How To Keep Tattoos From Fading (6 Simple Tips)

Tattoos are a permanent way to express yourself, but their vibrancy can diminish over time. The good news? You can slow down the fading process with proper care. Here’s how to keep tattoos from fading for years to come.

Key takeaways to prevent tattoo fading:

Sun exposure is enemy #1: Protect your tattoo with sunscreen (SPF 30+) whenever it’s exposed.
Quality matters: Choose a reputable artist who uses high-quality ink.
Aftercare is crucial: Follow your artist’s instructions for cleaning and moisturizing.
Location matters: Opt for areas with less sun and friction (think back, shoulders).
Moisturize regularly: Keep your skin healthy with a fragrance-free lotion suitable for tattoos.

What Makes A Tattoo Fade

Before following these tips, it is important to understand what factors can cause a tattoo to lose its vibrancy. While there are many causes, let me share a few main reasons why a tattoo may fade.

Sun Exposure

Undoubtedly, the UV rays of the sun are harmful to your skin. At the same time, they are also harmful to tattoo ink designs. In other words, sunlight is also the main reason a tattoo can lose its vibrancy. For example, when sunlight penetrates the skin, it breaks down the ink’s pigments, resulting in the tattoo losing its appearance.

Impact Of Friction On Tattoos

Rubbing, irritation, or friction are one of the main reasons why a tattoo loses its original appearance over time. This usually occurs when clothes rub against the inked area or when you scratch it. Even using harsh chemical products can cause a tattoo to lose its vibrancy.

Poor Quality Ink

Many types of tattoo ink are available in the market, ranging from low-quality to high-quality. The quality of the ink highly impacts the longevity of the tattoo. This means that a tattoo created with good-quality ink will stay vibrant and bright for longer. On the other hand, low-quality pigments are like temporary tattoos that will vanish quickly. Therefore, it is recommended to always use high-quality tattoo ink from trusted brands for your body design.

How To Keep Tattoos From Fading

Get A Tattoo On The Right Part Of Your Body

The real beauty of tattoo artwork is that you can get it anywhere on your body, and everyone can choose any part. However, when it comes to keeping tattoos from fading, you should be careful in choosing the area of the tattoo.

There are specific parts of the body where the ink design loses its vibrancy quickly, such as the hands, elbows, feet, or body parts directly exposed to sunlight. This is because frequent friction will cause the tattoo to fade quickly.

Therefore, if you want to keep your color tattoos from fading for a long time, it’s best to get it in the right spot on your body. Usually, these parts include your back, butt, or a body area that’s less exposed to sunlight.

Proper Tattoo Aftercare

Proper aftercare of a new tattoo protects you from skin infections and helps maintain the vibrancy and freshness of your ink design for a longer time. Following your tattoo artist aftercare instructions after getting your desired design is essential to make the healing process smooth.

Keep Away Tattoo From Sun Exposure

As mentioned above, sunlight directly impacts the longevity of a body art, causing the ink design to lose its vibrancy over time. Therefore, it’s important to avoid exposing your tattoo to direct sunlight. Luckily, there are ways to protect tattoos from sunlight.

Use Of Sunscreen

As mentioned earlier, exposing a tattoo to direct sunlight can be harmful not only to the skin but also to the tattoo itself. Therefore, protecting your tattoo from UV rays when you are under direct sunlight is important. Wearing high-quality sunscreen is the best way to prevent tattoo fading. In addition to using sunscreen, it is recommended to apply a quality lotion specifically made for aftercare. This will keep your skin hydrated and prevent it from becoming dry and brittle.

Use Best Quality Ink

A tattoo gradually fades over time due to various factors. However, using poor-quality ink can quickly cause a design to lose its vibrancy, much like a temporary tattoo. Therefore, in addition to other considerations, it is necessary to use quality ink to prevent a tattoo from fading. It is always best to use high-quality ink when getting a body pigment design.

Tip: There are several brands that offer high-quality ink such as Eternal, Solid, and Silverback Ink.

Clean Your Ink Design Regularly

Cleaning your new tattoo three times daily is necessary to keep your ink design safe from dirt, bacteria, and debris. Otherwise, dirt can lead to infection or slow down the healing process. Even after healing, it is important to clean your tattoo to prevent fading. Use Dove soap or other soaps designed specifically for tattoo aftercare to clean your ink design. After washing your tattooed skin, apply ointment or moisturizer to keep it hydrated and protected.

Tip: When buying a soap for tattoo make sure to check following things:

Mild and Fragrance-Free
pH-Balanced
Moisturizing Properties
Antibacterial or Antimicrobial
Non-Irritating and Hypoallergenic

FAQs

Can you prevent a tattoo from fading?

Although it is impossible to completely prevent a tattoo from fading, there are some ways to slow down the process.

What helps keep tattoos from fading?

Proper aftercare, using quality sunscreen, and cleaning the tattoo with good soap can help preserve the ink and prevent fading.

Does Vaseline fade a new tattoo?

Yes, Vaseline can cause the ink to disappear quickly. It can also trap dirt, bacteria, and moisture, leading to infection and delaying the healing process.

Do black tattoos fade after healing?

Black ink also fades, but unlike other colors, it fades less noticeably.

Conclusion

The fading process is an inevitable part of getting a tattoo and cannot be completely prevented. However, several ways and tips can help slow down the fading process and keep your ink design looking vibrant and fresh. One example is to choose the right location on your body for your tattoo.

Similarly, getting a tattoo on an area frequently exposed to sunlight, such as the face or hands, will result in quicker fading. Further, using high-quality ink and following proper aftercare instructions can help maintain your ink color.

To further protect your tattoo from fading, limiting its exposure to sunlight and cleaning the inked area regularly is recommended. By following these tips, you can prolong the lifespan of your body artwork and enjoy its vibrant colors for longer.