TYPES OF TATTOOS THAT DON’T AGE WELL – Bamboo Tattoo Studio (2024)

TINY TATTOOS

Tiny tattoos may seem like a great idea, they’re discreet and don’t require a huge amount of time. They’re easy to hide at work, cheap, and just plain cute to look at. Tiny tattoos are a huge trend right now. Unfortunately, tiny tattoos may not age well.

Tiny tattoos are small and have lots of detail in one concentrated space. These intricate details will be lost with time as your skin changes. In contrast, larger tattoos have lots of room to move around which means it will be easy to tell what the tattoo is for years to come. Ink that’s too closely packed in can bleed together, and over time just become a black blob. This can be especially upsetting with small lettering. We usually recommend going bigger when getting a tattoo, we want your tattoo to look amazing for years to come. Bold will hold!

TRENDY TATTOOS

Just like clothes and haircuts, any trends regarding tattoos will come and go. We all know about the classic 90s tattoo fads, like tribal designs, Chinese lettering and sun tattoos. Looking at them now…they may not look as cool as they used to. Even placement can be trendy, we can see in the past that lower back tattoos used to be the thing to have, but now they’re not seen as desirable. Celebrity tattoos can be a huge influence on what types of tattoos are in style. Right now dandelions turning into birds, “live, laugh, love”, and arrows are super on trend, but in 10 years they may not be as cool. Tattoo artists are just that, artists. If you love these types of tattoos, talk to your artist! They’ll be able to create something unique that still has the elements of the trendy tattoo you love, but it won’t go out of style because it’s original and only yours. If you already have a trendy tattoo, it’s still a great reminder of your past!

WHITE INK TATTOOS

White ink tattoos sound like a great idea. They’re even more discreet than tiny tattoos, they’re easy to hide even when in plain sight, and you’ll never have to hear that lecture from grandma. Sadly, white ink tattoos fade quickly and are difficult to tattoo. Over time new skin grows over your tattoo, with white tattoos the new skin can make your tattoo look yellow. Instead of that clean, discreet white tattoo looking clean, it can just look like a yellow blob. Not all white ink tattoos turn yellow, but they do fade extremely quickly. For white ink tattoos, going to an artist that’s extremely experienced in white ink is important.

MEME TATTOOS

Ok, I’ll give it to you, meme tattoos are hilarious. Unfortunately, memes come and go FAST. We can all remember when the “Forever alone” meme was at its height, but now it’s something we cringe at. Tagging your friends in memes on Facebook? Funny. Getting a tattoo of a meme? Funny now, not so cool in 10 years (ok….maybe it’ll still be a little funny)

TYPES OF TATTOOS THAT DON’T AGE WELL – Bamboo Tattoo Studio (1)

In the end, get the tattoo you want! If you love a trendy tattoo, get it. If you love white ink tattoos and don’t mind it fading, do it. If you really want a tiny tattoo and don’t mind touch ups, get your tiny tattoo. If you really feel passionate about Harambe, hell, you get that Harambe tattoo.

Even our artists have done it…

TYPES OF TATTOOS THAT DON’T AGE WELL – Bamboo Tattoo Studio (2)

TYPES OF TATTOOS THAT DON’T AGE WELL – Bamboo Tattoo Studio (3)

TYPES OF TATTOOS THAT DON’T AGE WELL – Bamboo Tattoo Studio (2024)

FAQs

What tattoos do not age well? ›

Tiny tattoos are small and have lots of detail in one concentrated space. These intricate details will be lost with time as your skin changes. In contrast, larger tattoos have lots of room to move around which means it will be easy to tell what the tattoo is for years to come.

Do bamboo tattoos fade? ›

Do bamboo tattoos fade? No. They hold their colour very well and much better than machine tattoos as the ink has not been diluted with your blood throughout the procedure.

What kind of tattoos don't fade? ›

Black and grey tattoos tend to last a bit longer than color. They will look more vibrant for a longer amount of time.

