# Color tattoos in Seattle

> Color tattoos use colored pigments, not just black and grey, to create everything from bold new school cartoons to color realism and vivid botanicals. Color makes a design pop and read from a distance, but it takes longer to tattoo and heal, fades faster in the sun, and carries a higher risk of allergic reactions, especially red ink.

- Also called: color tattoo, colour tattoo, full color tattoo, color realism, new school tattoo, bright tattoo
- Typical Seattle cost (palm-sized): $450–$1000 (Packing solid color takes time. Expect about 2.5–4 hours at palm size.)
- How well it ages (1–5): 3
- Best placements: Outer forearm, Upper arm, Calf, Thigh, Back
- Page: https://seattle-tattoo.org/styles/color

Color has been part of Western tattooing since traditional flash, but modern pigments have widened the range enormously. Today's color work includes saturated new school cartoons, which grew out of traditional's influence, smooth color realism, botanical illustration and neon-bright pieces. It's less a single style than an approach that can be layered onto many styles.

Packing color means going over the skin until each area is fully saturated, which takes more time than black and grey and can mean more swelling and a longer heal. Skin tone affects which colors show: bright, saturated hues and strong outlines read best on deeper skin tones, while pale pastels show more on lighter skin. A good artist will tell you honestly how your colors will heal.

Color gets an aging score of 3 out of 5. Saturated color with black outlines can last for decades, but colored pigments are more sensitive to sunlight than black. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that UV light can fade some tattoo inks and that red is the most common culprit in ink allergies. Seattle's cloudy skies don't fully protect you, since up to 80% of UV can get through clouds.

## Defining traits

- Saturated colored pigments
- Smooth color blends or flat fills
- Often paired with black outlines
- Longer sessions to pack color
- Palette planned for skin tone

## Studios listing color work

- [Cleopatra Ink Seattle](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/cleopatra-ink-seattle) — 1523 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 · (206) 699-2822 · https://www.cleopatraink.com/en/studios/seattle-tattoo-and-piercing-studio · Featured: Seattle Tattoo and Cleopatra Ink Seattle share ownership.
- [True Love Tattoo & Art Gallery](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/true-love-tattoo-art-gallery) — 421 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122 · (206) 227-3572 · https://www.trueloveart.com
- [Ghostline Tattoo and Gallery](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/ghostline-tattoo-and-gallery) — 249 4th St, Bremerton, WA 98337 · (360) 689-0568 · https://ghostlinetattoos.com
- [The Roost](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/the-roost) — 315 N Main St #3311, Ellensburg, WA 98926 · (509) 201-1044 · https://www.theroosttattoostudio.com
- [Five Star Tattoo Co](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/five-star-tattoo-co) — 715 W Main St Unit 114, Battle Ground, WA 98604 · (360) 687-8081 · https://fivestartattoo.com
- [Bakers Dozen](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/bakers-dozen) — 307 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98501 · (360) 972-3868 · https://www.bakersdozentattoo.com
- [Tattoo Pizzazz](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/tattoo-pizzazz) — 6021 California Ave SW #C, Seattle, WA 98136 · (757) 407-9229 · https://www.tattoopizzazz.com
- [Fortunata Tattoo Studio](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/fortunata-tattoo-studio) — 121 W Pacific Ave Suite 400, Spokane, WA 99201 · (509) 960-8974 · https://www.fortunata.studio
- [Ink DaVinci Tattoo Shop](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/ink-davinci-tattoo-shop) — 1512 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 · (206) 556-7666 · https://inkdavincitattoos.com
- [WWBA Studio Seattle](https://seattle-tattoo.org/studios/wwba-studio-seattle) — 1716 E Olive Way, Seattle, WA 98102 · (206) 665-5290 · https://www.worldwidebadass.com

