Some Skin Won't Take Ink !

[Morpheus59]

OK, I've done well over 100 tattoos now and on a couple of occasions I have tattooed a person whose skin doesn't seem to want to take ink. In the latest instance, I lined the design with a 7RL and the line was very fine, more like a 3, and after about a half hour I could barely make out the lines at all. Then shading ( black, with a 7RS ) I had to go over and over it to get a good solid black.It seems to happen to 'pudgy' girls who smoke, would this have something to do with it? I haven't changed needle or ink brands or anything else, it just seems that some people don't take the inkwell at times.Very frustrating. Has anyone else dealt with this problem? Any advice?

 

[Patrick]

Hi Randy

Could you post some photos on the site, this would give us all a better idea of what the problem might be. I have had a similar problem in the past, but I think this was because I didn't stretch the skin properly. The person in question was quite large so it was difficult to stretch the skin, she did also smoke but I'm not sure if this makes a difference or not.

 

[LMR]

i agree the most common cause of this problme is the skin not being tight enough then the needle just bounces of the skin... try tight liners they puncher better :thumbsup:

 

[skinpix]

Hi Randy,
i agree with Luke & Patrick,it's much harder to get good skin stretch on larger people,so the needles tend to bounce off the skin rather than go in...next time you tattoo someone on the large side,get someone to help you stretch the skin,hope this helps...let us know how you get on.

 

[Morpheus59]

I worked in very small sections in order to be able to stretch the skin enough and It was taking color just not well. Hard to explain but I told her to come back in a month an we will go over it all again.

 

[Cybernetic]

Thought you were going to say come back in a month when you have lost some pounds! That would have gone down a storm.

 

[floydyboygt]

A lot of bigger built people also have thicker and tougher skin. When you eat a lot of sugary drinks and foods your insulin levels spike making all your body go into overdrive, including skin growth. Handy for bodybuilders because they burn it off and use the extra insulin but not for fatties lol. And yes the fat under the skin makes it very spongy and bouncy lol so stretching the skin as well as you can is a must

 

[Pizzalicious]

I’m a chubby guy and I have to stretch my thigh skin as much as possible. So much so, last time I worked on it, my shoulder was sore for about 4 days. You have to seriously stretch it. At the same time, not over stretching it. I can’t wait to tattoo a skinny person.

 

[tkjeb]

I worked in very small sections in order to be able to stretch the skin enough and It was taking color just not well. Hard to explain but I told her to come back in a month an we will go over it all again.
View attachment 1204

For free? I just paid $200 for a 2x3" tattoo, and the artist told me ($100 minimum) "I'll touch it up for free, when you get a new piece."

 

[MalligaMallan]

For free? I just paid $200 for a 2x3" tattoo, and the artist told me ($100 minimum) "I'll touch it up for free, when you get a new piece."

He wrote that 9,5 years ago.........? But your reply can of course be interesting nonetheless.

 

[Drainclown]

I had one girl bleeding out all ink right before my eyes. She was talking about how hard it is for color to stick and that one tattooer had to retouch her color tattoo 4 times - while I tattooed her.... Googled it after and she apparently have a condition I unfortunatly have forgotten the name of. .

 

[Crazymfk]

check the needle fist.... check the stretch making sure you can feel the correct vibration with your stretching hand and know what the needle is doing in the skin (only way to know you are at right depth) if you don't feel the right vibration you need to try and either stretch more or try different stretch / position. if you still facing the problem add a drop of water into your black, check again if not going in add another drop of water. if for any reason this is still not working add half a drop green soap (or a gin) into your inkcaps and it will flow very easy.

 

[Crazymfk]

l

 

[Crazymfk]

I had one girl bleeding out all ink right before my eyes. She was talking about how hard it is for color to stick and that one tattooer had to retouch her color tattoo 4 times - while I tattooed her.... Googled it after and she apparently have a condition I unfortunatly have forgotten the name of. .

Some people wont take ink as good as others but sometimes, there is a problem with the lubricant (A&D or petroleum based ones do this sometimes) you are using which is not allowing for the ink to get passed and could even push the ink back out if you overdo it and clog the pores so the needle goes in and out but no or little ink stays in - a drop of green-soap in your ink cap will 99% of the time resolve this at least that works for me. Clean the skin properly and also try to add a little bit of glycerine to bring it back to the right consistency after using the above method. note that A&D is petrolatum based, so not efficacious for the entire tattoo healing process and can clog pores if applied too thickly or too often which could look as you described and push the ink out also it has a high friction so try using to change your lubricant or try silicone based lotion also apply thin layer to the skin 40 minutes before you start to soften up the skin i use S8 tattoo lotion lately and find it works good also reducing the glare so you can see better while tattooing.

 

[Drainclown]

She had hemophilia.

 

[MalligaMallan]

She had hemophilia.

And the client wanted to get tattooed? ? Didn't she even warn you that she had it?

 

[Crazymfk]

She had hemophilia.

people with hemophilia can still get a tattoo you just want to take easy and not to push it too much .... they would bleed longer than others but you dont have to make someone bleed to get the ink in ... as far as you are aware of it and work lighter possible split between more smaller sessions it should be fine ... as far as they are aware of it and expect that its likely it will need some touch ups ... the client should seek his doctors advise regarding the severity of the condition and possible implications of getting inked and tell the artist of course .... there is much worse conditions like Dermatographia and people are still getting full back tattooes despite

 

[Drainclown]

people with hemophilia can still get a tattoo you just want to take easy and not to push it too much .... they would bleed longer than others but you dont have to make someone bleed to get the ink in ... as far as you are aware of it and work lighter possible split between more smaller sessions it should be fine ... as far as they are aware of it and expect that its likely it will need some touch ups ... the client should seek his doctors advise regarding the severity of the condition and possible implications of getting inked and tell the artist of course .... there is much worse conditions like Dermatographia and people are still getting full back tattooes despite

Thanks! Would have loved to know this beforehand. I will keep this in mind if it happens again. !

 

[Drainclown]

And the client wanted to get tattooed? ? Didn't she even warn you that she had it?

No

 

[Jl88]

Wondering if anybody can help me. When my tattoo starts to heal it tends to peel off like old paint and fades so much that it looks like aged or sometimes barely even have colour left on it. I have a full sleeve and working on the other but every time it seems like my skin rejects it and fades out so much that it's not even there. This has happened every time I've had work done. So I'm pretty much getting the same tat 2 or 3 times but still not taking and I've tried so many different aftercare steps

 

[Cyberthrasher]

...So I'm pretty much getting the same tat 2 or 3 times but still not taking and I've tried so many different aftercare steps

I'd try a different artist.

 

[Crazymfk]

Wondering if anybody can help me. When my tattoo starts to heal it tends to peel off like old paint and fades so much that it looks like aged or sometimes barely even have colour left on it. I have a full sleeve and working on the other but every time it seems like my skin rejects it and fades out so much that it's not even there. This has happened every time I've had work done. So I'm pretty much getting the same tat 2 or 3 times but still not taking and I've tried so many different aftercare steps

I am sure you know it is but do you have some photos?

 

[Tryme]

Hello, I have a problem with a tattoo when I get well too much. Can you tell me what the problem is - is the paint very diluted or the care during the healing process, or maybe voltage? It was worked with cheyenne hawk thunder At 8.5volts, the paint is Kuro sumi imperial Greywash. Please give some advice. Thanks in advance!
These are pictures of the tattoo

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Image IMG-20230622-141402 hosted in ImgBB

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Image received-1498410817359353 hosted in ImgBB

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