How To Fix Tattoo Lettering – Ultimate Pro Guide Reveled

Tattoo lettering refers to the specific style and design of lettering used in tattoos instead of usual imagery. Using images for tattoos is quite common, so going for a lettering tattoo can be a unique choice. But I must admit that when it comes to lettering tattoos, the chance of possible mistakes increases greatly. You may get mistakes like misspelled words, grammatical mistakes, issues regarding font alignment, font consistency, font size, etc.

Tattoo letterings are quite a complex type of tattoo. So there are some instances when there is no way to fix a tattoo mistake and the only thing you can do is either remove the tattoo completely or get a new one by doing a tattoo cover-up. Do not lose hope yet, as I will elaborate on a few easy fixes and other methods if you fail or do not wish to fix your tattoo lettering.

Key Takeaways

• You can fix tattoo lettering including missing letters to correct spelling and grammatical mistakes, modify the design to correct font and alignment issues, etc.
• In general, you can do tattoo cover-ups, tattoo touch-ups, and tattoo coloring to fix issues regarding tattoo lettering.
• You can remove a tattoo lettering by laser treatment, dermabrasion, or surgical excision.
• You can choose to disguise the tattoo lettering by using makeup, clothing, bandages, tattoo-covering sleeves, jewelry, etc.
• After fixing the tattoo lettering you can take care of it by washing daily, applying moisturizer, avoiding direct sunlight, etc.
• You can avoid getting bad tattoo lettering by taking the time to choose a professional tattoo artist who specializes in tattoo lettering, using stencils, choosing simple fonts, etc.

5 Issues & Fix Regarding Tattoo Lettering

Tattoo lettering can have many types of mistakes. So the fix depends on the type of mistake you have regarding your tattoo lettering.

I have mentioned a few common fixes below:

1. Fix for spacing and alignment issues

If the lettering appears uneven or misaligned, you can consult with a professional tattoo artist to explore potential options for correction. In some cases, minor adjustments can be made by adding more ink or removing small elements to balance the design. You can consider yourself lucky if the spacing and alignment issue is minor as it takes very little modification to fix it. However, extensive changes may require a cover-up or modification of the existing lettering.

2. Misspelled words or grammatical errors

Yes, misspelled words and grammatical errors can happen from even the top professional artists sometimes. Unfortunately, correcting misspelled words or grammatical errors in tattoo lettering can be challenging. Depending on the severity and location of the mistake, a skilled tattoo artist might be able to incorporate creative solutions to minimize the error, such as adding embellishments or reworking the surrounding design. If the reason behind the misspelling word is a missing letter, your tattoo artist may be able to squeeze in the missing letter without ruining the design. The fix of misspelled words or grammatical errors can depend on a few factors, which are:

It might be impossible to put the missing letter in if the space between letters is not enough. Still, it might be possible to put more letters if the letter is missing from the beginning or the end of the word. And if it has enough space to put the missing letters in, then you are in luck as it can be easily fixed. If the misspelling letter can be fixed by modification then it can easily be fixed. By modification, I meant making the letter “o” Into “a”, “i” Into “I”, “I” Into “H”, etc. If the misspelling happened because of an extra letter in the middle of the word, or there is no space whatsoever to make modifications to fix it, then you might have to go with a tattoo cover-up to fix the misspelled or grammatical error on your tattoo lettering.

3. Correcting font

I have seen font issues regarding tattoo lettering way too many times. Most of the time the clients go home satisfied with the font of their lettering tattoo, but after a few days they don’t like the font anymore. So they come back to the tattoo studio and complain their tattoo lettering font is wrong. That said, sometimes tattoo artists make mistakes too, they sometimes fail to maintain consistency of the font and make an uneven font. If you didn’t face this uneven font issue you may not understand how ridiculous the tattoo looks with an uneven font. It is hard not to laugh at such tattoos as they look like some 5-year-old wrote something on the skin.

If you can fix a font issue depends on a few factors, such as:

If you got straight forward font you are in luck, as it is pretty easy to fix. Font size is another crucial factor. If the font size is too big then it becomes a bit difficult to fix or modify the font mistake. So small to medium size font is easier to fix for most artists. If you got a font style like italic, calligraphy, banner, etc. then it becomes very difficult to fix.

4. Faded or blurred lettering

Over time, tattoo lettering may fade or blur due to factors like:

If your tattoo lettering got faded naturally over time or because of any mistake then you can fix it by a tattoo touch-up. A tattoo touch-up can make the letters of your lettering tattoo pop up and become more vibrant.

