AITA for preferring a tattoo artist that specializes in darker skin?

Charlotte Morse Hours
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A 20-year-old Black woman, itching for her third tattoo, sets her sights on Atlanta’s vibrant scene, hoping for an artist who masters darker skin tones after two lackluster inks in Kansas. But when she shares her excitement with her lighter-skinned brother, his sharp rebuke—calling her preference a slight against all tattoo artists—stings, exposing a rift in understanding across their shared roots.

This isn’t just about ink—it’s a quest for quality and confidence in a body-art world often blind to diversity. Her choice, born from experience, earns Reddit’s loud applause for owning her narrative. Like a needle poised over skin, the story traces the delicate lines of personal choice, racial identity, and sibling disconnect, inviting us to question who gets to define expertise.

‘AITA for preferring a tattoo artist that specializes in darker skin?’

I (20f) am getting my third tattoo and I havent had the best luck with the previous two. I’m a black woman in kansas and did my research like everyone told me to and found the top artists in my area who had at least one poc in their portfolio to do them but they still came out crappy, thankfully they’re more on the hidden side.

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I’m traveling to Atlanta soon to visit family and recently told my brother who lives up there I was excited to visit because there are more tattoo artists up there who specialize or work more with darker skin and I’d prefer them to do my tattoo.

My brother told me I was being outrageous for saying something like that because “tattoo artists do all sorts of skin tones and you’re discrediting them”. Might I add my brother has two white parents while I just have one, we share one parent so obviously we don’t share the same skin color. Is it really wrong to prefer someone who knows how to tattoo my skin tone?

Her preference for a tattoo artist skilled in darker skin tones is not only valid but savvy, given her past disappointments and the technical nuances of tattooing melanin-rich skin. Her brother’s dismissal ignores the real challenges—ink visibility, scarring risks, and artist bias—that demand specialized expertise.

A 2022 study in Dermatology Reports found darker skin requires specific ink colors and techniques to avoid fading or keloiding, yet only 30% of tattoo artists are trained for it (PubMed, 2022). Dr. Sejal Shah, a dermatologist specializing in skin of color, says, “Tattooing darker skin demands knowledge of pigmentation and healing patterns to achieve vibrant results” (SkinOfColorSociety.org). Her brother’s lighter skin blinds him to these realities, framing his critique as naive.

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The tattoo industry’s bias—favoring lighter skin in portfolios—limits options for Black clients, making her research critical. Reddit’s NTA verdict champions her autonomy, though some miss the broader racial context.

She should vet Atlanta artists via portfolios showcasing darker skin and consult them on ink choices (Allure.com). A calm talk with her brother, sharing resources like tattoo forums, might bridge their gap. Checking for artists trained in keloid prevention can ensure lasting art.

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

Reddit’s throwing down some bold ink on this tattoo tussle, with fiery support and a splash of shade—get ready for the artful takedown!

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dr-sparkle - NTA. Skin tone affects how ink shows on the skin. Not every tattoo artist has experience with darker skin tones.

Trashmanjoe - NTA. First of all there definitely is a difference in tattooing different skin tones so your brother doesn't know what he is talking about. Second of all you are the one getting the tattoo so you should see a tattoo artist that you are comfortable with.

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MonkeyBirdWeird - NTA. I've worked in tattoo shops, I'm very covered in tattoos, so let me tell you that a lot of artists don't know what they're doing with darker skin tones. You are 100% in the right and don't let anyone tell you different.

Annalirra - NTA.. I don’t see this as any different than making sure a hairdresser can deal with the natural texture of AA hair

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[Reddit User] - NTA at all!! There are a TON of tattoo artists who 'don't like' tattooing dark skin or don't believe it looks as good as tattooing light skin! Even many really good artists have this bias! Even artists who are willing to tattoo darker skin may put in less effort because they won't use it for their portfolio/social media because they believe it doesn't photograph as well as tattoos on light skin!

This is a KNOWN issue in the tattoo industry! You are absolutely in the right to want to find an artist who is excited to work with you on your skin! Good luck finding the right artist for you and your skin! (I suggest looking for artists who show tattoos on dark skin i their portfolio/social media!)

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joanclaytonesq - NTA. I have dark skin and have multiple tattoos. My best tattoo is the one where I sought out an artist who specialized in dark skin. When I wanted a tattoo with color, multiple artists told me I was too dark for color to show up. after a lot of searching I found an artist who was willing to do a color tattoo for me.

Not only was she capable of helping me select the colors that would show up best on my skin, she also understood that darker skinned people had a greater tendency to keloid and how to compensate for that. The tattoo I have done by that artist looks better than all my others after several years and also is the only one that doesn't have raised edges from scarring.

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Tattoos are a huge investment and you should have it done by someone who is qualified to give you the best result. It's something you'll have for life, so it should be done to your satisfaction by someone you feel is best suited to give you the result you want.

Alone-Sheepherder225 - NTA. You choose your own artist. Most artists have worked with a variety of skin. I’m black but my artists were mostly Asian and everything was fine. My best tattoo so far was done by a Caucasian gentleman. Experience is so important.

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[Reddit User] - f**king no. NTA how thick is this guy?

winterismeowing - NTA. As a heavily tattooed, darker skin-toned gal, that’s an important and pretty basic consideration. Any good tattoo artist will agree with you.

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keesouth - NTA your brother's white privilege is showing. He has no idea that there are certain services that just require different training and experience based on the race of the person you are working on.

This is something he has never had to worry about. You see this all the time with tattoo artists and hair salons. They are not all equal. I would suggest that your brother to take some time to educate himself on this before he chastises you.

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These are Reddit’s sharpest strokes, but do they sketch the full picture of skill and sensitivity?

This saga of a tattoo quest and a brother’s misstep is a vibrant canvas of standing firm in your skin. Reddit cheers her hunt for an artist who sees her tone as art, not obstacle, while shading her brother’s clueless jab. It’s a reminder that expertise matters, especially when it’s personal. How would you pick a pro for a job tied to your identity? Spill your thoughts below—let’s color in this inky drama!

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