Think of your skin as being a semi transparant window to what’s just underneath. Skin can even be used as a lampshade if it’s removed and stretched. Morbid analogy but you get the point. Light penetrates through.

The tattoo ink when healed isn’t “On” your skin but it’s “In” your skin. It’s actually under the inactive epidermis and set into the dermis area. To see the tattoo ink, you have to see through this thin layer of skin. It can easily be compared to window tinting. Clear windows = Light Complexion vs. Medium Tint = Olive, Tan or Bronze Skin Complexion to Limo Black Tint = Darkest complexions. Darker tones of skin will obscure colored inks. Lighter inks are hidden with medium complexions, the darkest skin can hide all but black ink. It doesn’t mean the ink isn’t there, it just means the pigmentation of the skiin over it is dominant in opacity.