Permanent tattoos are supposed to last forever but in reality, the tattoo loses its vibrant color and shape over time. People call it fading of a tattoo as it fades and becomes blurry after a few years. In this fading process, an interesting thing happens, the tattoo may change color and appear green or blue. It will turn greenish over time if you use black ink for your tattoo design.
So why do tattoos turn green? You could say fading is the cause that turns tattoos green. But there are many factors affecting this color-changing process. Even though our body will break down the ink pigments over time. It doesn’t matter what ink you use and gradually fade the tattoo, still there are steps you can take to prevent it from turning green prematurely.
Key Takeaways
- It takes a few decades for tattoos to turn green because of the green pigments in black ink.
- Black ink is the only color that may change and appear green or blue.
- Where the tattoo resides, ink quality and aftercare of the tattoo affect how long it will take the tattoo to turn green.
Reason Why Tattoos Turn Green
Modern tattoo ink is very advanced, yet it still is a foreign material to our bodies. Our body will never accept and co-exist with a foreign matter such as ink. As a result, our immune system (specifically white blood cells called macrophages) keeps fighting to destroy the pigment and our body slowly absorbs the pigment substance. Because of how big the pigments are, they attack the tattoo ink very slowly. This is why the tattoo turning green takes years if not decades to actually turn green!
Black ink contains various pigments and our body cannot just destroy it overnight. It takes several decades to break these pigments. Green and blue are some of the last pigments of black color to be destroyed and absorbed. That is why your black tattoo appears to be greenish or blueish after a few decades. Just to clarify, tattoos don’t turn or change color, it just loses pigment colors and the remaining colors are visible to us and we think they changed color.
An interesting thing is that a tattoo removal laser also works in a similar way. The laser breaks the foreign pigment and your body gets rid of it.
It doesn’t matter which color ink you use for your tattoo, it will go through the natural process of being broken down and absorbed by your body. So it will fade regardless of the color of ink you use.
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Time It Takes for a Tattoo to Turn Green
As I mentioned earlier no black ink tattoo will turn green overnight. It takes many years to reach that point where the tattoo loses its original color. You can expect at least 10 years before your black tattoo starts to change its appearance. Now if you have used really cheap quality ink and didn’t use precautions or take care of your tattoo it may turn green much sooner than 10 years.
There are a few factors that may speed up or slow down the process of your tattoo turning black. Such as:
- Exposure to direct sunlight: UV rays can break down the pigment colors and make them fade quicker.
- Body reaction: Your immune system and body’s order of breaking, absorbing, and getting rid of pigment can differ.
- Quality of ink: If you use some cheap quality ink that will definitely fasten the fading process, as a result, turning your tattoo green faster. So be sure to do your research and choose high-quality modern ink.
- External damage: The tattooed area may get damaged externally by accident which may cause the tattoo to change appearance quicker.
- Placement: tattoos in certain parts of the body might change faster than usual! This is due to how many blood vessels are running through that part of the skin and the thickness of the skin itself.
Steps to Stop Your Tattoo from Turning Green
Tatts turning green or fading over time is a natural process. But you can prolong this process and in some instances stop it completely by following a few simple steps.
Steps such as:
Use quality ink
Using quality modern ink for your tattoo is one of the best things you can do to keep the tattoo vibrant for the longest period. Cheap ink tends to fade faster. In these modern times, there are tattoo inks that are made from plant-based materials! They are considered to be skin safe and have less chances of allergic reactions.
Because tattoos are something that will last a long time on your body, make sure that the tattoo artist uses reputable suppliers. You wouldn’t want the ink to fade faster and become green sooner.
Tattoo aftercare
You have to be extra careful with your new tattoo. You can shower but it is important to not shower for longer than 10 minutes. That way, you can keep the contact of water on the tattoo as minimal as possible. You will have to use lukewarm water and antibacterial soap to clean the tattoos to allow the tattoo to heal.
After 2 weeks, you can start using a fragrance-free moisturizer to help keep the tattoo from drying out. I would advise against exposing it to direct sunlight due to the ink not being totally settled in. Any disruption to the healing process would make the tattoo take longer to heal! Do not rush the healing process, let your body take the necessary time to heal the wound. Remember it is much easier to take care of a healed tattoo and the healing of the tattoo will determine how it will look for the next decade!
Use sunscreen and sunblock
An extended period of exposure to sunlight can never be good for your tattoo. The UV rays of the sun can damage and break the pigment colors over time. It will hasten the fading process and as a result, fasten the tattoo to turn green.
So make sure you use an SPF 50-rating sunscreen or sunblock before going out in the sun. Nowadays, sunscreen has moisturizing properties as well so you can get both the benefit of sunscreen and a moisturizer!
Using moisturizer
Using moisturizer on a tattoo is a great way to keep the area hydrated. Hydrated skin keeps the tattoo bright and vibrant for a longer period. During the healing period, a new tattoo is like an open wound. This open wound tends to dry up faster so make sure to use a fragrance-free moisturizer. Skin flaking and falling off could take some ink with them which will make the tattoo turn green faster.
Tattoo placement
Think about the tattoo placement. Tattoos on areas such as arms and wrists will stay exposed most of the time. A tattoo that stays exposed will fade faster than a tattoo that stays covered.
So you can get a tattoo on your chest, back, or in a place that stays covered most of the time.
Cover the tattoo
Even if the tattoo is in a place that stays exposed, try your best to cover that area of your body as much as you can when you are out in the sun.
So whenever you are out and about in the sun, try to wear clothes that hide away from the sun.
Quit smoking
If you don’t smoke that’s great. But if you are a smoker consider quitting. Smoking lowers your body’s capability to manufacture collagen.
Collagen maintains the strength and elasticity of your skin. Lower collagen can make your tattoo look dull or dead. Trust me you don’t want that look.
Stay healthy
Health is directly related to your skin’s appearance. An unhealthy and dehydrated body cannot have lively healthy skin.
The condition of your skin greatly affects the longevity of your tattoo. If you want your tattoo to stay vibrant for decades, then you have to stay healthy and hydrated.
Touch up
Last but not least is touch-up. Even if your tattoo fades or turns greenish you can do a touch-up and fix the matter.
Most tattoo artists have a limited time to get a free touch-up on their tattoo, which is anywhere from 6 months to 12 months. Be sure to get a touch-up so that you can keep your tattoo looking fresh and new!
FAQs
Are tattoos green or black?
Tattoos can be of any color. Over time it fades and the color loses its vibrant nature.
Is there black tattoo ink that doesn’t turn green?
All black tattoos will eventually turn green. But thanks to modern science there are many high-quality black inks nowadays that take a very long time to fade or turn green.
Do black tattoos stay black?
No, black tattoos like any other tattoo will fade over time. After a few decades, it may appear green.
Final Thoughts
Tattoos fading or losing the crisp over time are natural. If it’s a black color tattoo, then surely at some point it will turn greenish. But that happens many years later after getting the tattoo. Still make sure to follow the steps mentioned in this article to prolong the color-changing process and don’t hesitate to do a touch-up if you feel your tattoo is fading or turning green.
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