We talk why cosmetic tattoo pigments change colour! Cosmetic tattooing or ‘semi-permanent makeup’ is designed to fade, technique and depth are one part of the puzzle. There is a lot that goes into making a pigment that fades just right.

How do you choose what pigment to use for cosmetic tattooing? Colour and retention are important, but so are the ingredients and client safety. Health authorities want pigments to be free of toxins, particularly those considered to be carcinogenic, reprotoxic (risk of causing birth defects)...

Laser removal is rarely a good option for cosmetic tattoo removal. The alternative to the expense, pain and risk of laser removal is liquid-based techniques. These are typically either saline or acid-based liquids. Keep reading to learn more!

Lots of elements come into the perfect cosmetic tattoo. Whether it be technique, shape or colour – its important to get it right! Find yourself questioning your colour choice? Here’s our advice for you!

Tattoo Removal for both Cosmetic Tattoo and Body Art, is a growth industry. But, what works best? With laser tattoo removal, a major investment is require in equipment. Isn’t it amazing the old style rotary and coil machines used for body art typically cost a few hundred $, whilst the removal lasers cost $50,000 plus?

Rotary tattoo machines operate very differently to modern digital machines. The needles in rotaries oscillate (vibrate sideways) in  the housing. This tends to rip and tear the skin, whereas a digital cartridge needle move up and down very precisely, producing nice neat perforations in the skin for the pigment.

Most cosmetic tattoo pigments contain iron, with several other metals being common. Some pigments are carbon-based (organic) with no metals. Metals will response to MRI to some degree, although the amounts in a cosmetic tattoo are obviously very small. Body art tattoos may present more of a risk as they are typically much bigger and contain various metals.

New guidelines and regulations in the European Union are encouraging a trend toward more use of “Organic” pigments. What does organic mean? In this case it means carbon-based (nothing to do with environmentally friendly production). Carbon-based pigments include a very wide range of chemicals, and much more vivid colours can be produced.