Is Asking For a Touch-Up Rude? Not at all! Most artists will tell you to come back once the tattoo is fully healed if it needs any touch-ups.
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.
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.
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.
A tattoo touch-up is a very common aspect of getting tattooed, but one most people seem to neglect. Much like most other artworks, with time, tattoos fade, and sometimes they might not heal exactly how we had hoped.
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.
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.
If you experience long healing times (more than two weeks) or noticeable shinny-ness on the healed tattoo it is very likely that you will need touch ups. Allow time for the skin to settle down to a more normal condition before having your touch ups (1-5 months, but no more than 6 months).
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.
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.
In most instances, tipping is appropriate and encouraged. While you can tip less than 15%, try to avoid it. Good work should be recognized, and being broke is no excuse not to tip. If you don't have the money to tip your artist, rethink getting tattooed until you can.
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. This belief is entirely false.
The touch-up process itself is usually pretty straightforward. First, your artist will clean the area around your tattoo with soap and water. Then, they'll trace over the lines of your tattoo with a sterile needle to rejuvenate the ink. Finally, they'll apply a new layer of ink to any areas that may have faded.
All of your body parts are attached; if you're waving your arms around you're likely moving the area your artist is working on. This also applies to taking phone calls and face time during the tattoo. It's rude and very distracting to the artist. Follow your after-care instructions.
As we state generally “tips are not required, but appreciated “ because most tattoo artists in a shop minus the owner are making 50-60% of the total cost… on a $1000 tattoo (most likely multiple sessions) I would tip at least $100-$150 for every session done.. so roughly I'd say average a good tip on a tattoo that's ...
Some artists will fix the tattoo free of charge. However, you should still consider tipping even if you ended up not loving the final result, especially if they: Created a custom design. Did their best to keep you comfortable and answer all questions.
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.
Your Artist Recommends It
They'll also be able to tell you when the best time to come in is, whether it's a week or two after the final work or a couple of months later. Plus, many artists offer free touch-ups after the tattoo is completed. (Just make sure to tip your artist, even for a complementary touch-up session!)
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!