How to Deal with a Tattoo Blowout?

A beautifully etched tattoo design can add to your overall personality. However, a small mistake can make the whole design appear ugly and unappealing. There are various reasons you may have an unappealing tattoo design, and one of them is a tattoo blowout. So, if you have never heard of this term, then it’s time to learn about this term in detail. Here, we will discuss everything about tattoo blowouts, including their potential side effects and ways to prevent them. So, let’s get started with tattoo blowout meaning. Here we go…

What Is Tattoo Blowout?

A tattoo blowout is a side effect that results in a blurry and smudged tattoo design. This usually happens when your tattoo artist injects ink too deep into the skin. Injecting ink too deep into the skin causes the ink to spread out and blur the tattoo’s edges. Tattoo blowout examples include a smudged, uneven, distorted tattoo that appears very different from the original design.

Wondering what cause tattoo blowouts?

Read the upcoming section to know the causes of tattoo blowouts in detail. Here we go…

How Does Tattoo Blowout Occur?

More often than not, a tattoo blowout happens when tattoo artists inject ink too deep into the skin or when ink spreads beneath the surface of the skin. This creates a blurred or smudged appearance around the edges of the tattoo design. Aside from that, there are several other reasons that can lead to tattoo blowouts, including:

• Penetrating Needle Deep into The Skin: If the tattoo artist inserts the needle too deep into the skin, reaching the subcutaneous fat layer, a tattoo blowout occurs. Because of this, the ink spreads out, causing a “blowout” effect.
• Incorrect Needle Angle: Another reason that can cause a tattoo blowout is tattooing at the wrong angle. Doing so pushes ink sideways into unintended areas. This, again, leads to blurry or uneven tattoo design.
• Excessive Pressure: Applying excessive pressure when using the tattoo machine can also lead to a blowout effect. This is because excessive pressure forces ink to move beyond the intended area, causing a blurred effect at the edges of the design.
• Movement During Tattooing: You’ll be surprised to know that even a small shift in the angle can cause a tattoo blowout. Yes, that’s the reason your tattoo artist asks you to sit still when getting a tattoo. Sudden movement or shift may cause the needle to go deeper or at an unintended angle, which increases the chances of blowouts.
• Thin or Delicate Skin: Body parts where the skin is usually thin, such as fingers, ankle, wrist, etc., are more prone to tattoo blowouts.
• Poorly Executed Aftercare: Poor aftercare, such as applying too much pressure on the tattoo during healing, can cause the ink to spread into surrounding tissues, leading to a blowout effect.

Potential Side Effects of Tattoo Blowout

Tattoo blowouts are not harmful to your physical health. They do not cause tattoo infection or any other kind of problem. Overall, they do not impact your physical health; they lead to aesthetic and emotional concerns. Some of the potential side effects of tattoo blowouts are as follows:

• Distorted Tattoo Design: As you know, blowouts adversely affect the edges of the tattoo design, leading to a distorted tattoo pattern.
• Unappealing Tattoo Pattern: Since the ink spreads beyond the intended area in the tattoo blowout. It leads to blurred or smudged tattoo patterns, which look unappealing.
• Reduced Clarity and Detail: Blurred and smudged lines and patterns reduce clarity and detail, resulting in a messy tattoo design.
• Emotional Hurt: As said earlier, blowouts do not affect your physical health, but they impact your emotional well-being. Yes, that’s true. We all know that getting a tattoo is a painful endeavour. One has to go through a lot of pain to get the piece of their dream. Moreover, most people get tattoos that are deeply connected to them. In such a situation, an uneven or unappealing tattoo design causes emotional pain to the wearer. This leads to feelings of regret, frustration, and dissatisfaction for the person who experienced the tattoo blowout.
• Changed Tattoo Design: Tattoo blowouts impact the design so badly that they make it look very different from the original tattoo design.
• Limited Correction Options: Tattoo blowouts can be fixed, but in some cases, they cannot be fixed completely. Yes, severe blowouts are very difficult to fix. Even if there is a slight possibility, it will increase your cost significantly.
• Prolonged Healing: In some cases, blowouts can even lead to extended healing times due to excess pressure applied during tattooing.
• Increased Costs: Last but not least is the increased cost. Yes, a tattoo blowout simply increases your overall cost. This is because you will have to opt for a tattoo touch-up or go for a cover-up tattoo design to get rid of a blowout. Some people even prefer getting laser removal treatments. Whatever route you take, all of these are pretty expensive endeavours.

Let’s now take a look at tattoo blowout fixes. Here we go…

How to Fix Tattoo Blowout?

Unfortunately, tattoo blowouts are very difficult to fix. Once they occur, there’s nothing you can do to undo it. There are some ways you can correct your unappealing design to a certain extent. However, it is worth noting that you won’t be able to get the design that you chose in the first place. Some of the ways you can fix tattoo blowouts include:

1. Tattoo Touch-Up

A tattoo touch-up is one of the ways you can correct a blurry or smudged tattoo design. However, it is crucial to find a new and professional tattoo artist for a tattoo touch-up. Make sure the artist you choose is experienced in fixing tattoo blowouts. Only a professional tattoo artist would be able to help you with a nice-looking design at the end.

