'Does Tattoo Longevity Matter?' Will Your Tattoos Last? | Tattoo Artists React
Everybody knows tattoos last forever... except when they don't. With the advancements in various tattoo styles (micro tattoos, bright colors, fine line etc.) people aren't always expecting to have their ink looking fresh forever. Back in the day, having a tattoo fade away was an unforgivable sin, so we asked our panel of artists if things have changed in today's tattoo scene.
Welcome to Season 16 of Tattoo Artists React!
I bet you thought you were going to have to wait months and months for our next season, didn’t you? Nah, brah, we’re pumping out seasons of Tattoo Artists React faster than “Law & Order” creates spinoffs. This time around we’re going to be asking our artists about the hardest spots on the body to tattoo, which styles they wish would come back into style and more. We’re also going to be showing them some of the craziest mugshots on Earth, hear their craziest client stories and so much more.
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Alisha Gory / alishagory
Anatole / anatolenyc
Anna Gabrielle / curlsjrtattoos
Anthony Christian / anthologytattoos
Bryan Guterrez / bryan.gee
Cam Pohl / campohltattoos
Crys / snayke.tattoo
Deanna Maffeo / deannamaffeo
Genesis / brujadelbloquee
Ghinkos / ghinkos
Isaac Pelayo / isaacpelayo
Jack / jack_deez
Jack Poohvis / jackpoohvis
Jake Gordon / handshakesnaketattoos
Jaz Paulino / gentle_jaz
Jimmy Inks / jimmyinks
Joe Smith / tat2joe777
Johnny Nobody / nobody_tattoos
Lalo Yunda / lalotattoos
Lescrow / lescrowtattoo
Mattia Bretti / mattiabretti
Melody Mitchell / melodytattoos
Michelle Santana / mnsantanatattoo
Nora / nora_ink
Oba Jackson / omoori
Pon / ponnyc
Pony Lawson / ponylawson
Raphael Ortiz / raphaelortiztattoos
Ray / ink.ray
Roly T-Rex / roly_tattoos
Tiffany Perez / tiffanytattooz
If my tattoo artist said they dont care about longevity then i don’t think id want that person to tattoo me..
They usually don't tell you
Same tbh
OBVIUSLY, THEY'RE CRAZY RIGHT?
I'm not sure how I feel about the whole "it's not going to look good forever no matter what" idea. Like there's a big difference between a tattoo getting faded and wrinkled when I'm 70 and a tattoo lasting less than five years
Yeah, I agree. All of my tattoos I've gotten knowing full well that my body is going to change as I age, my skin will change as I age, so the tattoos will change as I age, just like any other physical feature (although I try to do my part by using sunblock, moisturizing and generally taking care of my tattoos). But there's a significant difference between that and my tattoo either mostly/completely fading out or looking like an indecipherable blob a couple of years after I get it. One is down to natural aging, the other is a question of craftsmanship.
So true!
Awful way to end a video. That girl lost clients for saying that stupid shit. "all of our tattos will fade in 10 years"...huh???
People act like they don’t care but ten years down the line when it looks like shit, they will. They just don’t wanna hear no
This
Hopefully in 10 years, I can afford a good cover up
@@heythere9707 but who wants to pay for a tattoo twice? They are painful and expensive. Why not just do it right the first time?
@@SwimSweetie100 it’s not paying for the same tattoo twice. It’s paying once now for a solid tattoo that may in 10-15 years need to either be covered up or more likely touched up. In the case of a cover up, it’s a new tattoo. In the case of a touch up, it’s new ink no the less. It’s maintenance, gotta maintain any investment you make. You know? Also why come on a tattoo KZheadr’s channel if you obviously don’t care for tattoos?
@@SwimSweetie100 and they’re not that painful, it literally just feels like a rubber band that was boiled is slapping against your skin for a couple of hours. Like sure, they’re painful but they’re not outrageously painful
This video made me immediately moisturize my tattoo's
I don’t understand people being okay with their tattoos looking like shit in a few years. 🤨
Fr I’m not paying for a tattoo that won’t look good forever
Agreed… or why you getting something permanent with the hope that it fades away? I don’t get it lol
They do it for the gram
I can’t imagine spending so much money on a tattoo for it to fade. If I’m going to pay good money for a tattoo, I want it to look good for a long ass time.