## Artists listing color work

- [Aidan Wright](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/aidan-wright) — Tattoo artist · Main Ave Tattoo (Spokane, WA) · Fine Line, American Traditional, Japanese (Irezumi), Black and Grey, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aidanwrighttattoos
- [Alyssa](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/alyssa-finer-things-tattoo) — Tattoo artist · Finer Things Tattoo (South Lake Union, Seattle) · Neo-Traditional, Script and Lettering, Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sinistrum_tattoo
- [Andrew Enos](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/andrew-enos) — Tattoo artist · Gray State Tattoo (Marysville, WA) · Japanese (Irezumi), Black and Grey, Realism, Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enos.tattoo
- [Archie Bronson](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/archie-bronson) — Owner and tattoo artist · Blood Orange (Fremont, Seattle) · Black and Grey, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tattoosbyarchie
- [Ashly](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/ashly-steam-ink-tattoo) — Tattoo artist · Steam & Ink Tattoo (Woodland, WA) · Neo-Traditional, Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grimsolaire_tattoos
- [Bee](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/bee-skye-tattoo) — Tattoo artist · Skye Tattoo (Arlington, WA) · Blackwork, Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chai.bees
- [Bill Wang](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/bill-wang) — Tattoo artist · Main Ave Tattoo (Spokane, WA) · American Traditional, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/billwang1
- [Brandi](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/brandi-bakers-dozen) — Tattoo artist · Bakers Dozen (Olympia, WA) · Anime, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bdavistattoos
- [Candy](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/candy-tygerwolf-tattoo) — Tattoo artist · TygerWolf Tattoo (Tacoma, WA) · Fine Line, Illustrative, Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candywang.tattoo
- [Cass Brown](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/cass-brown) — Tattoo artist · The Copper Wolf (Tumwater, WA) · Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grayillu
- [Charlie White](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/charlie-white) — Owner and tattoo artist · Stray Cat Tattoo (Snohomish, WA) · American Traditional, Neo-Traditional, Japanese (Irezumi), Realism, Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tattoosbycharliewhite
- [Chloe Rozo](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/chloe-rozo) — Tattoo artist · True Love Tattoo & Art Gallery (Capitol Hill, Seattle) · Fine Line, Blackwork, Black and Grey, Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chloerozo
- [Clayton Merrit](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/clayton-merrit) — Tattoo artist · The Roost (Ellensburg, WA) · Black and Grey, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claytonmerritttattoos
- [Codie Christel](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/codie-christel) — Apprentice tattoo artist · The Nova Expansion (Queen Anne, Seattle) · American Traditional, Neo-Traditional, Japanese (Irezumi), Black and Grey, Dotwork, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codietattoo
- [Crystal Scott](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/crystal-scott) — Tattoo artist · Auralite Art Collective (Spokane, WA) · Black and Grey, Realism, Micro-Realism, Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/switchbladecrystal
- [Dani Silva](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/dani-silva) — Tattoo artist · Blood Orange (Fremont, Seattle) · Black and Grey, Realism, Watercolor, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doomsdaydani
- [David Jennings](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/david-jennings) — Tattoo artist · Visualize Tattoo (Tacoma, WA) · Black and Grey, Realism, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidjenningstattoos
- [Denise Pinto](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/denise-pinto) — Tattoo artist · Rabid Hands Tattoo (Ballard, Seattle) · Black and Grey, Illustrative, Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainbowsofpain
- [Derrick](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/derrick-dying-wish-tattoo) — Tattoo artist · Dying Wish Tattoo (SoDo, Seattle) · Black and Grey, Anime, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tattoosbyderrick
- [Doc Blackwolf](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/doc-blackwolf) — Tattoo artist · Rabid Hands Tattoo (Ballard, Seattle) · American Traditional, Neo-Traditional, Japanese (Irezumi), Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artoftheblackwolf
- [Elijah](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/elijah-bakers-dozen) — Tattoo artist · Bakers Dozen (Olympia, WA) · Black and Grey, Realism, Illustrative, Script and Lettering, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimsynmoi
- [Em Alderks](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/em-alderks) — Tattoo artist · Rabid Hands Tattoo (Ballard, Seattle) · Neo-Traditional, Black and Grey, Realism, Illustrative, Anime, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emalderkstattoos
