Aaron HarrisEnglish 1102Prof. BishopDecember 7, 2013Tattoo Inks: From Past to PresentTattoo inks have come a long way from the past to the present. The history of tattoo ink dates back to prehistoric times. The evolution of tattoos and inks has mostly been a journey of trial and error experiences by tattoo artists, both professional and amateur, who have dared to try new things and create tattoo inks out of different things. The Scientific American Journal explains how tattoo ink is placed: “Tattoo ink is placed via needles into the dermis layer of the skin, where it remains permanently” (Scientific American, 3rd paragraph). Some of the first materials used in making tattoo ink were "colored sand, charred nuts, bricks, and soot from a burned Bible" (Hammonds, Sandi, paragraph 1). Vegan and organic tattoo inks are known to be the safest and highest quality tattoo inks due to the concentration of pigments. When someone decides to get a tattoo, they usually think that the ink will last forever. Unfortunately, time is not always on our side when it comes to aging and having tattoos. Blake Schwaller, a tattoo artist, states, “With each division of a cell to create a new one, a small fraction of the ink from your tattoo moves to another location in the new cell” (Schwaller, Blake – Section 4). As this process occurs more and more, the tattoo will fade. The ink will also break down in skin tissues causing it to spread and fade. There really isn't a way to stop this process as the new skin cells must constantly regenerate. The sun destroys the pigments present in tattoo ink with any prolonged exposure to the sun. Obviously, if you're in the sun a lot, it doesn't matter the quality or concentration of the ink... half the paper... The ink of use has a much higher pigment load than any other ink on the market today and it is a completely vegan organic pigment” (Fusion Ink, Section 1). Many tattoo ink manufacturers don't include in their information whether their inks are metal-based or organic, and this company does. This speaks well of the company, even if the inks are a little more expensive than other companies. I feel at peace knowing that the inks are safe for my customers. Organic inks, which are my personal professional preference, are the safest on the market. These types of inks are typically derived from plant matter. Vegan inks also belong to the same class as organic inks and are rated just as safe as organic inks. Organic inks are also safe to digest. I personally have no intention of digesting tattoo ink, but if I were going to at least I know it's safe.