Tattoos lasting is part of the appeal for me but at the same time we all grow old. Even with the best artist and care we'll all (hopefully) end up wrinkly one day. So there's a certain amount I think we need to accept that they won't always look great.
"We all grow old" truth 💯 pay for good work and take care of your skin. Not much more you can do 🤷♀️
Imo there's a HUGE difference between the skin itself wrinkling making the tattoo completely different and sitting for hours only for the ink itself to fade or disappear, becoming muddy and unreadable. Now, getting ink on your hands, fingers, etc....who can expect ink to last? I guess everyone is different and should do their due diligence before getting any permanent/ semi permanent marks on their bods. 😉
That intro is pure gold. 👌🏽🌟
He was so serious too 🤣
@@Peeoffmute As he should be.
I rather it be longevity so I don’t have to go back to get it redone
Me too. Especially my sternum piece. That shit hurt.
@@arianekelly2633 Got a 1 side chest piece tdy and everything my artist went near my sternum i deadass thought I was gonna pass out from the pain
Idk why some of the artists are talking as if every single square inch of the human body will be covered in wrinkles. Like the most wrinkly parts of humans tend to be the face, neck and hands. If you have a big ass back or chest tattoo, it won't look like shit. Or even a sleeve. It'll still be legible if the artist did their job right. Just Google "elderly people with tattoos" and notice that the ones who have big pieces with enough skin breaks, strong blacks and bold colors still look awesome.
Except backs and chests also wrinkle. A 60 year olds back isn't as smooth as a 20 year olds but unless you're regularly dealing with people's skin up close and personal for decades, you won't really see just how much it can change
Elderly people with tattoos didn't get those tattoos when they were 20, you know?
@@Ana-mu1td you can tell the difference between someone who got a tattoo when they were already a senior and someone who got them 40 years ago. I was talking about the people who look like they had their tattoos done 40 years ago but are still legible, OBVIOUSLY
@@theredreine never said it would be the same. When i look at my grandparents i don't see extra wrinkly backs and chests. If you're talking about people so old they can't wipe their ass, my point isn't relevant anymore bc those people probably couldn't care less about what their tattoos look like
@@silk8488 the world is bigger than your grandparents
I don't get the lack of interest in longevity of ink. Why get a tattoo if you don't want it to be forever? I've got work that's nearly 30 years old that's certainly faded but even the fine line stuff still looks good.
Some people just don't care if they have the tattoo forever. Why get it if you don't want it to be forever? Because maybe they want it now and are fine with it not being there forever? I'm not sure what is so weird about this.
@@rynthorn1551 if you want something temporary why go through the pain, healing and care required for a tattoo when they make exceptional fake tattoos. I tried one (I forget the company) for a review a while back it went on painless and easy in 3 minutes, took a day or two to fully darken and looked like a real tattoo for close to a month. I think a palm sized tree outline was $7, you could get 42 temporary tattoos for the average price of one real one. Again, paying for pain and agrivation when you don't want it to last. I know some people that date like that. . . I think that's stupid too.
@@rynthorn1551 get temporary tattoos then. why are you wasting your money
I mean, some people just want their tattoo to look a certain way NOW, and then don’t care if it looks faded 10 years later when they’re 30. If that fine line watercolor tattoo is what made them happy in their 20s then let ppl enjoy it. They paid the money to have a certain thing at a specific time in their lives, not everyone cares about what it will look in 5/10 years time. I have both fine line watercolor and bold black, and honestly I’m ok with the fine line watercolor to look like a blurred blob in 5 years, the meaning behind that tattoo is unchanged and I’ll see it age with me :)
Well I’m 40 and thinking of my first tattoos. I’ll be lucky if I’m alive in 30 years so as long as they look good for 10 and decent for 20…behind that everything about me will look trash :
I have a pastel watercolor back piece no black and I love it. The art style is exactly what I want on my body. I take care of it, no sun lol and I'll touch up maybe. As long as you're inform about your choice go for it
A tattoo is defined as a permanent mark on your body. If it has no black, it will not last, it s not permanent, so that is not a tattoo. Logic, kids.
