If you're currently in the market for a new tattoo, chances are you've heard of black light tattoos. Created with special ink, they glow in the dark under UV light — so, do black light tattoos cost more than regular tattoos?
Well, unfortunately yes — they do tend to be slightly more expensive. As with all tattoos, specific rates vary based on placement, size, and complexity, but as tattoo artist Scott Cook of Independent Ink tells Bustle over email, “Typically, I only charge a little bit more.” He goes on to explain, "The main difficulty is having a black light next to you as you work." He also notes that the special UV ink is slightly more difficult to work with as well, as it's "a little bit harder to get into the skin."
So, how much more exactly are they? Again, price varies greatly depending on the specific tattoo you have in mind and the time it'll take to complete it, but as a ballpark, Cook explains that he'd generally charge about $50 to $100 more for a fairly-standard $200 tattoo, if he's working with UV ink. Luckily, it’s not too much of a price bump, and shouldn’t act as a huge deterrent — especially since regular tattoos are already pricey (as well they should be, for the time, effort, and expertise they take to complete).
That said, before you shell out the bucks, it's also worth noting that there hasn't been as much testing done with UV tattoos, and they aren't actually FDA-approved, as Bustle previously reported, which means that not all tattoo parlors will do them for you. Still though, it’s not too difficult to find a reputable place in your area who will get the job done, as long as you do your due diligence with some black light tattoo research.
Besides, it's definitely a hot trend (although it's been around since the neon-loving days of the '90s) and there are tons of covetable black light tattoo inspirations all over Instagram and the like. It’s easy to fall in love with most of the innovative designs.
What do you think? Definitely seems worth the extra money to me!
Images: jayvoscott/Instagram; Giphy
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