Did My Tattoo Artist Go Too Deep?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Did my artist go too deep?

Blowouts are any unfortunately common tattoo complication that occurs when the artist puts the ink too deep

. If the ink is put in too deep it will spread out throughout the layers of the skin. Blowouts are most commonly noticed immediately after a tattoo is finished, however, some take a few weeks to show up.

How do you know if a tattoo went too deep?


Ink distortion and blurring

Too shallow and ink will seep out. Too deep and the ink will disperse into surrounding areas. It's this dispersing that leads to ink looking smudged or blurry. This is also known as a blowout.

Why does my tattoo look deep?


A tattoo blowout is a symptom that results from a tattoo artist's heavy-handedness or inexperience with the needle

. This misuse of the needle causes the ink to insert deeper into the skin than it should. A tattoo blowout will cause the ink to look blurry and smudged on the surface of the skin.

Can a tattoo needle go too deep?

Can a tattoo artist press too hard?


If you press too heavily when tattooing you will deposit the ink into the subcutaneous tissue under the Dermis, the Hypodermis

. This skin layer is comprised of fat. It isn't as stable as the Dermis. What happens if you deposit here is that the ink moves about in the fatty skin layer.

Is it normal for my tattoo to look smudged under the wrap?

2Some of the ink will seep.

You'll very likely wake up in the morning and discover that the ink has seeped into the bandage — and it can be disconcerting, because it looks like your entire tattoo somehow got smudged.

Seeping is totally normal, and it actually means the tattoo is healing properly

.

Why does my new tattoo look blurry?

In rare cases, a phenomenon called

tattoo blowout

can cause a tattoo to take a blurry appearance. A blowout occurs when ink isn't inserted into the skin correctly; either it's injected at the wrong angle or the wrong depth. This causes the ink to spread further afield, making the area look blurry or smudged.

How long does it take for a tattoo to blowout?

How long it takes for a blowout to appear. You will most probably notice it immediately after

up until two days

after you got the tattoo but it really depends how deep the needle went too far and also what your skin is like underneath the dermis layer.

What happens if a tattoo needle hits a vein?

“Tattoos involve applying pressure on your skin with a needle, which

can rupture the vein, making it bleed into the surrounding tissue and cause an infection

,” she says. If you have varicose veins, Chimento goes on to explain, this could make things worse and result in veins that protrude even further.

How far should the needle be out on a tattoo gun?

Do tattoo needle hit bone?

No matter how chubby your cheeks are, the fact of the matter is that there's little fat on most of the head and face. When you have this part of your body tattooed,

the tattoo needles will inevitably hit bone at some point

.

Can tattooing too deep cause infection?

Getting a tattoo involves a mechanical needle depositing ink deep into your skin. There, it launches an immune system response. This process permanently traps ink within your skin cells.

In some people, it also causes a tattoo infection

.

What do I do if my tattoo artist messed up?

Usually, if the tattoo is small,

your tattoo artist will offer a quick fix and rework that will quickly patch up the mistake as if it was never there

. The other methods require more engagement and can include covering the tattoo up with another tattoo, and in worst case scenario a laser removal.

Why does it look like my tattoo is smearing?

Chances are, you're experiencing a

tattoo blowout

. A tattoo blowout can occur when a tattoo artist injects ink too deeply into your skin beyond the top layer and into the fat below. In this fat layer, ink moves beyond the lines of your tattoo. This creates a distorted image.

Is tattoo blowout common?


Tattoo blowouts aren't that common

, mostly because tattoo artists nowadays have to go through extensive training to get licensed. However, this is not a guarantee that you won't experience a tattoo blowout. Either way, it can easily be fixed with laser correction, or you can cover it with another tattoo.

Can you get rid of tattoo blowout?

The good news is that

blow out is treatable with Laser

. Our PicoSure® technology is the world leader in Laser Tattoo Removal, and in many cases blow out can be treated in a single session. The PicoSure® Laser works by directing waves of pressure that target the tattoo ink, and not the surrounding tissue.

Do tattoos look weird while healing?

