Vegan Tattooing 101: What It Really Means (And Why Most Artists Get It Wrong)
For Veganuary, we interviewed London-based tattoo artist Maury Decay to talk about what vegan tattooing really means. From common misconceptions to studio practices, personal ethics, and industry realities, Maury shares his honest perspective on being a vegan tattoo artist.
Q: In your own words, what ACTUALLY makes a tattoo vegan?
A: Well, technically everything used during a tattoo session should be vegan and cruelty free. This includes: cleaning products, skin prep products, razors, ink, balms, green soap, whatever you use. And no, if you use Bactine that is not a vegan tattoo.
Q: What are the most common myths or misconceptions you see about vegan tattooing?
A: Oh, that “vegan ink doesn’t hold well over time” And it's been probably more than 10 years that all the main brands of tattoo inks are vegan. The misconception that anything vegan is lower quality than other products still makes my eyes roll.
Q: What elements of the tattoo process are most often overlooked when discussing vegan practices?
A: The elements that are most often overlooked are the smaller products that go into the process, like ointments, stencil solutions, stencil paper, cleaning products and disinfectants just to name a few. People usually focus on the ink, but a truly vegan tattoo means every product you use is cruelty free and plant based. It is about the full process, not just one part of it.
Q: What non-vegan items in a studio tend to surprise people the most?
A: Stencil paper for sure but also cleaning products for the studio. These little things people don't really think about, and that's ok! I'm always ready to explain and teach them something new.
Q: What would you say is the biggest misconception artists have when claiming to offer vegan tattoos?
A: The biggest misconception is that simply saying a tattoo is vegan just because you use vegan ink. Many artists (and studios) label themselves as offering vegan tattoos without checking for animal derived ingredients in all the products they use. Vegan tattooing is not just a label, it is a commitment to using cruelty-free and plant-based products in every part of the process. It also shows respect for clients who care about that aspect of their tattoos.
Q: How do you approach educating clients who may not know much about vegan tattooing?
A: I just answer all the questions they have. I don't preach or try to convert them but it makes me happy knowing they're willing to know and learn more about vegan tattooing.
Q: What advice would you give to artists who want to start taking vegan tattooing seriously?
A: It might be more expensive to buy supplies (we vegans are used to paying more for food and things anyway), but the quality of your work will not be affected as long as you are good at what you do. My biggest advice would be to offer a wider variety of styles in your tattooing, because not every vegan person wants simple, fineline botanical tattoos. Some clients like other styles, and I have heard that a lot over the years. People often say it is hard to find a reputable vegan tattoo artist who works with colour and creates bold pieces, for example.
