What Is A Tattoo Touch Up?
If you color your hair or know someone who does, then the concept of a ‘touch up’ is already familiar to you when you see those dark roots or silver grey hairs starting to peek through. Think of tattoo touch-ups as the same idea—but not exactly. Touching up a tattoo is pretty commonplace, even when your original tattoo is done by a highly reputable tattoo artist in a very legit studio. Although not all tattoos need a touch-up, these are a few telltale signs that yours might need some TLC:
- Small imperfections appear during the initial healing stage
- Your tattoo looks watered down or washed out
- Your tattoo has faded
- Your tattoo has some patches of color variations or small gaps are visible in the design
- The lines are not as clean or sharp as they were
Some wise advice that will never get old—your tattoo artist’s instructions for aftercare are legitimately one of the best guarantees for a great looking tattoo. If you kept your end of the bargain and followed those instructions, but a touch up is still needed sooner than later, then your tattoo artist may give you a complimentary touch up within a certain period of time afterwards. You probably won’t be shocked to hear this, but there’s really no specific ‘time’ for a tattoo touch up.
A touch up essentially is tattooing again over your existing tattoo. There are many artists who will recommend a touch up within the first 6 months. Your best bet is to check with your artist and see what their recommendation is based on your tattoo design and any other factors to consider.
Even if they don’t do it for free, in all likelihood, the fee would be minimal for a touch up visit. After the initial healing and determination if there’s any need for touching up, there’s also what happens over time. As the years go by, all tattoos will gradually fade.
- Exactly how much will of course depend on many different factors;
- Think of these touch ups sort of like a botox treatment or a A touch up done on an older tattoo can make those colors vibrant and bright again Since we’ve spoken here in the past about sun exposure and the proper use of sunscreen on tattoos, it is worth mentioning that another reason some tattoos may need touching up is if they were not properly protected early on and may have faded due to overexposure from the sun;
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, please don’t forget to keep a generous supply of a luxurious, super moisturizing cream for tattoo aftercare and use it, every day, not just for the immediate aftercare, but for the long haul. About the author: Yaffa Baslaw ( @yadeinu ) is a Freelance Writer with over a decade of experience copywriting and blogging compelling content.
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What is included in a tattoo touch up?
What Is a Tattoo Touch Up? – The details of a tattoo are extremely important. The vibrancy of the colors, the precise line work, and the countless tiny flourishes that go into the design are often what separate a high-quality tattoo from one that looks, well, kind of cheap.
- However, it’s not unusual for people to be a little disappointed with their tattoos once they’ve finished healing;
- The shading might be uneven, the colors might be patchy, or the lines might look a little dull;
Your tattoo is permanent, but that disappointment doesn’t have to be. You can get rid of those small imperfections in your tattoo by getting a touch-up. A touch up essentially means tattooing over your existing tattoo to fix any problems with it. Unlike getting a new tattoo, a touch up usually involves adding small details or a bit of color to the existing ink.
They’re typically quick jobs that don’t require you to spend much time under the tattoo gun. Touch ups are routinely used as a way to correct new tattoos if they’ve healed a little poorly, but they can also give new life to an old tattoo.
Over the years, your tattoo will gradually fade. A touch up can make an old tattoo look fresh by making the colors pop and the details stand out like they used to. An alternative to a touch up is a cover up , where a whole new tattoo design is drawn over an existing one. 
A tattoo cover up.
Is it normal to need a touch up on a new tattoo?
The Key to a Great Tattoo Touch-Up – Whether you’re about to get fresh ink or going in for seconds in a touch-up, you’ll want to make the most of your tattoo’s healing process and give it the best possible start. You can do that with the awesome all-in-one Tattoo Goo Tattoo Aftercare Kit.
- It includes everything you need to keep your tattoo clean, moisturized, itch-free, and protected from sun damage;
- While touch-ups are good practice for many tattoos, they might not always be necessary, depending on the style, body part, and healing process;
But proper tattoo care is always important. And with products like the Tattoo Goo balm (also available in a handy to-go size ), your ink can look fresh and fantastic for a long time!.
