What’s Really in My Black Ink — And Why It Matters

When I work with black tattoo ink — especially my Lining Black from Eternal — I sometimes pause and really think about what it’s made of. It's more than just pigment. It’s made from carbon — the same element that lives in our breath, our bones, the trees, the fire.

Carbon is everywhere.
It’s the quiet thread that connects all living things.

It’s in plants, animals, people — and when something burns, what’s left behind is often carbon, in the form of ash or soot. That means when I place this ink into the skin, I’m not just creating art. I’m placing something ancient into the body — something that’s already moved through the Earth, through time, through transformation.

This kind of black ink comes from fossil-based materials — yes, even things like coal tar or oil residue — but when it's purified and turned into pigment, it becomes something quite beautiful. Something still alive with the memory of what came before.

To me, that is so potent and holds deep meaning. It reminds me constantly that tattooing is about transformation, connection, and remembrance. Carbon is the element of life, and also of death and rebirth. It’s the residue of fire, the shadow, the ancestor.

Not just ink.
It is Earth. It is breath. It is time.
And once it enters the skin, it becomes you.

Ingredients in Eternal Lining Black:

Distilled Water : Distilled water is water that has been purified by boiling it into steam and then condensing the steam back into liquid. This process removes minerals, salts, and most impurities, making it very pure. In tattoo ink it serves as the solvent, ensuring a smooth application.

Carbon Black : Carbon black is a fine black powder made from burning hydrocarbons (like petroleum or natural gas) in low oxygen. It’s mostly made of elemental carbon and consists of tiny carbon particles. Its base materials—hydrocarbons, come from deep within the Earth, formed from ancient organic matter over millions of years. In tattoo ink it provides the deep black pigment essential for crisp lines as well as the stability for the pigment to stay in the skin.

◇ Charging the Ink with Intention

In my own practice, I prepare my grey wash with deep care and ceremonial intention. I’ve made my grey wash by hand, programmed it with frequency of sacred geometry.

All of my inks sit on a wooden Flower of Life plate — a small altar where they are energetically charged before they ever touch the skin, honouring the material as medicine. When you receive a tattoo from me, you’re not just receiving carbon in your skin. You’re receiving earth, intention, and sacred frequency — something that lives inside you, long after the moment has passed.