One of the biggest complaints from people with tattoos is that the colours fade. The reason for this is that the most permanent pigments available are unsafe for humans. This leaves very few alternatives. There are some colours that there can be issues with such as yellow, purple and orange. The biggest factor that can affect the longevity of your tattoo looking it’s best is exposure to ultraviolet light. The sun can be your inks worst enemy. This does not mean you have to hide from the sun, you just need to follow some guidelines.

Make sure you follow the artists guidelines after getting your art done. If you do not take correct care of your tattoo while it is healing it may look older then its age. Using a petroleum based lotion will sap the colour from your ink. Do not under any circumstance put petroleum based lotions on your tattoo while it heals. Do not pick your scabs and do your best to follow the guidelines you were given by the artist. This is their career, they know what they are talking about. Make sure you apply lotion if it begins peeling, you want to minimize colour loss.

Excessive amounts of sun are damaging to your skin in general, not to mention your body art. If you expose yourself to too much sun ( whether real or artificial) you risk the colourfastness of your tattoo and your future health. So cover up. This doesn’t necessarily mean with clothing either. So you wanna show off your ink, make sure you where a high spf sunblock to prevent fading. Sunburns can cause your tattoo to lose its colour and prematurely fade. After spending all the time and money getting it done you want to protect it and maximize its life.

Another thing to consider is that like all good things a tattoo needs maintenance. It is not a completely get and it is there forever operation. Every few years you may need a touch up or the lines to be redefined. Many artists will offer this service for free or at a reduced rate ( since the initial design is already there.)

No matter the precautions you take, eventually your tattoo will fade. As your skin ages, so will your ink. Over the years your body will literally try to absorb the tattoo, which is a partial cause of the fading colour and underlying reason for older tattoos to have that bluish tinge to them. All you can do to prolong its life in the end is take good care of yourself and your skin.