Do tattoo touch ups hurt more?
Do Touch-Ups Hurt? – Well, the touch-up process is the same as the regular tattooing process. So, depending on the number of touch-ups required and the placement of the tattoo , you might experience moderate to severe pain. But, no touch-up will be completely painless , unfortunately.
But, this also varies from one person to the other. Some people tend to experience significantly less pain compared to the actual tattooing, while others hurt much more during the touch-up session. The most painful touch-up areas include knees, elbows, ribs/ribcage, feet, inner thighs, head, face, etc.
Generally, body areas with thinner skin and more nerve endings tend to hurt the most.
How often should a tattoo be touched up?
Can you go a decade without a tattoo touch up? – 
Olena Yakobchuk/Shutterstock Getting a tattoo touched up doesn’t mean that your artist wasn’t excellent or that you didn’t let it heal properly. According to Inkedmind. com , everyone’s skin heals and takes to tattoo ink differently, so touch ups are perfectly normal and often not the direct fault of anyone involved. However, touch ups should never be done until the tattoo is fully healed. Then, touch ups are recommended to be done between the first one to six months of having the tattoo, but can be done successfully up to one year after getting the tattoo.
This immediate form of touch ups is largely for imperfections in the original tattoo, such as some patches of skin not taking to the ink as well as others. Once you’ve had a tattoo for a while, though, you can touch them up much less often.
According to a tattoo artist on Quora , tattoos can go several years without being touched up. After the initial touch up within a year of getting it, they’re completely optional and can be done whenever you notice your ink is fading. Moreover, this tattoo artist noted that some artists offer free lifetime touch ups, so if yours does, you should definitely take them up on it.
Are tattoo touch ups free?
How Much are Touch-Ups? – Many reputable artists will guarantee their work and throw in a touch-up free of charge. However, doing without proper aftercare can void your “warranty. ” If you’re neglecting your tattoo against your artist’s recommendation, you’ll likely have to shoulder the price of a touch-up yourself.
How much it will set you back will depend on the size and complexity of your piece. Some artists will consider the amount of work that will go into giving your ink a makeover. However, a touch-up should be only a fraction of the price of your ink.
Even free of charge, leave your artist a generous tip. No matter how small, your touch-up will still require equipment, ink, and time.
Is it rude to ask tattoo artist for touch up?
Is It Rude to Ask For a Tattoo Touch Up? – When you notice your tattoo is beginning to fade, you may be nervous about asking the original tattoo artist to touch up their work. It is not rude to ask for a touch up. Reputable tattoo artists will stand by their work and guarantee its quality.
Usually, within a set length of time the original artist will offer free touch ups for small spots in the tattoo that may have faded due to the natural healing process. The touch up may not be free if the artist can tell that it was not properly cared for.
If you are asking a tattoo artist to fix a tattoo they did not do originally they may charge a fee. This fee will probably be their normal rate since, for them, it is essentially a new tattoo they are making for you.
How long does a touch-up tattoo take to heal?
For a small tattoo you could be looking at four weeks, but it is not uncommon for the period to extend up to six months for larger and more complicated ones.
How long does a touch-up tattoo take?
LEARN ABOUT TOUCH-UPS Does your tattoo need to be touched up? This is the process when your artist takes a look at your tattoo after it has completely healed and fine tune the line work and shading if necessary. We want your tattoo looking as best as it can, so if your artist has not already advised you of our touch-up policy please do not hesitate to read through it and give us a call.
How long do I have to wait before doing the touch ups? Well it all depends on the size of the tattoo, the complexity of the design, and how gently the work has healed. If you experience long healing times (more than two weeks) or noticeable shinny-ness on the healed tattoo it is very likely that you will need touch ups.
Allow time for the skin to settle down to a more normal condition before having your touch ups (1-5 months, but no more than 6 months). What to look before before asking the artist for a touch-up? Sometimes the need for touch ups is obvious, as in the absence of color which was present before the tattoo healed or even missing lines.
