The Difference between Henna and Ink Tattoos
If you are interested to get a tattoo but are not sure if you want to deal with the permanency of marking your skin with art, your tattoo stylist may recommend you to start with a henna tattoo. On the other hand, people who get tired of replacing their henna tattoos every few weeks or so would simply opt for permanent ink tattoos. What, exactly, is the difference between henna and ink tattoos? Is it just about the length of time that the colors can stay on your skin, or are there any other differences that are worthy to mention?
This article will serve as a guide to people who are choosing between henna and ink tattoos. Differences with regard to prices, complexity of design, lasting effects, and possible health risks will be discussed.
Prices
A major difference between henna and ink tattoos is their cost. Henna tattoos are cheaper compared to their permanent counterpart. In fact, you can even save more on your henna tattoo if you simply buy the mixture and work on the design yourself at home. A high-quality henna mixture can cost anywhere between $5-20 per sachet.
Permanent ink tattoos are more expensive because of the professional fees of the artist, the expensive skin dyes used on the skin, and the high-tech tattoo machines that are used to draw that permanent design on your skin. The price depends on the difficulty of the design, number of colors used, and the length of time it takes to complete the tattoo. Ink tattoos can cost anywhere between $300 and $5000.
Complexity of Design
When it comes to the color range and complexity of the design, ink tattoos are known to have better imagery and color depth, as compared to henna tattoos. Henna and ink tattoos look good not only because of the design but also because of the color integrated into the tattoo. Since ink tattoos have more color options and can mix tattoo dyes to get the desired hue, you can expect ink tattoos to look better. Some ink tattoos even feature shadows, gradients, and color variations in precise execution. However, if your tattoo design is simple and requires only a few colors, henna tattoo can work just fine.
Lasting Effects
Henna and ink tattoos mainly differ due to the amount of time they can last on the skin. A henna tattoo is known to last anywhere between 2 weeks to 2 months, while permanent ink tattoos will stay with you until you die or have it lasered off. If you prefer a temporary look and haven’t decided on the design, it is advisable for you to choose the henna tattoo. However, if you know exactly what you want and you are convinced that a life-long tattoo is okay with you, go for the ink tattoo. Henna and ink tattoos, however, do need touchups once in a while to keep the color looking good.
Possible Health Risks
Henna and ink tattoos are known to cause great joy to wearers as they are usually appreciated by colleagues and friends. However, henna and ink tattoos are also known to cause health risks.
Henna tattoos can cause allergies that could lead to excessive swelling, itchiness, and pain. You have to perform a skin test prior to applying henna to make sure that the mixture is alright with your skin. Permanent ink tattoos are not directly associated with serious skin conditions such as cancer, although there is a risk of HIV infection when unsterilized and recycled needles were used during tattooing.
To enjoy your henna and ink tattoos without trouble, exercise caution when choosing your henna mix or the tattooing salon where you will get the job done.