43 Color Tattoos on Dark Skin That Will Inspire Your Next Appointment

Tháng Chín 10, 2021

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43 Color Tattoos on Dark Skin That Will Inspire Your Next Appointment

Unfortunately, there’s a very pervasive myth that darker skin tones cannot accommodate colorful tattoos. This makes color tattoo inspiration for folks with dark skin harder to find — and once they do find a design they love, it can be even trickier to find an artist who knows how to do the job effectively.

Yes, it’s true that colorful inks will not show up on more melanated skin the same way they do on lighter skin tones — but that doesn’t mean the colors won’t be visible at all, or we should just stick to black and gray ink. If that were the case, tattoo artists like the ones featured in this article simply would not have a job: A lot of their work involves tattooing vibrant ink on clients with brown skin.

Tattooing darker skin with color is truly not impossible. It just requires your artist to be knowledgeable about working with darker skin — specifically, how to identify undertones within darker skin tones and adapt their techniques to accommodate the many different skin tones that exist. “It boils down to knowing that you have to have a different approach, you have to experiment more, and you have to have more understanding,” Baltimore-based tattoo artist Tiaret Mitchell shares with Allure. “When you’re dealing with dark skin, you’ve got to evaluate undertones, you have to study color theory… and then apply it.” Sadly, some artists simply haven’t dedicated the time and effort to learn how to do that.

Your skin’s undertones do matter a lot. Once ink is healed, its color can shift into a different hue. For example, “let’s say you have a red undertone and you get blue [ink]; your tattoo could end up healing [into] a turquoise-green color,” Mitchell says. That’s why they highly recommend getting color tests, especially for any large pieces you want.

“Color tests are basically swatches of ink — like small little dots, squares, or whatever shape you want — where you get the [colors of the] rainbow [tattooed] to see how each heals on your skin,” before you commit to the full tattoo, they explain. While some artists might not have color tests listed on their booking pages, it’s always a good idea to ask if they can do one as part of the consultation process, Mitchell says. It’s a great way to see what shades you like best to create the tattoo of your dreams, and it helps determine if you have any potential allergies to pigment. No matter what design you’re getting it’s important to make sure it’s what you want and that you communicate your desires clearly (and respectfully, of course) with your tattooist. It’s their art, but it’s your body.

Need more proof that colorful ink can look great on darker skin? Scroll through this comprehensive inspiration guide featuring 43 tattoos (both fresh and healed) in all colors of the rainbow on various depths of brown and dark skin.

full leg tattoo of a navy blue and red vines and leaves — Courtesy of Instagram/@tiarettee

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**Going With the Flow**

There’s something distinctive about Mitchell’s artwork, which you might have already seen floating around on social media. They are known for their colorful, nature-inspired pieces, such as these navy blue and red vines and leaves that flow from the ankle up to the hip in this healed tattoo (the solid line was done by another artist). Overall, Mitchell would define their work “as an experience,” and it’s a very pleasing experience to see.

For each tattoo they draw, Mitchell offers the client a personalized aftercare routine. While healing, colorful tattoos can end up looking inflamed, scabby, and just straight-up gross sometimes because they can peel and sometimes crack. “[Colored ink] heals basically the same as black, but it looks different to the naked eye,” Mitchell says. Don’t be alarmed if your tattoo becomes very itchy at some point; that’s also to be expected. Just remember, “don’t scratch it.”

colorful skull tattoo on brown foot — Courtesy of Instagram/@aarondavistattoos

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**Grinning Skull**

Getting a foot tattoo might not be the most comfortable experience, but this intricate skull could convince you to take the plunge. We love how the blue, red, and yellow hues complement one another in this cover-up piece created by Atlanta-based tattoo artist Aaron Davis.

With his own work, Davis dispels the myth that dark skin can’t be tattooed with colorful ink. Just scroll through his Instagram and you can see all the colored tattoos he has drawn on his clients, who mostly have brown or dark skin. He’s been tattooing for about two and half years and says he knows how to tattoo dark skin simply because he does it every day. “It’s normal for me,” he says.

