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.
Lighter and more vibrant colors, for example, yellows, greens, and pinks, typically fade faster than darker colors. Black and gray are the hardiest tattoo colors you can choose. Their dense and bold appearance means they last longer than any other color.
* Neon skin inks are loaded chemicals and mercury. The reds are perhaps the worst, because they also contain the highly toxic iron oxide and cadmium. * If you really want to get a permanent tattoo, stick with the basics.
Light/Fair Skin: White, or other light colors like pale blue, usually works well on people with fair skin. Medium Skin: Red, green, orange, and blues look great on tan or olive-toned skin. Dark Skin: The darkest colors on the color spectrum work best. Crimson, black, and dark blue look great on darker skin tones.
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.
Tattoos done in black or grey ink tend to hold up over time and are the least likely to fade when regularly protected and treated with care. Blackwork tattoos and Black & Grey tattoo styles have a high guarantee of aging gracefully.
Red pigment often causes the most skin reactions and is considered the most dangerous because it contains cadmium, mercury or iron oxide.
“If you want to keep the colour vibrant, use a high SPF.” Don't apply irritants: A basic, fragrance free moisturiser (not Vaseline) is all you need to keep your tat hydrated. Apply 2-3 times a day until healed, or as instructed by your artist.
Get a black or grey tattoo
At Stories & Ink we love a colour tattoo. But the fact is that colour tattoos, especially those that are light or watercolour, tend to fade faster than those done with black or grey ink. All tattoos will fade a little over time.
Black ink and black and gray tattoos tend to last longer and require fewer touch-ups than most color tattoos. Color tattoos, specifically pastel ink colors or watercolor-style tattoos, tend to fade much faster than black tattoo ink and require more frequent touch-ups over the years.
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.
The tattooing process prompts your body to kill off and shed the damaged skin cells, while it regenerates brand new skin over the tattooed area. As this old, damaged layer of skin dies, it sits on the surface for a while, forming a translucent layer over your tattoo, giving it a faded, milky appearance.
For some people, it can take only a couple of years for them to start to notice that the ink doesn't look as strong anymore. For others, tattoo fading won't be noticeable for decades. If you plan on getting tattoos when you're young, early 20s-30s, you might not see faded tattoos until you're well into your 50s!
If you choose lighter colors such as pinks and yellows, expect your tattoo to fade much faster than darker shades of other colors. If your tattoo contains a lot of highlighting, don't be surprised if this highlighting gradually disappears a lot quicker than other areas of the tattoo.
Make sure you can commit to color
Also keep in mind that color tattoos may be a little more high-maintenance in terms of care and touch-ups.
Keeping your tattoos covered when it's sunny is a sure fire way to keep your tattoos bright. Ellie agrees: "Always use sunscreen to keep them looking fresher for longer and then keeping skin hydrated in general." Even if it's cloudy you'll want to slather them in high SPF sunscreen to protect them from the sun's rays.
Your best bet is to begin daily applications of a mild skin-lightening agent like hydrogen peroxide or lemon juice. If you're looking for a faster, more direct approach, you could also try exfoliating the tattoo thoroughly 2-3 times a day with a homemade salt scrub or similar abrasive mixture.
Upper arm tattoos evoke both adventurous and practical qualities. With this balance, it makes sense that all genders universally consider this placement to be the sexiest tattoo location.
Depending on how bold you want your design to be, you should select a color that will accomplish that goal: if you want your tattoo to be subtle, opt for a white or grey pigment; if you want your tattoo to be eye-catching, opt for a dark black pigment.
Black and gray are the most common colors used in tattoos. They suit all skin tones, from light to dark. Because black is a long-lasting shade, it is used for line work.
Unfortunately, tiny tattoos may not age well. Tiny tattoos are small and have lots of detail in one concentrated space. These intricate details will be lost with time as your skin changes.
People between the ages of 18 to 29 years are most likely to have tattoos (38%).