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Are you thinking of getting a tattoo? Your new tattoo might look pretty awesome now, but have you ever wondered what it’d look like when you’re older? There are many reasons and factors why this happens, and many answers to the question of how tattoos age.
One way to keep your tattoo looking fresh and prevent it from aging is to ensure that you follow the proper healing procedures, as even the best tattoos can be affected by not taking proper care. Most parlors will advise you about care and tattoo aging, so make sure you pay attention!
As tempting as it might be, don't spend too much time touching your new tattoo idea that came to life, as this can lead to discoloration and infection. If your tattoo is new, then try to keep it out of the sunlight, even when it’s fully healed. Make sure you always moisturize your skin with the highest SPF sunscreen on any exposed tattoos whenever you’re out and about - this is a huge reminder for male tattoo owners :D
Finally, never forget to search for a highly skilled and qualified tattoo artist, as he is the one who will execute the work, making sure you won't regret it. Now scroll down below to find how some of the old tattoos look today—not all of them stood the test of time.
What Happens to Tattoos Over Time?
Image credits: Life-Of-Pix
When it comes to aging, the type of tattoo ink can make a big difference; for example, cheaper ink often fades much quicker than higher-quality alternatives.
The color of the ink makes a big difference, too, as the lighter the ink, the faster it fades (remember that next time you’re thinking about getting one of those white ink tattoos!). Another thing to consider is your tattoo's placement, as this can also influence the speed of fading.
Tattoos on areas that see a lot of activity, such as your feet and fingers, are much more likely to fade than tattoos on your back or chest, for example. Also, the design comes into play—the smaller and more intricate the tattoo’s detailing is, the more likely it is to get blurred years later.
If body art fades with time, what do tattoos look like when you get old? Well, check out this tattoo aging time-lapse compiled by Bored Panda to see for yourself how aged tattoos look now.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Aged Tattoo
RELATED:
#2
Tattoo 3 Years Later
#3
Tattoo 4 Years Later
#4
Fresh And Aged Tattoo
#5
Intricate Tattoo 10 Years Later
#6
Aged Finger Tattoo
When I had decided to get the tattoo done, I knew that the area was not ideal and that the tattoo would fade at some point. I made a point to follow the aftercare instructions "to a T". My expectation was that I would have this tattoo for longer than a week.
Martha Liebenberg 8 years ago
It's called a blowout. Happens when the needle goes too deep into the skin. Fingers are very hard to do, the skin is flimsy. It could happen the most skilled artists. It's just a poor choice in placement. That's all.
#7
Back Tattoo After Healing
Dalie Pohankova 8 years ago
Just to make it clear - difference between those pictures is 3 years, 5 times change of hair color and some photoshop in both pictures. In real, my tattoo still looks good and almost the same. Good shot but not even close to reality.
#8
Tattoo 4 Years Later
person (i think) 8 years ago
Why are ppl saying this is not the same tattoo? (I am genuinely asking.) They look the same. The picture is just taken from a different angle as far as I can tell.
Katie Smith 8 years ago
Skin changes over time, people gain and lose weight, different sized photo, different angle, same tattoo
Caroline Smith 8 years ago
The dementions look different and the top part now looks lopsided, the bottom of the key is smaller
Kristi Zoebelein 8 years ago
It looks like the skin is twisted in the older pic, they still have the same mole in the same place.
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Lowrider 56 6 months ago
It doesn't look like the same tattoo. The top of the key in the after pic looks crooked and the length of the tattoos are different. It looks stretched out too.
Rae-Mischel Cooper 5 years ago
That’s literally not the same tattoo. The lines in the second one are super wonky.
Trey Chavis 6 years ago
This isn’t even on the same person I spotted three 3 differences in these two . Stop reaching
Parker Rogers 6 years ago
this isnt the same tattoo. The other key is more squished and round-edged that the previous
Dawy Schoneveld 7 years ago
U sue this is the same persoon? Second tatoo looks like somebody stole the design and faild the hell out of it, there are not straight lines in the first tattoo
Courtney Kelly 8 years ago
This is a different tattoo 😂 look at the dimensions of everything it's all slightly off it's just a s****y version of the first one. Why u lying
Laura Herendeen 8 years ago
The key part that turns the tumblers in a lock has shrunk. It's not near as long. I don't think it's the same tattoo, lol
Raul Suarez Fernandez 8 years ago
bad tattooer, lines blown all the way. Can you post some tattoo from a professional artist and not from the beach tattoo place?
Jenny Lynn 8 years ago
UM, not the same tattoo. Look at the bottom part of the key one is longer than the other. And the top of the key isn't even straight.
Michelle Walano-Klopp 8 years ago
Clearly these are 2 different tattoos. You can see the differences.
Michelle Walano-Klopp 8 years ago
Clearly these are 2 different tattoos. You can see the differences.
Brontosonto 8 years ago
Look at the "bridge" crossing the upper oval: it's completely different.
Julia Wolfe 8 years ago
It's not surprising that color tattoos will need recoloring after time.
Carly Rice 8 years ago
That's not the same tattoo. Look at the keys details. Bottom right of the key look completely different. Plus the one on the right is crooked. Tattoos don't heal crooked and shrunk lol.
Rylee Wolf 8 years ago
But they can become distorted as you grow, gain weight, or lose wait. There's still the same mole to prove it if you don't believe me.
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Jessie Huard 8 years ago
That doesn't look like the same tattoo. Unless there was a lot of weight gain, the angles, width, and length shouldn't change. Even if there was weight gain, this is an odd location to have this many additional curves with some areas shrinking in size while others increased.
Joshua Pullen 8 years ago
The thick areas show where they went too deep, the color wasn't saturated enough to stay
Cheryl Birkhimer 8 years ago
Sadly, no vibrancy left. Guess It's an old antique key now. Hope he/she finds the treasure box it opens.. full of gold & silver! Lol.
Kay Morris 8 years ago
That's not even the same tattoo! It's the same design, but if you look closely, you'll see how they differ in many areas.
Tom Murray 8 years ago
That's not even the same tattoo look at the linework how does it become not straight anymore?
#9
Aged Wrist Tattoo
Michel M. Prins 8 years ago
Interesting tribal design. A quick touch up should do the trick, that's the nice part about a tribal tattoo
#10
Small Tattoo After 7 Years
#11
Detailed Tattoo After Healing
#12
Celtic Tattoo 15 Years Later
Michel M. Prins 8 years ago
The dark tone of the current one actually compliments the fact that it should represent an ancient Celtic symbol. Giving it a touch-up would be nice, but won't be all that necessary
#13
Aged Tattoo
#14
Aged Neck Tattoo
Allyson Genthner-Thiessen 8 years ago
sunscreen, people. Reds and oranges will hot hold up to UV light.
#15
Tiny Aged Tattoo
Luc Mailloux 8 years ago
Where on the body is this? Context would be great... Looks like the foot to me, which would make this fading make perfect sense.
#17
Aged Shark Tattoo
#18
Aged Mouth Tattoo
#19
Finger Tattoos Months Later
Curious how ink evolves? Check out our gallery of top tattoo designs for every era and taste.
#21
Finger Tattoo 6 Weeks Later
Crazy Cow Lady 8 years ago
This one almost looks intentional, like the words really disappearing, like they do on the map.
#22
Heel Tattoo Aging
#23
Aged Tattoo
#24
Faded Tattoo
#26
Faded Palm Tattoo
#27
Fresh And Aged Tattoo
#28
Aged Tattoo
#29
1-Month-Old Tattoo
#30
Aging Of A Finger Tattoo
#31
Small Aged Tattoo
Most Popular Questions About Aging Tattoos
Despite ink changing over the years, this doesn't mean old people with tattoos look bad. We have answered some of the most popular questions about tattoo aging, so you can be more prepared.
Do Tattoos Fade Away When You Get Older?
Many people wonder what will happen to their tattoos as they age. Will they fade away or lose their vibrancy? The answer depends on several factors. Your tattoo may begin to fade due to aging skin, natural skin cell renewal, ultraviolet rays, ink quality, and poor tattoo aftercare.
Have you ever seen an old person with tattoos? As you probably noticed, they may become blurry, dull, or wrinkled, while others maintain their look longer. Generally, tattoos on old people's skin tend to fade more than on younger ones because the aging skin loses collagen and elasticity, causing it to stretch and sag.
Additionally, factors such as diet, weight gain, weight loss, and smoking can also affect the appearance of tattoos. Some tattoo styles, such as watercolor or colorful tattoos, may be more prone to fading than black or tribal tattoos.
Therefore, before getting tattoos, consider these factors and choose a design that will age well. Prevent tattoo aging by taking good care of it by applying sunscreen, moisturizing, and avoiding infections. By doing so, you can enjoy your tattoo for many years.
What Are the Possible Options to Consider With an Old Tattoo?
Ultimately, a tattoo is a part of your skin and will change as you change. You could find yourself getting a tattoo cover-up, a new tattoo that hides the old one, or a laser removal.
However, both options can be expensive, painful, and risky and may not guarantee a perfect result. A touch-up is a great way to refresh the beauty and brightness of your tattoo. Still, it should be done by a professional and experienced tattoo artist, as a bad touch-up can ruin your tattoo even more.
How Do Fine Line Tattoos Age?
Fine line tattoos are a popular tattoo style created using a single needle and has thinner and more delicate lines. This technique is often used for small tattoos or small details in larger tattoos.
However, fine line tattoos are more prone to fading, blurring, and distortion over time, leaving you with a design that looks very different from the original.
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What do you think ?
Karen Girard 8 years ago
You people apparently just have s**t artists 😂😂😂 I've had some of my tattoos for over 10 years and people still ask me if they're new 🙌🏻
Crazy Cow Lady 8 years ago
I find some of these hard to believe. I've had a tattoo for 8 years now and it looks as good as the day I got it. Even the artist was amazed by how good my color has held up. But then again everyone has different skin types and different methods for tattoo care.
Bianca Bianchini 8 years ago
but if your tat artist was surprised at how well it held up, doesn't that suggest they usually don't? Hence the above happens?
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Brigita Zemen 8 years ago
just pick a good artist and take care of your tattoo (like use sunscreen etc.) and you´re perfectly fine.. tattoo-590...e82e93.png 
Lucky Barrett 8 years ago
Some of these tattoos were s****y to begin with and others almost looked like they were s****y copies of the original that some hack artist tried to do
Lindsey Garretson 8 years ago
These are not good tatoo artist. I have had my tatoo on my back for 15 years and still looks great, still have all color and doesnt look faded.
Annie Davis 8 years ago
I've had to retouch a couple of my tats but I have one that looks like I just got it and I got it almost 20yrs ago!!! Most of these looked like s**t tattoos to begin with and depending on what part of the body it won't stand the test of time. Research your artist and check out their portfolio before getting one and then follow the after care instructions to a tee!!! Don't forget to wear sunscreen when you go out cuz the sun will damage it too. 🐧🐧
Anny Keene 8 years ago
There seems to be a few things not being mentioned when it comes to right choice of tattoo and upkeep 1) 'watercolour' tattoos are the first to fade and need constant touch ups due to the delicate strokes of colour and the lack of outline 2) yellow, orange, red and pinks are the FIRST colours to fade because the human body naturally has a lot of these pigments therefore those patches will have a faster regeneration of cells 3) Placement is everything, if you go for a finger, foot, inside your mouth or, god-forbid, a tongue tattoo; it will fade incredibly fast due to how much contact those have with not only the outside world, but your own body! 5) skin is elastic, it stretches and grows over time along with us; so if you have a design with a lot of negative space and light shading, the negative space will consume the original design. On the other hand, if the negative space is too thin between solid block shading, the ink with naturally bleed into that negative space. think about it!
Sonja Bow 4 years ago
Sorry, replying on something you wrote 3 years ago 😂
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Amanda-Marie Sacco 8 years ago
I'm an apprentice at a tattoo shop and I have to say This is actually not very accurate how a tattoo holds up is dependant on where it is how you take care of it (not just as its healing) and whether or not your artist knows what they're doing. Not to mention ink has come a long way in the last ten years
Jan Baard 8 years ago
Some people here really are in denial, no matter how well you care for it, no matter how good your artist is or where you placed it your tattoo WILL fade. Unless you want to go ahead and deny basic biology. It's preposterous to say your tattoo is still as good as it was fresh, you're only fooling yourself or just think it's still the same. It's not. To the person saying her tattoo is still as good as it was 10 years ago, you're are so full of it or just plain ignorant.
Terka Červeňáková 4 years ago
Of course it will fade, no onws denying it, but not in couple of months or even years. Needing to re-touch after 10 years Is completely normal...
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Michael Keskinen 8 years ago
#1 damage to tattoos is sun. Ultraviolet rays breakdown ink more than anything. Sunscreen..... I have tattoos 15 years old that look new.
Terka Červeňáková 4 years ago
I know few artists who doesn't work over the summer for this very reason...
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Jennifer Church 8 years ago
Oh my goodness!! True some are real and have faded... But lets get real here! Some are marker! Some are drawn on... And there are at least 2 that are not even the same damn tat!
Stefania Abruzzi 8 years ago
One half are not the same person and the other half got laser treatments! -.-
Ericka Abraham 8 years ago
Things fade, bodies fall apart, we age? Why didn't someone tell me before now?!?!?!
