BLACK + GREY TATTOO HISTORY

The black and grey tattoo style originated in the Chicano/Latino communities in Southern California, especially in prisons during the 1970’s and 80’s. It was sometimes referred to as “jailhouse style” because inmates often didn’t have access to coloured ink or professional tattoo equipment. They improvised with makeshift tools (like guitar strings as needles and homemade machines) and used black ink, diluted with water or other substances to create different shades of grey.

Chicano culture has a massive influence with tattoos often reflecting Catholic imagery, gang affiliations, family pride, lowriders and Aztec heritage.

The fineline style became a hallmark as it was easier to execute with limited tools.

By the 80’s and the 90’s, black and grey tattoos transitioned from prisons to professional tattoo studios. Initially in Los Angeles before spreading around the world.

“Good Time Charlie’s” was a studio that pioneered this style with Charlie Cartwright, Jack Rudy and Freddy Negrete legitimizinf and refining black and grey tattooing.

Their “Penitentiary Style” tattooing technique took needle groupings from 3 to 6 down to just 1, which birthed the fineline tattoo style that later evolved into portraiture and realism.

Black and grey is the foundation of realistic tattooing, especially in portraiture, which combines the subtle shading and tone of black and grey with the photogenic accuracy of realism.