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.
Right after your tattoo session, it will look really bright and vibrant. After a few days, these effects might start to dim a bit because your skin has started to get used to the ink. It will still look great as long as you take care of it and let it heal properly. Your tattoo will naturally fade over time.
Your skin is a living organ, so when you're getting a tattoo, it's like you're letting your body soak up the ink. For this reason, tattoos may fade dramatically in the first few days. The first phase involves your body reacting adversely to the needle and ink. In this stage, your tattoo is treated as an open wound.
During the healing stage, your tattoo is more than likely to appear dull or faded. It usually occurs around the scabbing and peeling phases, and is a result of the repeated poking and damage caused by the needles.
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.
Over-moisturising can lead to inflamed tattoos and potentially infection. Excess moisture can clog your skin's pores which prevents it from breathing, something that's important for your skin to heal. This can lead to breakouts on the skin that can damage the tattoo.
If the needle being used on your tattoo doesn't go deep enough into the dermis layer of your skin, that means the ink has been deposited in the epidermis layer. As we mentioned before, ink deposited here will quickly leave the skin when epidermal cells renew themselves, making for a not-so-permanent tattoo.
Why Tattoos May Not Hold Color. One of the most common reasons tattoos may not hold color is due to the type of pigment used. Certain pigments, such as those made of iron oxide, are more likely to fade or change color over time.
Your tattoo is going through the normal healing process.
A lack of ink isn't a problem if your tattoo is still peeling and healing. Chances are, your skin won't all heal at exactly the same rate, which may leave you with a patchy, inconsistent-looking tattoo.
Days 4 to 6
The redness should start to fade, and light new skin will be noticeable over the tattoo. If scabs form, Don't pick at the scabs, as this can cause scarring and ruin your tattoo before you've even had a chance to see it fully healed.
Until the surface of the tattoo is healed (at a minimum of two to three weeks), wash the area gently 2-3 times per day.
2-6 Days After Your New Tattoo
Now you'll start to notice that your tattoo looks a bit dull, perhaps even have a 'cloudy-looking' appearance. It may also look red, swollen and still ooze blood, plasma, lymphatic fluid and ink. Not to worry! This is normal.
Yes. Washing any part of your body too much can lead the skin to be dry and to crack, especially when using antibacterial soap. Your new tattoo is healing, so avoid over-washing and apply fragrance-free, tattoo-approved moisturizer if that tattoo looks dry or the skin feels uncomfortably dry and itchy.
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. A good estimate for a professionally done black and gray tattoo is 15 years without any signs of fading.
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.
The quick answer is that yes, it's perfectly normal for ink to come away as a tattoo heals. Ink is driven deep into the skin by the tattoo needles, but some will be on the surface of the skin, and some others will collect in scabs above the tattoo.
Moisturizing a new tattoo is a key step in the healing process. You'll want to begin soon after you get the tattoo done and continue three to six times a day for about three weeks.
Fresh tattoos will be swollen and not 'settled in' yet
If your tattoo is very new, it is likely that the lines feel raised and swollen simply because they are a bit swollen. Your new tattoo is an open wound, and the impact of the tattooing process will usually result in some swelling.
A great tattoo should have fully saturated black, color and shading. When it recovers, there should not be gaps or shapes in the tattoo that show it wasn't completed properly. The lines of a tattoo must be crisp, straight, and constant throughout the tattoo. Wonky lines are a big indicator of an unskilled artist.
Pick a quality tattoo artist
Skin cells in the epidermis, the outer layer of skin, renew themselves much more often than the deeper layers. This means that if the ink is not delivered deep enough – into the dermis - it's way more likely to fade faster.
Here's what someone should avoid when it comes to tattoo aftercare: Soaps and moisturizers with any fragrances or harsh chemicals. Even if a product does not normally irritate the skin, it may irritate the tattooed area. Picking at scabs, as this can cause scar tissue to form.
When you over moisturize your tattoo, you can actually delay the healing process. Excess moisture in the skin creates the perfect environment for bacteria and germ growth, so one of the key signs is irritated, inflamed skin. Another key sign of over moisturizing is clogged skin.