Mae 7 years ago
People don't understand that you can get your tattoo touched up when it fades. I've got one that I've had for 10 years and just got touched up, looks as good as when I got :) Also, these people in the photos clearly didn't go to a very good artists, most of the tattooss are pretty bad to begin with. And never worn sun screen :/
Anny Keene 8 years ago
There seems to be a few things not being mentioned when it comes to right choice of tattoo and upkeep 1) 'watercolour' tattoos are the first to fade out and need constant touch ups due to the delicate strokes of colour and the lack of outline 2) yellow, orange read and brilliant pinks are the FIRST colours to fade nbecause the human body naturally has a lot of these therefore those patch will have a faster generation of cells 3) Placement is everything, if you go for a finger, foot or inside your mouth or, god-forbid, a tounge tattoo; it will fade incredibly fast due to how much contact those appendages have with not only the outside world, but your own body! 5) skin is elastic, it stretches and grows over time along with us; so if you have a design with a lot of negative space and light shading, the negative space with consume the original design. On the other hand, if the negative space is too thin between solid block shading, the ink with naturally bleed into that negative space.
Evi Gavala 8 years ago
Come on guys this is b******t,I have my tattoos many years now and they are still like new...probably your tattooer is s**t with s**t ink
Deon Olson Veith 8 years ago
Does the writer want us to believe, some of these are the same tats!?!?! Give me a break!!!
Char Wisenheimer 8 years ago
most of those are marker and one isn't even the same as the before
Shelley Clatfelter 8 years ago
"omg i got a tattoo on my finger and it faded super fast, tattoos suck" or you got a tattoo on a part of your body that you use constantly and you failed to do any upkeep bc you dont have any idea how tattoos work. also wow the yellow and white faded ...what a surprise.
Bobbie Sproesser 8 years ago
Skin does stretch and we do get older. We don't always have tight skin like we will never always have a perfect tattoo after so many years. I am still gonna get tattoos IDGAF.
Jazz Akins 8 years ago
Um ya I don't know how some of these healed their tats but clearlysomething went wrong. And you can always get your tat touched up so if you haven't and it's been some time then duh your tat is gonna look a bit faded
Mandi Paulo 8 years ago
So... Most of these were either shoddy work or on the hands/feet. Of course they look terrible later. I've had many tattoos and for quite some time. The concept, artist, and placement are key factors in any tattoo.
Ash Skye 8 years ago
If you get tattoos on your inner lip, palm or fingers of course they are going to fade fast that's just common sense! Did you really think they would last forever? Now tattoos anywhere else might require up keep from time to time. Just depends on how you take care of them.
Shana 8 years ago
My back tattoo (7years old) and leg tattoo (5y.o.) still look pretty much the same from when they were fresh. Tattoo on my foot (6y.o.) is fading a tiny bit but that's probably got to with placement and wearing socks&shoes a lot.
Shana 8 years ago
Also got a full-sleeve in progress, but that's being worked on for the past 4years so... can't really say anything about that :P
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Angela Jester 9 months ago
I have to wonder how bad the tattooist and inks were. I have tattoos over 20 and 30 year old tattoos that look just as good as when they were done.
Mandira Basu 10 months ago
Mine don't look faded even after 15 years! May coz they are black ink and are not cheap ink!!
Trikki Vix 10 months ago
Im shocked at these. My wrist tattoo's are at least 25yrs old and nowhere near as bad as some of these. I picked an artist whose work i'd seen , old and new.. So glad I did . Also helps if you look after them, moisturizer etc
Krizzy Macali 2 years ago
Your tattoos may fade and suffer harm to their look from sunburn and repeated exposure to UVB radiation. Because UVA rays reach deeper layers of our skin, they are equally harmful to tattoos. Long-term effects of tattoos include wrinkles, sagginess, and early aging. For this reason, rather than committing to a permanent one, I like to use the temporary ones from https://wannabeink.com/collections/under-breast.
El F 2 years ago
Most of those comments are "It's not that bad" or "I still like it". lol stop coping, all of them look like c**p, even though it's obvious that some tats were done by good artists. I actually like this post because it shows you the reality. Even good artists can't guarantee you a perfect result. We age, we lose weight we gain weight, skin loses elasticity, pigments get metabolized, etc. You go in, you decide whether you want to take the risks.
Astrid Budiman 2 years ago
No way!! I've had some of my tattoos for over 15years and they still look very good!!and also the colors still there!not faded away like from the pics!
Todd Davis 2 years ago
There are sooo many bad placements that artists and anyone who has gotten more than one tattoo would know is bad and would know that they would have to get touched up. Plus a lot of the "later" pictures look unfocused and have bad lighting like they were trying to make them look bad. Any hand and foot tattoo will have wearing. A lip tattoo needs touch up every 6 months to a year. Small lettering will always show the worst after time, that's why a lot of artists won't do it. If you don't wear sunscreen then certain colors will fade hard. And honestly a lot of these pictures just need a touch up and they will be fine. Skin wears away people. If you loose or gain weight your skin will stretch. This is tattoo 101 c**p. I hate articles like these, because the writer just throws a lot of BS together and gives no guidelines or context. This could've been a great article on tattoo upkeep, but the writer was just lazy and wanted a little click bait for people who don't know c**p about tattoos!
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Dorothy Whitaker 3 years ago
Some of them you can tell there not the same tattoo I didn't think tattoo can flip change direction or size
Sarah Wonnacott 4 years ago
I've had a single tattoo for about 4-5 years and it still looks brand new. The colour is still bright, the black is still dark and the picture still looks sharp.
Terka Červeňáková 4 years ago
Problems with these tattoos are: 1) bad placement- fingers, palms, lips, heels- tattoos here never lasts, it's lots of pain for nothing 2) bad aftercare. At least couple of these were caused by the klient, there is obvious lack of care after tattooing 3) bad artists. If the tattoo looks shady And bad when it's fresh, it's never gonna heal nicely....
Donna Cole 4 years ago
I have learned that not all tattoo ink is created equal. A cheap ink will fade and spread much fast than a bottle that is expensive, hence, you get what you pay for!
Sonja Bow 4 years ago
I did this and it is 2 years healed in the photo, on the middle of the back hence the pores.
Your article is all wrong, these are just not good tattoos. 4D9A7CBA-E...a-jpeg.jpg 
Sonja Bow 4 years ago
THIS article is wrong! You have just posted work that was not done well, also Including a lot of areas of the body where it needs to be incredibly specific with depth of the ink such as (aside of fingers, palms, heels, lip) most professionals cannot get it deep enough in these areas but there are some who can because it is also based on the tattoo machines.
Yes tattoos lighten and spread over time but only a small amount.
There are a lot of terrible tattooists out there, but a lot of fantastic ones aswell. Protecting your tattoo from the sun is very important too!
Here’s one I did that is 2 years healed in the photo. Tattoo is on middle of the back hence the pores :) AE7CCD36-8...2-jpeg.jpg 
Shana Rihn 5 years ago
wow, they had better cameras with real color and not blurry or over exposure before, woooow. This is so misleading.... you don't like tattoos, we get it.
Shana Rihn 5 years ago
and yeah, don't tattoo your fingers or palms. ink tends to dissapear there.
Load More Replies... Harva Rada 5 years ago
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Sarah Deller 5 years ago
In most cases these look like the ink was s**t, and the artist wasn't very experienced... Regardless, this is definitely not representative of how most tattoos last. It's misleading to title this "These 35 Pics Reveal How Tattoos Age Over Time" and then only pick tattoos that have not aged well... I have had my oldest tattoo for nine years and it still looks as beautiful as it did when it first healed.
Sadie Jackson 5 years ago
So, I just wanted to post my aging tattoos. And I don’t think they’re bad at all. Not sure if it’s because of the artists I’ve used or my skin🤷🏻♀️
Pam Tessman 5 years ago
Here is my first tat I got on my 30th birthday. My bff called me that morning and asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday and I said I want a tattoo. So every decade birthday I planned to get one. 40 was Felix the Cat, I just got two last week to catch up. My first one looks just like it did when I got it 30 years ago. I think some of these tat artists may not be the best they can be. pams-tatto...13-png.jpg 
Alexa Murphy 5 years ago
Some of these aren't even the same tattoos. Lines don't magically move and colors don't change from blue to brown.
Carl Basile 6 years ago
Papillon Ink manufacturing Co has been the ink that lasts a lifetime and we have been making ink for more than 30 years seeing our colors last for 25+ years everyday! I fired the unloyal employees and took over the way we make our inks and they are not watered down! That's mostly the reason for these pics. There is a war on inks right now with everyone trying to make ink and get rich but your body is more important than a brand I hope? Papillon inks are FDA registered and sterile for the clients protection! We are the Starbrite makers not the fakers! No matter what your told! THE TRUTH IS COMING SOON!
papillonsupply.com IMG_2405-5...10d530.jpg 
Dva Main 6 years ago
this is all b******t. So many of the before and after pics are NOT of the same person. Yes tattoos fade. But this is b******t because they are NOT of the same tattoos. F*****g bull.
Derral 7 years ago
Yes we agree, not all tattoo artist are as good as us! Lucky enough we also repair other people mistakes... https://www.raditattoome.net
Signe Manat Hansen 7 years ago
My god, people are irrationally angry over something that doesn't affect them at all. Faded tattoos isn't the end of the world. You just touch them up or watch them age because they represent memories. Or you cover them with something else. Certain tattoos are gonna fade faster, and people are usually aware of that.
Mia Moore 7 years ago
Tattoos are like anything else, they require maintenance. I have touch ups done on mine if and when they need it and they all still look fabulous. Think about placement, color, and size beforehand, and then research reputable talented artists and you should have no problems.
Christian Lindberg 8 years ago
My first tattoo, 32 years old, looks twice as nice as most of those damn tats. I do have a newer one that once was black roses but 30 years later looks like rotten cabbage. It depends on the artist and if they know their profession.
Jinjuta Akkharawisutcharoen 8 years ago
I have a friend who got a tattoo for many years and it is still fresh as the first day he got it. I think maybe it depends on where the tattoo shop you go. You get what you pay for.
Josh Walters 8 years ago
most tattoo artist do free touch ups. some of these are YEARS later and obviously its not going to look as it did the day you got it. thats why they do touch ups
Fiona Diles 8 years ago
People do realise that tattoos have to touched up every few years right? Skin isn't a very good canvas.
Kathy Burman 8 years ago
I have 3 tattoo's one is 6 years old, the other is 4 years old and another is 2 years old and they all still look fresh , But I used a good artist and followed the after care instructions to a T. Didn't go swimming for at least a month, limited exposure to the sun (although with my shoulder one that has been a little more challenging....still looks great) kept well moisturized while healing etc. Some of these looks poorly placed/or poorly done or both. One even looked more like magin marker than a real tattoo.
Indee Iris 8 years ago
FAKE ASSS FARRK some of these are two different tattoos ... like someone has just tried to copy the same artwork and didnt get as good a quality and some even changed spots on the body...
Ann Pickett 8 years ago
just because you lot got tattoos dont mean you look good,it means you was foolish once in your life
Limin Huang 8 years ago
People get so offended when the fact that tattoos fade gets presented. Nobody is stopping anyone from getting a tattoo and why are you guys defending it like fading doesn't occur, and like it's a legal right? 😅 It's just a series of pictures about colors that fade!
Chase Rohrback 8 years ago
It also depends on your skin and the color of the ink. Red doesn't stay for s**t in anybody so if you get red it's going to need to be touched up every so often but I have very vibrant colors from 10+ years ago that still look new today. Alot of it too has to do with peach fuzz too. If you shave the area of your tattoo it removes the blonde hairs and also can make the tattoo look newer.
Janet Hubbard 8 years ago
Bull shot it's how you look after them you can't just get a tattoo and then forget about it
Kaleigh Waldorf 8 years ago
I think the quality of the ink and tools the tattoo artist uses makes a big difference as well as their skill level. Ongoing after care, like using some sunscreen especially on your colored pieces would help too. And common sense should tell you, a tattoo placed on the feet or palm on the hand/fingers may not hold up too well and requires touch ups
Anastacia Burns 8 years ago
What the hell are these people doing to their tattoos? My oldest tattoo is 12 years old and the colors are still nice. Here's a tip though.......STAY OUT OF THE SUN! I see so many people with beautiful ink in the sun. Use at least SPF 50 and reapply reapply reapply.
Glenn Colvin 8 years ago
I got this 27 years ago. Seems to me that it's just fine. I think it's all about the quality of work. Sorry about the picture, had to take it myself. My-Tat-595...615287.jpg 
Jacquie Harloff 8 years ago
Any decent tattoo artist will advice you against certain designs and placement if they know they won't last. Also, you've got to talk to them about after care. Different artists use different ink, and therefore heal differently!
