How can I make my tattoo color last?

Author: Prof. Murray Kertzmann  |  Last update: Friday, July 4, 2025

Taking care of your new tattoo is crucial to making sure that it stays happy and healthy over time — antibacterial soap to keep it clean, moisturizer or cream to keep it hydrated (stay away from ointment!), saving the tight clothing for when you're healed, and fighting the urge to pick off scabs and succumb to ...

How to keep a color tattoo from fading?

To protect a tattoo from fading, it's advisable to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF on the tattooed area when exposed to the sun, and to avoid excessive sun exposure whenever possible.

What can I put on my tattoo to keep the color?

Look for lotions with coconut oil, cocoa butter, and vitamin E, which nourish the skin deeply and help maintain the brightness of your tattoo. These ingredients are known for their healing properties and can aid in the quicker recovery of tattooed skin.

How can I revive my tattoo color?

8 Ways To Make Your Tattoos More Vibrant
  1. Set Yourself Up for Success. ...
  2. Exfoliate Your Tattoo. ...
  3. Use Moisturizer on Your Tattoo. ...
  4. Keep Your Skin Clean. ...
  5. Always Use Sunscreen. ...
  6. Prioritize Overall Health. ...
  7. Choose a Professional Tattoo Artist. ...
  8. Touch-Ups and Cover-Ups.

Why is my tattoo not holding color?

Poor aftercare

Not taking proper aftercare precautions could also contribute to patchiness; picking scabs off your new tattoo, swimming or submerging it in the bath, exposing it to UV rays while it's still in the early stages of healing could all lead to ink loss and patchiness.

Make Your Tattoo Colors Last - Quick Guide

How to keep color in a tattoo?

Regularly applying high SPF sunscreen can make a big difference. Moisturise Regularly: Keeping your skin hydrated helps your tattoo look fresh. Dry skin can cause cracking and quicker fading. Touch-ups: Most tattoos, especially colour ones, will benefit from the occasional touch-up over time.

What color fades the slowest tattoo?

Black ink tends to outlast any other color because it is super pigmented. Other darker colors like dark blue, dark green, gray, and dark purple will have a similar lifespan to black ink. Lighter inks like yellows, reds, oranges, whites, and any pastel tones tend to fade a bit more quickly than darker inks.

How to fix dried out tattoo ink?

If your ink begins to dry out in the cap, refresh your ink with a drop or two. Looking for smoother transitions and washes? Add more drops to your cap as you dip to dilute the opacity of your pigment. Keep It Wet will NOT change the color, only dilute and thin the pigment.

How do you keep a tattoo vibrant?

KEEPING YOUR HEALING INK VIBRANT AND HEALTHY
  • STICK TO THE CLEANING ROUTINE. Keep up with cleaning your tattoo. ...
  • KEEP MOISTURIZING. Continue applying moisturizer as needed. ...
  • DO. NOT. ...
  • STAY ON DRY LAND. For now, stay away from swimming pools, hot tubs, lakes, and saunas. ...
  • PROTECT IT FROM THE SUN.

What color cancels out tattoo ink?

The most commonly used neutralizing color is a deep orange to cancel out the blue and blue-green shades of common tattoo inks. For tattoos with dark black ink, you should use a deep red neutralizer.

Is Vaseline good for color tattoos?

DON'T apply alcohol, Neosporin, Vaseline, or petroleum jelly (they can trap dirt and germs and cause infection). DON'T apply a heavy coat of lotion (remember the skin must breathe in order to heal). DON'T expose your tattoo to direct sunlight, swim, sauna, steam or tub for 2 weeks.

What makes tattoo ink stay?

The dermis. The structure and nature of the dermis allow the tattoo ink to stay put there for years, without fading significantly. If the tattoo ink is injected into the epidermis, it will fade completely within a month. If injected into the hypodermis, it will become blurry.

What is the best cream for tattoo color?

Aquaphor Healing Ointment Advanced Therapy

According to Goold, Aquaphor is a go-to in most tattoo shops, since it's super effective at soothing and moisturizing fresh ink. "It's great for both the initial healing period and afterward," she says.

What to put on tattoos to keep color?

Moisturizing with lotion helps nourish the ink and prevent dryness and premature fading. If you really want to level up your tattoo care, use a tattoo balm after cleansing tattooed areas, and then use a daily lotion as needed throughout the day on the tattooed area.

How long does a color tattoo last?

Heavily deposited ink will hold its color and placement for decades. In comparison, more abstract feather ink is susceptible to fading. As a result, watercolor, fine line, and white ink feather tattoos will require touch-ups and redos after 5-7 years.

How can I make my tattoo color last longer?

Moisturize Your Skin Regularly

From fresh ink to older tattoos and general skincare, moisturization is key at every stage. Hydrate your skin with quality, natural ingredients for the best effects while limiting petroleum-based products that can form a waxy layer.

What makes tattoo ink glow?

The inks contain naturally fluorescent pigment which makes them glow. In a normal dark room or at night, these tattoos don't actually glow. However, they still look pretty rad even in normal light as you can see from the pics below... Vanessa uses both UV-reactive ink and neon to create the glowing effect.

How to restore tattoo color?

Exfoliate your ink

Once your tattoos have healed you can exfoliate your new tattoo, and all your other healed tattoos too. Exfoliating helps to remove build up of dead skin cells, dirt and impurities which can make tattoos look dull. An exfoliating body wash gently scrubs your skin leaving skin luminous.

How do you rehydrate a dry tattoo?

Apply lotion to the area.

Use just enough lotion that it spreads evenly over the area without any excess. Too much lotion can lead to irritation or clogged pores. Even if you use the best body lotion available, don't be surprised if the tattoo still feels itchy or slightly “stings” after you apply the lotion.

What dissolves tattoo ink?

When considering chemical tattoo removal solutions, several brands utilize acids and alkaline compounds to break down tattoo pigments. Notable examples include: PhiRemoval : Employs glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), to target tattoo ink. Tatt2Away : Utilizes lactic acid in its removal process.

What color tattoo ink to avoid?

Yellows and Greens with Cadmium

Yellows and bright greens often contain cadmium, which can cause skin irritation and has been associated with other health risks. They also tend to fade or change color over time when exposed to sunlight.

What color tattoo ink hurts the most?

White ink or not, we got you. To recap on why white ink has this notoriously more painful aura than other ink colours, here is what we have learned: ✨ Pigment Size and Density: Larger particles mean deeper injections and more pressure.

Do fine line tattoos age well?

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.

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