How to make tattoo ink - 5 Steps

There are several ways to make tattoo ink. Using wood ash and white liquor to make organic tattoo ink is a cheap but sterilized option. You can also use dry ink pigments with medical-grade liquids to make a tattoo ink that mimics what tattoo artists use in their shops. Safety is important when mixing tattoo ink, so be sure to wear gloves and a mask that covers both your mouth and nose.

Burns wood to create ashes. In order for wood ashes to work well as tattoo ink, you must completely burn the wood that you will be using. The ashes must be totally black, without the natural color of the wood remaining visible. They also need to be completely cool before you use them.

Different types of wood will give you slightly different color tones when the ashes are used as ink. Lighter woods will produce a grayer pigment. Darker woods will produce a blacker pigment.

Once you have burned the wood of your choice to create the ashes, you will need to grind the burned wood. The ash particles should be as fine as possible to produce a smooth and easily usable ink.

To create tattoo ink from wood ash, you will need to mix the ashes with a liquid. Some people recommend using distilled water, but this can still put some bacteria at risk from getting under your skin as you insert the needle. Instead, use a clear liquor, such as vodka or gin, as a liquid base. The alcohol will kill any bacteria and the clarity of the alcohol will not change the color of the ink.

Combine the ashes and clear liquor by blending them in a blender for 10 to 20 minutes. The consistency should be milky, a little thicker than water, but more watery than a paste, and should not have any chunks. 

It is difficult to recommend an exact ash-to-liquid ratio for mixing, as it will depend on how finely you grind the ashes, the type of wood you use, and the pigmentation you want in the ink. It is better to add liquid slowly. Remember that you can always add more but you cannot remove.

If you are doing a larger tattoo, be sure to write down the amounts of ash and liquid you use. You may have to mix more than one batch of ink, and knowing the exact measurements keeps the pigment of the ink consistent.

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