Lisa Downs 8 years ago
Location, location, location... and aftercare! It's also called touch-ups people
Paige Ariana 8 years ago
Some areas fade because of the skin, especially lip, heels, and hands. Maybe you should put more thought into where you want tats or go to get touch ups
Michelle Marie 8 years ago
I agree with Karen, I have one on my wrist that was done 12yrs ago and everyone is always complementing me on it cuz it still looks good, including the color
Rusty Cooper 8 years ago
All tattoos look bold and sharp before they heal. Colour tattoos fade faster and more brasher than black and whites, also being in the sun constantly makes a huge difference. In the case of a big colour piece like the unicorn on the back, you are usually expected to go back in for touch ups to keep it bold and popping. The lights error on the finger was unfortunate, bit it didn't really look like the artist had managed to get the ink under the sub dermal layer. My tattoo is a half sleeve geometric pattern and it's held up perfectly. Just a stupid article.
Rick Hamby 8 years ago
Ok first of all ink has made fantastic strides in some of those 15 yo tattoos.....also who knows if the artist knew what he/she was doing. There are additional types of skins that hold black and grey better than color. A good tattoo artist can do better for you than some stupid click bait.
Kamile Herron 8 years ago
Okayyy... well first off some of these were due to artist error of not going deep enough or just not great in the first place. Either that, or the client didn't take good enough care of the tattoo in the healing process, which can turn a great piece of artwork done, into something that looks like s**t. Second the one with small a*s letters.... usually they don't go that small for the fact that tattoos do fade over time and skin stretches from growth or weight change. And often times tattoos will need a touch up from fading.... please remember ur skin is constantly shedding layers.... not a lot but over a few years time it might be less dark. ANOTHER THING for the tattoo on the finger.... hand tattoos are known to fade super fast for the fact it's in a place that is constantly being used and rubbing, I have one on mine. And I knew before I got it there that it would do that because my tattoo artist informed me to make sure I realized and wouldn't be unhappy later on when I needed it tou
Michael David 8 years ago
why am i not surprised that tattoos on fingers fade very fast? i was told repeatedly that palms, soles, and fingers are places that cannot hold a tattoo for long, if at all...... hell, most tattoo artist i know refuse to even do palms, fingers, ankles and soles (among other places like anywhere under the waistband of underwear)
Katherine Wagner 8 years ago
You have to use sunscreen on your tattoo or the sun will fade it. Also, colors like yellow orange and red do not hold as well so they have to be done a few times which sucks and hurts like a b***h. Touch-ups are always needed and should be done to maintain. Nothing is forever. (Except taxes. Taxes are forever and the IRS will find you. Just saying...)
Becky Bush-Boyett 8 years ago
these go to show what shoddy tattoo artists do with your money. you get what you pay for.
Kumash Patel 8 years ago
Some of this pic have been switched around to make it seem that the coloring has faded, and some others with the red glow are just the bruising that you expect for a weekish after getting a new tat. TOTAL GARBAGE
Jamie Checketts 8 years ago
Tattoos on hands, lips don't last long. Colours fade, which is why I don't have colour tattoos... and the ones that look really s**t after time, looked s**t when they were done! Get a decent tattoo artist!
Jesse Gallagher 8 years ago
Moral of the story...you get what you pay for...invest in a decent artist and the work will look good for decades. My sleeves are working on being 10 yrs old and still rocking it
Myles Fairweather Straga 8 years ago
S9me look like they had lazer removal on them or used bleaching tattoo removal cream others are common sense finger and palm and feet etc fade fast with out proper maintenance plus sometimes you need touch up or you went to a s****y artist
Amy Wise 8 years ago
I'm not a fan of tattoos; however, I quickly noticed that the after photos were either taken through a filter, in black and white, or slightly unfocused If you are going to try to make a credible argument against tattoos then it helps to be truthful.
Sammantha Perfater 8 years ago
it all matters on the location, the skin care, the artist...period. I have had a tattoo for 12 years that looks like the day I got it because I take care of my skin and I had a professional, experienced, amazing artist. I do have on on my wrist that was done by a friend and has faded because he was not professional and it's in the bend of my wrist so the ink faded, i will have it covered and redone at some point.
Crystal Keeney 8 years ago
Some of these might be real but some are not if you look closely to the last one the writing is similar but different. The curve in the D and Y is different.
Sarah Gaboury 8 years ago
I had mine for 14 years before i had it touched .. it didn't really need touched but a friend wanted to get a tattoo and didn't want to get it alone so since mine had a few lines with broken spots here and there where a pimple came up (i'm a picker other wise it would have been fine ) I had it retouched It was stone work .. so a lot of grey shading and lines with the odd little splash of color and it looked great even 14 years later even the tiny spec of blue that was in the statues eyes was still clearly visible and my tattoo is maybe 3 inches by 4 inches . My husband on the other hand Has a dragon on each arm same area .. but he has a completely different skin type then me and his have bled together really bad and we both had them done at the same studio but by different artists in different years
Ian Ross 8 years ago
A good third of these are clearly scratchers, another third are in places that don't hold worth a s**t. Saw a couple watercolor tattoos... not a single traditional tattoo to be found in this "article". Maybe let the tattooers write about tattooing?
Raluca Aston 8 years ago
This is absoloute bollocks. A tattoo staying fresh and vibrant requires so many different things it's unreal. Not only must you make sure that your artist uses good ink and they know their craft, but the placement is important. I've got a little tattoo on my ankle that has faded slightly because of footwear, etc. But the tattoos on my arms, wrist, calfs, are still fresh and some I've had for over two years. The after care is important as well, make sure you care for it like an open wound and keep it clean until healed otherwise it'll scab and fade. And if you do have a tattoo in bad placement (like a finger) or with colour, they do require touch ups. Tattoo artists will tell you this. Tattoos can be effected by natural elements and colour fades much quicker than black ink. Do your research. 😒
Ellie Kieffer 8 years ago
#32 isn't even the same tattoo. The lines are different. These people just have s**t tattoos made by s**t artists.
Prayer Partner 8 years ago
I had my eyebrows and eye liner done. Had it touched up less than a year later. Almost as expensive as the original tats. It all faded away in less than 3 years and I didn't even want to know how much it would cost to have it done again. I did this in 2006 and it was almost $l,000 way back then.
Kristina Smead 8 years ago
Wow is all i can say some s****y work of u ask me also to me some pretty painfull places to recive one just to have it fade so soon after some of them
Christopher Esler 8 years ago
Ya arm tattoos will fade upperback one face tattoos how fast depends on you. Ive had all my tats on my arms 15 plus years, but shaving my arms an lotion 4 or 5 times a day kept them looking great and they are done by a great artist.plus color will fade from sun dmg like anything you have up keep
Stephen Hammett 8 years ago
The longevity of your tattoo's depend on three main factors: 1.) Your skin; some skin hold ink well (or colors), others not so much 2.) Quality of the ink used: Use s****y ink, expect it to fade 3.) The Sun. Why the sun you ask? Constant exposure to the sun will cause your artwork to fade at an increased rate. I got my first Tattoo in 1992, and yes it has started to noticeably "bleed" since my first was an antique style script writing. But I do one very important thing.... keep out of the sun as much as humanly possible. If I am out and about, I keep them covered. My last tattoo was finished in 2002, still looks brand new.
Chris Nelson 8 years ago
Wow, way to put together an article that explains that tattoos fading depends both on quality and location. Oh wait...
Cyndy Maranda 8 years ago
It's well know that everyone holds ink in different ways, and ink doesn't hold well on hands and fingers!!!
Tony Barker 8 years ago
I'm in the number 1 spot. The first photo was taken on the day it was done after 7 hours work on my arm so my arm was bright red as you can see. That photo was taken at the studio with a dslr camera with all the professional photographers stuff. The second photo was taken by me with my iPhone 5, so the pictures obviously lose some quality. Personally I love it and that's what matters.
Annie Rocco 8 years ago
I am definitely not a tattoo aficionado but I have one tattoo on my hip that is 15 years old and in spite of my weight gain seems to look very much the same as when it was brand new. Some of those tattoos that faded within a couple months look like they could have been henna tattoos.
Charlene Ashton 8 years ago
Also using Pure Romance body dew will help keep the the just fresh look of your tattoos. Mine is 6 years old and still looks new.
Dea-Lynn Byrd 8 years ago
Also don't most shops offer touch ups if you got the tattoo there originally. I know a few by me offer the first touch up after healing for free. Also some of these looked like sharpie tattoos, if not they had horrible artiats
Kristin Erica 8 years ago
I have tats older than ten years that have not faded like those. Just do what you want and don't worry about what it might look like. Every tattoo has a story and if it ages over time than it is just a part of your history. I hate sites like these.
Lucybaby 8 years ago
Ive had one of my tattoos for over 10 years and its still perfectly colorful like a just got it. Karen said it best I think they just had horrible artists lol, or it depends on the skin type of the person or where the tattoo goes. Your hands and things like that are more than likey always gonna fade.
Cindy Larie 8 years ago
My first tattoo was homemade with a needle and 'ink' made from soot. My second was a wreath of flowers from a tattoo shop in Louisiana. The first one is high on my left arm and the second is on my right forearm. I was 20 and 25, respectively...I'll be 50 in Sept. They both look as great today as they did when I got them. Who does them and where you get them do matter, as does how you care for them while they're healing.
Neil Pipper 8 years ago
This is total BS !!! The before and after pics of #15 aren't even the same. You can't tell me that time is gonna change the placement of strands of hair!
Rebecca Machado 8 years ago
I have 11-13 year tattoos and they still look good. If you pick bad artists then you will get s**t!
Pia Grasset 8 years ago
s****y artists, poor cared, I have all of my fingers tattoode and i was warned before that tattoos in fingers and palm always fade away. either way i had excellent care on those and they look perfect after healing
ivett cser 8 years ago
I have one medium sized piece and currently working on a second one. From my experience, my skin holds color and its on the lower arm. My artist said it will hold up with time if you care for it like anything else so its interesting these are fading the way they are. hahaha this was fun to look at.
Raphael Mangini 8 years ago
Everyone knows, don't get a tattoo where there is too much friction, like between fingers, ankles... It will fade, fast!
Angela Gonzales-Wolf 8 years ago
#8 is clearly not even the same person...some of these don't look legit to me...I have two tattoos and I love them...
Kawaii Lemon 8 years ago
I got an idea for some of these people: Get a touch up. You're welcome
Hannah Slater 8 years ago
This post is so stupid I'm sorry but anyone who's every gotten a tattoo on the fingers or palms will tell you that tattoo artists will fully disclaim that they're known to fade quickly and have a lot of fallout due to it being taught tough skin. Also tattoos take upkeep, a lot of people think you can just leave thin but they're still skin and not wearing sunscreen can be very detremental
Kirby Ruth 8 years ago
Its not really a valid argument when the 'before' one hasn't even healed yet! They should be taken 2 weeks after as that's what a fresh tattoo actually looks like
Majka Grenova 8 years ago
What are you showing here are mostly the tattoos that are placed on fingers, palms, inner lip sides, heels. Of course, the tattoos are losing their transparent colors after some times, but most of the picture here is out of the topic ... the first of all .. everyone who is about to tattoo the palms heels etc has to know that those tattoos Are needed to be reworked once in the half year or something because of special area, but it doesnt work like this for all tattoos. Second of all ... many of the tattoos that look so bad at the pictures, maybe they are not even on the same person or, the shape of them is deformed, so the person had to get really fat what has the effects to the skin , And make the tattoo look worst, shades are lost, lines are deformed. Or was made by bad tatto artist. Not all tattoos look like this after some time. And the author suppose to be ashamed of sharing this half truth info.
Boyd Babcock 8 years ago
Most of the fading is due to not using sun blocker. UV will destroy the ink.
Chrissie Cody 8 years ago
Lmao I have one from 10+ years ago still lucious and vibrant and perfect lol find the right ink!
Floyd Mabena 8 years ago
Time = Decay... Nothing lasts forever and you are going to die anyway. We buy classic cars and refurbish them, we get tattoos and re-do them as time goes by! Uhm everything gets replaced!!!
Diana CrunChewy Watson 8 years ago
It's pretty common knowledge that you need to get certain tattoos (depending on location and colors used) periodically re-inked.
Cynthia Lowe 8 years ago
I have a tattoo that is 27 years old and my most recent artist asked if i had it touched up...never! It looks bright and cheery as when i first got it....reputable artists will encourage you to get the right placement and colors that will last....
Paula Hannon 8 years ago
I have a tattoo that is ten years old and looks as fresh as the day I got it. You have to moisturise, also if you rub vaseline on it the colour stays bright.
Mandy Tanney 8 years ago
I've got tattoos that I've gotten 10 plus years ago and they look as good as the day I got them take care of them properly and they will stay nice and some half to be Gina over depending on the size and colors that have been used don't diss if you really don't know
Jeannè Garland 8 years ago
1 the way a tat is going to look is after healing not fresh before healing. 2. If it fades a ton at healing good artists you didn't be a d**k to will touch up. Additionally I have tats on my hips that got full color 20 years ago. The color is still beautiful and it still looks great.
Pete Barnes 8 years ago
You know you can have tattoos re-colored, right? I've had two re-colored, one because it was a cheap drunken long ago mistake by a c**p tattoo artist, and one because it was 20 years old. The color will fade eventually, but stuff like the watercolor fading (#9) is ridiculous. Most of your examples make me cry b******t-it is just not possible for ink to fade so much if someone is looking after it properly. Find a good shop, look at portfolios, be willing to fork out the money, and you'll be fine.
jacluckycat 8 years ago
Aftercare people! Tattoos aren't cheap; why let them wind up looking like this? Follow your artist's aftercare instructions and for god's sake don't pick at it while it's healing
ionitunes 8 years ago
Having looked at all of these "failed" tattoos, I conclude that too many people think skin will react like canvas. But skin is alive and reacts very differently. I partly blame the tattoo artists for not making the difference clear. Of course, alcohol and stupidity play their roll too. People can be a very strange species sometimes. difference.
