How quickly do tattoos fade and how to stop tattoos from fading

Gunjan thakurSeptember 3, 2021

It is a common misconception that your tattoo will stay as sharp and vibrant as the day you got the artwork. Although tattoos are a permanent form of art, they do fade over time, especially if you live in a sunny country. If you’re worried about your tattoo fading even after the first week, that’s also normal. Don’t worry! We’re here to help you preserve your tattoos or to help you understand that a little fading is normal and it’s nothing to worry about. We will answer all your questions on ‘how quickly do tattoos fade and how to stop tattoos from fading’. Without further ado, let’s read ahead!

How quickly do tattoos fade?

It is common that your tattoo will fade as it heals a week or two after you get it done. This is due to the fact that the skin around your tattoo will start to peel and the ink is sinking in. The healing process usually takes somewhere around 6 months, after which your tattoo fading process should slow down dramatically.  Although it is normal for tattoos to fade after they have healed over the years, there are certain practices you can take that will prevent your tattoo from fading so quickly. Your tattoo will only fade at a faster rate due to the sun and not caring for it properly.

How to stop tattoos from fading…

An attentive healing time- your tattoo won’t decline

An important part of making sure that your tattoo stays vibrant is how you care for it immediately after getting yourself inked. Your skin will start to feel delicate and peel pretty quickly after getting the tattoo done and the steps you take at this stage are crucial. Your skin will be particularly delicate if you were to get your tattoo in areas such as the elbow, knee or the side of an ankle… resist the itch! Keep your tattooed skin wrapped in clingfilm and don’t let any material other than clingfilm touch that area.

Because you are dealing with an open cut, fibres from different materials can get stuck and slow down the healing process, or worse- get infected. You also need to make sure that when you shower, you clean it with tattoo soap specific to tattoo healing purposes, but remember: don’t use your normal shower gel. Your average shower gels can contain harsh chemicals which aren’t appropriate to use on fresh tattoos. You can buy soap specifically for when your tattoos are healing which we would highly recommend. In addition, don’t soak your tattoo in a bath or swimming pool when your tattoo is fresh, as all that nasty chlorine won’t do your tattoo any good. Keep yourself clean but treat your tattoo like a queen!

Weather is nice? You’re rolling the dice

We all love to spend time in the sun, but if you’re spending a lot of time catching rays without proper suncream, you’re gambling! When wondering ‘How quickly do tattoo’s fade’, the sun isn’t necessarily your first thought, yet it plays an enormous part in the fading of your tattoo. You can buy suncream specific to tattoos which help you keep them moisturized, away from those nasty rays and help not just the tattoo, but your skin also!

Use goo- it’s great for your tattoo

How to stop tattoos from fading all depends on using a moisturising balm or tattoo goo. This will help reduce skin irritation, thus, you don’t have to resist the itch. It will also limit scabbing, which will prevent scarring from occurring.

Self-love for your skin, it’s a win-win

Everybody knows you should be kind to your skin, but not many properly follow through with it. Okay, so we’ve already talked about how important moisturizer is, but what about what you’re putting into your body? Sufficient water intake is crucial to the wellbeing of your skin yet most don’t get enough of it.

You should be drinking 6-8 cups of water per day- water, lower-fat milk and sugar-free drinks including tea and coffee all count. Foods can also help keep moisture in your skin, like salmon and mackerel. If you’re vegetarian don’t worry, avocados, walnuts, tomatoes and broccoli all help too. Oh and don’t forget to sleep 8 hours a night!

Invest when you keep refreshed

If you’re worried about how to stop tattoos from fading and you’d happily spend a little more, you can always go back to the tattoo parlour. There’s no telling exactly how quickly tattoos fade, it all depends on the person and how often you get your tattoo touched up. In general, most  will get their tattoo refreshed every 15 years. Your tattoo artist will happily top up your old tattoo along with any colours or changes you wish to make.