@@laurarenzi7580 The actual definition on tattoo: Body modification made by inserting ink, dyes, and/or pigments, either indelible or temporary. The tattoo artists in this video said it: 10 years from now any tattoo will look different so what really matters is you making that body modification as you want it
How old is it now?
@@laurarenzi7580 this is true I have a pink butterfly no black outline. It’s gone and I took care of it. No sun. The blue one is almost gone but the red one is really faded. The rest of the tattoo is water color and the dark purple outline saves those colors. And I have good skin.
I m sorry but if you are ok with your tattoo fading away, you simply don t like tattoos. People who choose one needle tattoos or watercolor ones don t like how a real tattoo looks. It s body art, sure, and it s smazing to look at, but not it s not tattooing.
I’m a ginger , and I got my first tattoo at 21 in memory of my grandma . It’s not huge but it’s still clearly legible and I’m 36 now. I don’t spend time in the sun and I use lotion all the time . Plus being super pale makes them pop more . I have 19 in total , but part of those are a half sleeve so far .
Ewww orangutan
Just the pain and cost alone makes me want my tattoos to last as long as possible looking as good as possible. I don’t understand the ‘I don’t care how it looks’ down the road attitude.
and time to get it done etc sitting down or laying down for like 6 hr s .
I am now 62 and have been getting tats for 45yrs all over the world..I have a collection of 54 and the 1st one I ever hade done although it faded means as much to me as the last and I would never have any of them touched up its my history and memories and there fukin cool.
Maybe it’s just me, but I do not leave the house without moisturizing all my ink and avoiding the sun at all costs, because I want to keep my tattoos perfect 🤘🏻
I totally respect artist who are honest and tell the client their idea is cool but won’t last well. Or in the wrong spot on the body.
When I am still getting tattooed at 90 I might not mind if it's only going to hold 5 years. For now I want it to be recognisable for at least 30.
Lalo's house analogy was spot on. Love him
Pony is always so well spoken! 👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you for putting up an artist’s work when it’s mentioned!
I've been told by the 10 or so artists who have tattooed me that my skin takes ink great and I heal amazingly well so If my tattoos fade it upsets me the whole point is for it to be permanent.. longevity is key!
"A tattoo, over time, will just get by layers vs layers of skin" That is not how skin works, sir
That intro had me cackling!
I definitely get my tattoos with the intention of them lasting and being as beautiful for as long as possible. I do the work to take care of my skin especially where I have tattoos. Exfoliate, moisturise, sun block. I've got an 11 year old tattoo that only just started to fade, and only the colour part of it.
Great closing statement!! Great topic…love these videos so much
As a person who has no tattoos, but am very interested in wanting a tattoo, i want it to stick with me for 10+ years. It might not look like day 1 fresh, but as long it can be somewhat can be seen and understood.
10+ years? May seem like a lot now but I don’t think it is. I’m 21, in 10 years I’ll be 31, with (hopefully) more than half of my life still to live! Of course my tattoos aren’t going to be perfect in 20, 30 years, but I’d like them to be readable and still nice! Maybe with a little touchup in case the color fades
10 years .. ?? Are you crazy ? A tattoo is definitely supposed to last much longer than 10 years
My tattoos even after 20 + years are still as vibrant as when I got them . The only ones that have faded is my full back. But they are still great and can still be seen as what they should be. I moisturise my tattoos constantly.
I have 2 tattoos by Cam and they both look as amazing as they did when he first did them! One of which is on my hand. He’s amazing!
This is the video i needed, im good with photos and posters.
Hell yeah, I wanted them to last...and 20+ years later most still look good (at least I think so). The few with colors have faded or washed out all together but the black and grays and the line work still looks ok to me. I've seen some older black and grays that haven't held up at all but for the most part, I still get "I like your tattoos" from several younger people.
I got my 1st tattoo in 1992 almost 30 years now, it's an Aztec design I found to represent the band I was in at the time (it was our logo on posters and t-shirts, too!) The color palette is black and green and it's held up really well, even if the artistry isn't that great, I went to one of those strip mall parlors, lol. But I absolutely love it, it's still my favorite tat, and I moisturized the shit out of it, I think that's why it's held up so well.