Twysted Jinx 8 years ago
I have had one of my tatts for over 30 years, about 10 years ago I got it retouched, this is something you do when you value your art.
Becky Polohová 8 years ago
These are just some people who do not take care of their tattoos. Tattoo is said to stay forever, but you also sometimes need to repair and repaint some parts of it. If the tattoo is done propperly and the person takes a good care of it, then nothing happens to it. Also it is known that some places such as fingers, ears, boobs (due to wearing bra)... are bad for tattoos and they won't stay. Also wtf is that with that tattoo in her mouth? It had to be pretty clear it would not stay for a long time 😳😂
Kate Wakefield 8 years ago
Get yourself a decent tatt artist? Yeah I'd have hidden those last few too 😏
Jesstina Chibinski 8 years ago
No. 35 does not seem to be a tattoo, it seems to be marker pen that has been repeatedly drawn over itself again and again.
Ashley Chrysler 8 years ago
If not cared for properly or touched up tattoos fade, also depending on the placement of said tattoos will make it dependant on how long they last, like lips, fingers, and hands are usually places that a tattoo won't last as long as expected.
Alise Kalniņa 8 years ago
omg. Most of them look terrible in first place. :D and some look okay faded.
Tynisha Banks 8 years ago
This is a bunch of BS! I've had my tattoo for 5 years and it looks brand new. I had it touched up by the original artist a year after getting it because I didn't follow his after care instructions on scabbing and it lost its color just like he said it would. So the next go round I did exactly as told and I get compliments on it constantly. These people either peeled off the scabs instead of letting it slough off naturally or got in a place that skin cells are constantly shed naturally (hands, feet, mouth). You have to take care of it or it will look like c**p
Louisiana Rose 8 years ago
S**t tattooists or s**t inks! I've had some Of my tattoos for over 20 years and they still look amazing, one still glows in the dark and looks clean and colourful - you get what you pay for and the above dont look like they paid much at all.
Louisiana Rose 8 years ago
That's just s**t tattooing! Some of My tattoos are well over a decade and still look amazing - you get what you pay for and by the looks of the above you didn't or shouldn't have paid much at all. B******t article
Sarah Scripter 8 years ago
The chick with the rainbow horse, her hair is red in the first photo and a caramel/ash blonde in the second photo. Hate to point out, that takes a long time to get your hair that color from a red, and they are saying the second photo was right after it was healed? That's a lie.
Breeanna Forste 8 years ago
All tattoos fade and finger tattoos always fade faster cuz u use ur fingers a lot. But hand tattoos are just a bad idea(in my opinion)
Brandon Brooks 8 years ago
Some of these don't even look like tattoos. A lot of the writing ones just look like sharpie to me.
Make War No More 8 years ago
I think it is a tragedy that no truly Professional Tatto Artists, who are complete in awareness of all these pr I blems that read as a list of what not to do as a artist. I myself have seen work in Okinawa and mainland Japan, that have literally improved with age. A blown out tattoo is exactly what a consumer gets when they do no research. None of these artists used high grade inks for a start. The problems with unskilled artists is they are unskilled, this reality gets worse from there. Common sense.
Lisa Kelly 8 years ago
Why do people get tats without really reading info... tats generally have a 10 to 15 year life span and this changes with how you look after it.. tattoo on hands and feet NEVER work... theyll fade within a short length of time... my tattooist explained this to me but i still went ahead and now all i have is a faded shadow on my finger... doh!!! Oh.. and all these tattoo can and should be touched up over time... maintenance, maintenance and more maintenance...
Corinne LaPalme 8 years ago
All I know is that I was going to get one this summer but now I'm a little reluctant to get a few and spend my hard earn money if this will be the years ahead result. This coming from someone who knows nothing about ink or tattoos 😢😕😟
Alyssa Wedmore 8 years ago
Funny.. 32 and 35 you can clearly tell its written on with pen and sharpie..😂
Robin Halpern 8 years ago
Some of them look washed out, like the camera settings or brightness and contrast were messed with.
Tyler Gehl 8 years ago
people have to remember that tattoos will fade a lot faster in places that shed more skin, like feet, hands, mouth,, neck area. Plus some people have a problem with colour tattoos as their skin just doesn't absorb it properly.
Tiffany Fernandez 8 years ago
Ive had a tattoo thats 9 yrs old and its still looks great.. if u go to a cheap and inexperienced artist then you should expect your tatts not to hold up.... common sense
James Durie 8 years ago
Renew it from time to time, not a big deal if u got one from begining taking care of every once in a while shouldn't be a problem
Jay Gagnon 8 years ago
Why. Is every pictured filtered to look darker? Amd the palm print one looks drawn on with a pen. I got my first one over 15 years and i looks better than all these wothout ever being touched up. And all my others are good too. Yes a little faded but my photos atent filtered. Silly photoshop you thought you can fool everyone.
Valentine Donclifzy 8 years ago
Some of these images are Photoshop, compare the before and after photo check the skin is not same color, if tattoo fades, skin also fades,
Lollie Com 8 years ago
I kept my tattoo constantly, CONSTANTLY wet with bactracin until it was beyond healed for over a week. Five years later it still looks like new. A plastic surgeon was the one who told me how to treat it. He was right.
מיכל קורילוב 8 years ago
34 IS'NT EVEN THE SAME TATTOO there r some which are clearly a marker and the rest are just s**t artist/placement
Iskrena Dimitrova 8 years ago
All in all, finger and feet tattoos don't last. Oh, and if you really want to make your tatt look seriously faded, take a really crappy picture of it and put it next to the professionally made one. ;)
Simon Sørensen 8 years ago
Tattooing is a comitment, dont complain, and come get them touched up/renewed
Kaya-Aseni Clement 8 years ago
Gaaahh this annoys me sooo much... dont people understand if u get a tattoo in a high used place eg hand or fingers u have to go back once it is healed to get it done over again a couple times for it to not fall out and colour fade is completely normal espically when its red!
Ashley Walkington 8 years ago
I'm kinda confused by these because it's hard for me to see these as realistic when the skin tone is changed in most of them. Why don't the before and after skin colors match?
proofox admin 8 years ago
Maybe when you do a tatto you should consider few things. Colors like yellow green and light red will discolor. And you cant stop it. If you do a tattoo and you get fat and it ruins the tattoo its all on you. If you make a tattoo on a place where the skin is constatntly moving and recending the tattoo will fade because this action actually helps blood to decompose the ink. So before you do a tattoo you should think about all of that and choose a right design. Also bad ink will fade away so don't get "cheap" tattoos. I have tattoos for over 8 years and neither of them have changed.
Rama Llama 8 years ago
1) Don't get a tattoo in a s****y tattoo studio that uses poor inks 2) Don't get a tattoo from your friend who has just bought a tattoo gun from eBay and doesn't know how deep it's done 3) Don't get an ant sized tattoo and everything should be fine.
Ayla Fecero 8 years ago
Any tattoo on your hands, feet, or face (including your neck) will fade faster. The cell turnover here is higher than other areas of your body. Any tattoo artist worth a damn will warn you of this. A lot of these are simply bad aftercare, dry skin, or c**p artists. Sorry, artists.
Connie Wallace 8 years ago
I have a tattoo that is 11 years old and has yellow, red, and orange, as well as black. None of it has faded. These pics are bogus. It depends on where you go. You get what you pay for. My 11 year old tattoo still looks great!
Hildur Popp 8 years ago
Fingers, palms and feet people!! Don't be dumb ! Everyone knows the tattoos on these places fade within a year ! And the rest ... badly done !
Natalie Williams 8 years ago
I have various tattoos and these pictures do not tell you nothing, I have a tattoo I have gotten 16 years ago and it looks like I got it last week but I have one I got 5 years ago looks like I got it 20 years ago, it depends on quality of ink artist and location for fade and a good artist will tell you where not to get one plus it depends on the persons skin
Ryan Svoboda 8 years ago
It depends on the inks used, as well as the artist themself and your personal skin type. My father had tattoos done 6 years ago that still look fresh
Jazz Akins 8 years ago
Ya um most these people probably didn't take to much after care for their tats, or just had s****y artist with s****y ink. I've had all tats in all kinds of different situations and not a one of them healed as badly as some of these
Cheri Gibbons 8 years ago
If you get a cheap and nasty tattoo. What do you expect. Mine are still fab 20 years on!!!
Stephan Bouwman 8 years ago
It's okay if you don't like tattoos or feel like it's something people shouldn't do. But this is just a shoddy list of very dodgy posts. Soms tattoos don't even look like the same person, simply the same design done by good and then bad artists. Others seem like laser treatment. And when you want to get a tattoo, do your research. You probably call 10 contractors to get your walls painted. Then why do some people walk into random tattoo parlors to get something on their bodies permanently without doing proper research. Every artist is different. And just like with other art; there's a lot of bad ones out there. All of my tattoos have healed properly. One is one more intricate than most on this list. It still looks as it if was put on there less than a month ago, while it's been there for multiple years now. Just.. don't make these lists man. It ain't smoking.
Esther Alice Nowell 8 years ago
Most of these seem to be either placement of the tattoo, or poor quality tattooing and aftercare. Know how to care for your tattoos if you want them, and understands there is also long term Care needed, like sun protection and moisturising. Do you research! Pick a good artist to start with and then remember maintenance.
Krissey Dye 8 years ago
Also, they key isn't even the same tattoo. They are slightly different shapes at the bottom.
Krissey Dye 8 years ago
If your tattoo faded immediately after healing, YOU did something wrong. Soaked in a bathtub, went swimming, exposed it to too much sun, picked the scabs, etc. Some fading is normal and expected over the years. Colors will also appear less bright after healing is completely finished, typically a month or longer, because of your skin. Your skin heals back on top, what you're left with is the ink showing through your pigment.
Dallysgeniel Eggett 8 years ago
This is anecdotal at best. Different quality of tattoo artists, certain colors and locations fade quicker, tattoos usually need maintenance.
Maribel Rombolá 8 years ago
If you dont take care of your tattoo, of course it will look awful later....
Hanka Sovová 8 years ago
I think that most important is, how good is your tattoo artist. I've had colour tattoo for 9 years, motive has a lot of details and now it looks still good.
Wayne Bart 8 years ago
I learned so much about tattoos while doing a piece on them for a photojournalism project while at University. The permanence of a tattoo relies on a variety of factors all seen in this piece. Blacks stay, and colors fad. The white ink can disappear even before healing is complete, it's dependant on the person's skin. If the ink isn't applied well, it runs more, or runs less, fades more or fades less. Even where it's located on the body. It's really fascinating
ksc 8 years ago
umm it depends on so much from artists to ink to the skin itself, i got a supernatural symbol tattooed on my chest about the same size as the base of a pint glass(small than original image aswell) nearly 3 years ago and it still has crisp edges and looks brand new today tbh the skin is still bumped up over where the ink is which im told usually fades away soon after healing.
Danii Palmer 8 years ago
Load of rubbish I've got tattoos that I've had for years and they are fine. These are either touch ups or the same tattoo with a filter on. Society trying to scare people out of being individuals. BS
borklaser 8 years ago
some of these do look dreadful, but its actually expected that you will need to get your tattoos touched up at some point. also, all the reasons everyone else has mentioned. I have a tattoo that is less than a year old, and I also have eczema, and it can look drastically different day to day depending on moisturizing and how dry my skin has been.
Jenice Grimes 8 years ago
I am covered my oldest I got when I was 18, 20 years later still look amazing I do have one tattoo that has blown out or faded. Do ya know why? I fist found a real good tattoos artist, second I use lots of cream and sunblock when out in the sun? I also cover my tattoos as much as I can in terms summer with a light thin long sleeve. Also for the color ones that faded in the photos why not get a touch up?
Jenice Grimes 8 years ago
I ment I DON'T HAVE ONE TATTOO THAT IS FADED OR BLOWN OUT sorry typo
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Max Roma 8 years ago
what's the point? Every tattoo ages differently, it depends on so many factors such as skin type, aftercare during the healing and after the healing, different types of ink, different skills of the tattoo artists and so on. With pictures out of context, you are proving nothing.
Bria Mitchell 5 years ago
tattooing has come a long way since most of these were done! 15 years healed? you gotta think about how much tech and education has evolved since then
Gregory Huston 6 years ago
Article should be renamed "Trash tattoos, done by trash artists, for trash people" haha
Sheila Rose 7 years ago
I have had some of mine for almost 20 years once lotions after my shower along with the rest of my body they look new... Maybe cheap ink
Joy Clarke 7 years ago
These are all poorly placed with horrible saturation. I have over 30 tattoos and the only one that has faded is the one on my hand that is towards my wrist. Oh but wait and it's red.....red doesn't take well to the skin (at least for me) and I use my hands all the time. Also you get what you pay for.....
