of Miami Ink-Love Hate Tattoos in Miami Beach, who had done incredible work on some of my good friends. He was understanding and helpful in dealing with my request for a fully vegan tattoo experience. You see, some inks are made with animal products like bone char, glycerin from animal fat, gelatin from hooves, or shellac from beetles.

So, if you don’t want animal products embedded in your skin for life it’s important to do your research. If the ink the artist uses is not vegan-friendly, they may be able to order some to use on you.

I couldn’t be happier with the results of my efforts for an awesome vegan tattoo experience. I hope this information will allow you to make conscious decisions about your next tat adventure so you can be as proud of your body art as I am of mine!

In another case, Emily Moran Barwick wrote:

As a tattooed vegan, I’m usually asked whether my tattoos are vegan. We vegans can be described as expressive and passionate.  And a whole lot of us–like any number of any grouping of people–like to express that passion with visual representations in the form of tattoos. Being vocally vegan and plentifully tattooed, the question of tattoos’ vegan-ness is posed to me quite often.

I recently added another tattoo to my collection the inspiration behind this particular tattoo was animals breaking free from their abusers with great vengeance. They share a look of determination in their eyes that says “No more.” It’s a fantasy I dream about and I think it’s safe to say, that every animal imprisoned in animal products industries takes back what’s rightfully theirs, and regains their own freedom.

It is good to mention nonetheless there are some haters who usually try to debase my efforts as a vegan, but I couldn’t be happier with the results.

Vegan tattoos and fading

There is a huge concern about the fading of vegan tattoos through time, so to put your mind at ease, we are going to read about vegans who had tattoos long ago and now are writing about their experiences user Lunar Module wrote:

My tattoos are new enough that I can’t speak from personal experience, but the general consensus seems to be that it lasts as long as any other ink if not longer. A lot of the artists I’ve spoken to have said that the inks they chose for quality are by coincidence vegan.

In another case, user HiVisVestNinja wrote:

Most black tattoo ink is accidentally vegan, at least where I’m at, but it takes two seconds to consult your artist when booking, and I’ve never heard of one having a problem switching to animal-free products on request. My oldest ink is only 12~ish years old, but hasn’t aged any better or worse than expected.

User DrSpaghettini has some bits of advice too:

My oldest tattoo is 9 years old. Obviously, it has faded but sunscreen and avoiding a ton of sunlight is key. Tattoos will always fade that’s just how aging works. Our skin gets thinner as we age, and our skin is impacted by UV damage, environmental toxins, etc.

Finding Vegan Tattoo Artists

While finding a vegan tattoo artist or studio may require some research and effort, the rewards are worth it. Some tattoo artists have gained popularity for their vegan lifestyle and animal rights activism.

Here are a few noteworthy vegan tattoo artists:

• Kat Von D: A renowned vegan tattoo artist and celebrity, known for her shop High Voltage Tattoo in, LA and her vegan makeup line.
• Rachael Rose: Based in the UK, Rachael Rose specializes in colorful designs featuring nature and animals.
• Brad Stevens: Located in Brooklyn, New York, Brad specializes in American traditional and Japanese tattoos.
• Eckel: Operating out of Vancouver, Canada, Eckel is known for designs featuring wolves, mythology creatures, and birds.
• Vegan tattoo designs

The most important advice to remember when considering getting a tattoo is that you shouldn’t rush to do it. There are some tattoos with stories behind them such as “269” which was a global movement started in October 2012.

The number two hundred sixty-nine tattoo is the number on the ear tag of a white calf who happened to get separated from its mother and destined for slaughter but was rescued by an activist at the last minute.

There are some famous symbols that we are going to introduce below which are usually used in vegan-themed tattoos to make a statement:

1. A Vegan Symbol Tattoo
2. An Animal Portrait Tattoo
3. A Tribute to Nature Tattoo
4. A Plant-Based Diet Tattoo
5. An “I Love Animals” Tattoo
6. An Anti-Speciesism Tattoo
7. An Animal Rights Quote Tattoo
8. A “Go Veggie” Tattoo
9. A Peaceful Coexistence Tattoo
10. An “Eat More Plants” Tattoo
11. A Pro-Vegan Message Tattoo
12. An Animal Outline Tattoo
13. A Farm Sanctuary Tattoo
14. A Compassion for All Tattoo
15. A Leafy Vegetable Tattoo
16. An Avocado Tattoo
17. A Vegan Flag Tattoo
18. An Animal Rights Activist Tattoo
19. A Leafy Wreath Tattoo
20. An Eco-Friendly Tattoo

Introducing some of the famous vegan tattoo shops

If you don’t want to put time into double-checking every product in the tattooing process we suggest you choose a vegan tattoo shop and just relax. The names introduced below are some of the vegan tattoo shops in which everything is vegan from the ink up to material and aftercare products so you don’t need to worry about a thing.