Throughout his tattooing career, he’s found that there isn’t a universal color that will work best for all dark skin tones. Tattoos should be created on a case-by-case basis because results ultimately depend on each client’s skin and the brand of ink each artist uses, he says.

thigh tattoo of animal skull with blue and purple flowers on brown skin — Courtesy of Instagram/@lovelivecake

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**Longhorn Skull**

Atlanta-based tattooist Charity Hamidullah, known to many as Cake, is responsible for this intricate animal skull. The bright teal and magenta add dimension to this overall beautiful piece. The upper thigh placement is also the perfect spot to showcase the work.

When searching for artists to do colorful tattoos on dark skin, Hamidullah says it’s a good idea to see their healed work, which some artists post on their Instagram pages. “Some artists make tattoos for the first initial picture and others create for longevity,” she shares. “Some artists will adapt their style so that the color will appear more vibrant on their darker clients and others will not because their style is more important.” Looking at the healed work gives you a better understanding of how someone’s work will look over time.

arm tattoo of tiny leaves in rainbow colors on brown skin — Courtesy of Instagram/@humblebeetattoo

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**Testing, Testing**

This tiny tattoo is actually a color test drawn by Toronto-based tattoo artist Brittany. You’ll notice the range of shades that represents all the colors of the rainbow with these teeny tiny leaves. It’s a perfect display of how colors can show differently on dark skin, like the yellow shade, which is much fainter than the rest, or the very vibrant blue that stands out.

thigh tattoo of purple kitty with pink flowers on light brown skin — Courtesy of Instagram/@jesvalentinetattoos

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**Furry Feline**

The upper thigh is a great location for tattoos because they can easily be shown off or hidden with clothing. It’s also the perfect spot for medium-to-large body art like this cute colorful cat drawn by Brooklyn-based artist Jessica Valentine. The adorable purple kitty looks like it’s walking down the thigh in a field of pink flowers with its mesmerizing neon-green eyes.

thigh tattoo of green tree with roots on mocha skin — Courtesy of Instagram/@liv.tats

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**Tree of Life**

The emerald-green hue in this tree etched on the skin by New York City-based tattooist Liv Novotny feels otherworldly. Though the vibrant color is gorgeous, we are equally impressed with all the great attention to detail in the tree trunk, roots, and night sky.

For their clients, Novotny’s aftercare advice is pretty simple: It’s most important to keep the tattoo clean and moisturized. “My go-to saying is ‘wash with unscented soap and moisturize with unscented lotion,'” they say.

red floral tattoo with green leaves on elbow — Courtesy of Instagram/@snaxink

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**In the Ditch**

Colorful tattoos don’t need to involve a lot of different shades. You can keep it simple with just two, as shown on this pink peony that sits in the elbow ditch area. It looks like its petals are practically flowing in the wind, thanks to talented Atlanta-based artist Debbi Snax

part of a large floral and leaf body tattoo — Courtesy of Instagram/@httpskiara

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**On the Vine**

Toronto-based tattooist Jessica Chen is responsible for this beautiful floral piece, which is fully healed in this photo. The vines extend from the back to cover part of the stomach and chest, making for a sizable tattoo. The brick-red and green shades give this otherwise minimalist piece an unexpected twist.

elaborate back tattoo of red and green lotus flowers and a woman — Courtesy of Instagram/@snaxink

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**Blooming Flowers**

Tattooer Proph Bundy created this elaborate back tattoo on fellow artist Snax. The main colorful points of the piece are the pink-and-yellow lotus flowers and forest-green leaves and buds that are placed on either side of her back. They add the perfect natural element to this overall gorgeous piece.

tattoo of green and blue hummingbird on brown skin — Courtesy of Instagram/@humblebeetattoo

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**Just a Hum**

With this tattoo, Brittany shows how playing with color and negative space really elevates the look of your body art. The vibrancy of the teal and green shades immediately stands out in this small hummingbird tattoo. Brittany captured the essence of the bird with all the little details, like the curved lines that make up the wings and vibrant feathers on the animal’s body.

Courtesy of Instagram/@kirkworkx

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Side Profile

What’s not to love about this back tattoo? Baton Rouge, Lousiana-based tattooer Kirk Boutte created a beautiful side profile of a face complete with black eyeliner that’s sharper than a Samurai’s blade. The swirls of purple and green in the background, plus the colorful blooms that seem to sway in the background, are the perfect additions.