What Tattoo Ink Colors Are Easiest to Remove?

Using the PicoSure laser Black, Blues, and Greens clear the quickest, easiest, and most completely. The results also depend on the volume of ink used, the location and if it is a professional or amateur tattoo. The PicoSure will also be able to clear the tattoo in half the number of treatments.

Different tattoo colors respond to different wavelengths of laser light.   For example, 755nm works best on blues & greens, as well as black, 1064nm works great on blacks and near-blacks, and 532nm is best for reds, yellows, and orange.  Also some lasers work better than others with Pico-second lasers like Picosure being the best.

Black and dark gray tones are usually the most conducive to tattoo removal with laser. A multi-session regimen is warranted. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian 

Lasers and other light therapy devices, such as the Infrared Coagulater (IRC), are the treatments of choice today. Lasers work by emitting short, intense pulses of light that pass through the skin and target the ink. The energy from the laser light fragments the large particles of tattoo pigment enabling the body’s natural immune system to more easily scavenge the pigment and carry it away. This process usually takes several weeks, and multiple treatment sessions are often necessary to achieve maximal clearing.

Since black pigment absorbs all wavelengths of light, it is ironically the easiest pigment to remove. Colors, such as green, do not absorb as well, necessitating treatment with a variety of lasers, with varying wavelengths, to effectively treat a multicolored tattoo.

Potential complications include permanent scarring, temporary or permanent loss of pigment or excessive pigmentation. Fees for laser treatments may range from $1000-$3000 or more, depending upon the number of treatment sessions required, and the size, shape, colors, and location of the particular tattoo.

IRC uses non-laser infrared light to heat the area containing the pigment. It is quick and easy to perform, and generally requires fewer treatments than lasers. Most small tattoos can be treated successfully in one to three sessions. In contrast to lasers, the IRC’s efficacy does not depend upon the particular color of the pigments involved. For these reasons, it is my favorite method for dealing with small tattoos.


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I am assuming you are asking about the best tattoo removal procedure in existence currently, which is the use of Q switched lasers. With that in mind, The darker the colors, the easier it is to remove. Black and blue are the easiest. Red, yellow, orange, and green are the hardest. Green lasers respond best to the Alexandrite 755nm wavelength laser spectrum. Colored inks are sometimes not possible to be fully removed even with multiple sessions.

The general rule of thumb is that the darker the ink, the easier it is for the laser to target the ink.  As the color lightens, the correct laser wavelength becomes imperative.  Also, as the dark ink fades and degrades with each treatment, the challenge is to have a technology that offers higher energies to keep pace with the progress. 

What is not mentioned by the other panel members is that skin type/skin color is a huge factor in which tattoo colors can be effectively YET safely treated.  For example, the darker the skin, the more challenging it becomes when treating lighter colors to avoid negative or adverse outcomes. 

Also, we disagree that amateur tattoos are less challenging and are resolved in 2-3 treatments.  This is not always so because much depends on the quality of the ink, type of ink, and level of ink in the skin/tissue.  Oftentimes, an inexperienced hand lends to the ink being deposited in different layers of the skin/tissue.  Also, amateur tattoos may already have a degree of fading which then requires the correct energy/power to effectively treat the ink.

Consumers should always keep in mind that tattoos of any kind represent a challenge with many, many visits, much discomfort, and no guarantees.  Be mindful of this when deciding on whether or not to get a tattoo that was designed to be permanent.

First off you must use a Q switched laser system for tattoo removal
Black and Grey are the easiest ink colors to remove. Usually, a Yag(1064nm) laser works well for these)
Green is the most difficult followed by light blue (Yag and Alexandrite lasers 1064nm and 755nm).
Red/brown/yellow/orange respond well in my experience primarily using 532nm laser.
The bottom line is you can usually clear a tattoo to a level that is barely noticeable to the naked eye, it's just a matter of how many treatments it will take to get there. That's because of the great variability in ink composition and our own individual immune systems which is actually what clears the ink.
Hope this helps,
Dr D.

Hello, thank you for your question. Black is the easiest color to resolve as it is the darkest target when it comes to colors. Other ink colors can be seen by other wavelengths, and most colors actually do have some black in them. The PicoWay Laser (Candela/Syneron) uses photoacoustic impact/pressure waves rather than photothermal/heat. This process has less heat, therefore it is more comfortable and the chances of hyperpigmentation are less. The Pico-second pulse shatters the ink into even smaller particles, allowing the body to more easily absorb the ink. This type of device can usually remove unwanted ink in about half as many treatments as a traditional Q-switch device. You can learn more about this technology by clicking on the link below.
Good Luck!

Hello, Most lasers pick up on black in the best and will always show a decent removal. When it comes to other colors, then specific wavelengths are needed to match the colors to break them up. Where you can run into trouble is when there is titanium dioxide or iron oxide mixed into your colors. These particular ingredients when the laser hits them will oxidize and turn gray upon the laser hit. This oxidation will rarely go away even with many, many sessions with the laser. A good tattoo removal specialist can usually see the mixed in white ingredients or light brown ingredients that would cause a problem.

Greetings

 Black and green are the easiest tattoo colours to remove via laser treatment. During the laser tattoo removal treatment laser targets the tattoo and breaks up the ink into micro-particles that is ultimately purged by body naturally. Though the laser breaks the ink in micro particles, body requires four to six weeks to break the ink. There are many factors that influence the process and the colour of the ink is an important one.

Best of luck

Dr Milan Doshi

Mumbai, India