Recommended Artists for Black and Grey Tattoos: Andy, Paul
As the name suggests a black and grey work is a type of shading using only black and grey ink. It’s believed that the style originated from prisons sometime in the 1970’s but was later popularized by tattoo shops who added to the technique and made it much more sanitary for the client.
What is the technique behind Black and Grey?
Black and Gray Tattoos create layers by diluting black ink with distilled water. This creates what is known as a “wash” that gives some lighter shades vs dark shades. Some tattoo artists also create a “wash” by mixing black and white ink in proportion to create thicker and brighter results. Using the former mentioned method does take more time. The style has become some popular that many tattoo ink companies side a wide array of grey shades to help ease the process today. The critical part of any black-and-grey tattoo is the shading itself. Without strong black tones a black and grey tattoo will fade over time and this is accounted for by the artist and is anticipated to bring more contrast to the tattoo, this style of shading requires a high level of skill and should only be attempted by professionals.
What types of tattoos can be done in black and grey style?
Black and Grey can accompany almost any style that requires shading. It’s used world wide as a style of shading in tattoos. You can commonly see it used in realism styles tattoos to set layers for the tattoos and ensure an accurate feel for the tattoo.