Is that normal? A tattoo is VERY bright when it is first completed but during the healing process,

it starts to look discolored and dull

. Don't worry, when the tattoo is finished healing, the color will come back.

How do you know if your tattoo is healing wrong?

Signs of improper healing include:

Fever or chills

. If you have flu symptoms like fever and chills , it's possible that your tattoo has become infected, or that you're allergic to the ink. Instead of going back to your tattoo artist, see your doctor right away.

Is a little tattoo blowout normal?

Will blowout go away?

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.

Is it OK to tattoo over veins?

In some instances,

it is possible to tattoo over varicose veins

; however, doing so could lead to a distorted tattoo or worse: ruptured veins, spontaneous bleeding, or an infection.

Can a tattoo hit a nerve?

Hands, fingers, feet, and toes

The skin here very thin, and

it contains numerous nerve endings that can trigger pain when hit by a tattoo needle

. What's more, when nerves in your hands and feet are disturbed by a tattoo needle, they may undergo painful spasms that make the tattooing experience very unpleasant.

Can u donate blood if u have tattoo?


Most people with tattoos can donate blood, as long as they do not have risk factors that prohibit or limit blood donation

. People who get tattoos in states with regulated facilities that do not reuse ink can give blood right away.

What voltage do I set my tattoo machine?

Why is my tattoo needle getting stuck in the skin?


Running a tattoo machine too fast, rotary or coil results in skin that is beat up and undersaturated

. That snagging sensation is actually just the needles slowing down at the top of the stroke. If the stroke is too short then the needles will actually start slowing down before they retract fully in to the tube.

What voltage should a tattoo shader run at?

Generally most artists use voltages around 7v-9v for lining (8 should be a good start) and

8-10v

for shading.

What hurts worse shading or outline?

Contrary to what you might expect, many people report that

the shading hurts significantly less than the outlining of the tattoo

. If you've already made it through your line work, pat yourself on the back. You've likely conquered the most painful part already.

Why do some tattoo artists hurt more than others?

Your tattoo artist plays a role

Another factor that can influence how much pain you feel is who your tattooer is.

Some artists are more heavy-handed than others, making for a more painful experience

. If you're sensitive to pain, ask the studio for a recommendation on a “gentle” tattoo artist.

How deep does a tattoo needle go into your skin?

How long does an overworked tattoo take to heal?

New tattoos usually take

two to three weeks

to fully heal, and with good aftercare, they should heal perfectly, per Glamour Magazine.

How do you know if your skin is rejecting tattoo ink?

  1. Swelling and redness around a tattoo.
  2. Itchy rash of tiny bumps.
  3. Blisters or hives.

Why does my tattoo look indented?

What is an overworked tattoo?

Otherwise known as a tattoo blowout (via Healthline), an overworked tattoo is

what happens when a tattoo causes scarring or when the tattoo ink goes past the dermis layer and reaches the hypodermis, per Demi Ink

. An effect of this is that the tattoo begins to look blurry, per Byrdie.

What are tattoo blowouts?

Tattoo blowouts

occur when a tattoo artist presses too hard when applying ink to the skin

. The ink is sent below the top layers of skin where tattoos belong. Below the skin's surface, the ink spreads out in a layer of fat. This creates the blurring associated with a tattoo blowout.

What causes a raised tattoo?

Sometimes older, healed tattoos become raised but don't itch. A tattoo can become raised for a number of reasons. The most common factors that can cause tattoo raising are

allergies, tissue damage, certain weather conditions, poor healing and rough tattoo artist work

.

How deep does a tattoo go into the skin?

Pigments are lodged in the dermis

The tattoo needle punctures your skin around 100 times per second, with the aim of depositing the ink in a region of

1.5 to 2 millimeters below the surface of the skin

. The reason for this depth of penetration is to bypass the outer layer of the skin, or the epidermis.

Rebecca Patel
Author
Rebecca Patel
Rebecca is a beauty and style expert with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She is a licensed esthetician and has worked with top brands in the beauty industry. Rebecca is passionate about helping people feel confident and beautiful in their own skin, and she uses her expertise to create informative and helpful content that educates readers on the latest trends and techniques in the beauty world.