50 Beautiful White on Black Tattoos

Over the last few years, black work and blackout tattoos have become increasingly popular. There are many reasons why these trends have flourished, as many gravitate to the clean yet edgy simplicity of an all black design. While others, on the other hand, may have existing tattoos that they’d like covered up without bothering with laser or a more traditional coverup. And although many who go for this type of tattooing opt to keep it black, some have embraced tattooing white over top. The white on black tattoo trend is exceptionally striking, as it plays with contrast in a way seldom seen in tattooing. With tattoos, we’re used to seeing black pigment contrasted with skin tone or white highlights, however, this technique does the exact opposite.

In order to achieve the best possible white on black tattoo, you need to first start off with a saturated black tattoo. This is much harder than it may seem, as applying a neat blackout tattoo takes a considerable amount of skill. For assistance on finding an artist who specializes in blackout tattooing, you can check out our blackout tattoo gallery.

Once you have your black, you’ll need to find an artist who is comfortable and confident applying a white ink design. This may be the same artist who does the blackout, but this will depend on the individual. White ink can be temperamental and may require a specialized consultation.

As for the design, it’s up to you where you go, but we definitely recommend something simple and legible. Because this is an advanced technique, it’s better to be safe than sorry and you can’t go wrong with flowers. Take a look at the gallery below to see 50 excellent examples of white on black tattooing, then let us know your thoughts on these tattoos in the comments section on social media.