VEGAN TATTOOS AREN'T AS NEW AS YOU THINK

As Virat Kohli's new vegan ink sparks buzz, tattoo artists and studio owners share how most tattoo inks are already vegan. But the real twist lies not in what goes under the skin but what surrounds the process

- Aadrika Sominder [e-mail]

When cricketer Virat Kohli debuted his latest tattoo, the spotlight quickly shifted from the design to one label, 'vegan ink'. It sounded like a new-age upgrade, but here's the twist: chances are, your tattoos are vegan, too!

WHAT MAKES A TATTOO 'VEGAN'?

Earlier, tattoo inks often contained animal-derived ingredients such as glycerin from animal fats, gelatin and even bone char for black pigments. Today, that has largely changed.

Most inks used in India are imported from the US, where vegan-certified formulations have become the norm. This means animal-based ingredients have been replaced with plant-based or synthetic alternatives, without affecting the colour, quality or longevity of the tattoo.

BEYOND THE INK