PURPOSE: To obtain an ink excellent in printability, reliability, and delivery properties by compounding a colorant, water, and a surfactant having a specified HLB value.

CONSTITUTION: An ink contg. a colorant, water, and a surfactant having an HLB value of 10-20. The ink is used on an ink jet recording head which contains at least two component parts installed between an orifice end and a liq. drop generating means such as an electricity-heat converter. Air bubbles which are apt to stay near the place of joint of different component parts are jetted out together with liq. drops from the orifice, improving jetting stability. The surfactant improves wetting in the head to thereby improve the mobility of the bubbles, and minimizes the decrease in surface tension, imparting the stability of liq. drop shape and the properties favorable to frequency response to the ink.