5. Correcting illegible tattoo lettering

Personally am not into illegible tattoo lettering but some people are. Such texts are super hard to read and it is difficult to read such tattoos by just taking a glance. Does not matter why you got an illegible but now that you have it, you are noticing your tattoo artist made a mistake making your illegible tattoo lettering, now how would you fix it? I hate to break it to you but it is next to impossible to fix an illegible tattoo lettering. Why so? Let me list some issues regarding such tattoos:

I have seen many illegible tattoos become more illegible by trying to fix them. So instead of trying to modify and fix the tattoo I always recommend getting rid of the tattoo and getting a new one.

4 General Fix for Tattoo Lettering

There are some general fixes that you can use regardless of the mistake type. Those are:

1. Tattoo touch-up

A tattoo touch-up can fix any sort of tattoo lettering that got faded or blurred. Does not matter what font style, size, or the amount of space you have between the letters. If your tattoo lettering got faded or blurred just go for a tattoo touch-up. Your tattoo artist will tattoo fresh ink over your existing tattoo and make it more lively.

2. Tattoo cover-up

Pretty much any type of tattoo lettering can be fixed by a tattoo cover-up. If the lettering used black ink only then it became difficult to fix it by using this method. Apart from then, a tattoo cover-up can give you a new tattoo or design by covering your faulty tattoo lettering.

3. Tattoo coloring

Tattoo coloring is a popular general fix for faulty tattoos. But it may not fix all types of faulty tattoo lettering. So make sure to consult with your tattoo artist if tattoo coloring can fix the type of tattoo lettering mistake you have.

4. Tattoo modification

Tattoo modification can be a nice way to fix any sort of tattoo even tattoo lettering. If the lettering is not too big and has enough space to add more elements to the design then tattoo modification might be able to fix your faulty lettering design. Reworking on some parts and adding more elements can do wonders for your faulty lettering tattoo, so make sure to discuss with your tattoo artist about using this method to fix your tattoo.

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3 Ways to Remove Tattoo Lettering

Even though I have listed a few fixes in the above section, still I have to admit fixing tattoo lettering can be very difficult and at times it might not be possible to fix. If you can’t fix it, what do you do? Do you have to live with that faulty tattoo? No! You can simply remove or get rid of the faulty tattoo lettering and get a new one in its place.

I have mentioned a few ways below that you can use to remove tattoo lettering:

1. Laser treatment

Laser treatment is probably the most effective way to remove tattoo lettering. And it is the most common and widely used method to remove any sort of tattoo. The method uses a laser beam that hits your tattooed area and breaks down tattoo ink pigments using heat. The white blood cells of your body get rid of the broken-down pigments. As more and more pigments get broken down, your tattoo becomes faded and eventually goes away for good. So you can go for a laser treatment to remove your tattoo lettering no matter how bad the lettering mistake is. But it can be a costly method as it may take a few sessions to completely remove the tattoo and each session may cost around 300$.

2. Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is another method of removing tattoos. The method requires a rotating brush or abrasive device to rotate at high speed to remove the top layer of your skin. Do not worry as it is done by a plastic surgeon or certified dermatologist, so the process won’t cause any severe issues or remove too much of your skin. This process gradually and safely removes the tattoo ink along with the skin. It is an effective method but there is a slight chance of getting a scar. Because of that this method has become less popular nowadays.

3. Surgical Excision

For small tattoos, surgical excision may be an option. It involves surgically cutting out the tattooed skin and then stitching the surrounding skin together. It does not come with a risk, is affordable, and can remove any small tattoo. But because it is a surgical procedure, it has a slight chance to cause a scar if not done correctly. So do your research before choosing a dermatological surgeon to perform the surgery.

8 Ways to Disguise a Tattoo Lettering

If fixing or removing the tattoo is not your thing or don’t want to go through a hassle to fix it then you can easily cover up the tattoo lettering. I can understand not everyone has the financial backup or time to remove or fix a ruined tattoo. Disguising can be a temporary and easy fix for your faulty tattoo lettering. As you do not have to spend extra time or money to disguise it, and by disguising it people won’t be seeing your faulty tattoo.

I have mentioned a few ways to disguise your tattoo below:

1. Cover using clothing

You may choose clothing according to the placement of your tattoo lettering. Let me give some simple examples:

• If you have the lettering on your hand you can have long-sleeved clothes.
• If you have the lettering on your neck you can wear a turtle neck dress etc.
• You can wear full pants or a long dress to cover your leg if you have lettering on it.

