A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

White Ink Facial Tattoo Project

I’m loving where iam:pillpoppinfun is going with his (brand new in this photo) facial tattoo! Anyway, it’s a long weekend in Canada, so I’ll probably post next on Tuesday.

Comments

54 responses to “White Ink Facial Tattoo Project”

  1. casketdreamer Avatar
    casketdreamer

    they look even better in person

  2. casketdreamer Avatar
    casketdreamer

    they look even better in person

  3. Cale Avatar
    Cale

    It’ll look great when it’s healed.

  4. Cale Avatar
    Cale

    It’ll look great when it’s healed.

  5. CreativeNonFiction Avatar

    I was looking into white work and a friend of mine who was apprenticing at a piercing/tattooing shop said the tattooist wouldn’t use white ink because it was under a study as a cancer causing agent. Does anyone know the validity behind that? Between Shannon, the tattooer and the tattooee, I’m hoping someone knows more than I do.

  6. CreativeNonFiction Avatar

    I was looking into white work and a friend of mine who was apprenticing at a piercing/tattooing shop said the tattooist wouldn’t use white ink because it was under a study as a cancer causing agent. Does anyone know the validity behind that? Between Shannon, the tattooer and the tattooee, I’m hoping someone knows more than I do.

  7. swirly Avatar

    that is utter horseshit!!!

  8. swirly Avatar

    that is utter horseshit!!!

  9. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Yeah, that’s totally false…

  10. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    Yeah, that’s totally false…

  11. jess Avatar
    jess

    I LOVE white ink tattoos. i think i’m going to get one on the inside of my wrist.

  12. jess Avatar
    jess

    I LOVE white ink tattoos. i think i’m going to get one on the inside of my wrist.

  13. rsco Avatar
    rsco

    The reason that I have most heard for artists not wishing to use white is how easy it is to contaminate the ink… thus giving off a dirty white/hue.

    Otherwise, I cannot imagine why white would be any worse than any other color (at least as far as my understanding of pigments go). Traditionally red is the most dangerous (I have a painting background), as it formerly relied upon cadmium for its color, which is rather toxic.

    Perhaps someone better versed in the cemical composition of tattoo ink could better answer… but as far as I know, white is hard(er) to use, not any more dangerous.

  14. rsco Avatar
    rsco

    The reason that I have most heard for artists not wishing to use white is how easy it is to contaminate the ink… thus giving off a dirty white/hue.

    Otherwise, I cannot imagine why white would be any worse than any other color (at least as far as my understanding of pigments go). Traditionally red is the most dangerous (I have a painting background), as it formerly relied upon cadmium for its color, which is rather toxic.

    Perhaps someone better versed in the cemical composition of tattoo ink could better answer… but as far as I know, white is hard(er) to use, not any more dangerous.

  15. CreativeNonFiction Avatar

    That’s what I figured. It didn’t make any sense to me. But as long as I saw an opening to ask I thought I’d take it. Thanks, by the way.

  16. CreativeNonFiction Avatar

    That’s what I figured. It didn’t make any sense to me. But as long as I saw an opening to ask I thought I’d take it. Thanks, by the way.

  17. pillpoppinfun Avatar

    the artist said it was a lil more difficult to do because he couldnt see where the ink was laying in. he just noticed the skin got red and was bleading. overall i didnt think it was a painful process tho. some of the scabs r already falling off so soon i should have some pictures of it fresh in the white. im really excited. were gonna pound the white in a few more times tho before im fully done

  18. pillpoppinfun Avatar

    the artist said it was a lil more difficult to do because he couldnt see where the ink was laying in. he just noticed the skin got red and was bleading. overall i didnt think it was a painful process tho. some of the scabs r already falling off so soon i should have some pictures of it fresh in the white. im really excited. were gonna pound the white in a few more times tho before im fully done

  19. jen Avatar
    jen

    i love white ink! this is very pretty.

    and ditto on the white ink on the wrist… anyone know of a good artists skilled in white ink in l.a., santa barbara, or in between area? they are so hard to find!

