Due to the aesthetic domination of photos on social media and a surge in dark blackwork tattoos, blackout tattoos have lately grown in popularity. Many people use this type of ink to hide old, outdated, or otherwise unappealing tattoos. 

But are blackout tattoos good for your skin? Are they a type of cultural appropriation? Would getting one hurt more than a regular design? For further information, read on. 

What Is a Blackout Tattoo?

A blackout tattoo involves a significant portion of the body (usually the arms or legs) tattooed with a solid, opaque coating of black ink. Blackout tattoos are made by covering a wide area of the body with black ink, so they are commonly used to cover previous tattoos, but they're becoming more popular as first-pass tattoos as well.

The process of sitting for a blackout tattoo is laborious and time-consuming. The larger the area you want to fill, the more sessions your artist will require, which means more significant discomfort overall. 

Additionally, because blackout tattoos are supposed to be entirely solid, your traditional tattoo artists in Denver will most likely need to go over locations several times to guarantee an even and saturated color distribution. Even when the tiniest portion of skin is left blank or somewhat translucent, the entire look can be ruined. 

While it may appear like a blackout tattoo would take longer to cure, the procedure is similar to any other tattoo. It takes around two weeks to heal partially and six months to fully heal. 

What are the Disadvantages of Blackout Tattoos? 

Blackout tattoos have a few disadvantages. For one thing, splattering a wide area of skin with black ink obscures the natural flesh beneath. This can cause skin disorders like melanoma and skin abnormalities that may be difficult to identify. If you're concerned about the health of your skin, or if you have a family history of skin problems, blackout tattoos may not be the ideal choice for you.

In addition, blackout tattoos are also not especially enjoyable for blackwork tattoo artists since they will be sitting for hours performing the same thing again and over. While your tattoo artist does not have to be enthusiastic about the design you choose, it does help them to make it more visually appealing if they are engaged with their work. 

Are Blackout Tattoos Cultural Appropriation?

The fact that blackout tattoos are widely regarded as cultural appropriation is maybe the biggest downside of getting one. Appropriation is characterized in this context as "the taking of something created or culturally relevant to Black people that was once a negative, shameful, sinful, ridiculed, and the reprehensible thing that received a backlash of some sort in society" and then putting it out when you're not Black, according to Elisheba Mrozik of Queen Bee Ink. 

Conclusion 

Getting a blackout tattoo unknowingly promotes white supremacy and maintains institutional racism by disregarding the evident consequence of a blackout tattoo. It may be best to explore your options for custom tattoos such as realism or photorealism tattoos. 

Certified Tattoo Studios has made its mark as Colorado's premier certified customs tattoo destination, with 3 locations growing. Check out the best tattoo art style for you and book a consultation today!