Not happy with tattoo, what should I do?

Question

I got my first tattoo down five days ago on my left ribcage. It's an all black tattoo about an inch around bigger than a cd.

The outline turned out great but the inside -well not so much. The inside was suppose to be shaded completely black but it seems like it wasn't shaded very well. There are some parts darker than the other and the overall brightness of the black just isn't very bright. I am not very satisfied with the shading.

I am about to go back to my tattoo artist today and let him know. What do you think he will say and do for me?

I would like to get it re-shaded (ouch - I know) but I don't want to pay for something twice if you know what I mean.

What should I say to the guy?

Don't get me wrong - I love my tattoo.. I just want it to look the best it can.. the way it is suppose to look.

Answer 1

This shouldn't be a big issue. If you went to a reputable tattoo shop, they should not give you any problem.

Explain to the artist exactly what you told us. You love the outline, it looks great. You had a good experience. You'd like the inside to be shaded more and there are spots that the ink didn't take as well as others and you'd like it to look more uniform.

They should touchup the tattoo for you for free without a blink.

Just be polite about it and you should have no worries.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I can tell you now, your going to get a lot of "I told you so" type of answers like "you shouldn't get a tattoo, because they're so, like, permanent." Those immature people you find kind of annoying. As for the shading, some parts of skin doesn't hold ink very well..like bones...It's normal. Re-touching is included in the price of getting a tattoo. I can tell you, that your tattoo artist is going to say wait until it's completely healed before getting it retouched. It's probably lighter because the skin is growing over it. Just as with any wound, skin forms over it to protect the body underneath it. When it is completely healed, go back have it touched up a bit and bam! satisfaction.

Answer 3

It's too soon to tell what it's going to look like. It's not done healing yet! It will scab & itch & peel before it's done healing. The black will look like different shades of gray in some areas. Do NOT pick the scabs or you will pull the color out! Wait until it's completely healed (approximately two weeks) before judging it. Then, if you're not completely happy, your tattoo artist should touch it up for you, as long as you had it done in a reputable shop. Good luck!

Answer 4

I would wait longer then 5 days to see how the tattoo is going to look. It should be scabing up and healing at this point and it might not look like what you wanted until after it heals. The last tattoo I got had purple and black shading on it and it looked totally black when I took the bandage off and I wasnt happy with it. it didnt look like it had any purple at all. As soon as it healed the purple popped out. So its just a matter of waiting too.

I'd call the artist and ask him what his policy on touch ups is. The guy I get mine done from always allows for color touch ups after the healing is done. Sometimes with clothes and just the way your skin heals the color might get messed up, so he always does the touch ups on the color for free.

Answer 5

if you just got your tat done 5 days ago, it's probably not totally healed yet. I just had a ribcage piece done too (ouch, i know) and it took about 2 weeks for it to be totally healed, mine looked patchy and lighter in areas at first too, but now it looks absolutely great. The artist isn't going to be able to touch it up till it's healed anyway, so I'd wait it out and see if it still looks faded or anything in a couple of weeks, if so, then go in to the shop and just explain that you'd like it to look more solid and they shouldn't have any problem touching it up, they are usually really good about stuff like that.

Answer 6

Are you sure it's done healing? It takes about 2 weeks for the average tattoo to heal. Although you can probably mostly tell what the appearance is when you look at it now, you should wait until it's fully healed before you talk to the artist. That way he should be able to see exactly what he needs to do with it to acheive what you are looking for.
I don't think he will have a problem fixing it for you for free. It is his job to make sure you are satisfied with it, and any tattoo artist who takes his job seriously would do it.

Answer 7

You shouldn't have to pay twice. You should call the shop and let him know that you would like to come in to get it completed when it is healed. Keep any records of you being there (if you have them) just in case they give you trouble. They should be fine with finishing your tattoo to your liking. If it is a good shop and if they enjoy having a good reputation they will be accommodating.

Definitely remember to say what you said "Don't get me wrong - I love my tattoo.. I just want it to look the best it can.. the way it is suppose to look."

Answer 8

You're not healed yet. It will continue to change in looks - I would give it a month and then go in for touch ups. Solid black is very, very tough and generally will need touch up. You shouldn't have to pay for it going back to the same artist.
I will tell you, it will not stay that bright, bright black like when it was first done. But continue to keep lotion on it and sunscreen on it for life and that will help.

Answer 9

I would talk to the artist and they shouldn't charge you in my opinion. My artist makes the touch-up appointment for two weeks after the original tattoo. He explained that when he starts working the skin swells so that's why when the tattoo is healed it looks lighter in areas (the skin is no longer swollen). He told me he makes touch-up appointments with all of his clients and he doesn't charge for it. Good luck!

Answer 10

for the most part, artists have no problems touching up something that was their mistake. What really gets them irrated is when someone asks for a touchup and it's becuase the tattoo was taken care of poorly.