Make sure to choose fabrics that are breathable and stretchable. If your clothing constricts air then it might cause sweating, dampness, and potentially damage your tattoo lettering.

2. Use makeup to disguise tattoo lettering

When you choose makeup to disguise or cover your tattoo lettering make sure the makeup has a heavy foundation. A light foundation may not be able to cover the tattoo properly. Do not forget to choose the makeup that matches your skin tone. A heavy foundation makeup that can cover your skin but does not match your skin tone is not recommended.

There is plenty of makeup that is formulated to cover tattoos specifically. Make sure to consult with your tattoo artist to get some recommendations regarding tattoo-covering makeup.

3. Jewelry or accessories

You can divert attention from the tattoo by wearing accessories like:

Such jewelry or accessories won’t fix your tattoo but they can draw attention away from your tattoo. People may not even notice the mistake on your tattoo because of the jewelry you are wearing over the tattoo. But it depends on which body part you got the tattoo on. For example, if you got a lettering tattoo on your back, you might not find any jewelry to cover it or wear over the area.

4. Tattoo covering sleeves

Have you heard of tattoo-covering sleeves? These are specially designed sleeves made of stretchable fabric that mimic the appearance of a tattoo-free arm. They can be worn to cover up tattoos on the arms and are available in various colors and patterns. Make sure to choose a tattoo-covering sleeve that matches your skin tone. If your skin tone does not match with the color of the tattoo covering sleeves then it would look obvious that you are wearing something on your arm.

5. Bandages or Band-Aids

For smaller tattoos, you can use bandages or adhesive Band-Aids to cover them. You won’t be able to use this method if your tattoo lettering is too big to cover using bandages. Make sure to choose a bandage color that matches your skin tone. The color does not have to be a 100% match, just try to pick a color that is close to your skin tone. This way the bandage won’t be easily visible to people.

6. Scarf or shawl

Scarves are always on the trend. Why not put on a scarf or shawl to cover up your lettering tattoo? Especially if it is on your neck, shoulder, or upper check area.

7. Airbrushing

Have you ever tried airbrushing? It is a way of spraying matter on a surface like a brush or airbrush. There are many makeup artists who provide airbrushing services to cover up tattoos. So you can try airbrushing to cover up your tattoo lettering and see how it goes.

8. Tattoo removal creams

We are talking about covering or concealing a faulty tattoo lettering, then why am mentioning tattoo removal creams here? Such creams cannot remove your tattoo, but they may fade your tattoo a bit. So by fading your tattoo, it can help you disguise or conceal the tattoo lettering better.

Aftercare for Tattoo Lettering After Fixing

After fixing your tattoo lettering you should take proper care of the healing tattoo or healing wound. If your tattoo got faded and you had it fixed by getting a tattoo touch-up then there is a strong chance it may get faded prematurely if you do not take proper aftercare.

So make sure to follow the below steps after fixing your tattoo lettering:

• Wash daily
  Wash the fixed or healing area twice a day using a non-abrasive soap. Make sure the soap is gentle on the skin and has no fragrance.
• Moisturize
  Moisturizing a healing tattoo or wound can fasten the healing process. Remember overly dryness can delay the healing and can cause infection or tattoo cracking. But over moisturization can dampen the skin and cause oversaturation which could fade the tattoo. So mildly moisturizing the area is crucial.
• Protect from direct sunlight
  Use clothing to cover the healing area to protect it from direct sunlight. Because direct sunlight can fade your healing tattoo. You can also wear tattoo bandages to protect the sensitive area from direct sunlight.
• Do not over wash
  Wishing is good but washing more than 2-3 times can be considered overwashing. Overwash can cause fading to your healing tattoo.
• Do not scratch or pick scabs
  Even if you did a small modification to fix your tattoo lettering, you will still get some scabs. Scabs are a natural part of the healing process. Scabs start to form after a few days of getting the tattoo and can last around 2 weeks. These scabs make the skin dry and cause itchiness. Do not scratch or pick on scabs as it can lead to fading or tattoo distortion.
• Avoid wearing tight clothing
  Tight clothing can constrict your newly fixed lettering tattoo from getting fresh air. Which can delay the healing process. So make sure to wear loose-fitted and breathable clothing while your tattoo heals.

