How Long Does A Finger Tattoo Take To Heal?
How Long Does a Finger Tattoo Take to Heal? – From the time your artist applies the bandage after inking, finger tattoos can take up to six weeks to heal. Your skin will start looking normal after two to four, but be patient with caring for your hands.
Contents
- 1 Are finger tattoos hard to heal?
- 2 Why do finger tattoos take so long to heal?
- 3 How much do finger tattoos cost?
- 4 Why don t tattoo artists do finger tattoos?
- 5 What is the best way to heal a finger tattoo?
- 6 How often do you touch up finger tattoos?
- 7 How do I keep my finger tattoo from fading?
- 8 Why don t tattoo artists do finger tattoos?
Are finger tattoos hard to heal?
Whether you love complex, colorful works or simple, black-ink-only designs, tattoos for fingers or hands are more popular than ever. The downside: They can be much tougher to heal and prevent fading. We asked artists to share their tried-and-true aftercare tips that keep tattoos looking fresh for years to come.
Do finger tattoos fade completely?
How Long Do Finger Tattoos Last On Average? – Now, finger tattoos are notorious for their short life span. If you thought that a finger tattoo will last you a lifetime, you couldn’t be more wrong. Finger tattoos last, on average, between six and eight months.
In some cases, they can last a month or two longer, if you’re really careful about what you’re doing with your hands. Generally speaking, finger tattoos won’t start fading for at least six months, but will definitely lose color and initial vividness after a year.
Considering how long other tattoos last, and how they only start fading after years, finger tattoos might not be a good idea for someone looking to get a long-lasting tattoo. Tattoos that are placed on hands or feet generally don’t last long due to exposure to friction, water, sun, other textures, sweat, etc. Credit: Instagram.
Why do finger tattoos take so long to heal?
‘ The skin on fingers is very thin and has a high turnover of cell regeneration which makes it hard for ink to stay in. ‘ Ink not staying in is a normal part of the healing process, it’s just one that isn’t as obvious in other tattoos.
How long does it take a finger tattoo to scab?
How Long Do Tattoos Scab For? – Generally, a fresh tattoo will begin to form scabs at around the 3-day mark. For the first few days of the healing process , the area will be oozing plasma in preparation for the scabbing. After these first few days, your scabs will start to harden and set over the wound.
The scabs will remain until the healing process has completed and the top layers of skin have closed up. By this point, the scabs will have served their purpose and will begin to peel and flake away, along with any other dead skin along the surface.
This peeling and flaking stage begins at around the 7-day point, and all but the thickest of scabs should have fallen off by the 10-day mark. If you do have any dense, thick scabs that have formed over your tattoo, the general rule of thumb is that the thicker the scab, the longer it’s going to take to heal. 
The tattoo scabs will eventually start to drop off/flake away.
How do you shower with a finger tattoo?
– Yep. It’s fine if your tattoo gets a little wet, but it shouldn’t be submerged in water or left under running water for long periods of time. Keep time in the shower to a minimum, and be gentle to avoid irritating your newly tattooed skin. This means skipping the loofah or washcloth — at least over the inked area, anyway.
Getting your rub-a-dub on elsewhere is totally fine. In addition to being abrasive on freshly inked skin, loofahs, sponges, and washcloths can harbor bacteria and increase your chance of an infection. Wash the area gently using only a mild, fragrance-free soap.
Products with alcohol and certain chemicals can irritate and dry out the skin. This can lead to scarring and slower healing. If you have strong water pressure, try not to focus the spray directly on the inked area. Standing under a shower and letting the water run over you or using your clean hands to rinse the tattoo is fine as long as you don’t linger longer than you need to.
How painful is a finger tattoo?
Finger tattoos are painful – Getting a finger tattoo can be significantly more painful than tattooing body parts that have greater fat and muscle density. Because of the lesser muscle and fat presence around the fingers, the needle of the tattoo machine is directly working around the bones and knuckles of your fingers.
There is less muscle and fat mass to cushion the needle’s sensation. Hands and fingers have more nerve endings than other body parts, which also accounts for the increased pain that you experience when tattooing these body parts.
For this reason, many people report finger tattoos as being more painful than tattoos on other body parts. If you opted for a finger tattoo out of whim, you should ask yourself if you’re willing to embrace the additional discomfort and pain that comes with this type of tattoo.
Are finger tattoos worth it?
Final Thoughts – So, are finger tattoos a bad idea? Well, they most certainly aren’t a good idea either. Considering the few advantages and a sea of disadvantages, we (alongside almost every tattoo artist) strongly advise you against a finger tattoo. It is simply not worthy of your money, time and pain.
