Is laser removal of an Indian ink tattoo possible?

What is Indian ink?

Before we look at removing an Indian ink tattoo, let's look at the history of this ancestral liquid.

Indian ink, known in French as "encre de Chine", comes from Asia. Its exact origins, however, are not known. English speakers call it "India ink", while the Dutch call it "East Indian ink" - Oost-Indische Inkt.

It has travelled through eras and cultures. Initially it combined a black carbon pigment with a water-based binder, but its composition gradually evolved over the centuries. There are many types of so-called "Chinese" ink, but we do not know precisely when they appeared in history. That said, while there are many formulas, not every black ink is an Indian ink. Today it comes in various liquid preparations based on lamp black and gum-like materials. Its composition, however, is never stated on the packaging.

It is used mainly on paper for writing, drawing or painting. In past centuries it was used for the first permanent tattoos, for religious or symbolic reasons: while it was used as a punishment in China, it represented body decoration in other parts of the world. It was also used to mark prisoners and slaves.
Before the tattoo machine was invented, designs were made by hand with a needle, but sometimes also with a piece of bamboo, bone or steel. At that time, Indian ink tattoo removal did not exist, so there was no way back.

Indian ink tattoos: back in fashion

Although professional tattoo studios long ago moved from Indian ink to synthetic pigments, and from the needle to the tattoo machine, this homemade tattoo seems to be making a comeback among younger generations. The trend would confirm the idea that fashion comes full circle.

As it is not an approved tattoo ink, it is often applied by amateur artists. This return to the ancestral process is called the hand-poked tattoo. The budding tattooist creates the design freehand, as with a prison tattoo, or from a drawing, using a non-mechanised needle that is pricked directly into the dermis.

The tattoos, generally small, are done on an area where the skin is thin, such as the hands or feet. The result, with no shading or gradient, is very minimalist.

What risks does the tattooed person run?

It is important to stress that this practice is not without danger. While a tattoo studio follows strict hygiene rules and uses sterile single-use equipment, amateurs sterilise their needle (when they do it at all) with a simple flame. A needle that is not sterilised, poorly sterilised or used more than once can expose tattooed people to bacterial infections, hepatitis or HIV. Irritation and allergic reactions are also common.

On top of this comes the risk of a "botched job", with a design that fades or thickens over time. The result can indeed lack precision and look unattractive. Most often, it is the design itself that leads people to have an Indian ink tattoo removed.

It is worth remembering that while these risky practices are sometimes carried out to save money, your health, the know-how and the valuable advice of a professional tattooist are priceless.

Indian ink responds very well to laser removal

Are you looking into Indian ink tattoo removal to put right a youthful mistake you bitterly regret? Have you just been tattooed by hand and you hate the result? Are you embarrassed to have agreed to that tattoo during a dare or a night out?
The reasons that might lead you to walk through the door of a tattoo removal centre are many, and they are your own.

Rest assured, whatever method was used to create it, a tattoo is no longer irreversible today, including Indian ink. Now that you know this excellent news, you can breathe out. At any time, you can have an Indian ink tattoo removed by going to a tattoo removal centre.

At Ray studios, we make a point of listening carefully to you at your initial consultation. One of our skin therapists  will look at your tattoo and build your file, so we can share the RTP®, our projection of the number of sessions based on customers with a profile similar to yours, and explain the Full Remove plan for your Indian ink tattoo removal: unlimited sessions at a single fixed price. This consultation commits you to nothing, takes place in a caring atmosphere and lets you understand the laser technique in detail before you make your choice. It is also the moment to share your concerns and ask your questions, which we will answer as honestly and precisely as we can.

We use latest generation PicoWay® picosecond lasers, which work on all inks. After your laser tattoo removal, we will give you an aftercare protocol to help your skin recover quickly. Individual results vary.

Find our tattoo removal studios in France, Belgium and Spain.