What Is The Full History of Black and Grey Tattoos?
Black and grey tattoos are often called Jailhouse tattoos because they are said to have originated in prisons in the 1970s, though actually their appearance is much older, with evidence of tattoos found on female mummies tracing back to ancient Egypt (2000 BC), and even presumed therapeutic tattoo patterns found on the joints of an Iceman named Otzi (3350 BC), whose mummified body was discovered dating back to the Copper Age.” Undoubtedly, the practice of tattooing has been passed down through the ages, and in the former case, black and grey tattoos are thought to have been re-popularized by prison tattoos, jailhouse tattoos, or joint style tattoos in the 1970s, because inmates used the limited resources available in jail yards to pass the hours giving each other permanent reminders of their loved ones, deceased family and friends, affiliations and creeds. The jailhouse tattoo artists often used guitar strings for needles and cigarette ashes or pen ink to produce tattoos.
Fast forward to the present day and the basic building blocks of tattooing, needles and black ink—with intricate shading—remain at the heart of all successful black and gray tattoos. Black and grey or black and white tattooing has naturally evolved over time while in many cases remaining symbolically faithful to its origins. As a result, the art and techniques that are being created today are truly breathtaking.
Why Shading Is So Important in Black and Gray Tattoo Techniques?
The primary aspect separating the best black and gray tattoo artists is their shading technique. The best tattoo artists understand the different variations for shading based on how they tune a tattoo machine, and mix the shading inks. Shading gives dimension to your tattoo, making it come alive in the eye of the observer, and is often achieved by tattoo artists working from darker to lighter areas of the tattoo. Utilizing multiple cups of ink, tattoo artists create many shades of black by diluting ink cups some with only black ink, and others with more or less water or white ink mixed in, which effectively gives them different shades of black and gray ink to work with on your tattoo (hence the name black and gray/white tattoos).
Excellent shading can also bring life to an old tattoo error that was not done right the first time. In fact, poor shading is the reason many people seek tattoo coverups. A tattoo artist with excellent technique can often correct an original tattoo that never had definitive shading or has faded because of improper methods, as well as creatively shading the old tattoo to create a new tattoo that is superior. Tuning the tattoo machine with the right speed is also vital in the process of shading, as slower speeds create lighter shades, while faster speeds return darker shades with more ink penetrating the skin at one time. When great technique is combined between the speed of the tattoo machine, the mix of the tattoo ink, and the shading of the tattoo on the skin, a vibrant black and gray tattoo will remain that stands the test of time.