Giuseppina DeFranco 7 years ago
What the hell kinda of c**p ink did your artist use? I have tats that are almost 20 yrs old, and are in a spot where they are likely to fade cause of rubbing against shoes and socks, and they still look better then what you are showing in these pictures. Obviously, the ink was s******g and the canvases never followed up with the proper aftercare and maintance.
Corey Mann 8 years ago
This is very misleading, for one some of these look like they're just pen or marker. Also, tattoos on places that are constantly being washed and skin being renewed like the hands, of course, a tattoo will wear faster on these areas. Any good tattoo artist will tell you this. I have tattoos over ten years old that still look great, it's because I researched the tattoo artist and didn't choose some dipshit apprentice who's new and doesn't know how to make his ink last. If you have a good artist and take the time to care for and let the fresh tattoo heal properly, you will have good ink that lasts a life time. Also, a lot of good tattoos artist will touch up their work, because they have a reputation and appreciate good costumers.
Adam Brannon 8 years ago
The pictures used in this article are a bit misleading. Lighting and color balance between the before and after shots can make a huge difference in the comparison. Just a photographer's observation.
Anita Morris 8 years ago
k ya all need better tattoo artists, I have a few that are all over 10 yrs old and look WAY better than some of those, (chest, ankle, hip, shoulder....)
Jeff Snow 8 years ago
People going to s**t c***s that think they can tatt and charge a discounted rate , to be cheap skates . Good tattoos aren't cheap ,and cheap tattoos ant good .......or mabe beginners.? but the healing and ageing also based alone how the owner looks after it and there skin conditions before the tattoo . I've seen fools running around the next day at the beach and festivals with fresh tattoos the day after no shirt all in the sun all in the dirt ...don't be a sheep . Don't be the fool .
Beth Carmichael-Odabashian 8 years ago
I have a tattoo I got 20 years ago. Yes it faded, but it still looks good. I just got another. You have to take really good care of them #1 while they are healing, #2 watch the sun obviously, #3 moisturize, #4 have a good tattoo shop do it. My tattoo shop will not do "watercolor" tattoos like a couple of these b/c it will fade away, and finger tattoos do not hold up.
Tammy Hall Kubitza 8 years ago
Find a better tattoo artist. I have a great tat with blues and reds it is 19 years old and still looks great!
Laura Johnston 8 years ago
If there was ever a reason not to get a tat just look through these!
Loraine Mac 8 years ago
The apparently great 'pill' to lose weight is brilliant but noticed it has been taken off the market before I could get my hands on it Grrr. I WANT it, I would welcome any infor' please !
Alice Cottle 8 years ago
I'm sorry but these are just s**t tattoos. None of mine look like that!!
Tina Estes 8 years ago
Moral of the story no matter how much you pay for a tattoo & expensive it is when you first get it, done by the greatest tattoo artist ever, after a few years its still gonna look like a $50 tattoo done by a crazy person!!!😳 yes some probably are done to close to the highest layers of skin or crappy artists, but some of those tattoos looked pretty awesome, but still faded, & people's skin holds colors differently & there's some who gets their tattoos refreshed every 5 to 10 years, either way no matter what a tattoo is gonna fade, distort & change over time as one skin changes!!
Tina Estes 8 years ago
Moral of the story no matter how much you pay for a tattoo & expensive it is when you first get it, done by the greatest tattoo artist ever, after a few years its still gonna look like a $50 tattoo done by a crazy person!!!😳
Kemal Unverdi 8 years ago
The human body metabolizes the ink. It's not natural, and the body knows it. Think about it.
Christian Dingkuhn 8 years ago
Actually, it looks like the zombie is in a better shape "after healing" *wefoundacure!*
Betina Lærke 8 years ago
Know many Wight tattoo havent fainted like that. Inkl muligt own. My dads is 19 yeah old and with som creme is as fremhæver as New. My own des the same. So have a Hard time believing this. Even look like som of the tattoos are on different People. Dont believing this
Hayley Lightcap 8 years ago
I would've liked it more if they said where the less obvious tattoos were
Jolly Ranchera 8 years ago
Question: the colorful unicorn, was that a bad job or the wow that suppose to happen? I know nothing about tattoos, by the way
Nour Cabaille 8 years ago
it has already been said, but needs to be tirelessly repeated that cheap, poorly designed, placed and made tattoos make for very ugly stuff very quickly. with the exception of a few, all the tats pictured are bad. as for black and grey, unlined and "watercolor" tats, they are notorious for being fragile and prone to premature aging, especially for those of us who roast on the beach like there's no tomorrow...
Teo Hoble 8 years ago
As opposed to the way you will look when you're seventy, saggy and wrinkly? Yeah, best not to mark my skin with ink, lest I don't get to experience the great beauty that you will be exhibiting to the world. STFU dude, everyone's ugly and icky when they're old - might as well enjoy themselves while they're still young.
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Karen Girard 8 years ago
You people apparently just have s**t artists 😂😂😂 I've had some of my tattoos for over 10 years and people still ask me if they're new 🙌🏻
Crazy Cow Lady 8 years ago
I find some of these hard to believe. I've had a tattoo for 8 years now and it looks as good as the day I got it. Even the artist was amazed by how good my color has held up. But then again everyone has different skin types and different methods for tattoo care.
Bianca Bianchini 8 years ago
but if your tat artist was surprised at how well it held up, doesn't that suggest they usually don't? Hence the above happens?
Load More Replies... Brigita Zemen 8 years ago
just pick a good artist and take care of your tattoo (like use sunscreen etc.) and you´re perfectly fine.. tattoo-590...e82e93.png
Lucky Barrett 8 years ago
Some of these tattoos were s****y to begin with and others almost looked like they were s****y copies of the original that some hack artist tried to do
Lindsey Garretson 8 years ago
These are not good tatoo artist. I have had my tatoo on my back for 15 years and still looks great, still have all color and doesnt look faded.
Annie Davis 8 years ago
I've had to retouch a couple of my tats but I have one that looks like I just got it and I got it almost 20yrs ago!!! Most of these looked like s**t tattoos to begin with and depending on what part of the body it won't stand the test of time. Research your artist and check out their portfolio before getting one and then follow the after care instructions to a tee!!! Don't forget to wear sunscreen when you go out cuz the sun will damage it too. 🐧🐧
Anny Keene 8 years ago
There seems to be a few things not being mentioned when it comes to right choice of tattoo and upkeep 1) 'watercolour' tattoos are the first to fade and need constant touch ups due to the delicate strokes of colour and the lack of outline 2) yellow, orange, red and pinks are the FIRST colours to fade because the human body naturally has a lot of these pigments therefore those patches will have a faster regeneration of cells 3) Placement is everything, if you go for a finger, foot, inside your mouth or, god-forbid, a tongue tattoo; it will fade incredibly fast due to how much contact those have with not only the outside world, but your own body! 5) skin is elastic, it stretches and grows over time along with us; so if you have a design with a lot of negative space and light shading, the negative space will consume the original design. On the other hand, if the negative space is too thin between solid block shading, the ink with naturally bleed into that negative space. think about it!
Sonja Bow 4 years ago
Sorry, replying on something you wrote 3 years ago 😂
Load More Replies... Amanda-Marie Sacco 8 years ago
I'm an apprentice at a tattoo shop and I have to say This is actually not very accurate how a tattoo holds up is dependant on where it is how you take care of it (not just as its healing) and whether or not your artist knows what they're doing. Not to mention ink has come a long way in the last ten years
Jan Baard 8 years ago
Some people here really are in denial, no matter how well you care for it, no matter how good your artist is or where you placed it your tattoo WILL fade. Unless you want to go ahead and deny basic biology. It's preposterous to say your tattoo is still as good as it was fresh, you're only fooling yourself or just think it's still the same. It's not. To the person saying her tattoo is still as good as it was 10 years ago, you're are so full of it or just plain ignorant.
Terka Červeňáková 4 years ago
Of course it will fade, no onws denying it, but not in couple of months or even years. Needing to re-touch after 10 years Is completely normal...
Load More Replies... Michael Keskinen 8 years ago
#1 damage to tattoos is sun. Ultraviolet rays breakdown ink more than anything. Sunscreen..... I have tattoos 15 years old that look new.
Terka Červeňáková 4 years ago
I know few artists who doesn't work over the summer for this very reason...
Load More Replies... Jennifer Church 8 years ago
Oh my goodness!! True some are real and have faded... But lets get real here! Some are marker! Some are drawn on... And there are at least 2 that are not even the same damn tat!
Stefania Abruzzi 8 years ago
One half are not the same person and the other half got laser treatments! -.-
Ericka Abraham 8 years ago
Things fade, bodies fall apart, we age? Why didn't someone tell me before now?!?!?!
Mae 7 years ago
People don't understand that you can get your tattoo touched up when it fades. I've got one that I've had for 10 years and just got touched up, looks as good as when I got :) Also, these people in the photos clearly didn't go to a very good artists, most of the tattooss are pretty bad to begin with. And never worn sun screen :/
Anny Keene 8 years ago
There seems to be a few things not being mentioned when it comes to right choice of tattoo and upkeep 1) 'watercolour' tattoos are the first to fade out and need constant touch ups due to the delicate strokes of colour and the lack of outline 2) yellow, orange read and brilliant pinks are the FIRST colours to fade nbecause the human body naturally has a lot of these therefore those patch will have a faster generation of cells 3) Placement is everything, if you go for a finger, foot or inside your mouth or, god-forbid, a tounge tattoo; it will fade incredibly fast due to how much contact those appendages have with not only the outside world, but your own body! 5) skin is elastic, it stretches and grows over time along with us; so if you have a design with a lot of negative space and light shading, the negative space with consume the original design. On the other hand, if the negative space is too thin between solid block shading, the ink with naturally bleed into that negative space.
Evi Gavala 8 years ago
Come on guys this is b******t,I have my tattoos many years now and they are still like new...probably your tattooer is s**t with s**t ink
Deon Olson Veith 8 years ago
Does the writer want us to believe, some of these are the same tats!?!?! Give me a break!!!
Char Wisenheimer 8 years ago
most of those are marker and one isn't even the same as the before
Shelley Clatfelter 8 years ago
"omg i got a tattoo on my finger and it faded super fast, tattoos suck" or you got a tattoo on a part of your body that you use constantly and you failed to do any upkeep bc you dont have any idea how tattoos work. also wow the yellow and white faded ...what a surprise.
Bobbie Sproesser 8 years ago
Skin does stretch and we do get older. We don't always have tight skin like we will never always have a perfect tattoo after so many years. I am still gonna get tattoos IDGAF.
Jazz Akins 8 years ago
Um ya I don't know how some of these healed their tats but clearlysomething went wrong. And you can always get your tat touched up so if you haven't and it's been some time then duh your tat is gonna look a bit faded
Mandi Paulo 8 years ago
So... Most of these were either shoddy work or on the hands/feet. Of course they look terrible later. I've had many tattoos and for quite some time. The concept, artist, and placement are key factors in any tattoo.
Ash Skye 8 years ago
If you get tattoos on your inner lip, palm or fingers of course they are going to fade fast that's just common sense! Did you really think they would last forever? Now tattoos anywhere else might require up keep from time to time. Just depends on how you take care of them.
Shana 8 years ago
My back tattoo (7years old) and leg tattoo (5y.o.) still look pretty much the same from when they were fresh. Tattoo on my foot (6y.o.) is fading a tiny bit but that's probably got to with placement and wearing socks&shoes a lot.
Shana 8 years ago
Also got a full-sleeve in progress, but that's being worked on for the past 4years so... can't really say anything about that :P
Load More Replies... Angela Jester 9 months ago
I have to wonder how bad the tattooist and inks were. I have tattoos over 20 and 30 year old tattoos that look just as good as when they were done.
Mandira Basu 10 months ago
Mine don't look faded even after 15 years! May coz they are black ink and are not cheap ink!!
Trikki Vix 10 months ago
Im shocked at these. My wrist tattoo's are at least 25yrs old and nowhere near as bad as some of these. I picked an artist whose work i'd seen , old and new.. So glad I did . Also helps if you look after them, moisturizer etc
Krizzy Macali 2 years ago
Your tattoos may fade and suffer harm to their look from sunburn and repeated exposure to UVB radiation. Because UVA rays reach deeper layers of our skin, they are equally harmful to tattoos. Long-term effects of tattoos include wrinkles, sagginess, and early aging. For this reason, rather than committing to a permanent one, I like to use the temporary ones from https://wannabeink.com/collections/under-breast.
El F 2 years ago
Most of those comments are "It's not that bad" or "I still like it". lol stop coping, all of them look like c**p, even though it's obvious that some tats were done by good artists. I actually like this post because it shows you the reality. Even good artists can't guarantee you a perfect result. We age, we lose weight we gain weight, skin loses elasticity, pigments get metabolized, etc. You go in, you decide whether you want to take the risks.
Astrid Budiman 2 years ago
No way!! I've had some of my tattoos for over 15years and they still look very good!!and also the colors still there!not faded away like from the pics!
