Buzz
Tattoos are often considered permanent, but they do tend to fade over time. Colors fade, and fine lines and text may become unclear and lose their sharpness. The fading process is influenced by several factors, including ink quality, skin health, friction, and sun exposure. Thankfully, there are ways to slow down this fading and help your tattoo stay vibrant for a longer time. Here are some tips to help your tattoo last longer and maintain its appearance.
Limit Sun Exposure
Protecting your skin from the sun not only lowers the risk of skin cancer but also helps prevent your tattoo from fading too quickly. The experts at Oxbow Tattoo in Easthampton, MA emphasize that the sun is one of the main causes of tattoo degradation. 'All pigments slowly disperse over time, and sun exposure can significantly speed up the fading process, whether it's a colored tattoo, black ink, or black and grey.'
To maintain the freshness of your tattoo, apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher whenever possible. If you're able to cover your tattoos when the sun is out, that’s even better. Otherwise, be sure to moisturize frequently and reapply sunscreen.
Keep your skin moisturized regularly to protect your tattoo's vibrancy.
Hydrated skin helps your tattoo look vibrant and healthy. Tattoo Moisturizer recommends cocoa butter as a top choice for preventing tattoo aging, noting that “Cocoa butter is rich in healthy fatty acids as well as Vitamins E and K. These are components that help combat—or at least, delay—the appearance of aging skin.” You can opt for any moisturizer that suits your skin type, however.
Some specific tattoo care products, like Mad Rabbit tattoo cream, are formulated with vitamin C and E, rosehip oil, cocoa butter, Argan oil, and aloe. Whether you believe in tattoo-specific lotions is up to you, but the key point is that moisture is essential for care.
Give extra attention to tattoos that are more exposed to the elements for better protection.
Certain areas of the body experience more wear and tear, and excessive exposure can shorten the life of a tattoo, so these spots need extra care. Oxbow Tattoo suggests the shoulders as an example and recommends applying additional sunscreen. Finger tattoos also tend to fade faster: “We use our hands constantly, so the bending and rubbing can contribute to the need for a touch-up in some cases,” they explain. In these cases, investing in a special tattoo cream might be helpful.
Stay in touch with your tattoo artist to keep track of your tattoo's condition and ensure its long-term care.
Minimizing sun exposure and keeping your skin well-hydrated will help preserve your tattoo (or at least slow down the fading process), but its longevity actually begins with the design. “Tattoo ink has come a long way, and artists’ application skills really help tattoos stay vibrant and beautiful for many, many years,” says Oxbow Tattoo. If you care about the lasting quality of your tattoo, discuss the longevity of your design and location with your artist before getting inked.
Be realistic about the need for touch-ups, as your tattoo will likely require them over time to maintain its fresh appearance. Learn to recognize when it's time for a touch-up. “If your tattoo has lost its vibrancy and seems dull or no longer has the color it originally had, it’s time for a touch-up,” says Oxbow Tattoo. “If the black lines have spread significantly and become blurry, losing their sharpness, you can get your tattoo relined to restore its definition.” So keep in touch with your artist—your tattoo represents their work, and they’ll want it to stay as vibrant and beautiful as you do.
