But sometimes, they're just not what you wanted. If you find yourself in this situation, don't fret. Most tattoo artists are more than happy to touch up a tattoo that's too small or too big for your liking. They may even offer to do it for free.
Touch ups are generally free but the most respectful thing to do is ask for it when you're getting your next tattoo. That way the artist isn't setting everything up and making no money on the materials they used. If you're already getting another tattoo, just have them do the touch up in the same session.
Tattoo artists generally offer free touch ups so it shouldn't be an issue to contact them. However, how your body reacts to ink and how you heal from being tattooed isn't something that they can control. Call the artist and speak with them.
Requesting a touchup is proper etiquette. Adding onto the piece may require you to pay for the time, but it's not against etiquette. Doubtful you'll offend the artist as long as you're willing to pay for any extra work beyond touching up the existing piece.
When it comes to tattoo touch-up appointments, the general rule of thumb is yes, you should tip for the extra work required. Showing appreciation for the additional effort illustrates your understanding of the artist's commitment to ensuring your tattoo looks its best.
"While any tip is highly appreciated, a good guideline is to tip 15-20% of the price of the tattoo. However, this amount can be adjusted depending on your personal budget, as well as how happy you are with your tattoo; there definitely isn't a minimum amount," they added.
Due to their delicate nature, fine line tattoos tend to fade more quickly than traditional tattoos, and will need to be touched up over time.
Over the years, as skin ages and loses elasticity, older tattoos may blur or lose their initial clarity. In these cases, tattoo touch-up can be a valuable procedure to help rejuvenate the design, sharpen blurry lines, and reinvigorate dull colors.
Most tattoo artists are more than happy to touch up a tattoo that's too small or too big for your liking. They may even offer to do it for free. So next time you're in the market for a new tattoo, keep this in mind.
Tattoo touch-ups can only take place once your tattoo is fully healed (anywhere between 4 weeks to 6 months). Touching up a tattoo before it has had the chance to heal will only aggravate and further implicate the artwork. Touch-ups have the same healing protocol as initial tattoos.
I think you'd be fine asking, politely, what an artist's rate is, maybe including a note about wanting to budget properly for their work. That said, don't let the cost of a tattoo you really want deter you, save up until you can get what you want done correctly.
Aftercare & Aging
Fine line tattoos are applied with less ink. While the ink is still embedded in the second layer of skin, the single needle does not penetrate as deeply or deposit as much ink. As a result, it is common for fine line tattoos to fade with age.
Additive Work: Additive work refers to adding to a pre-existing tattoo (as opposed to covering the pre-existing tattoo.) This can range from adding some small new elements to a larger existing tattoo, to incorporating a smaller current tattoo into a new larger piece.
There's more than one way to pay for your tattoo. Aside from simply paying the full amount upfront, you can simply take out a loan from your bank or credit card company. This is what many people usually go for when paying an amount that they cannot afford at the moment.
Tattoo tipping rates
But as a rule of thumb, a 15-20% tip is usually a good place to start. So, if you spent a total of $200 on a tattoo, tipping anywhere from $30 to $40 shows your artist that you appreciate their handiwork.
Tipping may not be mandatory, but it's a way to show that you appreciate all of the hard work and effort—physical and monetary—that your artist put into your new tattoo. Remember: A tip isn't about you; it's about the artist.
The answer, of course, depends on the artist and the size of the tattoo. However, touch ups typically start at around $50 and can go up from there. So, if you're looking to keep your ink looking fresh, be prepared to spend a little extra cash. But touch ups are worth it!
Touch-ups are fairly common, and needing or wanting a touch-up isn't a bad thing at all. Even experienced artists do touch-ups on their work. Once a tattoo is fully healed, everyone can see what it looks like much better, and it's easier to tell if it needs a little extra oomph.
Most of the time, your first touch-up is free within the first year. However, this depends on the tattoo artist or the shop. Following that initial touch-up, you can expect to pay a fixed hourly rate for any additional work done to your tattoos. Usually, the cost is between $50 to $150 per hour for touch-ups.
A three-inch by three-inch tattoo in black ink will take at least an hour. Larger, more detailed multi-colored tattoos require multiple sessions with the artist and can take anywhere from a few hours to a few months or longer. Each session is typically four to six hours.
How long do touch-ups take? They can take five minutes, or several hours, depending on the size of the tattoo, and on the way that the tattoo has healed. Visit your artist a few weeks after the tattoo has finished peeling, to allow them to assess the need, if any, for touch ups.