Todd Davis 2 years ago
There are sooo many bad placements that artists and anyone who has gotten more than one tattoo would know is bad and would know that they would have to get touched up. Plus a lot of the "later" pictures look unfocused and have bad lighting like they were trying to make them look bad. Any hand and foot tattoo will have wearing. A lip tattoo needs touch up every 6 months to a year. Small lettering will always show the worst after time, that's why a lot of artists won't do it. If you don't wear sunscreen then certain colors will fade hard. And honestly a lot of these pictures just need a touch up and they will be fine. Skin wears away people. If you loose or gain weight your skin will stretch. This is tattoo 101 c**p. I hate articles like these, because the writer just throws a lot of BS together and gives no guidelines or context. This could've been a great article on tattoo upkeep, but the writer was just lazy and wanted a little click bait for people who don't know c**p about tattoos!
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Dorothy Whitaker 3 years ago
Some of them you can tell there not the same tattoo I didn't think tattoo can flip change direction or size
Sarah Wonnacott 4 years ago
I've had a single tattoo for about 4-5 years and it still looks brand new. The colour is still bright, the black is still dark and the picture still looks sharp.
Terka Červeňáková 4 years ago
Problems with these tattoos are: 1) bad placement- fingers, palms, lips, heels- tattoos here never lasts, it's lots of pain for nothing 2) bad aftercare. At least couple of these were caused by the klient, there is obvious lack of care after tattooing 3) bad artists. If the tattoo looks shady And bad when it's fresh, it's never gonna heal nicely....
Donna Cole 4 years ago
I have learned that not all tattoo ink is created equal. A cheap ink will fade and spread much fast than a bottle that is expensive, hence, you get what you pay for!
Sonja Bow 4 years ago
I did this and it is 2 years healed in the photo, on the middle of the back hence the pores.
Your article is all wrong, these are just not good tattoos. 4D9A7CBA-E...a-jpeg.jpg
Sonja Bow 4 years ago
THIS article is wrong! You have just posted work that was not done well, also Including a lot of areas of the body where it needs to be incredibly specific with depth of the ink such as (aside of fingers, palms, heels, lip) most professionals cannot get it deep enough in these areas but there are some who can because it is also based on the tattoo machines.
Yes tattoos lighten and spread over time but only a small amount.
There are a lot of terrible tattooists out there, but a lot of fantastic ones aswell. Protecting your tattoo from the sun is very important too!
Here’s one I did that is 2 years healed in the photo. Tattoo is on middle of the back hence the pores :) AE7CCD36-8...2-jpeg.jpg
Shana Rihn 5 years ago
wow, they had better cameras with real color and not blurry or over exposure before, woooow. This is so misleading.... you don't like tattoos, we get it.
Shana Rihn 5 years ago
and yeah, don't tattoo your fingers or palms. ink tends to dissapear there.
Load More Replies... Harva Rada 5 years ago
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Sarah Deller 5 years ago
In most cases these look like the ink was s**t, and the artist wasn't very experienced... Regardless, this is definitely not representative of how most tattoos last. It's misleading to title this "These 35 Pics Reveal How Tattoos Age Over Time" and then only pick tattoos that have not aged well... I have had my oldest tattoo for nine years and it still looks as beautiful as it did when it first healed.
Sadie Jackson 5 years ago
So, I just wanted to post my aging tattoos. And I don’t think they’re bad at all. Not sure if it’s because of the artists I’ve used or my skin🤷🏻♀️
Pam Tessman 5 years ago
Here is my first tat I got on my 30th birthday. My bff called me that morning and asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday and I said I want a tattoo. So every decade birthday I planned to get one. 40 was Felix the Cat, I just got two last week to catch up. My first one looks just like it did when I got it 30 years ago. I think some of these tat artists may not be the best they can be. pams-tatto...13-png.jpg
Alexa Murphy 5 years ago
Some of these aren't even the same tattoos. Lines don't magically move and colors don't change from blue to brown.
Carl Basile 6 years ago
Papillon Ink manufacturing Co has been the ink that lasts a lifetime and we have been making ink for more than 30 years seeing our colors last for 25+ years everyday! I fired the unloyal employees and took over the way we make our inks and they are not watered down! That's mostly the reason for these pics. There is a war on inks right now with everyone trying to make ink and get rich but your body is more important than a brand I hope? Papillon inks are FDA registered and sterile for the clients protection! We are the Starbrite makers not the fakers! No matter what your told! THE TRUTH IS COMING SOON!
papillonsupply.com IMG_2405-5...10d530.jpg
Dva Main 6 years ago
this is all b******t. So many of the before and after pics are NOT of the same person. Yes tattoos fade. But this is b******t because they are NOT of the same tattoos. F*****g bull.
Derral 7 years ago
Yes we agree, not all tattoo artist are as good as us! Lucky enough we also repair other people mistakes... https://www.raditattoome.net
Signe Manat Hansen 7 years ago
My god, people are irrationally angry over something that doesn't affect them at all. Faded tattoos isn't the end of the world. You just touch them up or watch them age because they represent memories. Or you cover them with something else. Certain tattoos are gonna fade faster, and people are usually aware of that.
Mia Moore 7 years ago
Tattoos are like anything else, they require maintenance. I have touch ups done on mine if and when they need it and they all still look fabulous. Think about placement, color, and size beforehand, and then research reputable talented artists and you should have no problems.
Christian Lindberg 8 years ago
My first tattoo, 32 years old, looks twice as nice as most of those damn tats. I do have a newer one that once was black roses but 30 years later looks like rotten cabbage. It depends on the artist and if they know their profession.
Jinjuta Akkharawisutcharoen 8 years ago
I have a friend who got a tattoo for many years and it is still fresh as the first day he got it. I think maybe it depends on where the tattoo shop you go. You get what you pay for.
Josh Walters 8 years ago
most tattoo artist do free touch ups. some of these are YEARS later and obviously its not going to look as it did the day you got it. thats why they do touch ups
Fiona Diles 8 years ago
People do realise that tattoos have to touched up every few years right? Skin isn't a very good canvas.
Kathy Burman 8 years ago
I have 3 tattoo's one is 6 years old, the other is 4 years old and another is 2 years old and they all still look fresh , But I used a good artist and followed the after care instructions to a T. Didn't go swimming for at least a month, limited exposure to the sun (although with my shoulder one that has been a little more challenging....still looks great) kept well moisturized while healing etc. Some of these looks poorly placed/or poorly done or both. One even looked more like magin marker than a real tattoo.
Indee Iris 8 years ago
FAKE ASSS FARRK some of these are two different tattoos ... like someone has just tried to copy the same artwork and didnt get as good a quality and some even changed spots on the body...
Ann Pickett 8 years ago
just because you lot got tattoos dont mean you look good,it means you was foolish once in your life
Limin Huang 8 years ago
People get so offended when the fact that tattoos fade gets presented. Nobody is stopping anyone from getting a tattoo and why are you guys defending it like fading doesn't occur, and like it's a legal right? 😅 It's just a series of pictures about colors that fade!
Chase Rohrback 8 years ago
It also depends on your skin and the color of the ink. Red doesn't stay for s**t in anybody so if you get red it's going to need to be touched up every so often but I have very vibrant colors from 10+ years ago that still look new today. Alot of it too has to do with peach fuzz too. If you shave the area of your tattoo it removes the blonde hairs and also can make the tattoo look newer.
Janet Hubbard 8 years ago
Bull shot it's how you look after them you can't just get a tattoo and then forget about it
Kaleigh Waldorf 8 years ago
I think the quality of the ink and tools the tattoo artist uses makes a big difference as well as their skill level. Ongoing after care, like using some sunscreen especially on your colored pieces would help too. And common sense should tell you, a tattoo placed on the feet or palm on the hand/fingers may not hold up too well and requires touch ups
Anastacia Burns 8 years ago
What the hell are these people doing to their tattoos? My oldest tattoo is 12 years old and the colors are still nice. Here's a tip though.......STAY OUT OF THE SUN! I see so many people with beautiful ink in the sun. Use at least SPF 50 and reapply reapply reapply.
Glenn Colvin 8 years ago
I got this 27 years ago. Seems to me that it's just fine. I think it's all about the quality of work. Sorry about the picture, had to take it myself. My-Tat-595...615287.jpg
Jacquie Harloff 8 years ago
Any decent tattoo artist will advice you against certain designs and placement if they know they won't last. Also, you've got to talk to them about after care. Different artists use different ink, and therefore heal differently!
Lisa Downs 8 years ago
Location, location, location... and aftercare! It's also called touch-ups people
Paige Ariana 8 years ago
Some areas fade because of the skin, especially lip, heels, and hands. Maybe you should put more thought into where you want tats or go to get touch ups
Michelle Marie 8 years ago
I agree with Karen, I have one on my wrist that was done 12yrs ago and everyone is always complementing me on it cuz it still looks good, including the color
Rusty Cooper 8 years ago
All tattoos look bold and sharp before they heal. Colour tattoos fade faster and more brasher than black and whites, also being in the sun constantly makes a huge difference. In the case of a big colour piece like the unicorn on the back, you are usually expected to go back in for touch ups to keep it bold and popping. The lights error on the finger was unfortunate, bit it didn't really look like the artist had managed to get the ink under the sub dermal layer. My tattoo is a half sleeve geometric pattern and it's held up perfectly. Just a stupid article.
Rick Hamby 8 years ago
Ok first of all ink has made fantastic strides in some of those 15 yo tattoos.....also who knows if the artist knew what he/she was doing. There are additional types of skins that hold black and grey better than color. A good tattoo artist can do better for you than some stupid click bait.
Kamile Herron 8 years ago
Okayyy... well first off some of these were due to artist error of not going deep enough or just not great in the first place. Either that, or the client didn't take good enough care of the tattoo in the healing process, which can turn a great piece of artwork done, into something that looks like s**t. Second the one with small a*s letters.... usually they don't go that small for the fact that tattoos do fade over time and skin stretches from growth or weight change. And often times tattoos will need a touch up from fading.... please remember ur skin is constantly shedding layers.... not a lot but over a few years time it might be less dark. ANOTHER THING for the tattoo on the finger.... hand tattoos are known to fade super fast for the fact it's in a place that is constantly being used and rubbing, I have one on mine. And I knew before I got it there that it would do that because my tattoo artist informed me to make sure I realized and wouldn't be unhappy later on when I needed it tou
Michael David 8 years ago
why am i not surprised that tattoos on fingers fade very fast? i was told repeatedly that palms, soles, and fingers are places that cannot hold a tattoo for long, if at all...... hell, most tattoo artist i know refuse to even do palms, fingers, ankles and soles (among other places like anywhere under the waistband of underwear)
Katherine Wagner 8 years ago
You have to use sunscreen on your tattoo or the sun will fade it. Also, colors like yellow orange and red do not hold as well so they have to be done a few times which sucks and hurts like a b***h. Touch-ups are always needed and should be done to maintain. Nothing is forever. (Except taxes. Taxes are forever and the IRS will find you. Just saying...)
Becky Bush-Boyett 8 years ago
these go to show what shoddy tattoo artists do with your money. you get what you pay for.
Kumash Patel 8 years ago
Some of this pic have been switched around to make it seem that the coloring has faded, and some others with the red glow are just the bruising that you expect for a weekish after getting a new tat. TOTAL GARBAGE
Jamie Checketts 8 years ago
Tattoos on hands, lips don't last long. Colours fade, which is why I don't have colour tattoos... and the ones that look really s**t after time, looked s**t when they were done! Get a decent tattoo artist!
Jesse Gallagher 8 years ago
Moral of the story...you get what you pay for...invest in a decent artist and the work will look good for decades. My sleeves are working on being 10 yrs old and still rocking it
Myles Fairweather Straga 8 years ago
S9me look like they had lazer removal on them or used bleaching tattoo removal cream others are common sense finger and palm and feet etc fade fast with out proper maintenance plus sometimes you need touch up or you went to a s****y artist
Amy Wise 8 years ago
I'm not a fan of tattoos; however, I quickly noticed that the after photos were either taken through a filter, in black and white, or slightly unfocused If you are going to try to make a credible argument against tattoos then it helps to be truthful.
Sammantha Perfater 8 years ago
it all matters on the location, the skin care, the artist...period. I have had a tattoo for 12 years that looks like the day I got it because I take care of my skin and I had a professional, experienced, amazing artist. I do have on on my wrist that was done by a friend and has faded because he was not professional and it's in the bend of my wrist so the ink faded, i will have it covered and redone at some point.
Crystal Keeney 8 years ago
Some of these might be real but some are not if you look closely to the last one the writing is similar but different. The curve in the D and Y is different.
Sarah Gaboury 8 years ago
I had mine for 14 years before i had it touched .. it didn't really need touched but a friend wanted to get a tattoo and didn't want to get it alone so since mine had a few lines with broken spots here and there where a pimple came up (i'm a picker other wise it would have been fine ) I had it retouched It was stone work .. so a lot of grey shading and lines with the odd little splash of color and it looked great even 14 years later even the tiny spec of blue that was in the statues eyes was still clearly visible and my tattoo is maybe 3 inches by 4 inches . My husband on the other hand Has a dragon on each arm same area .. but he has a completely different skin type then me and his have bled together really bad and we both had them done at the same studio but by different artists in different years
Ian Ross 8 years ago
A good third of these are clearly scratchers, another third are in places that don't hold worth a s**t. Saw a couple watercolor tattoos... not a single traditional tattoo to be found in this "article". Maybe let the tattooers write about tattooing?
