Shelf life of inks

Hi Guys

Was just checking ive read that there is a shelf life on inks after you have opened a new bottle?
Is this true?
I started tattooing over a year ago now and when i started i ordered big bottles.
The ink looks and smells ok and i have used it 2 months back. Do i dump it?

There is a symbol on the bottles with an opened jar, saying 12 months is the limit for an opened bottle.

If you don't have that symbol on your bottles I would be more concerned of the quality of the ink. Maybe cheap China ink from a kit?

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Hi
Yes i see that thanks for the info.
I currently use intenze eternal kuro sumi and dynamic inks.
Why doesnt the dynamic black ink have the jar on the bottle? Do u know what the shelf life is for that?

And if there's any concern, it will always be good for practice. I have a ton of inks from a local friend who cant use expired inks (state laws). Some are unopened and less than a year out, others are in desperate need of witch hazel to get them flowing again.

Sounds good. Its a pity good inks are so exspensive tho ?

Dynamic should have an expiration date on it, and their products are labeled as tattoo ink. I'd be worried that it might be counterfeit if it's missing the date.

Dynamic ink is not for tattooing intentionally even if everybody uses it for that, or at least that's what I've been told. I know you only find it in the drawing compartment at some suppliers therefore too And hence no need for last date.

There is some scare mongering regarding Dynamic ink at the moment as it does not conform to europe apparently, is any black ink actually approved for tattooing ?

There is some scare mongering regarding Dynamic ink at the moment as it does not conform to europe apparently, is any black ink actually approved for tattooing ?

There's a push to in Italy I believe to ban a few key pigments that would effectively put the ink companies out of business there. Intenze is fighting it pretty hard. I forget which pigments but it effects a lot of colors.

There is some scare mongering regarding Dynamic ink at the moment as it does not conform to europe apparently, is any black ink actually approved for tattooing ?

No, someone on here said this about Dynamic a couple of years ago.

Why would black ink be so bad? Most black inks contains carbon.

There is some scare mongering regarding Dynamic ink at the moment as it does not conform to europe apparently, is any black ink actually approved for tattooing ?

Okay, I found the link https://helpmetattoo.com/forums/threads/malligamallan-project.8286/post-68618

It was only my supplier who sold it as drawing ink. This was 3 years ago, I have no idea if that has anything to do with any scare mongering you're mentioning though.

So no one on here has said anything about Dynamic being drawing ink! ? Sorry if I'm confusing anyone.

The problem with black inks is an ingredient called Phenol which is not on the cosmetic safe list.
many drawing inks used in tattooing contain Phenol such as Talens.

Phenol is used as a preservative and can be found in Listerine, household cleaners, disinfectants, cloraseptic thriat sprays.

pure Phenol and high exposure becomes the problem.

also drawing inks used to contain shellac to assist in the drying on paper and as we all know drawing inks are still used for tattooing today even though it says not suitable on the bottle.
Talens, Pelican, Rotring spring to mind.

You can pretty much tell if your ink is bad. If it smells bad its bad!! lol
Here's a tip i got from my shop owner. He's an old school biker tattooist and still makes his own inks today...
Get yourself some original Listerine, the yellow stuff not the blue or green. if your inks are out dated and have thickened up or gotten a bit dry, just add a little listerine. That stuff is potent and will kill any germs and bateria also.
I have some inks that are about a year, year and half out of date and I still use them.

Now if your inks have mold or you can smell that they are bad, just toss them and replace that color......

The problem with black inks is an ingredient called Phenol which is not on the cosmetic safe list.
many drawing inks used in tattooing contain Phenol such as Talens.

Phenol is used as a preservative and can be found in Listerine, household cleaners, disinfectants, cloraseptic thriat sprays.

pure Phenol and high exposure becomes the problem.

also drawing inks used to contain shellac to assist in the drying on paper and as we all know drawing inks are still used for tattooing today even though it says not suitable on the bottle.
Talens, Pelican, Rotring spring to mind.

Yeah, but you're only talking about drawing ink. Black tattoo ink usually contains ci77266 which is carbon. Even if I've seen one link where they say it's not recommended for tattooing, I haven't found that much information about carbon being dangerous.

I'm a lot more hesitant to all the heavy metals (not talking about the music ?) in the colour inks.

Dynamic ink is not for tattooing intentionally even if everybody uses it for that, or at least that's what I've been told. I know you only find it in the drawing compartment at some suppliers therefore too And hence no need for last date.

Hi
I order my inks from a genuine tattoo dupply shop in the uk, its listed with a

Dynamic should have an expiration date on it, and their products are labeled as tattoo ink. I'd be worried that it might be counterfeit if it's missing the date.

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Yes my dynamic ink does have an expiry date on it. But ot didnt have a shelf life time after you open a bottle. I contacted dynamic and they told me i can use it for 12 months after i open it.

Yeah, but you're only talking about drawing ink. Black tattoo ink usually contains ci77266 which is carbon. Even if I've seen one link where they say it's not recommended for tattooing, I haven't found that much information about carbon being dangerous.

I'm a lot more hesitant to all the heavy metals (not talking about the music ?) in the colour inks.

Hi Beautiful how are you an your tattooing going?

There is a symbol on the bottles with an opened jar, saying 12 months is the limit for an opened bottle.

If you don't have that symbol on your bottles I would be more concerned of the quality of the ink. Maybe cheap China ink from a start kit? Which I in that case wouldn't use on human skin.

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dont use this most inks have an expire date on when opened will be good for 2 years