What Is Tattoo Blowout, What Causes It and Can It Be Fixed?
Tyler Kolbe
What Is Tattoo Blowout?
A tattoo blowout is when ink spreads under the skin and makes your lines look blurry or smudged. It usually happens when your tattoo needle goes to deeply.
Sometimes a tattoo blowout is just a little fuzziness around a line. Other times, it's enough to mess up the whole tattoo. Here's everything you need to know about tattoo blowouts, so you can stop them from happening.
What Causes Tattoo Blowout?
A few things can cause a blowout, from tattooing too deeply to overworking tough or thin skin.
Needle Depth: Going too deep can cause ink to spread beneath the skin.
Too Much Pressure: Pushing too hard can drive your needles deeper than intended.
Needle Angle: An incorrect angle can make it harder to control where your ink goes.
Skin Condition: Thin or damaged skin may be more susceptible to blowouts.
Placement: Areas with thinner skin, such as fingers, wrists, and ankles, can make it easier to go too deep and cause a blowout.
Tattoo Blowout vs. Bruising: What's the Difference?
Just because a fresh tattoo looks a little blurry doesn't mean it's blown out. Bruising and swelling can make things look worse than they actually are as the tattoo's healing.
Blowout
- Lines look fuzzy or smudged.
- Ink may look like it's bleeding outside the lines.
- The blur usually sticks around after healing.
Bruising
- Skin looks blue, purple, or dark.
- Discoloration fades as the skin heals.
Normal healing
- Redness, swelling, and peeling.
- The tattoo may look different while it heals.
- Things generally clear up with time.
Give the tattoo time to heal before deciding you've got a blowout.
Can Tattoo Blowout Be Fixed?
You can't just wipe away a blowout, but you've got a few options once the tattoo heals.
Rework the Tattoo
Depending on the design, you might be able to work the blurry areas into the tattoo or adjust the surrounding lines and shading.
Do a Cover-Up
If the blowout is bad enough, a cover-up might be the better call. You may need to go bigger or darker to hide the ink.
Try Laser Treatment
Laser tattoo removal can sometimes fade the unwanted ink. Results vary, and it may take a few sessions.
And no, tattoo creams won't fix a blowout. Aftercare helps the skin heal. It doesn't move ink around.
How to Prevent Tattoo Blowout
Most blowouts come down to depth, pressure, and how you're working the skin.
- Watch your depth. Don't go deeper than you need to. You can learn more about needle depth and how to master it in our blog here:
- Ease up on the pressure. You shouldn't have to force your needles in.
- Check your angle. Make sure you're working at an angle you can control.
- Stretch the skin. Keep it tight and steady while you work.
- Pay attention to the skin. Some spots need a lighter touch than others.
Does Stroke Length Affect Tattoo Blowout?
Stroke length and needle depth are two different things.
Stroke length is how far your machine moves the needle back and forth. Needle depth is how far you're actually going into the skin.
A longer stroke doesn't automatically mean you're going deeper. That still comes down to your setup and how you're using the machine.
Tattoo Blowout FAQ
Does tattoo blowout fade over time?
It can get less noticeable, but the ink usually won't go away completely.
Can tattoo blowout be fixed with cream?
No. Creams can't remove ink that's spread under the skin.
Is tattoo blowout permanent?
Usually, yes. But reworking the tattoo, doing a cover-up, or getting laser treatment can help.
How soon can you tell if a tattoo has blown out?
Sometimes you can see it right away. But swelling and bruising can make it hard to tell, so give the tattoo time to heal.
When should you seek professional advice?
If the tattoo still looks blurry after healing, talk to an experienced artist about your options. If there's worsening pain, spreading redness, or fever, get medical help.
Keep Your Lines Clean
All in all, tattoo blowouts suck, but they're preventable. Knowing what causes them and how to avoid them can save you a lot of trouble down the road.
Avoiding blowouts also comes down to using quality equipment. Check out top-brand tattoo machines, cartridges, practice skins, and more at Ultimate Tattoo Supply.