7 Ways to Avoid Bad Tattoo Lettering

Isn’t it better to avoid making a mistake instead of fixing it later? Of course, it is! That is why you should know how to avoid getting bad tattoo lettering so that you can avoid making any mistakes when you get one. I have mentioned a few ways below for you to avoid bad tattoo lettering.

1. Choose a professional tattoo artist

Many of you spend time wondering about the design or the type of tattoo you want but spend little time when it comes to choosing a tattoo artist to perform the procedure. Instead of randomly selecting an artist you should do your research and find a reputable and skilled tattoo artist who specializes in tattoo lettering. Try to find an artist who has a portfolio that demonstrates their expertise in creating quality lettering tattoos. To take it to the next level you can look for artists with positive reviews and review usually tells a tale of how good the artist is.

2. Write down the word or sentence

As I said earlier even professional artist sometimes makes mistake while tattooing. Misspelling and grammatical mistakes can happen while tattooing lettering. So to avoid misspellings and grammatical mistakes you can write down the word or sentence you want to get as a tattoo for your tattoo artist. Your tattoo artist can take a look every few minutes to ensure he is on the right path while tattooing.

3. Use stencil

The stencils are super underrated. You can avoid misspellings, grammatical mistakes, font issues, spacing issues etch just by using a stencil. Most probably you won’t find the exact same stencil for your lettering tattoo. So make sure to make one yourself or ask your tattoo artist to make one for you.

4. Avoid novelty fonts

Tattoo lettering is difficult to read in general, but using novelty font is like going one step further to make it even more difficult to read. On top of that novelty fonts a are bit tricky to tattoo. So give your tattoo artist a break and don’t ask for a novelty font for your lettering.

5. Use straightforward font

Instead of going crazy with the font style, stay simple. You probably have heard simplicity is the best policy. It fits perfectly for tattoo lettering. Use straightforward and easy-to-read fonts which are also easy to tattoo. Fonts that are easy to tattoo has less chance of having a font style, font alignment, and font consistency issue.

6. Communication and Consultation

Make sure to clearly communicate your ideas, preferences, and expectations to the tattoo artist during the consultation process. You may not communicate much with your barber regarding what haircut you want and let the barber do his thing. Hair grows back within months but the tattoo will remain on your body for a lifetime. When it comes to tattooing you can not be shy when you discuss ideas with your tattoo artist. If it is difficult to do verbal communication then you can show your artist some reference material or examples of the style or font you desire. A good artist will listen to your input and offer suggestions based on their expertise to ensure the lettering suits your vision.

7. Test placement and size

You may test the placement and size on paper or on your skin using regular ink without tattooing. This would give you a clear idea of how the tattoo lettering would look after making it. And you can decide to make any size and placement changes if you want.

FAQs

Can I fix a tattoo lettering using white ink?

Yes, you can use white ink to lighten the area which would help you modify the design or cover up the existing tattoo.

How can I remove faulty tattoo lettering?

You can use laser treatment, dermabrasion, or surgical excision to remove your faulty tattoo lettering.

How long does it take to heal after fixing tattoo lettering?

If you do tattoo modification, cover-up, touchup, etc to fix your lettering tattoo then it can take around 2 weeks to heal the tattoo. Within two weeks the first layer or epidermis layer of your skin will heal. After that, you can go for a swim or do anything that you would do with your regular skin. But to heal the dermis or second layer of your skin it would take 3 to 6 months. But do not worry as you can carry on with your regular activity just after the epidermis layer heals which is around 2 weeks.

Final Thoughts

I get the frustration of getting a tattoo and realizing the artist made a blunder. It happens more often when getting a tattoo of lettering. The tattoo artist may make spelling or grammar mistakes which can happen if the tattoo artist loses concentration or focus. Because it is tattooing of letters so font size, font alignment, and font consistency are also crucial to maintain and many newbie artists fail to maintain these font regarding factors. Do not worry, as many issues regarding tattoo lettering can be fixed by a professional tattoo artist.

If the issue is regarding spelling or grammatical mistakes it can be fixed by including the missing letter in the design if there is enough space. Font size, alignment, and font consistency can also be fixed if the tattoo is not too big by adding more elements to the tattoo. But in some cases fixing a tattoo lettering becomes impossible. In such cases, you have to either remove the tattoo or cover it with a new tattoo. You can easily remove it by laser treatment and surgical excision or use a tattoo cover-up to cover the tattoo with another. If fixing or removing seems costly and hassle to you, then you can easily disguise the tattoo using clothing or tattoo bandages as a temporary method.

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