Raluca Aston 8 years ago
This is absoloute bollocks. A tattoo staying fresh and vibrant requires so many different things it's unreal. Not only must you make sure that your artist uses good ink and they know their craft, but the placement is important. I've got a little tattoo on my ankle that has faded slightly because of footwear, etc. But the tattoos on my arms, wrist, calfs, are still fresh and some I've had for over two years. The after care is important as well, make sure you care for it like an open wound and keep it clean until healed otherwise it'll scab and fade. And if you do have a tattoo in bad placement (like a finger) or with colour, they do require touch ups. Tattoo artists will tell you this. Tattoos can be effected by natural elements and colour fades much quicker than black ink. Do your research. 😒
Ellie Kieffer 8 years ago
#32 isn't even the same tattoo. The lines are different. These people just have s**t tattoos made by s**t artists.
Prayer Partner 8 years ago
I had my eyebrows and eye liner done. Had it touched up less than a year later. Almost as expensive as the original tats. It all faded away in less than 3 years and I didn't even want to know how much it would cost to have it done again. I did this in 2006 and it was almost $l,000 way back then.
Kristina Smead 8 years ago
Wow is all i can say some s****y work of u ask me also to me some pretty painfull places to recive one just to have it fade so soon after some of them
Christopher Esler 8 years ago
Ya arm tattoos will fade upperback one face tattoos how fast depends on you. Ive had all my tats on my arms 15 plus years, but shaving my arms an lotion 4 or 5 times a day kept them looking great and they are done by a great artist.plus color will fade from sun dmg like anything you have up keep
Stephen Hammett 8 years ago
The longevity of your tattoo's depend on three main factors: 1.) Your skin; some skin hold ink well (or colors), others not so much 2.) Quality of the ink used: Use s****y ink, expect it to fade 3.) The Sun. Why the sun you ask? Constant exposure to the sun will cause your artwork to fade at an increased rate. I got my first Tattoo in 1992, and yes it has started to noticeably "bleed" since my first was an antique style script writing. But I do one very important thing.... keep out of the sun as much as humanly possible. If I am out and about, I keep them covered. My last tattoo was finished in 2002, still looks brand new.
Chris Nelson 8 years ago
Wow, way to put together an article that explains that tattoos fading depends both on quality and location. Oh wait...
Cyndy Maranda 8 years ago
It's well know that everyone holds ink in different ways, and ink doesn't hold well on hands and fingers!!!
Tony Barker 8 years ago
I'm in the number 1 spot. The first photo was taken on the day it was done after 7 hours work on my arm so my arm was bright red as you can see. That photo was taken at the studio with a dslr camera with all the professional photographers stuff. The second photo was taken by me with my iPhone 5, so the pictures obviously lose some quality. Personally I love it and that's what matters.
Annie Rocco 8 years ago
I am definitely not a tattoo aficionado but I have one tattoo on my hip that is 15 years old and in spite of my weight gain seems to look very much the same as when it was brand new. Some of those tattoos that faded within a couple months look like they could have been henna tattoos.
Charlene Ashton 8 years ago
Also using Pure Romance body dew will help keep the the just fresh look of your tattoos. Mine is 6 years old and still looks new.
Dea-Lynn Byrd 8 years ago
Also don't most shops offer touch ups if you got the tattoo there originally. I know a few by me offer the first touch up after healing for free. Also some of these looked like sharpie tattoos, if not they had horrible artiats
Kristin Erica 8 years ago
I have tats older than ten years that have not faded like those. Just do what you want and don't worry about what it might look like. Every tattoo has a story and if it ages over time than it is just a part of your history. I hate sites like these.
Lucybaby 8 years ago
Ive had one of my tattoos for over 10 years and its still perfectly colorful like a just got it. Karen said it best I think they just had horrible artists lol, or it depends on the skin type of the person or where the tattoo goes. Your hands and things like that are more than likey always gonna fade.
Cindy Larie 8 years ago
My first tattoo was homemade with a needle and 'ink' made from soot. My second was a wreath of flowers from a tattoo shop in Louisiana. The first one is high on my left arm and the second is on my right forearm. I was 20 and 25, respectively...I'll be 50 in Sept. They both look as great today as they did when I got them. Who does them and where you get them do matter, as does how you care for them while they're healing.
Neil Pipper 8 years ago
This is total BS !!! The before and after pics of #15 aren't even the same. You can't tell me that time is gonna change the placement of strands of hair!
Rebecca Machado 8 years ago
I have 11-13 year tattoos and they still look good. If you pick bad artists then you will get s**t!
Pia Grasset 8 years ago
s****y artists, poor cared, I have all of my fingers tattoode and i was warned before that tattoos in fingers and palm always fade away. either way i had excellent care on those and they look perfect after healing
ivett cser 8 years ago
I have one medium sized piece and currently working on a second one. From my experience, my skin holds color and its on the lower arm. My artist said it will hold up with time if you care for it like anything else so its interesting these are fading the way they are. hahaha this was fun to look at.
Raphael Mangini 8 years ago
Everyone knows, don't get a tattoo where there is too much friction, like between fingers, ankles... It will fade, fast!
Angela Gonzales-Wolf 8 years ago
#8 is clearly not even the same person...some of these don't look legit to me...I have two tattoos and I love them...
Kawaii Lemon 8 years ago
I got an idea for some of these people: Get a touch up. You're welcome
Hannah Slater 8 years ago
This post is so stupid I'm sorry but anyone who's every gotten a tattoo on the fingers or palms will tell you that tattoo artists will fully disclaim that they're known to fade quickly and have a lot of fallout due to it being taught tough skin. Also tattoos take upkeep, a lot of people think you can just leave thin but they're still skin and not wearing sunscreen can be very detremental
Kirby Ruth 8 years ago
Its not really a valid argument when the 'before' one hasn't even healed yet! They should be taken 2 weeks after as that's what a fresh tattoo actually looks like
Majka Grenova 8 years ago
What are you showing here are mostly the tattoos that are placed on fingers, palms, inner lip sides, heels. Of course, the tattoos are losing their transparent colors after some times, but most of the picture here is out of the topic ... the first of all .. everyone who is about to tattoo the palms heels etc has to know that those tattoos Are needed to be reworked once in the half year or something because of special area, but it doesnt work like this for all tattoos. Second of all ... many of the tattoos that look so bad at the pictures, maybe they are not even on the same person or, the shape of them is deformed, so the person had to get really fat what has the effects to the skin , And make the tattoo look worst, shades are lost, lines are deformed. Or was made by bad tatto artist. Not all tattoos look like this after some time. And the author suppose to be ashamed of sharing this half truth info.
Boyd Babcock 8 years ago
Most of the fading is due to not using sun blocker. UV will destroy the ink.
Chrissie Cody 8 years ago
Lmao I have one from 10+ years ago still lucious and vibrant and perfect lol find the right ink!
Floyd Mabena 8 years ago
Time = Decay... Nothing lasts forever and you are going to die anyway. We buy classic cars and refurbish them, we get tattoos and re-do them as time goes by! Uhm everything gets replaced!!!
Diana CrunChewy Watson 8 years ago
It's pretty common knowledge that you need to get certain tattoos (depending on location and colors used) periodically re-inked.
Cynthia Lowe 8 years ago
I have a tattoo that is 27 years old and my most recent artist asked if i had it touched up...never! It looks bright and cheery as when i first got it....reputable artists will encourage you to get the right placement and colors that will last....
Paula Hannon 8 years ago
I have a tattoo that is ten years old and looks as fresh as the day I got it. You have to moisturise, also if you rub vaseline on it the colour stays bright.
Mandy Tanney 8 years ago
I've got tattoos that I've gotten 10 plus years ago and they look as good as the day I got them take care of them properly and they will stay nice and some half to be Gina over depending on the size and colors that have been used don't diss if you really don't know
Jeannè Garland 8 years ago
1 the way a tat is going to look is after healing not fresh before healing. 2. If it fades a ton at healing good artists you didn't be a d**k to will touch up. Additionally I have tats on my hips that got full color 20 years ago. The color is still beautiful and it still looks great.
Pete Barnes 8 years ago
You know you can have tattoos re-colored, right? I've had two re-colored, one because it was a cheap drunken long ago mistake by a c**p tattoo artist, and one because it was 20 years old. The color will fade eventually, but stuff like the watercolor fading (#9) is ridiculous. Most of your examples make me cry b******t-it is just not possible for ink to fade so much if someone is looking after it properly. Find a good shop, look at portfolios, be willing to fork out the money, and you'll be fine.
jacluckycat 8 years ago
Aftercare people! Tattoos aren't cheap; why let them wind up looking like this? Follow your artist's aftercare instructions and for god's sake don't pick at it while it's healing
ionitunes 8 years ago
Having looked at all of these "failed" tattoos, I conclude that too many people think skin will react like canvas. But skin is alive and reacts very differently. I partly blame the tattoo artists for not making the difference clear. Of course, alcohol and stupidity play their roll too. People can be a very strange species sometimes. difference.
Twysted Jinx 8 years ago
I have had one of my tatts for over 30 years, about 10 years ago I got it retouched, this is something you do when you value your art.
Becky Polohová 8 years ago
These are just some people who do not take care of their tattoos. Tattoo is said to stay forever, but you also sometimes need to repair and repaint some parts of it. If the tattoo is done propperly and the person takes a good care of it, then nothing happens to it. Also it is known that some places such as fingers, ears, boobs (due to wearing bra)... are bad for tattoos and they won't stay. Also wtf is that with that tattoo in her mouth? It had to be pretty clear it would not stay for a long time 😳😂
Kate Wakefield 8 years ago
Get yourself a decent tatt artist? Yeah I'd have hidden those last few too 😏
Jesstina Chibinski 8 years ago
No. 35 does not seem to be a tattoo, it seems to be marker pen that has been repeatedly drawn over itself again and again.
Ashley Chrysler 8 years ago
If not cared for properly or touched up tattoos fade, also depending on the placement of said tattoos will make it dependant on how long they last, like lips, fingers, and hands are usually places that a tattoo won't last as long as expected.
Alise Kalniņa 8 years ago
omg. Most of them look terrible in first place. :D and some look okay faded.
Tynisha Banks 8 years ago
This is a bunch of BS! I've had my tattoo for 5 years and it looks brand new. I had it touched up by the original artist a year after getting it because I didn't follow his after care instructions on scabbing and it lost its color just like he said it would. So the next go round I did exactly as told and I get compliments on it constantly. These people either peeled off the scabs instead of letting it slough off naturally or got in a place that skin cells are constantly shed naturally (hands, feet, mouth). You have to take care of it or it will look like c**p
Louisiana Rose 8 years ago
S**t tattooists or s**t inks! I've had some Of my tattoos for over 20 years and they still look amazing, one still glows in the dark and looks clean and colourful - you get what you pay for and the above dont look like they paid much at all.
Louisiana Rose 8 years ago
That's just s**t tattooing! Some of My tattoos are well over a decade and still look amazing - you get what you pay for and by the looks of the above you didn't or shouldn't have paid much at all. B******t article
Sarah Scripter 8 years ago
The chick with the rainbow horse, her hair is red in the first photo and a caramel/ash blonde in the second photo. Hate to point out, that takes a long time to get your hair that color from a red, and they are saying the second photo was right after it was healed? That's a lie.
Breeanna Forste 8 years ago
All tattoos fade and finger tattoos always fade faster cuz u use ur fingers a lot. But hand tattoos are just a bad idea(in my opinion)
Brandon Brooks 8 years ago
Some of these don't even look like tattoos. A lot of the writing ones just look like sharpie to me.
Make War No More 8 years ago
I think it is a tragedy that no truly Professional Tatto Artists, who are complete in awareness of all these pr I blems that read as a list of what not to do as a artist. I myself have seen work in Okinawa and mainland Japan, that have literally improved with age. A blown out tattoo is exactly what a consumer gets when they do no research. None of these artists used high grade inks for a start. The problems with unskilled artists is they are unskilled, this reality gets worse from there. Common sense.
Lisa Kelly 8 years ago
Why do people get tats without really reading info... tats generally have a 10 to 15 year life span and this changes with how you look after it.. tattoo on hands and feet NEVER work... theyll fade within a short length of time... my tattooist explained this to me but i still went ahead and now all i have is a faded shadow on my finger... doh!!! Oh.. and all these tattoo can and should be touched up over time... maintenance, maintenance and more maintenance...
Corinne LaPalme 8 years ago
All I know is that I was going to get one this summer but now I'm a little reluctant to get a few and spend my hard earn money if this will be the years ahead result. This coming from someone who knows nothing about ink or tattoos 😢😕😟
Alyssa Wedmore 8 years ago
Funny.. 32 and 35 you can clearly tell its written on with pen and sharpie..😂
Robin Halpern 8 years ago
Some of them look washed out, like the camera settings or brightness and contrast were messed with.
Tyler Gehl 8 years ago
people have to remember that tattoos will fade a lot faster in places that shed more skin, like feet, hands, mouth,, neck area. Plus some people have a problem with colour tattoos as their skin just doesn't absorb it properly.
