Tattoo Fading

Tattoo fading is one of the most common concerns people have about getting inked — especially when it comes to vegan ink. Here’s what actually causes tattoos to fade, how long it takes, and what you can do to keep yours looking sharp for longer.

Does vegan ink fade faster?

You’ll sometimes hear that vegan tattoo ink fades more quickly than conventional ink. This is a myth: vegan ink lasts just as long. The reasons tattoos fade have nothing to do with whether the ink is plant-based — sun exposure, placement in an area that gets frequent friction or exfoliation, and subpar ink quality are what wear a tattoo down. The longevity of your tattoo comes down to the choices you make about it, not whether it’s vegan.

Why tattoos fade over time

Some fading is unavoidable — every tattoo, color or black, softens with age because the skin it lives in is constantly renewing itself. Color pieces usually begin to visibly lighten five or six years after application, though a well-cared-for tattoo can stay crisp for a decade or more.

How quickly a tattoo fades depends on the pigments used, the placement, and your skin type. Dark colors hold their saturation longest — black and blue especially, followed by red and brown — while yellow, orange, and pale shades fade fastest. Most tattoos will fade noticeably over time, but they never disappear completely.

Body changes matter too. Depending on where your tattoo sits, weight gain, weight loss, and muscle growth can stretch or distort the design. Tattoos on the hands, wrists, feet, ankles, and back of the neck are the least affected by weight changes.

Refreshing a faded tattoo

Once a tattoo reaches a certain age, no amount of exfoliating gel will liven it back up. That’s when a consultation with a good tattoo artist is the answer.

An aging tattoo can be re-outlined with solid, crisp black line, which restores the clarity of the design and gives the artist a chance to work detail back into it — particularly in small, complex areas where the ink has spread over the years. Faces and symbols benefit the most from touch-up work.

Colors are usually the first part of a tattoo to show wear. Re-coloring a faded piece that has kept its outlines can make it look current again — and it’s also the perfect opportunity to fix any part of the design you never really liked.

How to keep your tattoo looking great

• Keep it out of the sun. Leave a painting in direct sunlight and sooner or later it fades; skin is no different. The sun attacks lighter colors especially. Once your tattoo is healed, cover it or use a good sunscreen — there are plenty of vegan aftercare and sun-protection options.
• Moisturize, but sparingly. Get into the habit of applying a thin layer of moisturizer to your tattoo. Whichever lotion or cream you use, go light — a thick layer can leach color out of the tattoo.
• Don’t cut corners on the tattoo itself. “You get what you pay for” is never truer than in tattooing. Take the time to find an experienced artist working with quality inks, and your tattoo will stay vibrant far longer than a cheap job ever could. Your tattoo will only give back what you put into it.

For more guides and interesting facts about tattoos, browse all our vegan tattoo articles.