To me personally i would say it does matter to a certain extend, which is why i usually ask for a bit bolder outline even though i mostly have fineline tattoos. Like i don't wanna pay 500 bucks for a tattoo that'll look shitty in 5 years but i'm really sick of ppl saying "You know in 40 years time that stuff's gonna be faded and look hella bad." Well Karen, i'll be a wrinkly, old lady by that time anyways, if i even make it till that age. I think faded tattoos are gonna be the least of my problems by then. I'm gonna look at them and remember the good old times. Also to some extend it is your responisbilty to make them last. I don't go into the sun without putting sunscreen on them. If you get a well done tattoo and it looks like shit after 3 years, it's probably your fault.
Yes depending on the style tattoos will hold up better or not stay well. I've seen tattoos that are over 20 years old still look decent. I've also seen incredible restorations on older pieces that have made them look good again Montessori matters to me so i do everything I can to keep them looking sad good as they can fix add long as possible before a restoration.
Oba had me SCREAMING from the start 😂😂😂
I have this tribal tattoo for 10 years I’m trying to fade to cover it up but that shits hasn’t faded at all lol
🤣
What is the point of getting a tat, if you don’t want to last. I’m covered and I want my tattz to last forever. If I feel like they’re fading, I go and get them touched up. Longevity alwayz
The intros with all the people are my favorite part.
Ray is so chill
Anyone else here bc the comments are turned off for the video above! I was looking forward to reading the conversations
I was too, but I think we both know why they turned the comments off on that certain video.
I've seen so many prison style, India ink, scratch jobs that looked cool for like a year, but getting a good solid outline and some of the shading darkened back in did wonders for that old greenish faded tattoo
All my ink is deep dark blacks with lots of shading. I think it looks the best, and it's gonna last. Especially with the new healing techniques like the saniderm wrap
Met this girl in airport who has a wrist tattoo of in a watercolor style by one of the most famous artists in Hong Kong. Before she told me it was done by a supposedly top tier artist I could’ve sworn a friend scratched it into her. Longevity is the point of tattooing Edit: oh and the tattoo was 1-2 years old
They right tho, tattoos will get old but they should still be legible
I don't mind if a tattoo fades cause like all tattoos fade but I don't want it to look like crap when it does fade. I really love these videos cause this is the information I need for when I do finally get my tattoos.
I want my tattoos to last as long as possible but I know with my skin being the way it is it's mainly just wishful thinking even with how much I try to take care of them. I feel like since we live in a well documented time we tend to be more ok with our tattoos fading because we'll have picture of what they used to look like. My grandpa has tattoos he had done by members of an MC over 50 years ago and they still look fine even with all he's done since then. My dad had tattoos from the same MC but had them for less time and because of his work they're not even there anymore form being scratched off
I don’t really care about what they are Gonna look like when I’m old and wrinkly but yes I want my tattoos to look good and last. I take care of my ink and with a few of them, I went into it knowing they may need future touch ups.
YES! Tattoo longevity matters! I do my part, moisturizing and sunscreen. And I want my artist to apply work with the long haul in mind!
Hi, this was interesting to me as it is one of the questions I have been thinking about. I was wondering if the artists take the fading into account, as in designing a tattoo that will still look good as it fades?
I have 2 20 year old tattoos on my back. They both still look good, except the one that had color, no longer does, it faded completely. So now I stick with mostly black and grey. But 20 more years, I'll be in my 60s, so I'm just happy getting whatever I want now.
I’d love to get a tattoo done by Oba, his portfolio has some gorgeous designs
This video made me lotion up my tats
I got a big tattoo over 12 years ago. Still looks the same the day I got it. Aged perfectly.
Been tattooing goin on 15 years. Tattoos are a journey ppl make lil tweaks in there tattoos all the time, I do to.. I try for longevity but if u want a portrait on your knee cap for 3-5 years and we blast over it or touch it up later I'm down🤷🏾♂️. I have clients touchin up stuff that really doesnt need it, or gettin hella layers just to feel the needle and vent they probs and I'm happy to oblige 🙏🏾.
I love how everything that Lalo says is 100% latino 😂😂
6:40 Now I want to get a tattoo of "Are You There, God? It's me, Margaret"!
If you want them to last and look good you must use sunscreen on them daily, moisturize and exfoliate.
Getting my forearm soon. I hope it lasts. Also thinking about getting a 3/4 Sleeve. I think that might last if I do decide to get it.
