If your tattoo has seen better years, it's time to contact your artist. Seeing the original artist who created your tattoo is considered the best policy – some artists are not okay with touching up work done by someone else. However, there's always the chance that your original artist may not be available.
You Can Find a Studio Willing to Touch Up Another's Work (where applicable) You should not be punished for not living in the same locale as the tattooist who completed the original work. You may have received a tattoo in another destination while on vacation or you (or the artist) may simply have moved.
Most tattoo artists are more than happy to touch up a tattoo that's too small or too big for your liking. They may even offer to do it for free. So next time you're in the market for a new tattoo, keep this in mind.
Touching up others work is part of that job. We often will tell the client to ask the original artist if they guarantee their work or not, but if the client is uncomfortable going to the original artist, or chooses not to for some reason, then we will do the 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.
On a day-to-day basis we rarely notice this, then one day, years later, the tattoo might look a bit dull. The good news is that redoing tattoos is possible, and with recent advancements in tattooing, it can not only be saved but improved upon.
A tattoo touch-up is a very common aspect of getting tattooed, but one most people seem to neglect. Much like most other artworks, with time, tattoos fade, and sometimes they might not heal exactly how we had hoped.
Tattoo artists hate when clients don't trust the process, schedule something immediately after their appointment, or go to the beach right away. Showing up intoxicated or not listening to your artist's suggestions will make the tattooing process unpleasant.
It is customary to tip tattoo artists for their time and skill. A general guideline is to tip between 15-20% of the total cost of your tattoo, but you can adjust this amount based on your personal budget and satisfaction with the service.
Don't worry, this is completely natural. It happens because the old skin, damaged during the tattooing process, forms a thin layer over your tattoo and masks its true appearance. In time this old skin will naturally exfoliate itself, revealing your tattoo underneath in all its vibrant glory.
Also, artists sometimes reserve the designs for a one-time tattoo. Meaning they won't tattoo the design twice. If more than one person wants that design, they might do a similar version of it but not the same exact design.
Touch-ups aren't always necessary with fine-line tattoos but know that it's possible due to the style's delicate nature. If you're traveling to get your tattoo, consider that it may need a refresh in the future. Most tattooers don't touch up other artists' work, so you'll have to return to your original artist.
“Some tip less, and some are very generous." For instance, you might wonder how much to tip for a $500 tattoo. In this case, tipping anywhere from $75 to $125 would be appropriate. If you're getting smaller art done or maybe a touch-up for $100, tipping anywhere from $15 to $25 fits the bill.
A good rule of thumb is to plan on tipping at least 20% of the total cost of your tattoo. So, if your tattoo costs $100, be sure to have at least $20 in cash ready to go. Of course, some people might forget this critical piece of advice.
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.
Top tattoo artists want to do their own original work. Even if you like the work another tattoo artist has done, you should not ask a different artist to copy it. It is rude to the artist you are asking, as well as the artist whose work is being plagiarized.
The majority of reputable tattoo artists will not copy another tattoo and will be offended if you ask them to. They are artists in their own right and are able to produce stunning designs of their own. By copying another tattoo, it's not only seen as rude, but it could be violating copyright laws.
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).
Over time, ink can fade, lines blur, and colors become muted. If you want your tattoo to stay looking its best, you'll need to get it touched up every few years.
Your new tattoo is an open wound, and the impact of the tattooing process will usually result in some swelling. After a month or so, your tattoo should begin to settle in, and you shouldn't be able to feel such a difference between your new ink and the rest of your skin.
Signs of an Overworked Tattoo
A Change in Appearance - If the tattoo looks faded, pale, cloudy, blurry, or heavily distorted, this could be a sign of overworked skin. This may also appear as ink distortion and blurring. During a tattoo, ink needs to be deposited in your dermis so the pigment stays put.
According to Mariah, it can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month for a touch-up to heal. "Touch-ups usually heal quicker because less space on the skin has been affected," says Forte. "If you had line or dot work style ink touched up, that may take the full time, which can be weeks or even months," he adds.
A: No, retouching a tattoo generally does not hurt more than getting the initial tattoo. Retouching a tattoo involves going over areas that have faded or need color adjustments, but the process is similar to getting a tattoo.