Tiffany Fernandez 8 years ago
Ive had a tattoo thats 9 yrs old and its still looks great.. if u go to a cheap and inexperienced artist then you should expect your tatts not to hold up.... common sense
James Durie 8 years ago
Renew it from time to time, not a big deal if u got one from begining taking care of every once in a while shouldn't be a problem
Jay Gagnon 8 years ago
Why. Is every pictured filtered to look darker? Amd the palm print one looks drawn on with a pen. I got my first one over 15 years and i looks better than all these wothout ever being touched up. And all my others are good too. Yes a little faded but my photos atent filtered. Silly photoshop you thought you can fool everyone.
Valentine Donclifzy 8 years ago
Some of these images are Photoshop, compare the before and after photo check the skin is not same color, if tattoo fades, skin also fades,
Lollie Com 8 years ago
I kept my tattoo constantly, CONSTANTLY wet with bactracin until it was beyond healed for over a week. Five years later it still looks like new. A plastic surgeon was the one who told me how to treat it. He was right.
מיכל קורילוב 8 years ago
34 IS'NT EVEN THE SAME TATTOO there r some which are clearly a marker and the rest are just s**t artist/placement
Iskrena Dimitrova 8 years ago
All in all, finger and feet tattoos don't last. Oh, and if you really want to make your tatt look seriously faded, take a really crappy picture of it and put it next to the professionally made one. ;)
Simon Sørensen 8 years ago
Tattooing is a comitment, dont complain, and come get them touched up/renewed
Kaya-Aseni Clement 8 years ago
Gaaahh this annoys me sooo much... dont people understand if u get a tattoo in a high used place eg hand or fingers u have to go back once it is healed to get it done over again a couple times for it to not fall out and colour fade is completely normal espically when its red!
Ashley Walkington 8 years ago
I'm kinda confused by these because it's hard for me to see these as realistic when the skin tone is changed in most of them. Why don't the before and after skin colors match?
proofox admin 8 years ago
Maybe when you do a tatto you should consider few things. Colors like yellow green and light red will discolor. And you cant stop it. If you do a tattoo and you get fat and it ruins the tattoo its all on you. If you make a tattoo on a place where the skin is constatntly moving and recending the tattoo will fade because this action actually helps blood to decompose the ink. So before you do a tattoo you should think about all of that and choose a right design. Also bad ink will fade away so don't get "cheap" tattoos. I have tattoos for over 8 years and neither of them have changed.
Rama Llama 8 years ago
1) Don't get a tattoo in a s****y tattoo studio that uses poor inks 2) Don't get a tattoo from your friend who has just bought a tattoo gun from eBay and doesn't know how deep it's done 3) Don't get an ant sized tattoo and everything should be fine.
Ayla Fecero 8 years ago
Any tattoo on your hands, feet, or face (including your neck) will fade faster. The cell turnover here is higher than other areas of your body. Any tattoo artist worth a damn will warn you of this. A lot of these are simply bad aftercare, dry skin, or c**p artists. Sorry, artists.
Connie Wallace 8 years ago
I have a tattoo that is 11 years old and has yellow, red, and orange, as well as black. None of it has faded. These pics are bogus. It depends on where you go. You get what you pay for. My 11 year old tattoo still looks great!
Hildur Popp 8 years ago
Fingers, palms and feet people!! Don't be dumb ! Everyone knows the tattoos on these places fade within a year ! And the rest ... badly done !
Natalie Williams 8 years ago
I have various tattoos and these pictures do not tell you nothing, I have a tattoo I have gotten 16 years ago and it looks like I got it last week but I have one I got 5 years ago looks like I got it 20 years ago, it depends on quality of ink artist and location for fade and a good artist will tell you where not to get one plus it depends on the persons skin
Ryan Svoboda 8 years ago
It depends on the inks used, as well as the artist themself and your personal skin type. My father had tattoos done 6 years ago that still look fresh
Jazz Akins 8 years ago
Ya um most these people probably didn't take to much after care for their tats, or just had s****y artist with s****y ink. I've had all tats in all kinds of different situations and not a one of them healed as badly as some of these
Cheri Gibbons 8 years ago
If you get a cheap and nasty tattoo. What do you expect. Mine are still fab 20 years on!!!
Stephan Bouwman 8 years ago
It's okay if you don't like tattoos or feel like it's something people shouldn't do. But this is just a shoddy list of very dodgy posts. Soms tattoos don't even look like the same person, simply the same design done by good and then bad artists. Others seem like laser treatment. And when you want to get a tattoo, do your research. You probably call 10 contractors to get your walls painted. Then why do some people walk into random tattoo parlors to get something on their bodies permanently without doing proper research. Every artist is different. And just like with other art; there's a lot of bad ones out there. All of my tattoos have healed properly. One is one more intricate than most on this list. It still looks as it if was put on there less than a month ago, while it's been there for multiple years now. Just.. don't make these lists man. It ain't smoking.
Esther Alice Nowell 8 years ago
Most of these seem to be either placement of the tattoo, or poor quality tattooing and aftercare. Know how to care for your tattoos if you want them, and understands there is also long term Care needed, like sun protection and moisturising. Do you research! Pick a good artist to start with and then remember maintenance.
Krissey Dye 8 years ago
Also, they key isn't even the same tattoo. They are slightly different shapes at the bottom.
Krissey Dye 8 years ago
If your tattoo faded immediately after healing, YOU did something wrong. Soaked in a bathtub, went swimming, exposed it to too much sun, picked the scabs, etc. Some fading is normal and expected over the years. Colors will also appear less bright after healing is completely finished, typically a month or longer, because of your skin. Your skin heals back on top, what you're left with is the ink showing through your pigment.
Dallysgeniel Eggett 8 years ago
This is anecdotal at best. Different quality of tattoo artists, certain colors and locations fade quicker, tattoos usually need maintenance.
Maribel Rombolá 8 years ago
If you dont take care of your tattoo, of course it will look awful later....
Hanka Sovová 8 years ago
I think that most important is, how good is your tattoo artist. I've had colour tattoo for 9 years, motive has a lot of details and now it looks still good.
Wayne Bart 8 years ago
I learned so much about tattoos while doing a piece on them for a photojournalism project while at University. The permanence of a tattoo relies on a variety of factors all seen in this piece. Blacks stay, and colors fad. The white ink can disappear even before healing is complete, it's dependant on the person's skin. If the ink isn't applied well, it runs more, or runs less, fades more or fades less. Even where it's located on the body. It's really fascinating
ksc 8 years ago
umm it depends on so much from artists to ink to the skin itself, i got a supernatural symbol tattooed on my chest about the same size as the base of a pint glass(small than original image aswell) nearly 3 years ago and it still has crisp edges and looks brand new today tbh the skin is still bumped up over where the ink is which im told usually fades away soon after healing.
Danii Palmer 8 years ago
Load of rubbish I've got tattoos that I've had for years and they are fine. These are either touch ups or the same tattoo with a filter on. Society trying to scare people out of being individuals. BS
borklaser 8 years ago
some of these do look dreadful, but its actually expected that you will need to get your tattoos touched up at some point. also, all the reasons everyone else has mentioned. I have a tattoo that is less than a year old, and I also have eczema, and it can look drastically different day to day depending on moisturizing and how dry my skin has been.
Jenice Grimes 8 years ago
I am covered my oldest I got when I was 18, 20 years later still look amazing I do have one tattoo that has blown out or faded. Do ya know why? I fist found a real good tattoos artist, second I use lots of cream and sunblock when out in the sun? I also cover my tattoos as much as I can in terms summer with a light thin long sleeve. Also for the color ones that faded in the photos why not get a touch up?
Jenice Grimes 8 years ago
I ment I DON'T HAVE ONE TATTOO THAT IS FADED OR BLOWN OUT sorry typo
Load More Replies... Max Roma 8 years ago
what's the point? Every tattoo ages differently, it depends on so many factors such as skin type, aftercare during the healing and after the healing, different types of ink, different skills of the tattoo artists and so on. With pictures out of context, you are proving nothing.
Bria Mitchell 5 years ago
tattooing has come a long way since most of these were done! 15 years healed? you gotta think about how much tech and education has evolved since then
Gregory Huston 6 years ago
Article should be renamed "Trash tattoos, done by trash artists, for trash people" haha
Sheila Rose 7 years ago
I have had some of mine for almost 20 years once lotions after my shower along with the rest of my body they look new... Maybe cheap ink
Joy Clarke 7 years ago
These are all poorly placed with horrible saturation. I have over 30 tattoos and the only one that has faded is the one on my hand that is towards my wrist. Oh but wait and it's red.....red doesn't take well to the skin (at least for me) and I use my hands all the time. Also you get what you pay for.....
Giuseppina DeFranco 7 years ago
What the hell kinda of c**p ink did your artist use? I have tats that are almost 20 yrs old, and are in a spot where they are likely to fade cause of rubbing against shoes and socks, and they still look better then what you are showing in these pictures. Obviously, the ink was s******g and the canvases never followed up with the proper aftercare and maintance.
Corey Mann 8 years ago
This is very misleading, for one some of these look like they're just pen or marker. Also, tattoos on places that are constantly being washed and skin being renewed like the hands, of course, a tattoo will wear faster on these areas. Any good tattoo artist will tell you this. I have tattoos over ten years old that still look great, it's because I researched the tattoo artist and didn't choose some dipshit apprentice who's new and doesn't know how to make his ink last. If you have a good artist and take the time to care for and let the fresh tattoo heal properly, you will have good ink that lasts a life time. Also, a lot of good tattoos artist will touch up their work, because they have a reputation and appreciate good costumers.
Adam Brannon 8 years ago
The pictures used in this article are a bit misleading. Lighting and color balance between the before and after shots can make a huge difference in the comparison. Just a photographer's observation.
Anita Morris 8 years ago
k ya all need better tattoo artists, I have a few that are all over 10 yrs old and look WAY better than some of those, (chest, ankle, hip, shoulder....)
Jeff Snow 8 years ago
People going to s**t c***s that think they can tatt and charge a discounted rate , to be cheap skates . Good tattoos aren't cheap ,and cheap tattoos ant good .......or mabe beginners.? but the healing and ageing also based alone how the owner looks after it and there skin conditions before the tattoo . I've seen fools running around the next day at the beach and festivals with fresh tattoos the day after no shirt all in the sun all in the dirt ...don't be a sheep . Don't be the fool .
Beth Carmichael-Odabashian 8 years ago
I have a tattoo I got 20 years ago. Yes it faded, but it still looks good. I just got another. You have to take really good care of them #1 while they are healing, #2 watch the sun obviously, #3 moisturize, #4 have a good tattoo shop do it. My tattoo shop will not do "watercolor" tattoos like a couple of these b/c it will fade away, and finger tattoos do not hold up.
Tammy Hall Kubitza 8 years ago
Find a better tattoo artist. I have a great tat with blues and reds it is 19 years old and still looks great!
Laura Johnston 8 years ago
If there was ever a reason not to get a tat just look through these!
Loraine Mac 8 years ago
The apparently great 'pill' to lose weight is brilliant but noticed it has been taken off the market before I could get my hands on it Grrr. I WANT it, I would welcome any infor' please !
Alice Cottle 8 years ago
I'm sorry but these are just s**t tattoos. None of mine look like that!!
Tina Estes 8 years ago
Moral of the story no matter how much you pay for a tattoo & expensive it is when you first get it, done by the greatest tattoo artist ever, after a few years its still gonna look like a $50 tattoo done by a crazy person!!!😳 yes some probably are done to close to the highest layers of skin or crappy artists, but some of those tattoos looked pretty awesome, but still faded, & people's skin holds colors differently & there's some who gets their tattoos refreshed every 5 to 10 years, either way no matter what a tattoo is gonna fade, distort & change over time as one skin changes!!
Tina Estes 8 years ago
Moral of the story no matter how much you pay for a tattoo & expensive it is when you first get it, done by the greatest tattoo artist ever, after a few years its still gonna look like a $50 tattoo done by a crazy person!!!😳
Kemal Unverdi 8 years ago
The human body metabolizes the ink. It's not natural, and the body knows it. Think about it.
Christian Dingkuhn 8 years ago
Actually, it looks like the zombie is in a better shape "after healing" *wefoundacure!*
Betina Lærke 8 years ago
Know many Wight tattoo havent fainted like that. Inkl muligt own. My dads is 19 yeah old and with som creme is as fremhæver as New. My own des the same. So have a Hard time believing this. Even look like som of the tattoos are on different People. Dont believing this
Hayley Lightcap 8 years ago
I would've liked it more if they said where the less obvious tattoos were
Jolly Ranchera 8 years ago
Question: the colorful unicorn, was that a bad job or the wow that suppose to happen? I know nothing about tattoos, by the way
Nour Cabaille 8 years ago
it has already been said, but needs to be tirelessly repeated that cheap, poorly designed, placed and made tattoos make for very ugly stuff very quickly. with the exception of a few, all the tats pictured are bad. as for black and grey, unlined and "watercolor" tats, they are notorious for being fragile and prone to premature aging, especially for those of us who roast on the beach like there's no tomorrow...
Teo Hoble 8 years ago
As opposed to the way you will look when you're seventy, saggy and wrinkly? Yeah, best not to mark my skin with ink, lest I don't get to experience the great beauty that you will be exhibiting to the world. STFU dude, everyone's ugly and icky when they're old - might as well enjoy themselves while they're still young.
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