Vibrant Yellow Ink: Tattoo Design Ideas for Dark Skin Tones

Beauty

10 Dec

Tattoos are an integral part of my culture. From affiliation tattoos on young men to aged tattoos that told of rebellion on older women, growing up in that environment always made me want one for myself. However, where most of the tattoos I saw were etched in black or red ink, I wanted my tattoos to be colourful, rich in pink and blue and, of course, yellow. But like many people of colour, I grew up hearing the odd notion that coloured tattoos could not be done on dark skin.

Today, I know more about tattoos and have seen the work of exceptional artists on the internet who include bright colours like yellow in their work. So, if you have melanated skin and are considering getting a yellow tattoo like I am, we’ve curated eight design ideas for dark skin, all from talented tattooists. But first, why yellow?

Why Yellow Tattoos Pop on Dark Skin

Colours may show up easily on white skin, but that does not mean dark skin cannot have colour on it, too. Tattooing colours onto dark skin does however need some tweaking and colour theory. The intensity or visibility of a tattoo depends on the contrast between your skin and the ink of your choice.

Yellow has the propensity to show up on dark skin because it is, by nature, a bold and bright colour. Dark skin also tends to have a warm undertone, which may contribute to the pop of colour yellow adds to tattoos done on such skin. And for those with cooler undertones, it is still possible to have yellow on. All you need is a tattoo artist who understands how your skin’s undertone can impact the colour and how to tweak it accordingly.

The Colour Psychology of Yellow

Like the sun, yellow is associated with warmth, hope, and enthusiasm. In spaces, yellow is used decoratively to add a pop of colour due to its brightness and vitality. Likewise, it is used in tattoos because of its rich character. But not all shades of yellow look good on dark skin, and choosing the right shade can be the difference between a tattoo you love and one you wish you had never gotten.

How to Choose the Right Shade of Yellow

Yellow comes in shades like lemon, golden yellow, and even warmer tones like sunset yellow. To choose the right shade of yellow, you can opt for a colour test tattoo or a patch test, where tiny amounts of ink are applied to your skin to observe how they heal over the weeks. The patch test could either include several colours like red and indigo, or could consist of a range of shades of the same colour, like cool-toned lime to sunset yellow. Getting a colour test will help you note how the yellow ink heals on your skin before you finally commit to your desired tattoo.

Another factor to consider when choosing a shade of yellow is your undertone. Some people of colour have warm undertones, others olive and cool undertones. Your tattoo artist can help you come to a more informed decision by showing you a colour chart with different shades and undertones and guiding you during decision-making.

Lastly, we highly recommend going to a tattooist who works/has worked with colours on dark skin. Check out their work; if their post-healing tattoo pictures are not provided, you could also ask to see them. As tattoos age, colours like yellow can look washed out or become less visible. As such, seeing what their work looks like as it ages is an essential pre-tattoo session step. Doing this will ensure you know what their work looks like on similar skin and help you feel more confident during the process.