- It will fade away quickly, considering it manages to heal without an infection;
- Not to mention that the tattoo will never look as clean and as vibrant as other tattoos due to complex placement;
- The fingers flex, bend and move all the time, so you can imagine how the movement affects the ink;
If you want a small, discreet, and simple tattoo, you can still get one in other places. Small tattoos look great wherever you locate them, so long you stay away from fingers, palms, and feet..
How much do finger tattoos cost?
Hand or Finger Tattoo Cost A finger or hand tattoo can start at $50 for something very simple and go up to $300 for more elaborate designs. Most people don’t spend a lot of money on finger tattoos because they tend to fade quickly.
What’s the most painful place to get a tattoo?
Why don t tattoo artists do finger tattoos?
A Professional Dilemma – You may not realize it, but a tattoo artist frequently becomes the conscience of naive or impetuous customers who want tattoos that could cause them a lot of problems down the road. These professionals know that highly visible tattoos, such as on the hand and face, can cause the wearer to become the subject of ridicule or impede the chances of finding employment.
- A tattoo artist who feels you’re not ready to take on the consequences cannot in good conscience allow you to get such a tattoo;
- True, you could probably just find someone else to do it, but at least the tattooist who refuses can rest easy with a decision that protects you;
At the very least, the situation should cause you to stop and think about the potential consequences of your actions. The tattooist is trying to assess your ability to deal with the consequences of your decision. Are you really ready to handle the reactions of the public to an unconventional, highly visible body modification? Are you prepared to accept rejections to in future job interviews? Remember: It’s permanent, and it’s not in a place where you can cover it up easily.
What is the best way to heal a finger tattoo?
How often do you touch up finger tattoos?
How Long Do Finger Tattoos Last on Average? – While finger tattoos tend to fade quicker than ink on other areas of the body, they will still last for many decades in one form or another. However, they will usually require regular touch-ups to keep them looking perfect.
- Generally speaking, you should touch up your finger tattoos every eight to twelve months if you want them looking their absolute best all the time;
- However, thanks to advancements in tattoo ink quality, your finger tattoos should still look pretty good even after a couple of years – as long as you don’t mistreat them;
Once a tattoo starts to fade , it will only get fainter unless it is touched up. If you’re prepared to commit to regular ink sessions, then your finger tattoo can last as long as tattoos anywhere else on your body. Although, the price of this will really add up over time and you’ll have to factor in the cost of yearly work from your tattoo artist.
How often should I moisturize my tattoo?
How Often Should You Moisturize Your Tattoo? – Professional tattoo artists always recommended one moisturizes their tattoo(s) once or twice a day. The best way to moisturize a tattoo is by doing it in the morning and in the evening. It is also important to apply lotion or ointment after taking a shower, to protect the tattoo from drying out.
- Note : Make sure to wait between 10 and 20 minutes to apply lotion/ointment onto the tattoo after a shower;
- In that time, the tattoo will dry naturally, so when you do apply a moisturizer, it will soak into the skin nicely;
By applying lotion onto a wet tattoo, you’re risking overdoing it.
How do I keep my finger tattoo from fading?
Finger tattoos require extra care to prevent early fading Pat it dry with a soft cloth taking care not to rub or scratch, and then slather on a moisturizing cream designed for post-tattoo care (speak to your tattoo artist for their recommendation).
Should I moisturize a scabbing tattoo?
Tattoo Scabbing | Aftercare & Healing – A new tattoo will flake and peel during the healing process and may even scab a little bit. To prevent a new tattoo from overly scabbing and thus possibly losing color and clarity, the first two weeks is the most critical time to carefully follow aftercare tips.
Whether you use an aftercare product suggested by the tattoo artist, an over-the-counter ointment or an unscented hand lotion or moisturizer, you must keep your tattoo moist. If it dries out and starts cracking, where it splits is where you are going to see scabbing.
While keeping it moist is vitally important, you can overdo it and keep it too moist or what you’d call saturated. Avoid using petroleum or lanolin based product that clogs your pores. These products can not only pull out color, but they actually hamper the healing process.
A slow healing tattoo has the potential to scab just as much as one that doesn’t get enough moisture during healing. Wear loose clothing while your tattoo is healing. Tight clothes that rub on a new tattoo can irritate and scrape the area to the point of pulling off flakes and scabs that aren’t ready to come off.
It’s also wise to wear clothing made of breathable materials such as cotton. Avoid nylons and polyesters. Keep it clean Gently wash your tattoo with a mild, antibacterial soap and your fingers. Never use a wash cloth, sponge, bath puff or any other material while washing the area.
Then, thoroughly rinse all of the soap off. It’s important to carefully remove this debris to prevent a new tattoo from scabbing. Don’t rub Rubbing your tattoo can pull off the thin layer that is also referred to as a scab which forms a protective layer over the fresh ink.