Do detailed tattoos age poorly? ›

A microtattoo with a ton of detail might look incredible when you first get it done--but ultimately, any tattoo that is too detailed for its size or that lacks clean lines will begin to look muddy as it ages.

What is the best tattoo style for aging people? ›

Bolder, deeper and darker linework looks better with age. Tattoos done in black or grey ink tend to hold up over time and are the least likely to fade when regularly protected and treated with care. Blackwork tattoos and Black & Grey tattoo styles have a high guarantee of aging gracefully.

Where do tattoos age the least? ›

Try to place your tattoos in an area where you are least likely to gain the most weight or deal with skin sagging, such as the neck, upper back, hands, forearms, ankles, and feet. Most facial tattoos are long-lasting since we tend to take better care of the skin on our faces than any other body part.

Are bamboo tattoos better? ›

Bamboo tattoos tend to maintain their colour extremely well, staying bright and strong. There is absolutely no problem going into the sun following the bamboo method of tattooing. Another major benefit with bamboo tattooing is that it is 90% LESS painful than machine tattooing.

Are bamboo tattoos more expensive? ›

Since it is more work, bamboo tattoos are generally more expensive than traditional tattoos. In many Asian Countries Bamboo Tattoos are viewed as sacred. People believe they give you certain powers associated with healing, luck, strength, and protection against evil.

Can you remove bamboo tattoos? ›

Bamboo tattoos and professionally hand-poked tattoos also tend to be deeper than tattoos applied by machine and take more treatments to remove. Amateur tattoos applied by machines are generally not as deep as professionally applied tattoos and can be removed in fewer treatments.

What tattoo style fades the best? ›

Every tattoo ink color has unique characteristics that influence the look of a color tattoo over time. Pastel tones and neon shades are most likely to fade, while dark black, blue, and green hues last the longest.

What color tattoo to avoid? ›

Red ink is still the most likely color to cause skin problems. Why? Red tattoo inks are the most likely to cause health complications, including rashes and pseudolymphomas, both symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Where not to get a tattoo? ›

Most Painful Places to Get Tattooed
  • Feet. The top of the foot is a popular place to get tattooed. ...
  • Ribs. The rib cage is arguably the worst place on the body to get your first tattoo. ...
  • Fingers. Fingers are made up of bones, tendons, and joints. ...
  • Groin. ...
  • Head. ...
  • Armpit. ...
  • Upper Back. ...
  • Outer Arm.
Feb 22, 2024

Where is the best place to get a tattoo for an older woman? ›

Choose a place with more cushion, less bone and more fat or muscle. Examples of these places include the outer arm, outer thigh and calf muscle. Avoid areas that are seldom exposed and areas with thin skin, like your hands and feet, in order to help bypass any extra pain.

Do all fine line tattoos age badly? ›

Do fine line tattoos fade over time? Yes, as with all tattoo styles, fine line tattoos can fade over time. Though all tattoos fade and some blur, you can extend the vibrance, definition, and color of your fine line tattoo with some simple steps: choose a skilled tattoo artist.

Which tattoos fade the fastest? ›

All of the lighter and brighter colours such as pink, yellow, light green/blue etc Will always fade faster than the darker colours, as well as the black and grey ink. The darker and more bold the tattoo ink, typically means they will last longer.

Do color tattoos not age well? ›

Typically, colored tattoo ink fades more quicker than black and gray ink. Red ink tends to keep its color more than other ink colors, but as a whole, colored ink doesn't always hold its vibrancy. It's more common for ink allergies to appear in colored ink as well.

What happens to tattoos after 10 years? ›

Tattoos can change a lot after many years, some to the point of being barely recognizable, due to exposure to the elements and natural aging. This is even more true for those tattoos that haven't seen an ounce of sunscreen or proper hydration since being imprinted on the skin.

At what age should you stop getting tattoos? ›

So, let's point one thing out; you are not too old to get a tattoo, regardless of age. However, the age of your skin and its condition may compromise the tattoo. So, bear in mind that the tattoo may not look as clean and detailed as it does on the skin of a 20-year old person.

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