“Getting a tattoo with the intention of it not staying”, worst thing I’ve ever heard. Stick to henna if you want temporary
Why, I want something that matters to me. It's really important today and maybe less in the future. That's okay
@@katerinigi getting tattoos that are applied poorly and won’t stay, is not the same thing as getting tattoos that don’t have much meaning behind them, which is what you are describing, by getting stuff that wont stay intentionally means you don’t respect the art, the commitment it takes to get tattoo’d or the history that comes with permanently marking yourself. And, you sound like an idiot paying someone to hurt you for no reason.
@@LeftThigh sorry, I didn't point out my opinion in the right way (not a native English speaker) I respect your answer and your concerns for the artist. Good point, that I didn't thought about. For myself, I want a tattoo for myself and it's just a little symbol, that means a lot to me and I don't mind it fading on my body specifically. Not the real tattoo art you talk about. Maybe that is a little strange, but that's just me
Everything changes! Our skin, our hair, our teeth, Everything! Embrace it!
That's why I went with irezumi style, the look great 40 years on lol
This video brings out my fear of how burnt I'll get in Flordia on vacation with my chest piece bc it's my favorite lol
This was a good watch. The only tattoos I would want to fade are the ones that I’m not happy with and wouldn’t want to go through the laser removal route with.
I always thought it was a a black room, not a green screen lmao
I've only known tattoos to be permanent. Everything will fade to a certain extent but damn punch it in. Thats the point of this amazing painful art.
I think there’s beauty in it. We are so worried about how the tattoo will look over time, because we have control of that in a way by deciding to get one or not. But we will also get old, and change, and may not look “good” anymore ourselves. It doesn’t make us any less deserving of adornment
"During sex or...?" Oba: I could not love you more!!!!
Also special sunscreen for tattoos specifically
I've got 20 year old ink that looks great because I take care of it. Ink is going to spread and fade a bit, but if it looks like crap after a few years, it is the wearer's fault.
I agree 100% if you look after them they will last. I have tattoos 20+years old and still look vibrant and readable.
Idk about that last girls opinion in pink. I've had few of mine for 15+ yrs and it still looks freaking great. But ive also taken care of my skin and made sure placement was everything. I havent even gotten a touch up only needa it but thats bc it has some color and the sun hits it alot. Other than that longevity is everything
This is a f*ckin good video! Thank you!
Can we get a video on the artists opinions on traditional tattoos abs patchwork sleeves?
I wana have a friendship like Oba & Anna!
Instagram tattoos, One sunburn insist gone best quote
Pony Lawson is so well spoken.
My tattoo artist I'll go in, show him what I want and he goes "well imma do this so it doesn't blend together over time" and im just yeah sure okie. I don't even fight it, he knows whats best
Tattoo longevity is sooo important to me. I'm going to have this skin forever. I want my body to look like the image I've curated forever
My opinion is that the best season to do tattoos is winter! You don't expose yourself to the sun and the beach is not an option in that season.
That's common knowledge 😵
It really does depend on the person's (the client) goals for their individual tattoo projects. I want my tattoos to last me at least ten years before they need a touch up. Depending on the visibility of the location of the tattoo, a minimum of five years will suffice. I am not expecting any tattoo of mine to last touch-up free and look perfectly pristine from youth to old age. This is why I personally don't fret about tattoo longevity. When you are a wrinkly old mess, as we will ALL become one day unless we die in our 30s and 40s, your tattoo will look like shit anyway because of the sagging, loose, wrinkly skin. Nature will adversely impact that "long-lasting" work you have any damn way. To what degree depends on you and your lifestyle, but ALL tattoos get alerted by age, weight gain, etc. You will inevitably need a touch up to restore what was lost, so why cry over my black and gray photorealism tattoos (that aren't on your body) not lasting 20 years without a touch up? I don't see the point of working myself up over this. That is why I say it depends on the client. As long as they have realistic expectations, are aware of what the sun and lack of moisturizer will do to it, are aware of what a poor diet and too much alcohol will do it, are aware of what poor aftercare will do to it and lastly, are educated on what style of tattoos go the longest without a touch up, then let that client get what they want. Let them get their finger and hand tattoos. Let them get their colored photorealism piece from Nikko Hurtado and their micro portraits from Pony Lawson. As long as the client can look back on their body art and smile, reflect back on it fondly without regrets, and overall enjoy the piece, that is all that matters. Longevity matters but it doesn't have to be a deal breaker.
