There are certain areas of your body where a tattoo will fade faster. Areas of the body tattoos fade most include the hands, feet, elbows, armpit and inside of the arms. The reason is simple: friction. For example, tattoos on your feet fade quicker as socks and shoes are constantly rubbing these areas.
Best: Shoulders & Calves
Since the skin on the shoulders and calves isn't as affected by aging, tattoos in these areas tend to stay put, Palomino says. Compare this to the areas that tend to see a lot of change over the course of your life, like your abdomen.
Pastel colors and white are the lightest tattoo colors; thus, they fade the quickest among all colors. They generally last for about five to eight years before fading. Moreover, pastel and white ink colors may look like scars if not done correctly.
There are numerous reasons a tattoo may fade or become misshapen over the course of a lifetime. Among them, Wesley says, are the location of the tattoo, the color and type of pigment, sun exposure, and smoking.
it really is very normal because the tattoo is in a healing stage, the layer which looked very amazing after the completion will be coming out so it looks faded while in reality your skin is absorbing the necessary ink and the rest is going to be off and when your tattoo starts healing the excess ink will peel off.
The rule of thumb is to moisturize your new tattoo at least 2-3 times per day for the first two weeks (or until the healing process is complete). Many tattoo enthusiasts continue to moisturize their tattoos every day!
Black and gray: Black and gray inks are the boldest and most dense; thus, they are the most fade-resistant colors. These are suitable for any skin tone, especially with tan or black skin. With proper aftercare, black and gray colors last for up to 10 years or longer before requiring a retouch.
The reason being, is that a tattoo “fades” to the naked eye within days of application. This occurs because as the skin heals, the top layer dies and new skin forms to take its place. During this period the epidermis typically has a faded appearance.
Wear Protective Clothing and Products Outside
But we want to emphasize that the sun really does damage your tattoos at all stages of its life, from the healing stage to 30 years later. Wearing sunscreen at the very least, if you can keep it covered with loose closets or some form of covering that would be ideal.
Tattoos start fading just after they're applied. But they should last a good 12 years (shoulders and arms) before the color is noticeably degraded. Other covered body parts can last a good long time.
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.
With that being said, Kim points out that fine line tattoos do tend to fade quicker due to the fact that the ink isn't as densely packed under the skin as with other thicker tattoos. This then makes it easier for your body's immune system to attack and break the ink down before flushing it out of your system.
Sunlight fades tattoos over time on all skin tones, so a colorful tattoo on a part of your body that sees more sun, like your forearm, will fade quicker than a colorful design somewhere like your thigh or inner arm (not to mention, those areas often have a lighter tone than other parts of your body).
There are certain areas of your body where a tattoo will fade faster. Areas of the body tattoos fade most include the hands, feet, elbows, armpit and inside of the arms. The reason is simple: friction. For example, tattoos on your feet fade quicker as socks and shoes are constantly rubbing these areas.
Spots where the skin is thinner, like the inside of the elbow or the top of the foot, are more susceptible to blowout, as it takes a gentler touch from your artist. If you're worried about the possibility of a blurry tattoo, consider placing the design somewhere with thicker skin.
The armpit is among the most painful places, if not the most painful place, to get tattooed. The pain you'll experience getting tattooed here is very severe. In fact, most tattoo artists advise against people getting armpit tattoos.
Dry skin can make a tattoo look blurred or faded. Keeping your skin moisturized is your best bet for a fresh look. While you can buy lotions that are marketed as tattoo lotions, you don't need to spend the extra money.
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.
Around four days after getting your tattoo, the redness and drainage should subside. The tattoo often takes on a cloudy appearance as scabs start to form over the ink.
Week two. Around the beginning of the second week, the scabs will start to flake off. It is important to be especially gentle with washing and moisturizing during this week, as it is easy to tear away scabs and damage the tattoo. The skin is likely to feel very itchy during this week.
Over-Cleansing Your Skin
But don't get carried away, experts say, or else you might actually cause your tattoo to fade. "It's good to cleanse but be careful of 'over-cleansing,'" Backe says. "Removing dirt and oils from your skin is healthy but you don't want to dry out your skin.
Tattoo Ink
Green is the hardest color to remove followed by light blue. Neon colors are also incredibly difficult to remove, and typically require multiple treatments with the Ruby laser. As a general rule, the greater the contrast between the color of the tattoo pigment and your skin, the better the result.
Thin lines, shading, small words, and small tattoos all fade much more quickly. Some like the effects age has on their tattoo. However, that tattoo will likely blur together if it's got too much detail. Bolder lines, thicker lines, and larger designs will better stand the test of time.
Tattoo Shading
Color and shading simply provide more dimension than line work. Contrary to what you might expect, many people report that the shading hurts significantly less than the outlining of the tattoo. If you've already made it through your line work, pat yourself on the back.