Tattoo Blowout: Causes, How to Tell It From Healing, and How to Fix It

You look down at your new tattoo a few days after the session and notice that the lines look fuzzy, with a blue or grey haze spreading out from them. It may be a tattoo blowout. It may also just be normal healing. Knowing the difference can save you a lot of worry.

Here is what a tattoo blowout is, what causes it, how to tell it apart from healing, and the ways it can be fixed.

What is a tattoo blowout?

A tattoo blowout happens when ink ends up in the wrong layer of skin. Tattoo ink is meant to be placed in the dermis, the layer beneath the surface. If the needle goes too deep, or at the wrong angle, ink can be pushed into the fatty layer beneath the dermis. There, it is not held in place and spreads out, creating a blurry halo around the lines.

A blowout usually looks like:

• Fuzzy, feathered or thick lines.
• A blue, grey or greenish shadow around the design, often wider on one side.
• Blurring that is most obvious on fine lines and lettering.

What causes tattoo blowouts?

• Too much depth or pressure. The most common cause, more likely with less experienced artists.
• The wrong needle angle.
• Thin or delicate skin, such as the inner wrist, ankles, feet, fingers, inner arms and ribs.
• Stretching the skin incorrectly while tattooing.
• Moving areas where skin shifts during the session.

Experienced artists can still occasionally cause a small blowout, especially on tricky placements, but it is much less common with skilled hands. It is one of the best reasons to choose your artist carefully. See how to find a good tattoo artist.

Blowout or healing smudge?

In the first few days, many tattoos look slightly blurry or bruised because of swelling, ink on the surface, and plasma. That is not a blowout. Here is how to tell them apart:

• Timing: a blowout usually appears within the first days and does not go away. A healing smudge fades as the swelling settles and the skin heals.
• Appearance: a blowout creates a consistent halo under the skin. Surface ink and redness wipe away or fade within a week or two.
• Bruising: tattoo bruising looks purple, yellow or red and fades like any bruise. A blowout stays blue or grey.

The only reliable test is time. Wait until the tattoo has fully healed, usually four to six weeks, before judging. Our guides to why a tattoo looks faded after peeling and the healing timeline explain what normal healing looks like.

Ink migration: a different problem

Some tattoos gradually look softer and lines thicken over many years. That slow spread is a natural ageing process, sometimes called ink migration, and it is not a blowout. It is more noticeable on very small and fine line tattoos. Read how fine line tattoos age.

Can a tattoo blowout be fixed?

A blowout will not disappear on its own, but there are several good options:

1. Rework the design

An experienced artist can often disguise a mild blowout by thickening lines, adding shading or adding elements that hide the haze. This is usually the quickest and most affordable fix.

2. Cover up

For more severe blowouts, a darker, larger design can cover the whole area. Our guide to tattoo cover up ideas explains what works.

3. Laser treatment

Laser tattoo removal can target the blurred ink. Some people use a few sessions to fade the blowout before a rework, while others remove the tattoo entirely. Laser should always be done by a qualified practitioner. Avoid do-it-yourself removal methods. See at-home tattoo removal.

What to do if you think you have a blowout

• Do not panic, and do not try to scrub or pick at it.
• Let it heal completely before judging.
• Take clear photos in good light.
• Contact your artist calmly. Many will offer a free rework.
• If you are unhappy with their response, get a second opinion from an artist who specialises in reworks and cover ups.

How to reduce the risk

• Choose an experienced artist with healed work in their portfolio.
• Be cautious about very fine tattoos on thin skin, such as fingers and inner wrists.
• Stay still, and tell your artist if you need a break.
• Avoid alcohol before your session.