How Long Does A Tattoo Last?
So you’re considering your first tattoo. That’s cool—but don’t rush it. You need time to think about what you want needled into your skin, how badly you want it, and how to get it done safely (namely, by someone who knows what they’re doing). Since there are so many things to consider before you get a tattoo, we presented a few common ink-quiries to Tiffany Tattooz, owner and tattoo artist of Ink Gallery Tattoo Shop in Woodland Park, NJ, and mainstay of Black Ink Crew on VH1.
- If you’re in the market for your first ink, read through her starter’s guide;
- It’ll inform every decision you make about the emblem you’ll soon wear for (hopefully) the rest of your days;
- What are the least (and most) painful body parts to tattoo? Everyone has a different type of pain tolerance when it comes to tattoos, but most seem to experience the least amount of pain in the arm and thigh areas;
These areas of the body have more fat tissue and less nerve density, which in turn causes less discomfort. The most painful will have to be the ribs, feet, and middle chest. There is less fat, the skin is very thin, and the bone is closer to the surface of the skin, allowing one to feel the sensitivity of the needle more.
- What actually happens to the skin while receiving a tattoo? Basically, ink is being deposited and penetrated into the dermis layer of the skin;
- The pigments are too big to be fought off by our white blood cells, so they just pretty much stay in the dermis layer of our skin forever;
How should someone prepare for a tattoo? It’s recommended that you wash the area of the skin or take a shower before coming in to get the tattoo, especially if you work with paint, construction materials, garbage, or sewage. Although it’s my job as an artist to make sure the area is cleaned, cleaning up beforehand does help reduce the risk of other unclean body parts contaminating the clean area.
On site, I always make sure to first clean the area being tattooed. I’ll then shave the customer’s skin and then spray it with alcohol to make sure the skin is fully sterile. How long do tattoos take to heal? Tattoos need about two weeks to heal, on average, although sometimes it can take more time, depending on the client’s skin and how long it took to complete the tattoo.
I tell my clients to keep the bandage on for 8-12 hours, because it allows plasma—our body’s natural way of healing itself—to regenerate skin tissue, thus allowing a quicker healing process and preventing scabbing. Once the wrap is taken off, I tell clients to use a fragrance-free antibacterial soap to wash the tattoo.
- They should use lukewarm water—never hot water;
- However, after completely washing the tattoo, they have to pour cold water on the skin to close up the pores;
- How should someone care for their tattoo immediately after inking? Wash the tattoo twice a day for the first three or four days, since tattoos are pretty much an open wound at this point;
After washing the tattoo, pat it dry with a paper towel. (Don’t use a cloth towel, because cloth towels hold bacteria. ) Wait 15 minutes and then apply a light coat of moisturizing ointment with clean hands. Apply the ointment twice a day (morning and night) for two days.
Less is better: Using too much ointment will cause problems with healing and fade the tattoo, since thick ointment can clog the pores. After the second day, switch to a fragrance-free lotion and apply 3-5 times a day depending on the consistency, for up to two weeks.
Do not pick or scratch your tattoo during the healing process. Hands should always be cleaned when applying any ointment or lotion on skin. You will have to avoid being in the sun or pool for two weeks, and, most important, in order for the tattoo to stay vibrant for many years, you should always use sun block when outside.
How often do people typically need to get their tattoos touched up? It really all comes down to how they take care of their tattoos and if there were any scabs that have formed. If there were any issues during the healing process, then you will be able to tell within two weeks whether or not a tattoo needs to be touched up.
If there are no issues, then I would say a tattoo can hold up well for 10 years before seeing that it needs to be brand new again. As you get older, so does your ink. If one is always in the sun it will dull out the ink in your tattoo way sooner than someone who is never in the sun.
What’s your advice to someone who isn’t sure if they should get a tattoo? Don’t do it until you wake up one day and say, “I’m ready and I know what I want. ” I never recommend someone to get a tattoo if they’re unsure of their ideas or whether or not tattoos are for them.
It’s a permanent procedure—so you want to make sure that you’re confident having something etched on you for the rest your life. If you finally find yourself ready to get tattooed, then the next big step is to find an artist who “specializes” in the “style” you want.