Couldn't have worded it better!
The 1st guy 😂😂💀
I love that ending, i was like, well they are russian soooo........lol
I have ink that's 6 and 18 years old and if I have lotion on they still look the way they did a year after they were done. Definition neo traditional I would say within the really bold outlines. And that's with going from 250 to 185 so micro and that fine line tattoos might have some trouble in over 10 years but most people get tattoos from 18 to mid 30s to start and if like me 10 years your only 27 - 28 so skin isn't sagging or anything. It's been strange in such a short period of time watching tattoos go from kinda taboo to mainstream.
I have a tattoo that is 36 years old and it still looks really really good it’s a traditional rose English Rose and it looks great still
take care of your skin.. thats the big tip to clients..
I want to look like ed hardy when im old. 70+ covered with a ton of tats and smudged and wrinkled skin. But i still want that ink there
so I'm just curious... I think the single needle tattoos are gorgeous and I'd like one but I obviously want it to last until I'm 100... so I'm just guessing here... thicker lines or touch ups would be the way to go?
asking if tattoo langevity matters is basically irrelevant when todays sociaty has a temporary tattoo subscription box
I have a fine line tattoo, and for me I’d rather have it look the way I fell in love with it, than have something more likely to stay perfect. Not in a way that ever insults my artist or ignores their advice, and I appreciate the thought & artistry it takes to make something that will last.
I’m going for the old guy with blurry tattoos look, I’m almost there. All mine look like I got them in jail😂😂, but I didn’t. I think they look great and I get compliments all the time.
5:42 This edit man lol For real, I just saw a tiny anime tattoo on Instagram yesterday, the lines are thin and it's coloured with a crayon sketchy style. I think it's a cute and cool drawing but not a good tattoo, because I don't think it'll last long and heal good. So I commented to the post and ask "I wonder how it would last" (I'm lowkey looking forward to the artist's reply), and some punk replied to me with an aggressive tone like "I hate when people ask these shits all the time". What's wrong with having concern on longevity? Of course I want my tattoo to last long and look good. We all know tattoos will fade so we want them to be solid. That person was genuinely thinking that I'm wrong with bullshits. I'm so glad I get to see this video today. I know some people don't care as much as the old days. BOLD WILL HOLD, USE SOLID BLACK... Maybe people (both artists and clients) don't care about tattoo longevity, it makes me a little bit sad. Hey but it's fine, it's you're life, your choices, your tattoos, not my problem. So whatever. 7:06 OMG Lalo you're the man. Holy shit that Instagram post update, the artist replied to me and politely said that they're glad that I asked and they'll post healed photo later. I'm so glad that artist said these words.
I have a tattoo from 20 yrs ago that is still awesome. I have 6 and I want every single one of them to look awesome when I am 80. Why would you go through all that pain for nothing?!?
Longevity is important, but you had better be realistic and anticipate that you'll probably need to touch up your tattoo (maybe even multiple times if you have it long enough)
Boy you best RUN...she don't care what she'll look like in 20 yrs!😅😅😅
I love my tattoos and use lots of sunscreen and mosturizer. They may fade a little, but I want them to still look good in ten, twenty years.
Damn now I have to ask my artist his opinion.. thought longevity was like the number one thing to judge on a tattoo
I mean if I’m gonna spend hundreds of dollars on a tattoo and be in pain for several hours I would love for it to last, this why I go for traditional, neo traditional, blackwork and illustrative styles, especially if it’s gonna be in color I’d like to have black outlines and dark colors
I'm curious how these tattoo artists feel a out doing tattoo on people who take blood thinners. Personally I would love to get more tattoos but wonder if it will affecting healing etc.
It depends on the skin type and the artist
Well I just found out longevity is NOT pronounced the way I thought it was…
How did you think it was pronounced?
English is a cruel mess, don't blame yourself 😂
@@9melissal long-vitty
I want mine to last, so primarily get things with a bold outline. I don't take care of them. They get sun, scrapes, cuts and scratches.
I’m too young to get a tattoo yet but cuts and scars would probably ruin mine if I had one