  20. jen Avatar
    jen

    i love white ink! this is very pretty.

    and ditto on the white ink on the wrist… anyone know of a good artists skilled in white ink in l.a., santa barbara, or in between area? they are so hard to find!

  21. jen Avatar
    jen

    pardon the mispellings. it’s late, i worked all day. 🙁

  22. jen Avatar
    jen

    pardon the mispellings. it’s late, i worked all day. 🙁

  23. jOELTRON Avatar

    I personally have a white sleeve (pcb design, previously on modblog) and though I found that I needed multiple ‘coats’ to ensure a nice even shade.

    CreativeNonFiction: I would say that the artist that you mentioned stated that because perhaps they didn’t feel confident in doing an all white piece, as it is notoriously difficult to work with (not only seeing how well it goes it, but it can ‘fall out’ very easily as well).

    Go to a decent tattooist, I had mine done by a good friend Sash at Wicked Ink (Sydney, Australia) and love it to bits.

    Keep up the awesome face work, btw pillpoppinfun! I’ll check your page soon to see some healed shots too. Hope not too many white/yellow flakes fall off into food. That must suck.

  24. jOELTRON Avatar

    I personally have a white sleeve (pcb design, previously on modblog) and though I found that I needed multiple ‘coats’ to ensure a nice even shade.

    CreativeNonFiction: I would say that the artist that you mentioned stated that because perhaps they didn’t feel confident in doing an all white piece, as it is notoriously difficult to work with (not only seeing how well it goes it, but it can ‘fall out’ very easily as well).

    Go to a decent tattooist, I had mine done by a good friend Sash at Wicked Ink (Sydney, Australia) and love it to bits.

    Keep up the awesome face work, btw pillpoppinfun! I’ll check your page soon to see some healed shots too. Hope not too many white/yellow flakes fall off into food. That must suck.

  25. rsco Avatar
    rsco

    erg.
    Ditto on the pardon….

    (see above mis-spellings!)

  26. rsco Avatar
    rsco

    erg.
    Ditto on the pardon….

    (see above mis-spellings!)

  27. Ev Avatar

    Can’t wait until I’ve got a normal job and am able to get something like this!

  28. Ev Avatar

    Can’t wait until I’ve got a normal job and am able to get something like this!

  29. Caen Avatar
    Caen

    my artist told be that he shies away from using white ink as when it’s healed it looks yellowish [obviously, due to the layer of skin over the top] and that quite often ill-informed people come back and complain that “it’s gone bad” or that he’s ripped them off and used yellow ink.

    So generally he just refuses, saving himself the trouble from kids who haven’t done their research.
    I went in there, already aware of the ‘problems’ with white ink, we chatted about tattoo stuff for quite a while and now I’ve got me a lovely little white-ink piece. Smiles all round.

  30. Caen Avatar
    Caen

    my artist told be that he shies away from using white ink as when it’s healed it looks yellowish [obviously, due to the layer of skin over the top] and that quite often ill-informed people come back and complain that “it’s gone bad” or that he’s ripped them off and used yellow ink.

    So generally he just refuses, saving himself the trouble from kids who haven’t done their research.
    I went in there, already aware of the ‘problems’ with white ink, we chatted about tattoo stuff for quite a while and now I’ve got me a lovely little white-ink piece. Smiles all round.

  31. xsnoxbunix Avatar
    xsnoxbunix

    i dono. i have alot of white ink in my hip piece and in my ice cream cones and i didnt have any problems healing them, and they still look great. the white on my hip piece was done by a very new tattoo artist also.

  32. xsnoxbunix Avatar
    xsnoxbunix

    i dono. i have alot of white ink in my hip piece and in my ice cream cones and i didnt have any problems healing them, and they still look great. the white on my hip piece was done by a very new tattoo artist also.

  33. Kalinkina Avatar
    Kalinkina

    Honey already knows what I think, gorgeous.