Review their portfolio to see if you like his or her work, and then you can set an appointment. How do you know if your tattoo artist is legit? You can tell by their recognition, their portfolio, how long their wait is, and their prices.
How do prices vary for tattoos? Some artists charge hourly, or some charge by the piece. For larger tattoos, however, some will charge by the day (half-day sessions might be $400-600, or full-day sessions around $1,000 or more). 10. Is it easy to remove a tattoo? Painful? Laser tattoo removal is a painful process and requires many sessions. How has tattoo technology progressed in recent years?
- Ink: There are now quality ink brands that last longer on the skin throughout the years. Some black inks are so dark, I can’t even use them for shading in a realistic tattoo—I can only use them for solid black work like tribal tattoos.
- Machinery: New tattoo machines called “rotaries” make no sound while tattooing and feel lightweight on the wrist and hand, which decreases the chances of tendinitis and carpal tunnel for the artist. It almost feels like you’re tattooing with a pencil.
- Cost: I now even have a “wireless power supply” to run my tattoo machine—it actually keeps track of how long I’ve spent with the client, and how long I’ve been actually “tattooing” them. This never existed nine years ago. The power supply even shows me how much my clients should pay based off the time I spent on them.
- Needles: Previous needles required different machines to use. Now, there are needle cartridges that you can attach and detach so it can all be done from one machine.
- Resources: Even social media, YouTube, and online podcasts have made it much easier to learn and grow as an artist quickly. The resources are enormous.
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Contents
Does a tattoo really last forever?
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- The reason tattoo ink stays in skin forever has to do with the immune system.
- When you get a tattoo, the ink flows down the tattooing needle into the middle layer of your skin, called the dermis.
- That creates a wound, which your body tries to heal by sending macrophages (a type of white blood cell) to the area.
- The macrophages swallow the ink in an effort to take the foreign particle away from the wound.
- But the pigment in the ink is too large for the macrophages to remove, so the macrophages — with the ink inside — end up stuck in the dermis.
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How quickly do tattoos fade?
What to Do When You Notice Fading – If you’ve followed aftercare instructions and you notice concerning fading (beyond what we discussed in the introduction) within 6-months then go see the tattooist right away. It may be the result of shoddy work, and they may need to do a touch-up for you.
Potential for this concern can easily be mitigated by carefully vetting a tattoo parlor before booking an appointment. Quality work won’t fade so quickly, even when you slip-up (somewhat) on aftercare within the first 6-months.
Otherwise, any fading you experience will occur after years of living your life (taking sunny vacations, etc). At this point you can simply decide when it’s time to bring some life back to the tattoo. If the original artist is still available, then they will be more than happy to perform the touch-up at their hourly rate. .
Where do tattoos fade the most?
Do tattoos shorten your life?
the MPR take: – Having a tattoo may mean an earlier death, says a new report in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology. Investigators compared the deaths of people with and without tattoos and found that people with tattoos appeared to die earlier than people without (mean age of death: tattooed: 39yrs; nontattooed: 53yrs).
Does tattoo go into blood?
Research Continues into the Safety of Tattoos – As far as tattoo ink getting into your veins goes, the answer is that, yes, it happens. The process involves ink being injected into your dermis, which happens to contain many blood vessels. A skilled tattoo artist can keep the amount of ink getting into your veins to a minimum by injecting the ink at the correct depth.
Do all tattoos turn green?
New tattoos have very sharp and vibrant colors. However, as the tattoo ages, the ink can appear to turn green. Some ink develops into a bluish-greenish hue after several years. People who are thinking of getting a tattoo might wonder if all ink turns green over time and if there is anything they can do to avoid this.
Do black tattoos turn green?
Why do old tattoos turn green? – As the pigment in black ink is slowly removed by your body, it can turn a green/blue color as it fades. The color itself doesn’t change, it’s just the density of color pigments slowly reducing.
Why do black tattoos turn green?