Other times the need is less apparent, but your artist will be able to spot areas of the tattoo that need to be touched up. Only your tattoo artist can asses their own work. How long do touch-ups take? They can take five minutes, or several hours, depending on the size of the tattoo, and on the way that the tattoo has healed.
Visit your artist a few weeks after the tattoo has finished peeling, to allow them to assess the need, if any, for touch ups. Together you can make plans on how to schedule time for the work. OUR POLICY If the fault of the tattoo needing a touch up lies within the artist, then the touch up will be executed by that artist for no additional charge to the client.
However, if the touch-up is a direct result of the client failing to properly care for the tattoo during the “aftercare” stage, for example, the artist will be able to tell if the custom picked at, scratched, did not moisturize correctly, the client will have to pay for the touch-up.
We will not be responsible for doing finger, inner lip, and/or hand tattoo touch-ups free of charge, due to the fact that the client is told before hand that the tattoo will be on a surface area that fades quickly (due to the oils on the skin). If clients would like those particular tattoos to be touched-up, we will gladly do so, but at the normal rate of the original tattoo.
In addition, our tattoo policy at ShowOff Ink Artistry only applies to customers that have gotten their tattoos done at our location. If customers are seeking a touch-up for tattoos done by an artist currently working at our location but was executed at another location, our touch-up policy DOES NOT apply.
We will gladly assist in doing the touch-up, but the artist will assess the proper rate for which they will charge the customer at that time..
How do you tell if a tattoo needs a touch-up?
Should I shave over my tattoo?
When Can I Shave Over a Tattoo? – After getting inked, you can’t shave over the area of your new tattoo until it’s fully healed. This could take two to three weeks. During this time, you need to keep your ink protected to allow it to heal properly, so shaving is out of the question. Every Gillette Styler comes with a ProGlide Razor Blade , which will help you to make sure your tattoo is left looking super smooth after its first shave. Keep it looking that way by signing up to Gillette’s shave club for fresh razors delivered to your door every few weeks. Remember: newer, sharper razors are always best for avoiding shaving cuts – the last thing you want to be worrying about spoiling your new tattoo.
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.
How do I keep my tattoo from fading?
Can I get a touch up after 2 weeks?
How Long to Wait Before Getting a Tattoo Touch Up? – A new tattoo can look different as it heals. Your skin is going through the healing process and this needs to be completed before you can see the final result. You should never touch up a tattoo on skin that hasn’t healed from the initial tattoo procedure.
- This could do more damage than good and you could end up with something completely different than what you asked for;
- Any reputable tattoo artist will advise you to wait until your tattoo has completely healed before getting a touch up;
However, we would advise that touch ups for an imperfect tattoo are completed within 12 months of the initial tattoo.
How long does a tattoo touch up take?
LEARN ABOUT TOUCH-UPS Does your tattoo need to be touched up? This is the process when your artist takes a look at your tattoo after it has completely healed and fine tune the line work and shading if necessary. We want your tattoo looking as best as it can, so if your artist has not already advised you of our touch-up policy please do not hesitate to read through it and give us a call.
- How long do I have to wait before doing the touch ups? Well it all depends on the size of the tattoo, the complexity of the design, and how gently the work has healed;
- If you experience long healing times (more than two weeks) or noticeable shinny-ness on the healed tattoo it is very likely that you will need touch ups;
Allow time for the skin to settle down to a more normal condition before having your touch ups (1-5 months, but no more than 6 months). What to look before before asking the artist for a touch-up? Sometimes the need for touch ups is obvious, as in the absence of color which was present before the tattoo healed or even missing lines.
Other times the need is less apparent, but your artist will be able to spot areas of the tattoo that need to be touched up. Only your tattoo artist can asses their own work. How long do touch-ups take? They can take five minutes, or several hours, depending on the size of the tattoo, and on the way that the tattoo has healed.
Visit your artist a few weeks after the tattoo has finished peeling, to allow them to assess the need, if any, for touch ups. Together you can make plans on how to schedule time for the work. OUR POLICY If the fault of the tattoo needing a touch up lies within the artist, then the touch up will be executed by that artist for no additional charge to the client.
