When do touchups make sense?

[donbcivil]

I'm still new to tattooing and was wondering when touchups make sense and when they'll come across as kind of a pointless perfectionism. Since tattoos are placed on skin, a surface that's very different from other surfaces on which artists draw.

What sort of percentage of tattoos people go back to have retouched. Half maybe? More? Less?

And what sort of visual issues send you back for touchups. Tattoos that ended up healing a little inconsistent in color solidity or a LOT consistent? Minor issues with lines in the tattoo?

Thanks, D

[cltattooing]

I think it depends on your level of satisfaction with the piece on a personal level and how you want your tattoos to look as they age. I think pointless perfectionism comes into play when people get a bunch of touch-ups to try and attain "the perfect tattoo," when no such thing exists.

[deadsp0t]

I had all mine touched, just minor things.. My newest, the tiger will be touched up as well.. No biggie

[Kahlan]

I think generally most people don't come back for touch-ups. The shop I work in, I don't see that very often.

Only if people clearly haven't been taking care of it. Or those assholes that are addicted to tanning................

[deadsp0t]

I think generally most people don't come back for touch-ups. The shop I work in' date=' I don't see that very often.

Only if people clearly haven't been taking care of it. Or those assholes that are addicted to tanning................[/quote']

The most touch up I've done took 10 mins.. The red in the shield in my crest wasn't as 'full' as I wanted.. Like I say nothing major, and I always wait a good while.. My artist offers a free touch up within a year so I get it.. Figure they offer so I get it :shrug:

[slayer9019]

There were a sport or two I want touched up since it is kinda noticeable in a very large area of solid black. Other than that I could care less

[Killercook76]

i say why not? Its free and healing doesn't always work out 100 percent perfect.. I used to get freaked out with imperfections but now it's not a huge deal but still..

[Colored Guy]

If I have a light spot in the black or want some white or other color freshened up, I'll do that at the end of a regular session. It only adds a 1/2 hour to the bill and all the stuff is out anyway.

Rob

[irezumi]

Any imperfection adds to its beauty.

[deadsp0t]

Any imperfection adds to its beauty.

I can side with this to some extent.

I'm the sort that doesn't mind my scars(imperfections to some) as they have a tale to tell.

[donbcivil]

Thanks, everyone.

[Guero]

This is why I have come to prefer tattoos that take multiple sessions, just because it saves from the dreaded going to the studio just for a touch up (which I don't really like). I would rather just have anything be taken care of that needs it along with something new, than just a touch up.

[David Flores]

I never go back for touch ups, unless the tattooer looks at the healed tattoo and sees something they want to touch up or it's something really obvious. Getting tattooed by the same people a lot, then tend to touch up their other work, while working on new pieces if they see something that stands out. I don't think their is anything wrong with getting a touch up, but one word of advise for others who might read this, wait till the tattoo heals completely before talking about a touch up. Nothing more annoying than someone with a three day old tattoo freaking out in the tattoo shop about something they think they see in the tattoo.

There is definitely a misconception about tattoos and touch ups, I think too many people are used to getting tattooed by people who don't know what they are doing and having to come back for touch ups, in turn their friends with no tattoos hear them talk about going to get tattoos touched up, so when they decide to start getting tattooed, they think it's part of the process.

[Delicious]

I've only ever had to get one touch up, and it was tiny. One of the letters in my banner, one of the lines fell out. So when I went and had my moon lady done, the guy who did it was asked the guy who did the moon lady tattoo to touch it up. That was it.

[Brock Varty]

Touch ups are mostly silly. That is all...

[tatB]

i say why not? Its free and healing doesn't always work out 100 percent perfect.. I used to get freaked out with imperfections but now it's not a huge deal but still..

sure touch-ups are "free" but I still tip for a touch-up sessions...

[Gnawa]

I've had 2 minor and 1 slightly-more-major touch up. The first, I noticed a tiny spot where the artist missed shading that helped create a sense of depth, which was definitely missing. He fixed it in about 3 minutes (he would not accept a tip, although I did buy his shop t-shirt design so at least he got a percentage of that). The second was a missing a tiny line that, again, took moments and was taken care of at the same time as the third, which was at the artist's request. This entailed re-shading parts of a black and grey piece that he was not satisfied with after the first session, which I completely appreciated. This time, the tip was accepted.

So, I guess what I'm saying is I approve of the touch-up if you (and/or the artist) feel the piece is missing something or is lacking in some way.

[Killercook76]

sure touch-ups are "free" but I still tip for a touch-up sessions...

Okay.. Tip for a touch up session. I usually do as well but sometimes i'll just give a bit more tip on a future session with the artist instead.

[irezumi]

Zulueta told a good friend of mine that the hardest part of doing big tribal is to get them back in for the touch ups.

[tatB]

Zulueta told a good friend of mine that the hardest part of doing big tribal is to get them back in for the touch ups.

I was just thinking that big tribal pieces might be the one thing touch ups are necessary for.

[fizz7283]

I've only done a touch up on two tattoos. One of them I went back and requested myself. I really regret doing it because it looked worse the second time around. A lot of the problem was my fault... Picking a design that had no black outline. But after the touch up the artist also told me he should have passed that tattoo off to someone else in the shop because it was too difficult for him. Well how nice of you to tell me after you get the initial money and tip for it and the tip for the touch up! That tattoo now looks like a big piece of colorful crap lol

The second touch up was on my desert scene on my arm. I went in to get the background done on it and the butterfly and ladybug added and my artist wanted to go over the little kangaroo rat again. I was perfectly happy with how it came out the first time around, but if he is not happy with how it looks then I am more than happy to let him fix it. I am basically a big walking advertisement for him so I would like to advertise as best as I can.

He wants to touch up my ocean scene as well. The bottom of my arm where it sits and rubs on the desk at work got kind of chewed up and is missing some color. I am waiting until I make an appointment to get the rest of my arm done to tie my desert and ocean scene together because I don't want to go back and just take up time from him for a touch up.

After my first experience I won't request a touch up on my own. I learned my lesson. My skin is really sensitive and I think having it worked over twice makes it harder to accept the ink. Luckily the artist I go to now managed to make my kangaroo rat look better after he added a little more color, hopefully he can do the same with my ocean scene. I would absolutely hate for my skin to reject the ink and end up looking worse. Right now it only has ink pulled out on the part by the elbow.

[deadsp0t]

Just to be clear, all the touch up work I've had done was all done at a session for a new piece. I'd agree that making an appointment just for touch up is a waste all the way around.

[Riyko]

I've gotten a touch up once and the artist did that after giving me my tattoo. My newest tattoo needs to be touched up as the ink is fading into the abyss, so i'll get that touched up when i get my new tattoo :D

[belthazor]

After the guy was done with my first tattoo, he said he didn't do any free touch up. Is this normal?

[Killercook76]

After the guy was done with my first tattoo, he said he didn't do any free touch up. Is this normal?

No that's not normal!! I've never heard of an artist charging for a touch up! Unless its more than a year or so even then I wouldnt see any of the artist that did my work charge for it!!