Is tattoo shading easier or quicker to laser off?

Hi TR.  Yes, ink is ink, but dark ink is harder to remove than light ink.  Shading means that the artist did not pass over the area as many times as full color ink and therefore it is easier to remove.  With that said, there is still variability in number of treatments based on the type of ink, depth of placement and quality of work.  To see others that have had shaded tattoos removed, take a look at the pictures at the link below.  

Yes, ink is ink but the amount and color of ink in the skin and the depth is what determines how long it will take to remove.  In my experience, shading is the first to go with laser removal, sometimes in only one or two treatments.