Similar looks (both under $20!!) : HERE & HERE
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When did things get so complicated?? When I went to get my tattoo (in my vegetarian but pre-vegan days), it didn’t even occur to me that by getting inked I was contributing to anything other than my mother’s horror; animal cruelty was certainly nowhere on my radar. This time around, though, if I do decide to become “further illustrated,” I will be doing my research. Starting with:
- {THE FACTS} Tattoo supplies are traditionally rife with animal products. Glycerin from animal fat is a “stabilizer” in the ink, and bone char is often incorporated in order to get a super-stark “blackest black” color. Shellac from beetles and gelatin from hooves are used in some ink varieties. The good news is that there are now lots of animal-friendly versions on the market… You just need to make sure that your shop carries or can order them. Note: Black coloring is the main concern. Also note: At this point, most HIGH END tattoo experiences are vegan-ISH at this point, because most of the super high end, more modern inks are not filtered with bone marrow anymore.
- {THE SHOP} You may want to look into going into an all-vegan tattoo shop; randomly, there are plenty of them around, which ensures that the entire process would be cruelty-free (i.e.: attention to the details, such as using soaps and lotions that are free of animal products or testing). You can obviously google (“Vegan tattoo, Dallas,” for instance), or look HERE for a list of specific artists, OR you can make it an adventure and travel to one of these famous and entirely veggie tattoo spots:
- Alchemy Tattoo in Los Angeles, CA
- Apparition Ink in Salt Lake City, Utah
- Black Diamond Tattoo in Venice, CA
- Brainwave Tattoo in Sarasota, FL
- Evolved Body Art in Columbus, OH
- Only You Tattoo in Atlanta, GA
- Pierce Ink in San Jose, CA
- Resurrection Tattoo in Austin, TX
- Scapegoat Tattoo in Portland, OR
- Skeleton Key Tattoo in Portland, OR
- Tattoo Zoo in Victoria, BC
- … And after much research, I found one in my city: Hall & Co.Gentleman Tattooers in Dallas, TX. NOTE: There is also Justin Gorby at Saints & Sinners in Dallas who does a completely vegan tattoo, in case his work is more your style, but the entire parlor is not vegan; you’d need to make sure you went to him specifically.
- {REMEMBER} This will be on your bod FOR-EV-ERRR. Keep that in mind when choosing your design and your experience.