Ideally, after you get your tattoo done, your ink will heal well and end up looking great.

Some tattoo peeling and ink coming off your tattoo is normal. However, there are circumstances in which a tattoo won’t look so great and might even blowout.

But what is a tattoo blowout? Smudged blurry lines and ink going beyond the border of a tattoo can be a sign of tattoo blowout. This kind of tattoo damage won’t hurt you. But, blowout can make your new tattoo look terrible. 

 

Still, if you experience this kind of tattoo issue, you want to know how to fix it!

We’ll be going over everything you need to know about tattoo blowout here. So, keep reading.

What Exactly is a Tattoo Blowout? 

But what exactly is tattoo blowout? Tattoo blowout happens as a result of a bad tattooing session, generally due to the tattoo artist's inexperience with the needle - penetrating deeper layers of the skin. Tattoos with blowout look imprecise and expand beyond the initial lines of the tattoo.

You might also recognize tattoo blowout in other ways.  

Ink pockets in one area can bleed into another area of a tattoo. And, the color and consistency of the ink might look smudged and overly light in some areas. This makes for a very murky and ugly looking tattoo.  

Reasons Behind Tattoo Blowout 

One of the main causes of tattoo blowout is poor tattooing techniques.

Inexperienced tattoo artist

If your tattoo artist is inexperienced and doesn’t know how to tattoo properly this can cause a tattoo blowout. In particular, an artist who tattoos ink too deeply into the skin can cause blowouts.

Wrong technique/ pressing too hard

Some tattoo artists press too hard with their tools or angle them wrong, and the tattoo ink accidentally goes into the deeper layers of your skin. Because there is more fat in this part of the skin, the ink spreads out too much and looks more smudged.

As a result, the ink lines of a tattoo will look blurry.  

3 Ways to Fix Tattoo Blowout 

#1 Get a Professional to Correct the Tattoo

Tattoo blowout can be corrected by an artist who knows what they are doing.

You can get a coverup tattoo, or have the tattoo artist correct blurry lines and inking. This is a great and cost-effective option for tattoo blowout.

However, you want to keep a few things in mind:

• First off, make sure you are meeting with a good tattoo artist. You don’t want your tattoo to blowout even more.

• Secondly, you have to wait to get your skin inked again. Your skin is still healing from the last tattoo, and you don’t want to create further damage or issues with your tattoo. So, wait to get it covered up!

- Ensure correct tattoo aftercare routine

Make sure you follow a proper tattoo aftercare routine with reputable products specifically designed for tattoo healing.

This way, you will ensure a healthy skin, and long-lasting good-looking tattoos, instead of going through a really bad experience again.

#2 Get Laser Therapy to Fix the Tattoo

Laser therapy is a more expensive option.

However, if you don’t want to go through another tattooing session this might be the better choice for you. You can effectively get rid of most blowouts with laser treatment.

The amount of laser treatment sessions you will need to undergo will depend on the size of your tattoo.

#3 Surgically Remove the Tattoo

Finally, you can physically remove your tattoo blowout with surgery.

We wouldn’t recommend this choice unless you are really desperate to remove your tattoo. And even then, this option causes a lot of scarring.

If you have a small tattoo this might not be so bad. But with larger tattoos, the damage to your skin will be more visible.   

How to Prevent Tattoo Blowout 

Choose a Trusted Tattoo Parlor

The best way to prevent tattoo blowout is by going to a trusted tattoo studio. Professional tattoo artists will know the best way to tattoo your body and prevent blowouts.

So, you want to go with the most skilled tattooist in your area.

Get Inked in Thicker Areas

Also, talk to your tattoo artist about where the tattoo will go. Tattooing ink in thicker areas of skin can help prevent blowouts.

You don’t want a tattoo going on weak and thin parts of the skin as this makes blowout more likely!

How Long Does Tattoo Blowout Last?

Tattoo blowout usually won’t go away on its own. In some cases, if it is minor, it might disappear or fade after a year. But, most serious tattoo blowout is permanent and needs to be fixed by professionals.

You might not notice tattoo blowout right away.

Ink naturally comes off healing tattoos, and peeling skin can also camouflage blowout for a few weeks. But once the blowout disperses through your skin, you will see it clearly.

Read Also: 5 Reasons for Faded Tattoos

Is it Tattoo Blowout or is Your Tattoo Healing?

Sometimes, tattoos look messy and blurry while they are healing. You might see some ink leakage and some blurry lines while your skin is repairing itself. However, if your skin is healed and the lines of the tattoo are imprecise and smudged looking then you have a tattoo blowout.

Give your tattoo a few weeks to heal.

Moisturize and keep it clean, then see what happens.

Can Your Cover up Tattoo Blowout? 

As we mentioned before, tattoo blowout can be corrected with more inking. But, remember to meet with someone who has experience with tattoo cover-ups or corrections.

And consider the extent of the tattoo blowout.

Small tattoos vs Large Tattoos

A small tattoo with a little blowout is easier to fix than a large body piece that has a complete blowout. 

More ink will be needed to get rid of the blowout. So expect your tattoo to look darker and different! 

Summary 

Tattoo blowout is not something that anyone wants to deal with.

People getting tattoos have no control over this aspect of tattooing. However, there are some steps you can take to prevent this from happening.

Really, choosing a reputable and experienced artist will mostly help stop tattoo blowout from occurring.  

Still, if you have a tattoo blowout, we've talked about a few ways you can fix this issue. It isn’t easy to get rid of tattoo blowout, but it is possible!