However, if the touch-up is a direct result of the client failing to properly care for the tattoo during the “aftercare” stage, for example, the artist will be able to tell if the custom picked at, scratched, did not moisturize correctly, the client will have to pay for the touch-up.
We will not be responsible for doing finger, inner lip, and/or hand tattoo touch-ups free of charge, due to the fact that the client is told before hand that the tattoo will be on a surface area that fades quickly (due to the oils on the skin). If clients would like those particular tattoos to be touched-up, we will gladly do so, but at the normal rate of the original tattoo.
- In addition, our tattoo policy at ShowOff Ink Artistry only applies to customers that have gotten their tattoos done at our location;
- If customers are seeking a touch-up for tattoos done by an artist currently working at our location but was executed at another location, our touch-up policy DOES NOT apply;
We will gladly assist in doing the touch-up, but the artist will assess the proper rate for which they will charge the customer at that time..
Will tattoo artists add to an existing tattoo?
Let the artist take lead on the design Most tattoo artists are in fact artists. They want to tattoo you with their own art. This isn’t just a creative preference. Tattooers generally have perfected a certain style (or styles). Their best designs and their best execution will be in this style(s). They want to be confident and and proud of your tattoo.
- Don’t send them a picture of another artist’s work and say “I want this tattoo”.
- Don’t be surprised if the artist does not want to tattoo in a style that is not their own.
- Do share reference images for the subject matter you like.
- Do share reference images from the artist’s own portfolio and say “I like the style you used here. “
Be as specific as you need to be. Not more or less. Artists love it when you give them creative freedom but don’t do it unless you really do want them to make all creative decisions. If you have something specific in mind, tell them.
- Don’t tell the artist “you have complete freedom” and then come to the shop and make a lot of corrections.
- Do tell the artist any specifics you have in mind before they work on the design!
New tattoos are always a better option than “adding on” to, or modifying an existing tattoos. Most artists would rather not work with another artist’s tattoo. It adds constraints to their design potential and it forces them to either: (a) Vandalize an existing, nice tattoo or (b) Have their work seen alongside an existing ugly tattoo. Either way, this won’t be a portfolio piece and won’t get the best work from the artist.
That’s not possible if you give excessive direction or if you force the artist outside of their core styles. Also, remember that good artists won’t copy another artist’s design so don’t ask. Consider: do you really need your existing tattoo to keep growing and becoming more and more of a Frankenstein’s Monster? Or can you offer new real estate to each artist? Cover-ups are a different story.
If you need a cover-up, you need a coverup. Not all artists are technically capable of good cover-ups and not all artists like to do them because of the additional constraint but it’s always worth asking.
- Don’t think of your tattoo as a house you are continually remodelling.
- Do think of tattoos more like paintings you are commissioning. Give the artist a clean canvas.
- Do consider going back to the same artist for modifying or touching up an existing tattoo.
Don’t design by committee There’s nothing worse than customers who bring an opinionated friend or loved one to “help” them with design decisions. You hired the artist to help you with design. Adding a third party can complicate the already-delicate balance of artist/client in the design process. The more opinions you solicit, the harder and more confusing the process will be. Only you know what you want and the artist can help you.
- Don’t bring a friend or spouse to speak for you.
- Don’t text photos of the design to friends asking for their opinion.
- Do tell your opinionated friends to quiet down if they become too involved in your tattoo design process.
Limit your party to yourself + 1 max Speaking of bringing others with you… consider visiting the shop alone for your appointment. Most shops are limited in their space and cannot accommodate your friends. Not only that, your friends might think it sounds fun to be at the shop while you get tattooed, but it’s not. Your friends will be bored.
- Don’t bring extra people with you to be tattooed without asking the shop first. Most shops don’t want your friends sleeping in the waiting area while you get tattooed.
- Do limit your party to just you or one other if you must and encourage your friends to go do something while you get tattooed so they don’t sleep in the waiting area.
Let the artist concentrate while you get tattooed Even the most experienced artists need to limit stressors during their tattooing. Tattooing requires intense concentration. Some artists love to gab while tattooing but others prefer to be quiet. Let the artist take the lead or ask them what they prefer.
