Can You Darken a Tattoo? Here Are the Solutions (2024)

Can You Darken a Tattoo? Here Are the Solutions (1)

Overtime a tattoo fades. While there are behaviors that can cause fading that you should watch out for, you simply want to know if there is anything that you can do to darken it. There are both practical short term and long term solutions to consider. Read ahead to learn more.

What You Can Do to Darken a Faded Tattoo Today, and Tomorrow

Lotions for Immediate (yet short term) Results

Avid Shark Tank viewers (aren’t we all?) may recall an episode where a pair of young entrepreneurs pitched a moisturizing solution for bringing old tattoos back to life. The proprietary lines of lotions and creams from Mad Rabbit Tattoo reportedly darkened the appearance of a tattoo, but not the actual ink itself. Mark Cuban invested in the brand that went from a $600 side hustle to an over $4.2 million dollar valuation. So yes, there are dedicated balms, creams, and lotions on the market that can darken the appearance of your tattoo. These can be great for when you want to show off your body ink on any given day, whether going to the beach or for a night out on the town. It’s an effective albeit short term solution. Still, if you don’t mind a little rub down each day it is the most practical solution. Plus, these moisturizers typically contain ingredients that provide excellent protection for your tattoo, even if you’re well beyond the “aftercare” stage. It’s never too late to shield your ink from further fading. The next time you’re in our shop/s, ask Adrenaline Studios staff about topical ointments on site that may be available for purchase.

A Longer Term Solution for Darkening Your Tattoo

If you find that dedicated balms and creams just aren’t doing the trick, or you don’t want to deal with the manual daily hassle, then you might prefer a permanent (assuming aftercare is followed) solution. It’s an obvious but effective route – and while more costly (than lotions) you should look at it as a longterm investment. It’s your body after all! If the artist who originally applied your tattoo can still be found in the same city as you, then they should be more than happy to darken the tattoo. As a return client they may even provide a discount, especially if they feel that the fading was the result of poor work. What if you can’t track down the original tattooist? You may have heard thatsome tattooists won’t work over another artist’s ink. It’s an honorable stance, but that doesn’t do you any favors. Adrenaline Studios instead believes that the power should always be given back to the people that keep our industry alive – which includes you. Our shops have artists that work wonders in correcting errors and covering up unwanted designs, and they are also more than happy to darken a faded tattoo.

If you’re located within or are visiting the Greater Vancouver BC or Toronto ON area you can schedule a consultation at a tattoo shop near you. Let’s bring that tattoo back to life!

Can You Darken a Tattoo? Here Are the Solutions (2)

Written By:

Adrenaline Tattoo

Tattoos, not attitudes. Piercings, not pricks. From the beginning, Adrenaline’s focus has been on delivering the best customer service possible within the body modification industry.

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Can You Darken a Tattoo? Here Are the Solutions (2024)

FAQs

Is it possible to darken a tattoo? ›

So yes, there are dedicated balms, creams, and lotions on the market that can darken the appearance of your tattoo. These can be great for when you want to show off your body ink on any given day, whether going to the beach or for a night out on the town. It's an effective albeit short term solution.

Can you make tattoo ink darker? ›

Luckily, tattoo inks can be mixed, diluted, blended, they can be made darker or lighter. A professional can create one's own tattoo ink combining some new colors. Mixing gives a great opportunity to turn few colors into many tints.

Can you add color to a tattoo later? ›

Yes, though you can't put color over solid black, you can add color around it to have it appear as if it were part of the original design. In many cases, you can get a black and grey tattoo colored after getting your ink, but the ideal is to decide ahead of time whether you want a color or black and grey tattoo.

Can I change the color of my tattoo? ›

Changing the Hue of Subtle Colors

Logically, tattoos done in lighter and subtle colors can be tattooed-over in a deeper darker tones while maintaining the existing design and general aesthetic. This is done in the same vein as a traditional cover-up.

How can I make my tattoo darker skin tone? ›

How to Tattoo Dark Skin Tones
  1. Use Bold Linework.
  2. Use Fewer Values.
  3. Limit the Amount of Shading You Use.
  4. Use a Dark Background.
  5. Make the Tattoo Large.
  6. Know How Color Works on Darker Skin Tones.

Will hydrogen peroxide fade a tattoo? ›

On its own, hydrogen peroxide is not potent enough to penetrate the second layer of skin. As a result, fresh tattoos or deeply embedded tattoos won't be phased by it. Super old tattoos might become less noticeable, but you will need to diligently apply it for months before realizing any difference.

What color tattoo ink 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.

How to fade a tattoo quickly? ›

To accelerate fading, you can do things like exfoliate your skin regularly and apply skin lightening creams to the tattooed skin. If you want to use lightening creams, look for products that have TCA or hydroquinone in them for the best results. The fastest solution is getting laser removal.

Can you go over an old tattoo to make it darker? ›

A tattoo touch up, sometimes called a freshen up, will essentially redo the tattoo by going over existing black line work that's faded to shade of grey and re-coloring the tattoo. Touch up tattoos work best when designs are simple and less saturated without full coverage.

What is a blown out tattoo? ›

Tattoo blowouts occur when a tattoo artist presses too hard when applying ink to the skin. The ink is sent below the top layers of skin where tattoos belong. Below the skin's surface, the ink spreads out in a layer of fat. This creates the blurring associated with a tattoo blowout.

Can you cover up a tattoo that has color? ›

Overcoming Dark or Dense Ink: When the original tattoo has dark, densely colored areas and lines, getting a successful cover-up is more challenging. It requires intricate layering, blending, highlighting, and depth to mask the original tattoo.

Can you make a tattoo fade? ›

To accelerate fading, you can do things like exfoliate your skin regularly and apply skin lightening creams to the tattooed skin. If you want to use lightening creams, look for products that have TCA or hydroquinone in them for the best results. The fastest solution is getting laser removal.

Can you recolor a tattoo black? ›

A: Yes, it is possible to black out colored tattoos through a process called tattoo cover-up or tattoo modification. This technique involves using dark pigments, usually black, to cover the existing colored tattoo.

Can you make a tattoo glow in the dark? ›

The popularity of tattoos has surged in the past decade. Tattoo artists have invented some exciting new techniques including ultraviolet and glow-in-the-dark tattoos. However, many expert tattoo artists refuse to apply these types of tattoos due to safety concerns.

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