What is a Fine Line Tattoo and is it worth it?

Fine Line tattoos have become quite the specialty over the last several years in the tattoo scene, with more and more people wanting a delicate and intricate tattoo. What is possible now due to new technology in machines and precision, is truly amazing. But how does it hold up?

In truth, for a Fine Line tattoo be considered truly “fine”, most are done with single needles or a size 3 needle. This allows for some of the most intricate line work. The complications come once it’s in the skin. To keep a Fine Line tattoo looking nice, you want to insure a few things first:

1. is the artist you are going to an expert?

2. is the design too small? If a design isn’t appropriately sized, you will see the tattoo blur and cave in on itself over time, as ink in our skin will spread over the years.

3. Is it dark enough? Yes, I said it! Requesting a tattoo that’s too light will result in your skin eating away the pigment faster and even the sun itself will reduce its luster. Grey wash only tattoos with no strong blacks, tend to fade and disappear. This is because grey wash is made by cutting black pigment with water or another dilution to make the shades of grey. And doing so in such a tiny tattoo, can cause it to fade in as little as three years.

This being said, it’s possible to get a great Fine Line tattoo and have it last a lifetime, so long as you know what to expect and understand a tiny tattoos limitations. Always defer to your artist’s expertise. Just because it seems possible, doesn’t always mean it has longevity.