Since black inks used today do tend to have different base pigments, it is possible to have your tattoo turn a slight green or blue color over time. We don’t mean a few years, though – this tends to happen over decades as the skin ages, sheds and moves, so it’s essentially the same risk of your tattoo fading with age.
- There are, however, some things that you can do to prevent this from happening prematurely, or from happening at all;
- First and foremost, always use sunscreen when you’re in the sun;
- Sun exposure is the #1 cause of tattoo fade , so don’t skip the sun block when you’re spending time outside if your tattoo is visible;
This is especially important when your tattoo is still in the healing phase – in fact, it’s best at this stage to avoid the tattoo being exposed to direct sunlight at all..
Whats the most painful place to get a tattoo?
What’s the least painful place to get a tattoo?
Least painful to tattoo – The least painful places to get a tattoo are areas of your body with fewer nerve endings. Think outer shoulder, calf, buttocks, and outer arm. While people generally focus on the location on the body, Stanley Kovak , a cosmetic physician, theorizes that pain is more about size.
Where on your body should you not get a tattoo?
Tattoos are a great way to express yourself. Aside from the endless designs to choose from, tattoos are also placed on different parts of the body. But it’s important to remember that they are a lifelong commitment which is why you should carefully consider their placement.
What is the disadvantage of tattoo?
Know the risks – Tattoos breach the skin, which means that skin infections and other complications are possible, including:
- Allergic reactions. Tattoo dyes — especially red, green, yellow and blue dyes — can cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This can occur even years after you get the tattoo.
- Skin infections. A skin infection is possible after tattooing.
- Other skin problems. Sometimes an area of inflammation called a granuloma can form around tattoo ink. Tattooing also can lead to keloids — raised areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue.
- Bloodborne diseases. If the equipment used to create your tattoo is contaminated with infected blood, you can contract various bloodborne diseases — including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
- MRI complications. Rarely, tattoos or permanent makeup might cause swelling or burning in the affected areas during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams. In some cases, tattoo pigments can interfere with the quality of the image.
Medication or other treatment might be needed if you experience an allergic reaction to the tattoo ink or you develop an infection or other skin problem near a tattoo.
Do tattoos poison your blood?
– Ink poisoning doesn’t occur from drawing on your skin. Ink may temporarily stain your skin, but it will not poison you.
Are tattoos addictive?
– Tattoos have increased in popularity in recent years, and they’ve become a fairly accepted form of personal expression. If you know someone with several tattoos , you may have heard them mention their “tattoo addiction” or talk about how they can’t wait to get another tattoo.
Maybe you feel the same way about your ink. It’s not uncommon to hear a love of tattoos referred to as an addiction. Many people believe tattoos can be addictive. (There’s even a television series called “My Tattoo Addiction.
“) But tattoos aren’t addictive, according to the clinical definition of addiction. The American Psychiatric Association defines addiction as a pattern of substance use or behavior that’s not easily controlled and can become compulsive over time. You might pursue this substance or activity regardless of the problems it might cause and have trouble thinking about or doing anything else.
This description generally doesn’t apply to tattoos. Having a lot of tattoos, planning multiple tattoos, or knowing you want more tattoos doesn’t mean you have an addiction. Many different reasons, some of them psychological, could drive your desire for multiple tattoos, but addiction probably isn’t one of them.
Let’s look more closely at the factors that could be contributing to your desire for more ink.
Why do tattoos never go away?
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Guess how tattoos stay there forever, even as your skin cells die and are replaced? French researchers say they have found the answer, and it’s a little bit surprising. They found that immune system cells called macrophages eat the ink, and then pass it to their replacements when they die.
So the tattoo ink doesn’t stain skin cells, as many people had believed. Instead, microscopic blobs of ink are passed along from one generation of macrophages to another, according to the report in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
“We further demonstrated that tattoo pigment particles can undergo successive cycles of capture–release–recapture without any tattoo vanishing,” Anna Baranska of the French research institute INSERM in Marseille and colleagues wrote. 
A devotee wears a Buddhist amulet over his tradtional tattoos during an annual sacred tattoo festival, at the Wat Bang Phra temple on March 3, 2018 in Nakhon Chaisi district, Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom Province. Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP – Getty Images They were doing experiments aimed at understanding the action of immune cells in the skin of mice. They created genetically engineered mice whose macrophages could be killed easily, and were monitoring how and when they were replaced by new macrophages.
