How do fine line tattoos age?

[jacquettalux]

I'm considering getting a fine line tattoo on my ankle. I went to speak to a tattooist today who said it was a decent and easy design, and suggested having it a little bigger than planned so that there's space between the lines.

However, I'm now having doubts as I'm worried that over time the tattoo will bleed out/feather. If this happened, the beauty of it would kind of be lost.

Does anyone have any i intricate fine line tattoos that they've had for a while. The older the better. How have they lasted?

Many artists on Instagram have a Healed selection in their stories, which can be a useful guide, though many are only a few weeks. There's a healedtattoo reddit which can also have some good images to consider.

I would think that the ankle might be another possible cause of fading if a seam or shoe or boot is often rubbing against it, as well.

My suspicion is that this particular style will not age well, but it is very hard to find pictures that are more than a couple of years old because it's quite a new style. Ink does migrate slightly over the years, so fine work tends to become gradually less crisp and clear.

I was coming here to ask this exact question!

I have a detailed, fine line tattoo done this year and would love more, but I do wonder how they'll look after 10, 20, 30 years? A lot of older tattoos in general seem to be blurring as you say, although I wonder if there's also been developments in tattooing equipment and ink, which will mean tattoos done now will age better... From what I'm seeing on social media, it feels like the majority of tattoos done these days are quite detailed fine line work.

Would love to know the answer if anyone knows?

I think most tattoos will expand slightly with age/lines will get thicker. I have one on my foot that is a single line of text, i was recommended to get it a bit bigger than i wanted as the artist said the o in one part of it might close up if i got it too small. The line has definitely got a bit thicker in the couple of year since it was done. He also said as it was on my foot it might need touched up at some point.

I have one that's 5 years old. The lines have blown out a bit and it's nowhere near as neat as it once was but I still like it as it was my first.