This scab is necessary and you don’t want to pull it off before it’s ready or you will end up with larger scabs that are harmful. Re-apply ointment, lotion or moisturizer Avoid Sweating Sports, gum etc can irritate a new tattoo, so try to avoid extremely physical activity.
Also avoid contact sports, where the protective scab can be knocked off. Don’t soak in any kind of water including bathtubs, oceans, lakes, swimming pools or hot tubs. Not only can the water seep under the skin and draw the ink out, any germs found in the water source can potentially cause infection, which can lead to scabbing and scarring.
Tattoo Scabbing – Healing Scabs can be unsightly, painful and itchy. Scabs are the encrusted formation that forms atop a wound during the healing process. Designed to keep germs and bacteria from invading the wound and leading the infection, they can be unsightly.
Improper caring of scabs can lead to permanent scarring. Reasons for Scabs: The tattoo starts to scab over, similar to a scab that may occur if you’ve been badly sun burned. This is a natural reaction, as the top layer of skin becomes a little crusty, protecting the open wound (tattoo) underneath.
After a few days, the natural healing process of the tattoo causes the skin to form a complete scab over the entire image. This scab should be very thin and flaky if you’ve taken care of your tattoo correctly. Once the tattoo finishes healing, the scab begins to peel, eventually falling off completely on its own.
During this time, it’s important not to pick the scab or it could pull the ink out of the fresh tattoo underneath. What to avoid: Don’t pick at the scab; give it time to heal undisturbed. Picking scabs open not only exposes the cut to bacteria, but keeps it from healing properly and will eventually lead to scarring.
Clean the scab with warm, soapy water. Don’t rub on it or you risk having it fall off. Dry it immediately after washing. Keep the scab moist by applying a warm, wet compress one to two times a day. This will help promote healing by allowing the skin beneath the scab to regenerate.
- Apply lotion to the scab to keep it healthier and less likely to fall off or become cracked;
- Apply an antibiotic ointment to the scab between soakings to help keep it from hardening;
- Avoid soaking the scab in excess water;
This can cause the scab to fall off, which will restart the healing process, making it so another scab has to form. Allow the scab to get as much air as possible to promote healing. If you cover the scab, make sure it still has airflow. Talk to your doctor about chemical peeling for scabs and scars.
Are tattoos on fingers a good idea?
Final Thoughts – So, are finger tattoos a bad idea? Well, they most certainly aren’t a good idea either. Considering the few advantages and a sea of disadvantages, we (alongside almost every tattoo artist) strongly advise you against a finger tattoo. It is simply not worthy of your money, time and pain.
- It will fade away quickly, considering it manages to heal without an infection;
- Not to mention that the tattoo will never look as clean and as vibrant as other tattoos due to complex placement;
- The fingers flex, bend and move all the time, so you can imagine how the movement affects the ink;
If you want a small, discreet, and simple tattoo, you can still get one in other places. Small tattoos look great wherever you locate them, so long you stay away from fingers, palms, and feet..
Why don t tattoo artists do finger tattoos?
A Professional Dilemma – You may not realize it, but a tattoo artist frequently becomes the conscience of naive or impetuous customers who want tattoos that could cause them a lot of problems down the road. These professionals know that highly visible tattoos, such as on the hand and face, can cause the wearer to become the subject of ridicule or impede the chances of finding employment.
A tattoo artist who feels you’re not ready to take on the consequences cannot in good conscience allow you to get such a tattoo. True, you could probably just find someone else to do it, but at least the tattooist who refuses can rest easy with a decision that protects you.
At the very least, the situation should cause you to stop and think about the potential consequences of your actions. The tattooist is trying to assess your ability to deal with the consequences of your decision. Are you really ready to handle the reactions of the public to an unconventional, highly visible body modification? Are you prepared to accept rejections to in future job interviews? Remember: It’s permanent, and it’s not in a place where you can cover it up easily.
Do finger tattoos age well?
Do Finger Tattoos Fade Quicker Than Other Areas? – Compared to tattoos in other areas of the body, finger tattoos do tend to fade faster and not age as well. This is primarily due to the amount that we use our hands every day. Simple tasks, like washing your hands, or sweeping the floor can cause a lot of wear and tear to the skin on your fingers and hands.
- Fingers may also be constantly rubbing against each other;
- The continuous activity of your hands and fingers leads to an increase in the shedding and regeneration of the skin in that area;
- Unsurprisingly, this will not help keep your finger tattoo in prime condition;
The nature of the skin around your fingers and hands can make it difficult for a finger tattoo to heal properly. If you can make some changes to how you use your hands immediately after getting your tattoo, you may be able to extend its life. 
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How much do finger tattoos cost?
Hand or Finger Tattoo Cost A finger or hand tattoo can start at $50 for something very simple and go up to $300 for more elaborate designs. Most people don’t spend a lot of money on finger tattoos because they tend to fade quickly.