They used tattoos in the mice tails to track this. Researchers have known that immune system cells are involved in helping the body take up tattoos. The ink doesn’t simply stain skin cells, because these cells die over the years and are replaced.
But it was assumed that the ink was staining skin cells called fibroblasts, which make up the connective tissue, and that the ink was continually replaced by macrophages. Instead, the French team found that macrophages took up the ink, released it when they died, and that fresh macrophages then gobbled it. 
It’s not surprising that macrophages might be involved in this process. The name comes from the Greek for “big eater. ” It’s their job to eat outside invaders. “Owing to their strategic positioning at body barriers, macrophages capture a wide range of exogenous (outside) particulates,” Baranska and colleagues wrote. Their findings may open a better way to remove tattoos, they said.
“We demonstrated that the pigment particles that remain at the site of injection and cause the long-term tattoo color were exclusively found within dermal macrophages,” they wrote. They found no colored fibroblasts.
Lasers can be used to take off unwanted tattoos by activating other immune cells that carry the ink away. But it can be a less-than-perfect process, depending on the type of ink used. 
Former England captain David Beckham shows his tattoo after he was asked to by students at Peking University during his visit on March 24, 2013 in Beijing. Reuters file Dermal macrophages don’t move around the body like some other immune cells do, so the trick may be to activate other immune system cells that can grab the ink and take it off to the lymph nodes, to be carried off in lymph fluid. Some kind of trick to kill off the ink-noshing macrophages for a while, so that other immune cells can take away the ink, may be the secret, they said..
What type of tattoos last the longest?
Tattoos With A Bold Design – Simple, minimalist tattoos are enduringly popular, but bold tattoos tend to last the longest. You can count both the size and the thickness of the lines as two of the reasons why these tattoos age well. “Bold, black text and traditional American tattoos still look badass when they fade,” Villani says.
Do black tattoos turn green?
Why do old tattoos turn green? – As the pigment in black ink is slowly removed by your body, it can turn a green/blue color as it fades. The color itself doesn’t change, it’s just the density of color pigments slowly reducing.
How long do tattoos stay black?
It is not an easy decision determining whether you are going to go for color or black and gray tattoos. If you are thinking about getting a tattoo and have not put some serious thought into which style you are going for, you should sit down and think for a bit.
- It is essential to understand here that as much as tattoos are a form of self-expression and artistic statement, they are also permanent;
- So, you should settle this debate of color vs;
- black and gray before you go see your tattoo artist;
Any future work that you get done on your tattoo will depend heavily on which style you go for. In this article, we will help you make up your mind by giving you a run-down of the advantages and disadvantages of color tattoos and black and gray tattoos.
This style of tattooing has been in existence since the very beginning of the art of tattooing. It is the O. G style if you will. The simple reason for this is that the natural ingredients available at the time used to make tattoo ink produced mainly black and gray color.
The beauty of black and gray tattoo depends on the density and spacing used to create alluring depth and layers in the design. Let’s take a look at the pros that you can get with black and gray tattoos: 1- They Take Less Time. Since there is less ink required to create a black and gray tattoo, it is a little bit faster than colored tattoos.
- Some people even say that getting black and gray tattoos is less painful as well, but that is a subjective factor and varies from person to person;
- 2- They are rich in Contrast;
- Black and gray tattoos are known for their rich contrast, and because of this trait, they are more visible on darker skin tones compared to colored tattoos;
3- They are Neutral. Another significant benefit of getting a black and gray tattoo is that it is neutral. This is a very big advantage since your black and gray tattoo will almost never create a clash with your outfit. If you are someone who loves fashion and is always changing styles, then going for a black and gray tattoo is a wise choice.
- Colored tattoos can make wearing specific colors difficult;
- On the other hand, black and gray tattoos complement whatever color you decide to wear;
- 4- They Last longer;
- This is another major factor where black and gray tattoos shine;
They last significantly longer than colored tattoos. Colored tattoos can fade over time and might need regular touch-ups to remain sharp. Black and gray tattoos are low maintenance in this regard as they don’t fade easily and do not require you to get periodic touch-ups.
