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.
Yes. It never hurts to ask. The worst that will happen is that the artist will say no or charge extra.
Yes, you can ask another artist to touch up your tattoo. However, be sure to discuss the specifics of the job before hand so that both parties are on the same page. If something goes wrong during or after the touch-up, it can be difficult to restore trust between you and the artist.
After obtaining a tattoo, most people wait 6 months before getting a touch up. The length of time you should wait for a touch-up is determined by the size of your tattoo, the level of detail in the design, and how quickly your skin heals.
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.
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!
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.
If your original tattoo healed properly, a touch-up shouldn't hurt any more than your original. The touching-up could be more painful if you have some unusual bumps or scars. Touch-ups usually hurt less than the original tattoo because it isn't as complex or intense as the original experience.
Consider a tattoo touch-up every 3-5 years to maintain its vibrancy and clarity, as regular exposure to sunlight and natural skin ageing can cause fading and blurring.
Tattoo artists recommend waiting until the tattoo has fully healed before considering a touch-up. This is usually between 1 to 2 months but can be longer depending on how your body heals.
If the issue is clearly due to negligence, you will likely get a refund and be welcomed back for correction at a later date. It's better to leave with a cool head and corrective plan of action instead of storming out to leave a bad Google/Yelp review.
Now that you've chosen your tattoo artist, it's time to set up a consultation. You can do this by calling, emailing, or just stopping by the shop.
It's your right to have it look exactly how you want it. So feel free to request a redo or second session from a different tattoo artist than the one you initially contracted to work with. In addition, many people assume it's rude or unprofessional to ask an artist to finish someone else's design.
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.
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.
A tattoo touch up, sometimes called a freshen up, will essentially redo the tattoo by going over existing black line work that's faded to shade of grey and re-coloring the tattoo. Touch up tattoos work best when designs are simple and less saturated without full coverage.
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.
Touching up a tattoo is pretty commonplace, even when your original tattoo is done by a highly reputable tattoo artist in a very legit studio. A touch up essentially is tattooing again over your existing tattoo.
"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.
First, your tattoo will have some irritation around it. After you remove your bandaging after the allotted amount of time recommended by your artist has passed, your skin around the tattoo may be red. It may also be secreting a fluid, or ink may be dripping off of it.
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.
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.