- [Ezzy Juarez](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/ezzy-juarez) — Tattoo artist · The Nova Expansion (Queen Anne, Seattle) · Fine Line, Neo-Traditional, Japanese (Irezumi), Black and Grey, Realism, Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezzy.arttt
- [Frankie](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/frankie-alley-cat-tattoo-co) — Tattoo artist · Alley Cat Tattoo Co. (Everett, WA) · Black and Grey, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankiesdarkarts
- [George Long](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/george-long) — Owner and tattoo artist · True Love Tattoo & Art Gallery (Capitol Hill, Seattle) · Fine Line, American Traditional, Black and Grey, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgelongtattoo
- [Hildur Blom](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/hildur-blom) — Tattoo artist · Rabid Hands Tattoo (Ballard, Seattle) · Fine Line, Blackwork, Black and Grey, Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hildurblom
- [JacieLee](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/jacielee-foundation-body-arts) — Tattoo artist · Foundation Body Arts (Lynnwood, WA) · Fine Line, Neo-Traditional, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacieleetattoo
- [Jack](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/jack-bakers-dozen) — Tattoo artist · Bakers Dozen (Olympia, WA) · Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krypt.ink
- [Jake](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/jake-bakers-dozen) — Tattoo artist · Bakers Dozen (Olympia, WA) · Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaketorresink
- [Jasmine McNallie](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/jasmine-mcnallie) — Owner and tattoo artist · Gray State Tattoo (Marysville, WA) · Black and Grey, Realism, Script and Lettering, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcnalliejasmine
- [Jon](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/jon-tygerwolf-tattoo) — Tattoo artist · TygerWolf Tattoo (Tacoma, WA) · Fine Line, Neo-Traditional, Blackwork, Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sage.jon.tattoo
- [Jordan](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/jordan-steadfast-art-collective) — Tattoo artist · Steadfast Art Collective (Kirkland, WA) · Fine Line, American Traditional, Neo-Traditional, Japanese (Irezumi), Black and Grey, Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decadenttattoos
- [Jose Rodriguez III](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/jose-rodriguez-iii) — Tattoo artist · West Seattle Tattoo (West Seattle, Seattle) · Black and Grey, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joserodriguez3rd
- [Juan](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/juan-tattoo-asylum) — Tattoo artist · Tattoo Asylum (Tacoma, WA) · Neo-Traditional, Black and Grey, Realism, Watercolor, Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barquisimeto_ink_tattoo
- [Juan](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/juan-the-roost) — Tattoo artist · The Roost (Ellensburg, WA) · Black and Grey, Realism, Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meme_tattoos
- [Kamil Qurbanov](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/kamil-qurbanov) — Tattoo artist · Cleopatra Ink (Tacoma, WA) · Japanese (Irezumi), Realism, Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamil_inki
- [Kendal](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/kendal-lilith-tattoo) — Tattoo artist · Lilith Tattoo (Central District, Seattle) · Neo-Traditional, Black and Grey, Realism, Illustrative, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lub.dub.tattoo
- [Kirsten](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/kirsten-skye-tattoo) — Tattoo artist · Skye Tattoo (Arlington, WA) · Black and Grey, Realism, Illustrative, Color, Cover-Up · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/one_flesh_art
- [Konner O'Neall](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/konner-oneall) — Tattoo artist · Main Ave Tattoo (Spokane, WA) · American Traditional, Black and Grey, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/konner_tattoos_
- [Kyla Oyamot](https://seattle-tattoo.org/artists/kyla-oyamot) — Tattoo artist · Auralite Art Collective (Spokane, WA) · American Traditional, Color · Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylatattoos

## FAQ

**Do color tattoos fade faster than black?**
Generally, yes. Colored pigments are more vulnerable to UV light than black, and lighter colors show fading first. Well-saturated color with black outlines still lasts for decades with good sun protection. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30+ sunscreen on healed tattoos.

**Can you be allergic to colored tattoo ink?**
Yes. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, red ink is most often the culprit, though any color can cause a reaction. It can appear right away or years later, usually as itching, raised bumps or swelling limited to one color. See a board-certified dermatologist if it lasts more than a week or two.

## Sources

- [Caring for tattooed skin](https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/caring-for-tattooed-skin)
- [Tattoos: 7 unexpected skin reactions and what to do about them](https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/tattoos/tattoo-skin-reactions)
- [Sunscreen FAQs](https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/sunscreen-patients/sunscreen-faqs)