- A good estimate for a professionally done black and gray tattoo is 15 years without any signs of fading;
- That is a long, long time before you will need to go to a tattoo artist to get a touch-up;
- 5 – Their Versatility;
Black and gray tattoos are more versatile than colored ones as they work well with almost any design. There are certain limitations to what you can do with colored tattoos, whereas with black and gray tattoos, you can get practically any design that your heart desires.
- 6- They are Classy & Classic;
- There is history and class attached to black and gray tattoos;
- They always stay in the trend and are great to look at;
- You do not run the risk of getting something that you will regret in a few years because of the over the top color choices;
They also age well. Since then, there is no color to fade; they stand the test of time pretty well. Overall, black and gray tattoos are faster, cheaper, and classier than colored tattoos. They last much longer without any significant fading than colored tattoos.
- However, it is crucial to go to the right tattoo artist because there is a certain level of mastery and experience involved when it comes to getting an intricate design in black and gray;
- The most significant risk of getting a black and gray tattoo is that you end up with the wrong tattoo artist who cannot provide you with the realism that your tattoo is going to need to come to life;
Other than that, you are always safe, getting a black and gray tattoo. It is a simpler and easier tattoo that will age well and stand the test of time. The only thing to keep in mind is making sure that you absolutely love the design you want to go for and are 100% sure about it.
Black ink is one of the hardest to remove, so don’t get a tattoo that you would want to get rid of. Color tattoos are vibrant, bright, and bold. There are several advantages to getting a colored tattoo as well.
It all depends on the design that you want and what is the purpose of the tattoo. If you want your tattoo to make a statement and make you stand out, then going for colored tattoos is the better option. With colored tattoos, you can be more creative and really embody the reality of some images.
As we have mentioned earlier, it is harder to bring this realism aspect with black and gray tattoos. It can be done, but it is much more challenging as compared to colored tattoos. There is also an added benefit to getting colored tattoos.
They are easier to remove or cover-up. You can even use color tattoos to modify or cover your existing black and gray tattoos. But the point that we are trying to make here is that colored tattoos are better if you want a statement piece and want your tattoo to stand out.
Let’s take a look at some of the advantages that you get with going for a colored tattoo: 1- They are better suited for light skin tones that allows you to naturally show contrast well and to keep colors unaltered over time.
2- They give you more room for expression and allow you to get creative with your designs. It is easier to see and mood of the tattoo with color as compared to black and gray. That being said, you should really think hard and judge all aspects before you decide which style of tattoo you are going to get as there are some severe downsides to colored tattoos as well: 3- They fade.
- Colored tattoos, when repeatedly exposed to sunlight, tend to fade easily;
- This means that they will not age well and will need regular touch-ups to keep them looking sharp and fresh;
- 4- They usually take more time;
Colored tattoos take more time to complete since there is more work involved as compared to black and gray tattoos. Unless we are talking about a highly detailed black and grey realistic piece, that, compared to a colorful piece, would take approximately the same amount of time.
Sometimes more. 5- Coloured tattoos are costly. There is more work involved in getting a colored tattoo, which means that it is going to cost you more than a black and gray tattoo. If you are looking to get a cover-up tattoo, then colored tattoos are the best solution for that.
If you want a statement piece that you want people to notice and see, then colored tattoos can do an excellent job at that as well. Overall, black and gray tattoos are faster than colored tattoos. Both styles have a time and a place. It all depends on what you want your tattoo to look like and what you want it to tell the world.
If you want a simple tattoo that lasts and stand the test of time with grace, then black and gray is the perfect choice for you. On the other hand, if you want a tattoo that shows the world your creativity and makes a strong statement, you are better off going for a colored tattoo.
Please make sure you spend enough time thinking about which style resonates with you. It is going to define what your tattoo design ends up looking and feeling like. If you want to see more amazing designs, feel free to check our tattoos here! Written and Curated by Aureo Roma..
