When it comes to tattoos, there’s little worse than your ink changing over time, whether it fades, blurs, or changes colour. You may wonder why tattoos change – in particular, why tattoos turn green and blue.
Whether you have a micro tattoo, inked all over or getting your first tattoo, it’s important to think about the future. Try to predict – as closely as you can without being a mind reader – what your tattoo may look like in forty years. Nobody wants their beautiful ink to turn into a blot that is unrecognisable later in life.
There are, of course, certain body parts where tattoos might age slower. It is always best to do your research before going under the needle, if you want your ink to stay looking fresh. As an example, finger tattoos can fade easily so you may want to pick a more fleshy, less active body part for your next design.
But what about tattoos that turn blue or green?
It’s simply the black ink being both absorbed by the body and fading over time so there’s less densely packed deposits of ink.
Every black ink is made differently, by different manufacturers, with different base colours. There are blue-blacks, gray-blacks, black-blacks and other types and they will all age differently. Age of the tattoo, sun exposure, location and ink brand are all factors in this. Before you decide on an all-black, or a black-and-grey tattoo, you may want to take this information into consideration.
Ink quality has improved over the years. Pigments used years ago were of poorer quality and, as they aged, they discolored. Since then pigments have greatly improved. Only time will tell how your tattoo will age but, if you look after your ink, it should stay looking fresher for longer. Never slack when it comes to slathering your tatts in sunscreen!