- Do bring a book to read or movie to watch provided you can do it without moving.
- Do let your artist take the lead on whether or not to talk.
- Don’t stare at the tattoo while your artist is working. This is stressful.
- Don’t talk too much unless your artit is the chatty one.
Sit still! For obvious reasons, you never want to move while there is a tattoo needle inking your skin. If you might have trouble with pain, consider a numbing cream in advance of getting tattooed (ask your artist first). If you’re jumpy, you’re wasting tattooing time and risking mistakes. Generally though, you’re stressing out the artist which can mean not getting their best work.
- Don’t move unexpectedly.
- Don’t talk if you’re getting your ribs tattooed.
- Do let the artist know if you need to move or stretch.
- Do let the artist know If you think the furniture can be adjusted to be more comfortable.
- Do consider topical numbing cream in advance of your tattoo if you’re worried about tolerating the pain (ask the artist first though)
Tipping It is customary to tip tattoo artists just like (in the US) it is customary to tip restaurant wait staff. Because it’s customary, not tipping is seen as a sign of being dissatisfied with your tattoo.
- Do expect to tip when budgeting for your tattoo.
- Do tip the artist directly and in cash.
- Do tip big (e. 20%+) if you love your tattoo.
- Do talk to your artist whenever you feel something isn’t being handled well (consultation, design, etc). A small tip (or no tip) shouldn’t be the only sign that you are dissatisfied.
Aftercare There are many different aftercare procedures out there. Always follow the artist’s own aftercare instructions because you and the artist are both responsible for the quality of your tattoo.
- Do make sure to get precise instructions for aftercare from your artist.
- Do feel OK to ask questions during the healing process if something seems wrong.
- Do a little research about healing tattoos to know what’s normal. Scabbing is normal. Ink on the bandage is normal. Looking faded in the first couple of weeks is normal.
Touch-ups Most tattoos will not need touching up — at least for many years. However, sometimes ink does fall out or fade. This can happen for many reasons. The artist’s tattoo technique matters but it’s just half the story. Healing/fading is also affected by aftercare, your biology, the placement on the body (bendy parts like wrists, elbows, fingers, etc will fade more and faster).
- Do wait 30 days before even considering a touch-up. Tattoos can look less-than-perfect while healing and need 30 days to be completely healed.
- Do take good care of your tattoo following artist instructions and avoiding any strong sun exposure, rubbing, or soaking of the tattoo area while it’s healing.
- Don’t expect the tattoo ink to look as vibrant as it did the day of your tattoo. Tattoo ink sits under the top layer of skin so, once healed, you’ll be looking at the ink through the top layer of skin.
- Don’t be confrontational with the artist about your touch-up. Your artist cares as much as you do about the tattoo looking great so there’s no reason to take an aggressive posture if you have concerns about your tattoo.
How do you know if tattoo needs touch up?
How long should I wait to get my tattoo touched up?
The Tattoo Has Fully Healed – For those who recently received a tattoo and want it tidied up, please resist the urge to run to a local parlor if it has not yet fully healed. For a small tattoo you could be looking at four weeks , but it is not uncommon for the period to extend up to six months for larger and more complicated ones.
- Also, pay close attention to how your tattoo is healing or has healed;
- This will give you a good idea of your body’s capacity to heal, and what to expect from the next session;
- You will want to share this information with your tattooist;
Did you experience a rash, excessive bleeding, or discharge at any point? Take note (even write it down) of any perceived irregularities as they may very well apply to your “restoration”. If you’re returning to the same artist and shop, know that most professional studios will have a clear policy in place for this.
Some studios allow free touch ups up until a certain point in time (a few months) while others charge a smaller hourly rate than the original sitting. At the very least the artist you went to in the first place will let you know when to come in for inspection and subsequent touch up, if needed.
The larger the work, the more likely. Either way, it can’t happen until the tattoo has healed. Obviously if you’re getting a touch up beyond six months or longer you will most likely pay the normal rate even with the same artist/studio. However, in some scenarios you may not be able (or willing) to return to the same tattooist.