2. Tattoo Cover-Up

Another way you can fix an ugly-looking tattoo design is to opt for a cover-up tattoo design. A cover-up tattoo is an ideal way to fix a small-sized tattoo design. This is because with mild tattoo blowouts, you always have the chance to add elements and make it look better. But again, finding an experienced and professional tattoo artist is crucial for tattoo cover-up as well. Choose a tattoo artist who can work with the fuzzy and over-blown lines to simply clean up the ink.

NOTE: Whatever route you take, make sure to wait until your original tattoo design is fully healed. This is because correcting an unhealed tattoo design can lead to more problems, such as infection, swelling, etc. Also, opt for a large tattoo design so that covering up the original design becomes easier, and it bends well with the existing design.

Tattoo Removal Treatment

Lastly, you can opt for a tattoo removal treatment. This will allow you to completely get rid of your smudged tattoo design. Among various tattoo removal techniques, laser tattoo removal is pretty popular. You can choose to eliminate the blurred part only, as laser techniques can be used to specifically target the blown-out parts of a tattoo. After a few sessions (sessions depend on the size and degree of blowout), you will be able to have the crisp design you originally wanted.

Aside from these, some tattoo artists even opt for tattoo blowout fixes with white ink. However, it depends on the degree of the blowout, the size of the tattoo, and the colour of the tattoo ink. For instance, if you have your tiny white tattoo blown out, you can opt for this fix to get rid of the tattoo blowout.
Read the next section to learn how to prevent a tattoo blowout. Here we go…

How to Prevent Tattoo Blowout?

While tattoo blowouts cannot be prevented completely, there are ways you can minimize the blowout risks. Here are those ways; take a look…

1. Choose a Reputable Tattoo Artist:

First things first, choose an experienced and professional tattoo artist for your tattoo design. Make sure to do enough research prior to selecting your tattoo artist. By choosing an experienced tattoo artist, you automatically minimize your risk of experiencing blowouts to a great extent. Visit their site and read reviews and feedback. If possible, try connecting with their past clients for first-hand information about their experience with them. Additionally, you can ask for referrals.

2. Say No to Unexperienced Tattoo Artists:

Undoubtedly, inexperienced or unprofessional tattoo artists charge less than those who have been working in the field for years and have immense experience. But you need to understand that this small saving can lead to greater disasters. This is because tattoo blowouts happen when you get inked by an inexperienced or unprofessional tattoo artist.

3. Consider the Right Tattoo Placement:

Where you place your tattoo design matters a lot. Getting tattoos on spots with thinner skin is one of the causes of tattoo blowouts. Therefore, it is crucial to choose your tattoo placement very carefully. Avoid choosing areas susceptible to blowout, such as the finger, inside the elbow, wrist, and so on. Choose a place where there is a thicker skin.

4. Avoid Certain Tattoo Designs:

Tattoo patterns with fine details or sharp edges are more susceptible to blowouts. Therefore, it is crucial to avoid such designs if you are really worried about a tattoo blowout. If you have already chosen a design with fine details and sharp edges, then make sure to find a skilled artist and choose a place less prone to blowouts to avoid any possibility of a tattoo blowout.

5. Be Mindful of Tattoo Aftercare:

Poor aftercare is one of the reasons for tattoo blowouts. Therefore, it is crucial to follow your tattoo artist’s aftercare instructions religiously to avoid any likelihood of getting a blowout. Take good care of your tattoo during the healing process. Avoid over-moisturizing your tattoo. It can lead to ink smudging, infection, or breakouts that can cause irreversible damage to your tattoo design. Additionally, make sure to clean your tattoo twice a day and keep it moist until it’s fully healed. Also, it is vital to avoid scratching the area as it can damage your tattoo design. Experts even suggest steering clear of stretching and pulling the tattooed skin as it can promote the spreading of the ink beyond tattoo lines, resulting in the blowout effect.

The Bottom Line

So, this is all about tattoo blowouts. Hopefully, this article has been informative for you and will help you avoid tattoo blowouts. By now, you must have understood that tattoo blowouts are not desirable. They can impact your emotional well-being, especially if you’re deeply connected to the tattoo design you have chosen. You can avoid blowouts by following the ways we have mentioned above. Make sure to get your tattoo only by an experienced tattoo artist. And even if you get a blowout, be patient; let your tattoo heal first. It will allow you to figure out the right course of action: getting a cover-up tattoo or removing it all.

Happy Tattooing… 😊 😊

Let’s now take a look at some FAQs…

FAQs

1. Is tattoo blowout my fault?

Well, not necessarily if you have chosen the best artist and followed aftercare instructions carefully, then it’s not your fault at all. But suppose you choose to get your tattoo by an inexperienced tattoo artist who lacks proper tattooing skills or uses the wrong techniques, or you fail to follow aftercare instructions. In that case, it’s definitely your fault.

2. How to avoid a tattoo blowout?

The best way to avoid tattoo blowouts is to choose an experienced tattoo artist. Additionally, get your tattoo on the areas with thicker skin and be mindful of your tattoo design. That’s all!

3. Is there a specific tattoo blowout aftercare?

No, there is no specific tattoo blowout aftercare. You need to follow the same aftercare instructions that apply to a newly etched tattoo design. Make sure to let your tattoo heal completely prior to opting for any method to fix the tattoo blowout. Meanwhile, you can think of the next course of action: whether to get rid of it with a laser treatment or opt for a cover-up tattoo design.

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