The Truth about Fine Line Finger & Hand Tattoos
We have all seen pictures on the internet of absolutely gorgeous fine line finger tattoos, however, what if I told you they are too good to be true? As a fine line tattoo specialist, I can guarantee you that attempting to get a fine line finger tattoo will result in the tattoo almost fading 90-100% without regular touchups on them weekly, bi-weekly or monthly depending on your skin and aftercare.
I understand, Instagram and Pinterest are full of pictures and videos of beautiful thin line finger tattoos. The problem is that all of those pictures are deceiving. They usually post fresh tattoos without revealing the healing process which is why we always want you as the client to do some research before committing to getting finger tattoos if you are not wanting to keep up with the touch ups or after care of these tattoos.
I get asked a lot about how fine line finger tattoos heal and the answer isn’t simple - sadly.
Let’s start with the basics: Fine line tattoos are expected to heal lighter. This means that they won’t heal as black nor as crisp as when they’re new. Furthermore the healed end result depends on many factors such as the artist, clients skin, clients work, clients diet, clients hydration levels and/ or any immune/skin conditions) you can expect your fine line tattoo to heal “faded”, some may heal “patchy” some may heal to nothing at all! (i.e behind ears, fingers, ankles, feet) and some may heal perfectly saturated straight away.
As fine line tattoos are expected to heal as stated above, it’s no surprise that when we then tattoo such a high traffic area as the fingers, they might need touch ups. In most cases I find that regular touch ups are usually required. HOWEVER, I have noted that people who work with jobs where they use their hands more (i.e nurses who wash + sanitize hands all the time, craftsmen who are in contact with rough materials, people with hobbies such as horseback riding etc.), they might not stay at all, compared to people who work at an office. Wearing a lot of rings can also affect how they heal.
So what do you do if your finger tattoos keep fading? You can either get them touched up regularly (it might be a bit expensive in the long run but personally I’d rather get a $30 touch up once in a while than getting thick fat tattoos and no touch ups) or you can accept that it was fun whilst they were there!
After a finger tattoo session, I always give additional advise on how to specifically take good care of your finger tattoos so they heal the best way possible 🫶🏼
Although finger and hand tattoos do not last very long, especially with fine line tattoos/ single needles. Better tattoo aftercare techniques can extend the life of a finger tattoo.
Here’s what to know:
How long do finger/hand tattoos last?
There is no definitive answer for how long a finger tattoo lasts because too many variables are at play. You’re probably thinking, “Yeah, but in general, what can I expect?”
Finger tattoos will fade faster than most other tattoos because of how rough we are on our hands. Our hands are built-in tools that we use to do almost everything. They’re constantly in motion, and they’re always exposed to the elements.
If you don’t do anything to protect your hands, your finger tattoo will fade much faster. If you take really good care of your finger tattoo, it will look a lot nicer for a lot longer but your regular touch ups are required to maintain your finger tattoos,
If you don’t mind the maintenance and have your heart set on a finger tattoo, there’s no reason you can’t keep it looking great for years to come.
How To Make Finger Tattoos Last Longer
If you really want a finger tattoo, don’t let the longevity scare you off. While it’s definitely a little more challenging to maintain a finger tattoo than maintaining a tattoo on another body part, it’s not impossible.
Consider the longevity of your design from the start and implement some aftercare techniques that you can stick with for the long haul. Such as regular schedule touch ups, aftercare and proper protection of your new hand/finger tattoos.
Talk To Your Artist About Your Design
Fine lines and tiny details don’t usually hold up well in areas of the body that flex or move a lot. Even the best tattoo artist in the world can’t prevent that from happening. It’s the nature of skin and the mechanics of the human body.
Your tattoo artist might recommend modifications to your finger tattoo design to help it hold up a little longer. You shouldn’t settle for a tattoo you don’t really like or want, but you should take your artist’s suggestions seriously. If there’s a better way to approach your design to keep it looking beautiful for longer, it’s worth considering it.
It Starts With Great Aftercare
Aftercare is the “make or break” point that determines how your finished tattoo is going to look. It’s a lot easier to take care of a tattoo on your bicep or shin because you don’t use those parts of your body to do literally everything.
Your hands play a role in virtually everything you do. You’re always moving them. They’re constantly coming into contact with stuff.
You need to wash them nearly a dozen times a day. There’s no real way to take it easy, which is why following your artist’s hand tattoo aftercare instructions is super important.
Pay close attention to the parts about washing your hands and keeping them moisturized. Finger tattoos will have a tougher time healing due to the frequent movement and usage of your hands, and staying on top of your aftercare instructions is absolutely vital for keeping the healing process on the right track.
