Tattoo Blowout: What It Is, and How Laser Tattoo Removal Helps
TLDR:Those fuzzy edges around your tattoo? That’s blowout – ink that drifted beyond the intended lines. We can target just the blowout with laser precision, leaving the rest of your tattoo intact. Usually cleans up in 1-2 sessions.
Let’s clear things up.
(Heh. See what we did there?)
Got a tattoo where the lines aren’t as crisp as they used to be? Maybe it’s always been a bit fuzzy around the edges, or maybe it’s gotten worse over time.
That’s blowout – and it’s more common than you think.
The good news? We can fix it without touching the rest of your tattoo.
What is Tattoo Blowout?
Blowout happens when tattoo ink spreads beyond the intended design, creating blurred lines or unintentional shading around the edges.
Your tattoo artist deposits ink into the epidermis (middle layer of skin). If that ink gets pushed deeper into the hypodermis (the fatty layer below), it can drift – resulting in those fuzzy edges.
It’s not your fault. It’s not always the artist’s fault either. Sometimes it just happens.
Why Tattoos Blow Out
Location
Thin skin = higher blowout risk. Areas like fingers, wrists, inner arms, inner thighs, and the arm ditch are particularly vulnerable. Less skin means less room for error.
Size
Smaller tattoos with fine details are more prone to blowout. Those delicate lines have less margin for the ink to stay put.
Artist Experience
Inexperienced artists are more likely to push ink too deep – but even experienced artists can’t prevent blowout entirely on high-risk areas. Factors like needle angle, hand speed vs machine speed, and pressure all play a role.
Your Body
Some people are just more prone to blowout:
- Skin elasticity (less elastic = more prone)
- Recent weight changes
- Movement during tattooing (even involuntary flinching)
Tattoo Style
Bold styles like American Traditional, Tribal, and Japanese hold up better over time. Fine line and watercolour tattoos are more likely to show blowout as they age.
Aftercare
Proper healing can help, but even perfect aftercare can’t prevent blowout if the ink was deposited too deep.
How To Fix Blowout
You’ve got two main options:
Cover it Up
Your tattoo artist can:
- Thicken the outer lines to incorporate the blowout
- Design a completely new tattoo to cover the whole thing
Need an artist? Check out edmonton.ink to find cover-up specialists.
Laser it Out (Our Specialty!)
Here’s where it gets cool: we can target just the blowout, leaving the rest of your tattoo untouched.
Our PicoWay laser is precise enough to work on sections as small as 2mm. We essentially erase the fuzzy edges, returning your tattoo to its original crisp design.
Timeline: Most blowout cleans up in 1-2 sessions. Seriously.
How it works: The laser breaks up the drifted ink into particles your body flushes out over the next few months. The main tattoo? Completely unaffected.
Ready to Clean Up Those Lines?
If the ink drift bothers you, come on in for a free consult and we’ll see how we can help.
Text: 825-925-7398 | Book free consult | Read FAQs
#1 6551 111 Street NW, Edmonton Wed-Sun, 10am-6pm, by appointment