If you want to improve the look of an older tattoo, there are a number of ways to do it. Even though tattoos are permanent, there’s no denying they can fade with time. But is there anything you can do about it? The answer is yes, and this guide will reveal how.
The first and best way to make an old tattoo look new again is to visit your tattoo artist. They’ll be able to give you some advice on how to improve the appearance of your existing piece(s). Many tattoo artists know techniques for tattoo touch ups, such as adding a little more color or shading. By seeing someone who really knows their stuff, you’ll be able to make your old tattoo look better than ever before.
The first thing they’ll do is examine it closely, and decide whether it needs retouching. Maybe they can perform some subtle shading, or add a few more details. If your tattoo is too faded and requires a complete overhaul, then your artist may advise that it’s best to get rid of the old one and start afresh. You could tell them that you’d like to keep the general theme of the design but not necessarily any of the old lines. If this sounds like the right option for you, then your artist may need to draw up some new designs and show them to you.
If the theme of your old tattoo is still relevant to you, then it may be possible to rework it. For example, they might reduce the size of certain elements, or make them completely new again. This would go a long way towards giving your tattoo a fresh appearance. If you decide that this course of action is best for you, then your tattoo artist will show you some different options before carrying out the final design.
Once they’ve settled on a new look for your piece, it’ll be time to start work on it. This may involve a number of sessions with them, depending on how complex or faded your original design was. However, after a few visits to their studio, the work will be complete and your tattoo should look better than ever before. Of course, if you have lots of old tattoos that all need work, then it may be more cost-effective to book a consultation. They’ll look closely at everything you have, and advise on the best course of action.
If you choose this option, then expect one or two consultations before having anything done. Your artist will probably show you some examples of their work and discuss the costs of each option with you. They’ll also want to be sure that you’re 100% happy with their efforts and recommendations. If you are, then they can get down to business and start making your old tattoos look new again.
One final option is to get an artist to completely rework your old tattoos from scratch. This would be best for extreme cases where all of the lines are very faded or distorted. Once they’ve examined everything closely, then they’ll let you know if this is possible for them. If it is, they can start work on designing something new that’ll improve the look of your tattoos greatly. Please bear in mind that tattoo ink fades with time, so an old tattoo will be difficult to work with. If your old pieces are too badly faded, then they may not be able to do anything about them.