Tattoos are art, not just ink. It is art on a living, breathing canvas: your skin. A frequently asked question is: “What color of skin do tattoos look best on?”

The answer? Tattoos look great on every color of skin, the trick is to know how the different pigments will react with the different complexion colors. Let’s look at what really matters in tattoos and skin color!

Why does Skin Color Play into Tattooing?

Tattoo ink is placed below your skin, not applied topically — therefore, your skin color will play a major role in how those colors will be perceived. Think of your skin as a translucent filter. The ink will not change, but what it looks like depends on the skin tone it is viewed through.

What are the Best tattoo Colors for Different Skin Tones?

1. Fair or Light Skin

• What works well: Almost every color!
• Why: Light skin is like a blank canvas, it can display bright colors as well as more subtle colors.
• Colors that are good: Pastels, white ink, soft blues, light greens, with detail shading.

What to watch for: Fading and sunburn, lighter skin is more UV sensitive and will experience more fading and control is required more.

2. Olive or Medium Skin

• What works well: Rich, bold.
• Why: A medium skin tone provides a natural warmth, and bold colors will complement the skin and pop.
• Great color choices: Red, orange, royal blue, emerald green.

Things to note: Lighter shades may not perform as well.

3. Brown Skin

• What works well: Liable saturation colors and black ink.
• Why: Brown skin creates warmth which performs well with well-saturated and strong color.
• Great color choices: Crimson, navy, burnt orange, forest green, and black lines.

Things to note: Very light colors like pastels and yellow could appear dull.

4. Dark or Deep Skin

• What works well: Bold, high-contrast designs.
• Why: Darker tones can elevate rich colors and darker inks.
• Great color choices: Black, dark red, dark green, purple, and bold line arts.

Things to note: Very light colors like white, pastels are more likely to not be very visible, or just fade quickly.

Are Black & Gray Tattoos Good for All Skin Tones?

Definitely. Black and gray tattoos work on every skin tone, as color vibrancy is not relied upon. With darker skin, artists can go with bolder lines and deeper shading that will provide definition for more longevity.

The Artist Makes a Difference

No matter your skin tone, nothing is more important than finding an artist who:

• Has an understanding of color theory, pigment and how it shows on various complexions.
• Has done a variety of tattooed skin tones. (P.S. ask them for examples)
• Has experience tattooing many skin tones (ask for healed tattoos).
• Adjusts processes to fit skin type and tone.

This prevents your chosen design looks great from day 1, but it also would age extremely well.

Pro Tip: Aftercare Affects Final Outcome

No matter what color skin you have, how it is taken care of during the healing process affects what it’ll look like in the long term. Use fragrance-free, unscented lotion, protect it from the sun, and listen to your artist’s aftercare guidelines.

Conclusion

So, what skin color do tattoos look best on? All of them.

The approach is to:

• Select colors that complement your naturally occurring skin tone.
• Use a talented artist.
• Be aware of how ink sits on your skin.

From that point, you can pick a winning combination, and the tattoo will pop – no matter who wears it.

Read about: How to Dye Flax Linen Naturally to an Oatmeal Color?