Black and Grey Tattoos

Gallery of black and grey style tattoos that can be filtered by subject, body part and size.

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date

likes

Tattoo artists

Zlata Kolomoyskaya · Goldy Zdone
room Manhattan
383
Tattoos
651
likes
116
followers
Micro-Realism
Black and Grey Micro-Realism
+3

Contact

Estepadone
room Barcelona
40
Tattoos
15
likes
8
followers
New School
Neotraditional
+2

Contact

Roksana Falkowska · Sanadone
room London
94
Tattoos
39
likes
21
followers
Single Needle
Black and grey

Contact

Miguel Bohiguesdone
room Aldaia
174
Tattoos
61
likes
85
followers
Black and grey

Contact

Alexandyr Valentinedone
room Melbourne 🇦🇺 · Brisbane 🇦🇺 · Northampton 🇬🇧
99
Tattoos
113
likes
62
followers
Single Needle
Illustrative
+5

Contact

Line Mariëlledone
room Aarhus
48
Tattoos
12
likes
13
followers
Black and grey
Portrait

Contact

Shindadone
room Barcelona 🇪🇸
31
Tattoos
7
likes
8
followers
Illustrative
Blackwork
+5

Contact

Jefree Naderalidone
room Istanbul
87
Tattoos
138
likes
59
followers
Black and grey

Contact

Subliquidadone
room Barcelona 🇪🇸 · Berlin 🇩🇪 · Florence 🇮🇹 · Ghent 🇧🇪 · Madrid 🇪🇸 · Genoa 🇮🇹 · Nantes 🇫🇷 · Turin 🇮🇹 · Milan 🇮🇹
11
Tattoos
12
likes
12
followers
Blackwork
Illustrative
+6

Contact

Victor Zetalldone
room Zaragoza
55
Tattoos
26
likes
33
followers
Realism
Black and grey

Contact

Lillian "Honeybadger" Chendone
room Hillsborough
21
Tattoos
0
likes
2
followers
Line Art
Line Art
+60

Contact

Dominik Goralczykdone
room Barcelona 🇪🇸
68
Tattoos
13
likes
2
followers
Realism
Black and grey

Contact

Fede Gasdone
room Zürich 🇨🇭
11
Tattoos
4
likes
6
followers
Realism
Neotraditional
+2

Contact

Pepo Errandodone
room Barcelona 🇪🇸
5
Tattoos
6
likes
4
followers
Blackwork
Illustrative
+10

Contact

Baran Yilmazdone
room Istanbul
15
Tattoos
0
likes
0
followers
Black and grey
Realism
+4

Contact

OÄŸuz DoÄŸanaydone
room Istanbul 🇹🇷
14
Tattoos
7
likes
1
follower
Realism
Portrait
+2

Contact

Raul Jimenez · carahormigadone
room Leioa
4
Tattoos
0
likes
1
follower
Black and grey

Contact

Alex Creamdone
room Barcelona 🇪🇸
4
Tattoos
5
likes
3
followers
Blackwork
Illustrative
+7

Contact

description

Black and grey tattoos are similar to realism tattooing, but instead of using color, this style only uses black with a heavy use of shading. Is used to create some type of 3D effect without using color.

As the name suggests, this technique combines solid black ink with shades of grey. There are strong ties between the birth of modern "black and grey" tattoos and prison culture, especially in Mexico and the United States.

Tattooing is banned in prisons, so inmates resort to creating their own machines and inks. Charcoal, cigarette ash and black pen ink are often mixed with water and applied into the skin. Diluting solid black with water leads to a "wash" effect of grey tones, adding depth and dimension to 2D tattoos. What began as an experimental necessity for inmates soon became a sought-after technique in the industry.

Originally called "jailhouse style" tattooing in the west, the technique was adopted by licensed tattooers and re-named "black and grey". Ink manufacturers now sell a wide range of grey tones. While some tattooers still dilute black with distilled water, the use of solid grey inks is preferred for a longer lasting look. This shading technique is prevalent all over the world, found in a wide range of aesthetic styles.

According to some tattooers specializing in black and grey tattoos, these tattoos often look best in photos versus real life. This is not to say that a black and grey tattoos cannot be outstanding, it just means that it's very easy to adjust the contrast in a photo to make the blacks darker and make the piece more vibrant, but in real life, black and grey tattoos often heal much softer. Understanding that tattoos are pieces of art that change over time, and that your skin is going to look different than a canvas, will help you adjust your expectations.

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