January 18, 2023

How Will My Tattoo Age?

Thinking About Our Tattoos in the Future

“How will that tattoo of yours look when you’re old and wrinkled?” This question is a tale as old as time as far as we are concerned. Everything ages, and our tattoos are no exception. But understanding how our tattoos age allows us to prevent and slow its progression down. There are several factors which accelerate the fading and distortion of tattoos. Including, but are not limited to, lifestyle, tattoo location, tattoo design and color choices, and the experience of your tattoo artist.

aged tattoo, age, tattoo, how tattoos age, protrait tattoo, cesar perez — C.J. Gregg Portrait by Cesar Perez
Left Portrait is Fresh – Right Portrait is Healed

Your Lifestyle and Your Tattoo

The way you take care of yourself have a massive impact on the longevity of your tattoo. Believe it or not, your choices prior to your tattoo appointment affect the quality and appearance of your tattoo too. The healthier your skin is, the better you are as a canvas for your artist. Flakey and dry skin makes it harder to achieve and crisp beautiful tattoo. Regularly exfoliating and moisturizing your skin can help in preventing this. Healthy skin also enhances the appearance of your tattoo over time as your skin will not age as quickly.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle promotes healthy skin. This includes eating habits and exercise. Staying hydrated, eating foods high in omega-3 and vitamin C contributes to your skin remaining healthy. In the same stroke, exercising and limiting weight fluctuations prevents natural distortion of your tattoo over time.

Aftercare’s Effect on Aging Tattoos

Similar to the pre-care mentioned above, aftercare plays a major role in the appearance of your tattoo. Aftercare extends past the time it takes for your tattoo to heal. Continuing to maintain a healthy lifestyle as well as moisturizing and exfoliating your skin goes a long way in maintaining the quality of your tattoo. Poor aftercare results in dull and blurry tattoos. By following your aftercare instructions provided by your tattoo artist, you prevent infections and promote quick healing of your new tattoo.

Sun Exposure = Tattoo Enemy

The sun’s UV rays eat away at the quality of our tattoos. If we’re being realistic, we know most everyone enjoys a good day out in the sun. Sometimes being in the sun is unavoidable. But it’s important to understand the sun is a big factor in the aging process of tattoos. Sun exposure breaks down the elasticity of our skin. As a result, we wrinkle and sag. In addition, the sun fades and distorts tattoos and breaks down the ink within our skin. A good sunburn will damage skin and often results in peeling – ultimately, accelerating fading of ink. Applying lots of sunblock helps prevent premature tattoo aging.

How tattoos age, aged tattoo, portrait tattoo, dog portrait tattoo, cesar perez — Dog Portrait by Cesar Perez
Left is Fresh – Right is healed

Tattoo Design Choices and Aging

Aging is different based on different aspects of the tattoo design you choose to get. For example, fine line tattoos do not last as long as a thick, bold outline tattoo. A design with too many details cramped together will age faster than a big spacious tattoo. This is because ink naturally spreads and blurs out as time goes on. Cramped details will blend and blur together and appear older than they are.

In addition, tattoo location dictates aging as well. As mentioned before, the sun is brutal on your tattoo. Placing your tattoo in a location which is exposed to the sun often will age faster than a piece usually covered by clothing. Upper arms, backs, shoulders and the chest are some of the best locations for tattoos. These areas are typically covered and are not hugely affected by weight fluctuations.

Tattoo color is another consideration. Certain colors fade faster than others. Hues of red and yellow fade the fastest, while black stay put longer. Colors mixed with white have a tendency to fade quickly as well. If you’re considering a watercolor tattoo, make sure to do your research on aging examples and how color tattoos function as these pieces tend to age quickly.

Your Tattoo Artist’s Effect on Your Tattoo Aging

Your tattoo artist has an effect on the quality and longevity of your tattoo as well. Researching experienced and educated artists is important, especially if you’re looking for a tattoo which will last and stay put. Your artist should have knowledge of color – they should be able to consult with you about which colors will hold up over time. They should be experienced in correct needle depth. Needle depth is important for your tattoo looking great. Too shallow of a depth and the ink will fall out of your skin very quickly, too deep results in blurry blown out lines. Always remember: the more expensive the artist, the more knowledge and experience comes with them. Take your time and consider your investment with an artist before booking an appointment!