New tattoo looks smudgy

[kitkatnatnat]

Had a tattoo done yesterday on my wrist. I said u wanted clean crisp lines but it looks smudgy to me (esp when you zoom in) like the ink has run? Is this normal in the healing process and will it get any better??
I love the design but I’m regretting it if it’s going to stay looking smudgy!

I'm pretty sure that's normal. Although, I am also fairly sure your tattoo should still be wrapped?

But, OP...at first glance it looks a bit like the female reproductive system (ovaries) and I wouldn't be happy with that tbh.

Thank you for your reply, it’s meant to symbolise a mother and 2 children but I can kind of see what you mean!
The guy who did it (supposedly very experienced and had good reviews) said keep it uncovered and don’t put anything on it despite what advice might be on the internet! I’m going to another tattoo place this afternoon for a second opinion on that. I’m new to this and have read loads of different advice.

It looks normal.

I have several tattoos and have never had any covered. Did they spray it afterwards with a spray plaster or anything? Sometimes they've done that with mine, other times nothing at all.

Once it scabs over and fully heels it should be a clean line. They always tend to look a bit puffy at first in my experience

Thank you I’m feeling a bit more at ease after these replies. I was even looking up laser removal earlier I just need to get used to it. I have one other tattoo on my back so it’s always covered this is my first visible tattoo.

How fresh is it? Sometimes ink on the surface bleeds into the cracks of your skin and once it’s been cleaned a few times it’ll look crisp.

Tattoos should only be covered for the way home and then kept clean and dry. You don’t need to fuck around with them despite what many people say.

@TouchOfSilverShampoo it’s only 24hours old ha ha I think I’m probably just panicking. That’s what he said to do, kept it covered then removed once home. Also I’m going on holiday in 2 weeks which stupid me didn’t even think about. It should be healed enough by then for swimming shouldn’t it? I might take some tegaderm just in case

I had a tattoo in the same place and it was like this. When I got another I showed the artist she said its potentially been too deep / blown. My 2nd tatt (different artist) is totally crisp and fine. I ended up getting the first removed as it was just too bulky for me but at the time didnt know any different.

@C080889can I ask how much it was to get removed and how successful?

I have one in the same place and like a pp have been told its too deep so has a smudged effect. It doesn't bother me enough to get it removed as the meaning it has is for greater. So much so I asked my surgeon to avoid cutting into my tattoo.

@Perpetualstateofchaos love that. This one really meant a lot to me too I think I shouldn’t lose sight of that. It’s just not quite how I envisioned so will need to get used to it

Just adding laser is VERY painful! Cost varies a lot. Black is the easiest colour to remove (i've been having 7 removed, black went i think after session 4, have left them for now due to cost and pain)
I think it looks nice OP.

It's lovely.
I knew what it was ( ovaries indeed.. it doesn't)
I don't have any. Both my daughters have a good few.
It will eventually become clean crisp lines.

Your tattoo looks fine, exactly like a brand new tattoo should. It looks really good.

'Tattoo panic' is very common. I know loads and loads of people who, after having a tattoo, look at it in the first 24 hours and think it looks wrong and hate it and think 'oh my god I made a terrible mistake'. Invariably, though, after one more day they love it. I think it's just because it's a permanent thing and you're not used to seeing it on your skin. It's a psychological thing and it will pass.

In terms of covering it, all artists (and tattooed people) have different preferred healing techniques, so the fact that he didn't suggest covering it doesn't mean he isn't a decent tattoo artist. I've got a number of tattoos and I personally wouldn't cover a tattoo of that size and style either - if it was bigger and had shading, I would cover it for 12-24 hours, but a small piece of bold line work like that doesn't need covering in my opinion.

Ultimately, a tattoo is just a scratch in your skin. If you had a big open graze (ie a tattoo with lots of colour or shading) you'd put a dressing on it. But if you just had a nasty scratch (ie a small line work tattoo) you probably wouldn't bother, right? Yours should heal really nicely.

Try and keep hold of the meaning. Once it's healed it may look different. It can be hard getting used to a new tattoo when uts in a very visible place.

Thank you everybody for taking the time to comment it’s really helped me today during my little panic! I showed my dad today and he said it was nice. I’m 45 years old and was still worried to tell my dad I had a tattoo 😂

@kitkatnatnat cost me £150 to remove. 5 sessions at £30 a go. Far more painful than getting a tattoo but as it was hard to cover unless I had a long top on, I kept looking at it and hated it more every day! I thought this was just how tattoos were. My 2nd I love and love looking at it!

@ItGhoul thank you x

I like it! Honestly, why mention ovaries when the tattoo is here now and there’s not a lot you can do about it?! 🙄