Nothing can equal the excitement of getting inked. Allowing a piece of art to occupy a part of your body and carry it to your deathbed is a sacred feeling. Your tattoo says a lot about you. Yet you don’t shy away from showing it to the world. People wear it like a badge of honor. It is appealing and fashionable. But what if the tattoo that you adore this much starts fading? Do your dark tattoo blur or lose its lustrous look? I know it’s frustrating. Let us see why it blurs and how to avoid it.
What causes your tattoo to lose its luster?
Although tattoos last forever, their quality tends to deteriorate. Both tattoo-making and aftercare play an equal role in deciding a tattoo’s lifetime. Blurring can occur within a few months of getting a tattoo. Let’s closely examine the different factors that impact its appearance.
- Natural Skin tanning: Under constant exposure to UV rays, whether from the sun or any other artificial source, a tattoo loses its dark shades. Dark colors absorb UV rays which in turn erodes its strength. So, the tattoo fades so faster than it would usually.
- Place of Tattoo on your body: Unfortunately, the most popular spots for tattooing on the body are the ones that pave the way for fast fading. The areas near and around the wrist, fingers, feet, and thighs are the most preferred spots for tattooing; these are also the places that are mostly exposed to the sun.
- Quality of Ink: The ink used to tattoo matters a lot. Only some inks come with high standards or quality. A tattoo’s life majorly depends on the ink’s quality. The usage of ink with poor quality is a significant reason for its blurs.
- Tattoo Design: Complex tattoos with more detailing and fine lines will likely blur over time. Also, the ones that are drawn close to each other can fade.
- The Healing: A well-healed tattoo can last longer. Sadly, most people do not pay much attention to post-tattoo care. A tattoo that is not taken care of can lose its quality. The healing time of the tattoo differs from person to person, depending on the body. Generally, it will take two full months for a tattoo to heal completely, but sometimes it might be a little longer. Whatever the time, until the tattoo heals, one has to take care of it.
Now, how can we make it last longer?
- Make sure you follow the post-care routine: “Aftercare plays a crucial part in a tattoo aging well,” says Suresh Machu, a ThreeBestRated Tattoo Artist. Also, he says, “First, you must allow the tattoo to heal properly. If a tattoo heals properly, there’s no need for a touch-up.” Your professional tattoo artist can guide you to take care of your tattoo. By doing it, you can retain the darkness of your tattoo.
- Placement of the tattoo matters: It has a lot to do with your lifestyle. If you get a tattoo on your hands or feet, those are the areas that come into contact often. But tattoos on flatter body areas, such as the forearm, upper arms, shoulders, and back are known to stay intact.
- Tattoo’s Colour: If you want your tattoo to stand the test of time, you should be careful about the colors you choose. On that note, black or greyscale tattoos are the best to go with. Any color other than black can look vibrant at first but fade more quickly than black.
- Exposure to Sunlight: Overexposure to sunlight quickly removes the tattoo’s darkness. Use sunscreen over your tattoo or a tattoo protector cream to protect it from the exploits of the sun. It will help the tattoo to live longer.
- Choose to have big tattoos: Small tattoos are cute. But size matters. Comparatively, larger tattoos tend to stay longer with the same appearance. So, it is better to opt for slightly bigger in size tattoos. So the bigger the tattoo, the longer the life!
- Choosing the right professional: From design, quality, and size to the life of the tattoo, a tattoo artist plays a crucial role. They are the creators. So, make sure you choose the right professional. A good tattoo artist will take the responsibility of guiding you to get the best out of it.
How committed are you to preserve the appearance of your tattoo? is the question you need to ask yourself if you barely do any of these to keep it intact. If not, now is the time to act.
Tattoos are prone to fading. But it is the care that can increase its longevity. Most of us seldom care for our tattoos. Everyone who decides to go under the needle has to learn to protect their tattoo to have a long-lasting dark tattoo that is envious by many eyes.