Get Some Gloves
Your hands are always exposed to the elements. They’re also probably exposed to chemicals and harsh detergents on a regular basis. When you clean your house and wash your dishes, the ingredients in soaps and cleaning products can dry out your hands very quickly.
It’s a good idea to get a pair of clean reusable waterproof gloves you can use when you’re cleaning. If you continue to wear them even after your tattoo is healed, you can keep your tattooed skin soft and healthy.
Lotions and creams- Sun exposure
People are most likely to notice that they need hand cream in the winter when they feel how dry and chapped their hands get from the cold air. Your hands are exposed to the elements all the time.
They’re affected by everything you touch. Washing your hands is very important, but soap strips your skin of its natural oils. You’re always in a little bit of a moisture deficit.
Consider carrying around some hand cream after you get your finger tattoo. Remember to apply it a few times daily to restore your skin’s moisture barrier. Choose a formula that feels good on your skin.
Hand creams with SPF will work double duty. They’ll moisturize your hands while protecting them from damaging UV rays.
Unscented lotions are better for your skin when your tattoo is still healing, but you can switch to scented lotions once you’re fully healed. If you really like the way your hand cream smells, you may feel more inclined to use it regularly. Pick a few fragrances you enjoy and switch them up occasionally.
Please try your best to keep finger tattoos out of the sun. Finger and hand tattoos usually get more sun exposure especially when driving, having your hands on the steering wheels.
Finger tattoos can be a little tricky to take care of, but if you really want one, they’re worth the work.
The Truth about Palm and Fingers Tattoos: Why we always advise to do research before getting them!
Fine line tattoos on the fingers are more likely to fade than other tattoos because the skin on the fingers is thin and bony, and it doesn't have much fat to support the ink. The skin around the fingers can also reject the pigment, and the constant use of the hands can cause the tattoo to fade quickly. Fine line tattoos may also fade more quickly because the ink isn't as densely packed as in thicker tattoos, making it easier for the immune system to break down.
You can expect to need touch-ups for your finger tattoo, and some say you might need them every few weeks for hand/finger tattoos to keep their longevity.
Reason 1: Fading
Ring tattoos cannot go all the way around the finger because about half way around the fingers, thumb, and balls of the hand that creates the palm, the skin regenerates almost 10X faster than the rest of the body. The skin that is on the palm and the bottom of the fingers is very temporary, so if the artist pushes the design in to light, it will fade quickly, and almost be gone in only a couple months. Because of the fading, the tattoo will require regular touch ups.
The top tattoo shows the tattoos fresh, the bottom shows healed after some time, and how they've faded. (This is even with thicker, more traditional needles, so you can only imagine with fine line tattoo needles)
Reason 2: Blowouts
The artist will push the design in too hard in order to get the design to have a longer life, it can cause what’s called a “blowout”. A blowout is when the ink disperses and spreads outside of the wanted areas and can cause what a lot of people refer to as, “foggy”, “blurry”, “smokey”, or other descriptions. The artist must hit that “sweet spot” within the palms and fingers or the tattoo will either be faded or blown out, and seeing as how every person is different, it’s difficult to find the sweet spot. This is also something that can reflect poorly on the artist and another reason artists refuse to do the hands.
This is a good example of what could happen when it comes to blowouts. See the seepage of the ink around the letters. Spreading can happen even if the tattoo is done properly but is rare, but can happen if the tattoo is applied too hard.
Reason 3: Half Tattoos
Applying tattoos to the tops of the fingers or the tops of the hands aren’t so bad but can still cause fading especially with fine line tattoo needles. The problem here is especially true on the sides. The same reason as above except the only problem is that instead of being left with an almost completely faded tattoo, or even a well done tattoo, you’re left with a little of both columns. The tattoo can stay done well above the “fade line” and everything below will disappear in what can be a few weeks. At that point the client is left with half of a tattoo.
This tattoo from BME.com shows the tattoo fresh, then 8 weeks later, and then having to be redone.
Reason 4: Popularity
Many tattoos are acquired because of the what is seen to a lot of people as “cool”, “cute”, or “admirable”. A lot of the bad tattoo ideas out there are because of celebrities. Unlike the rest of “normal” folk, they have the ability to blow way more money on tattoos. A sixty dollar tattoo to them is not the same sixty dollar tattoo to us. They have money and time to get it touched up every 3-6 months without a problem. If an artist does do finger tattoos, they generally don’t do free touch ups for fingers and palms; which means the client will have to pay to have the tattoo redone as many times as needed until that sweet spot is found, or blow out occurs.
In the first pic of Rhianna you can see her tattoo is clean and dark, and in the second photo the letters are much thicker, and darker; this is because she's had to have it touched up at least twice, maybe more times.
Source: https://www.evotat.com/blog/2018/12/31/8ue0lzw7ujz0k11jzb4tatxdavvdgg