• Aenima – Paris, France
• Fifth Dimension Tattoo Shop – Shoreditch, London, UK
• Sea Shepherd Tattoo – Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Gristle Tattoo – Brooklyn, New York
• Arcane Body Arts – Vancouver, Canada
• Scapegoat Tattoo – Portland, Oregon, USA
• Down to Earth Tattoos – Melbourne, Australia
• Common Difference Tattoo Co – Austin, Texas

FAQ

1. Is vegan tattoo ink easy to remove?

Vegan tattoo ink is just as permanent as traditional tattoo ink.

2. How long do the vegan tattoos usually last?

Vegan ink lasts just as long as the previous inks. The reason why tattoos fade is because they’re either exposed to the sun or in other words UV light, or are in an area that needs frequent exfoliating, or the tattoos are applied using subpar ink.

3. Does vegan tattoo ink cost more?

Not necessarily. There are some inks bank on the fact that they are vegan and actually charge a premium.

4. Are there heavy metals in vegan tattoo ink?

Manufacturers making vegan tattoo inks for the vegan market will usually replace animal by-products, such as animal glycerin, with vegetable glycerin. While many of the toxins in organic inks may be missing, they can still contain heavy metals, such as titanium oxide.

5. Are vegan tattoos more painful?

No, the composition of vegan tattoo inks will not change the pain factor at all because the ink will diffuse in the exact same way as normal ink.

Conclusion

Getting a tattoo as a vegan is entirely possible, thanks to the increasing availability of vegan-friendly tattooing options. By understanding the differences between vegan and traditional tattoos, finding certified vegan tattoo artists and shops, and selecting appropriate vegan tattoo ink and aftercare products, you can ensure your body art aligns with your vegan values. With the information provided in this comprehensive guide, you can confidently embark on your journey to get a cruelty-free and ethically conscious tattoo. Remember to do your research, ask the right questions, and seek out vegan tattoo artists who share your commitment to animal welfare and veganism.

We hope that this article has answered the question “Can you get a tattoo as a vegan?” and give you all the information you might need about the vegan tattoo process and products. But if there’s still something you want to know about that we haven’t covered, feel free to leave a comment and we’ll be more than happy to discuss it with you.

Resources

1. https://vegantattoostudios.com
2. https://vegantattoostudios.com/interview-with-vegan-tattoo-studio-gristle-tattoo/
3. https://tattooswizard.com/blog/all-you-wanted-to-know-about-vegan-tattoos
4. https://americanoize.medium.com/a-vegan-tattoo-experience-561a329daa6c
5. https://theveganreview.com/vegan-tattoos-your-cruelty-free-guide/

Eli Carsoun

I went vegan because veganism alone expresses my deep abiding love for all of nature, including animals yes, but also the people who are starving in other countries because so much of the grains we produce in the west go to feed livestock. I love cows and have patted them on farms outside the city. They respond with such love that it could make me cry. I’m going to say that anyone who doesn’t eat a healthy diet will eventually suffer health consequences. but there’s nothing unhealthy about a vegan diet and in fact many health experts say it’s the best possible diet for optimal health. Vegans and meat-eaters can both eat unhealthy diets, but there is nothing about a plant-based diet that would cause someone to be unhealthy. I suspect that most vegans pay more attention to healthy nutrition than non-vegans. Consider this: if a plant-based diet was unhealthy, wouldn't you expect to see vegan wards in hospitals? Or hear doctors warning people to not be vegans, or meat industry funded studies linking veganism and vegetarianism to disease? No. Instead, we have a huge problem with heart disease, clogged arteries, and obesity, none of which seem to happen to vegans. Almost every major health group, from government to private organizations, recommends a plant-based diet. I cannot point fingers at non-vegans. I was one for far too long. I was asleep at the wheel, unaware of what I was engaging in when I took a bite of a chicken or fish, or had ice cream. My life is better now, and veganism has made it so. I went vegan because veganism alone expresses my deep abiding love for all of nature, including animals yes, but also the people who are starving in other countries because so much of the grains we produce in the west go to feed livestock. I love cows and have patted them on farms outside the city. They respond with such love that it could make me cry. I’m going to say that anyone who doesn’t eat a healthy diet will eventually suffer health consequences. but there’s nothing unhealthy about a vegan diet and in fact many health experts say it’s the best possible diet for optimal health. Vegans and meat-eaters can both eat unhealthy diets, but there is nothing about a plant-based diet that would cause someone to be unhealthy. I suspect that most vegans pay more attention to healthy nutrition than non-vegans. Consider this: if a plant-based diet was unhealthy, wouldn't you expect to see vegan wards in hospitals? Or hear doctors warning people to not be vegans, or meat industry funded studies linking veganism and vegetarianism to disease? No. Instead, we have a huge problem with heart disease, clogged arteries, and obesity, none of which seem to happen to vegans. Almost every major health group, from government to private organizations, recommends a plant-based diet.