  34. Kalinkina Avatar
    Kalinkina

    Honey already knows what I think, gorgeous.

  35. moi Avatar
    moi

    Does anyone know who would be a good tattoo artist in Toronto to go to for white work? This is one of the times I’m actually excited about my super-pale skin!

  36. moi Avatar
    moi

    Does anyone know who would be a good tattoo artist in Toronto to go to for white work? This is one of the times I’m actually excited about my super-pale skin!

  37. Leroy Avatar

    So what does white ink look like when it fades? (assuming it fades like any of the other pigments)

  38. Leroy Avatar

    So what does white ink look like when it fades? (assuming it fades like any of the other pigments)

  39. bluey Avatar

    I have 10 year old white ink and its still white….. goes yellow when sunburnt…. then back white when ya lose the tan………..

  40. bluey Avatar

    I have 10 year old white ink and its still white….. goes yellow when sunburnt…. then back white when ya lose the tan………..

  41. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    moi – Shane Falkner at KING OF FOOLS in Toronto did all of my whitework. He’s great. Most of it has only been hit once and it’s SOLID. We stenciled it, and then scrubbed off the stencil till it was basically gone, then that was waterlined (ie. tattooed without ink). Then that was scrubbed down and we filled it in.

  42. Shannon Larratt Avatar

    moi – Shane Falkner at KING OF FOOLS in Toronto did all of my whitework. He’s great. Most of it has only been hit once and it’s SOLID. We stenciled it, and then scrubbed off the stencil till it was basically gone, then that was waterlined (ie. tattooed without ink). Then that was scrubbed down and we filled it in.

  43. kuroneko711 Avatar

    ohhh this looks so good, Yay!

  44. kuroneko711 Avatar

    ohhh this looks so good, Yay!

  45. moi Avatar
    moi

    Thanks Shannon!

  46. moi Avatar
    moi

    Thanks Shannon!

  47. wish_I_were_a_dragon... Avatar

    white ink tattoos always look good

  48. wish_I_were_a_dragon... Avatar

    white ink tattoos always look good

  49. lala Avatar
    lala

    Just amazing.

  50. lala Avatar
    lala

    Just amazing.

Latest Tattoo, Piercing, and Body Modification News

  • Skin and Strings: The Art of Human Puppetry
    One of the most powerful things about being at a convention like OSC is the sheer concentration of experience, creativity, and capability in one place. When you’re surrounded by people who not only understand the technical complexities of suspension but are excited by the challenge… Read more: Skin and Strings: The Art of Human Puppetry
  • Twelve Points to the Sky
    There’s a particular kind of magic that happens at your first big suspension gathering when you arrive with nerves, an open heart, and the quiet hope of flight. Guided by the encouragement of mentor Lynn Loheide and driven by the quiet confidence of belonging, Alex… Read more: Twelve Points to the Sky
  • Ontario SusCon 2025
    In March 2025, BME attended the Ontario Suspension Convention in Hamilton, hosted by the Kevin Donaghy and the Ontario Suspension Collective. We had the pleasure to take part and help document the event, but also run a booth to sell a bunch of old (but… Read more: Ontario SusCon 2025
  • Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine
    Dear BME Community, We’ve been gone far too long, but BME is back to give people a voice, a space, a community. With time everything evolves, and BME may be different than you remember. Our goal is to stay true to Shannon and Rachel’s values… Read more: Welcome Back to Body Modification Ezine
  • BME Social Media
    Word of mouth has been our method of reuniting the community, and it has brought a substantial amount of us together. I am inspired by your loyalty and I want to remind more people of BME’s existence. In 2020 we gained control over @bmezine on… Read more: BME Social Media
  • BMEShop
    Despite the hurricanes in 2015 which destroyed almost all of what Rachel owned, she managed to save the original inventory from BME. We have relisted some of the stock on BMEShop.com with the hopes you may be interested.  Our first drop includes a selection of… Read more: BMEShop