Longest to shortest lasting tattoo & Ink Colours (7 Examples)

Tattoo Colours look great on the skin and will make your tattoo stand out. Many more people are getting coloured tattoos on their skin and not just going to black coloured tattoos.

Here Is How Long Colour Tattoo Ink Will Last On Your Skin:

Every tattoo colour has a different time frame for lasting on your skin (before fading). This lasts from 4-10 years depending on which colour you choose. There are ways you can care for your tattoo which will help keep your tattoo refreshed for longer including sunscreen and aftercare.

This is the short answer.

We will be discussing every colour in this article, so you will know exactly how long you should expect your coloured tattoo will last, and finally some extra tips you can do to keep your tattoo looker fresher for longer.

How Long Does Red Colour Tattoo Ink Last?

Red has always been one of the most popular colours for tattoos all over the world. It’s the colour of blood, love, and life. It’s even prevalent in religious beliefs if you are into that kind of stuff. Red is the most powerful colour there is.

Red has the longest life span among all tattoo inks. It can last up to 10-15 years or more, depending on how well you take care of your body art. And if it fades, it doesn’t just go away without a trace. Here are some guidelines for taking good care of red tattoos.

Red ink tattoo colours are not just made up of red ink alone. The red colour is usually combined with other colours to come up with a specific shade.

There are many other metals and chemicals added to it, which make it more durable and long-lasting. To ensure that your red tattoo will stay bright for a long time, you need to know how to care for it properly.

The red ink tattoos are usually very bright in the beginning. This is mainly due to the fact that other colours are added in it to produce a specific shade. But when these pigments fade, they can leave darker spots on your skin. So go for tattoo aftercare products that are specially formulated for red tattoos to keep your body art looking vibrant and rich forever.

The red inks used for tattoos are very powerful. They can easily fade away the skin colour, especially when you expose your tattoo to direct sunlight or tanning beds.

This can happen faster than other colours such as grey and black. To keep it from fading, always apply sunscreen before going out of your home and use a hydro-gel sunscreen for your tattoos when you go swimming or to the beach.

How Long Does Yellow Colour Tattoo Ink Last?

Yellow is a bright and beautiful colour that is associated with sunshine, happiness and warmth. Yellow ink tattoos brighten up your skin tone and bring out the best in you. It’s no wonder they are so popular among men and women of all ages.

The estimated life span of your yellow tattoos depends on what you put it through after the procedure is done.

Since most yellow ink tattoos are very bright and colourful, they can fade away very quickly when they come in contact with sunlight or tanning beds. The approximate life span for this colour is around 6 to 10 years.

To maintain the life of your yellow tattoo, you need to avoid direct exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Since most colours fade in direct contact with UV rays, it will be best if you can apply sunscreen before going outdoors or use a hydro-gel sunscreen when you swim.

Always apply sunscreen and use hydro-gel sunscreen for your tattoos when you go swimming or to the beach.

How Long Does Green Colour Tattoo Ink Last?

Green is the colour of growth and well-being. It can also be associated with money, status, and stability. Green ink tattoos are usually done on the ribs, feet, fingers, and hands because these areas are not exposed to direct sunlight or tanning beds that could fade green hues very quickly.

The estimated life span for green tattoos is around 4 to 8 years. If you wish to keep your body art looking bright and green, then avoid direct exposure to sunlight or tanning beds altogether.

Always apply sunscreen before going outdoors and use a hydro-gel sunscreen for your tattoos when you go swimming or to the beach so that they won’t fade away easily.

How Long Does Purple Colour Tattoo Ink Last?

Purple is a colour that is divine and connected to the spiritual realm. It represents power, nobility, and luxury. Purple is made up of red and blue.

The only difference is that it has a very small amount of black colour in it. It can be easily worn away when combined with other colours. The estimated life span of purple tattoos is around 6 to 10 years.

The science behind purple colour fading is that it is usually composed of two colours, blue and red. The blue part of the ink absorbs all the light energy while the red part reflects it. This is why tattoos with this colour tend to fade quickly.

The only way to keep it from fading is by avoiding direct exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Always apply sunscreen before going outdoors or use hydro-gel sunscreen for your tattoos when you go swimming or to the beach.

How Long Does Blue Colour Tattoo Ink Last?

Blue is often associated with water, the sky, and peace. It can also represent depression and sadness.

Blue ink tattoos are usually done on the feet, hands, ribs, and shoulders because these areas are not exposed to direct sunlight or tanning beds. As a matter of fact, it’s advised that you avoid direct exposure to sunlight or tanning beds altogether if your tattoo is blue.

The estimated life span for blue tattoos is around 6 to 10 years. Blue is a primary colour. As such, it is easily worn away when exposed to sunlight.

The only way to keep your tattoo looking bright and blue is by avoiding direct exposure to sunlight or tanning beds altogether. Always apply sunscreen before going outdoors or use hydro-gel sunscreen for your tattoos when you go swimming or to the beach.

How Long Does Pink Colour Tattoo Ink Last?

Pink is a soft colour that’s usually associated with love. It can also represent femininity, happiness, romance, and friendship. Pink ink tattoos are usually done on the feet, hands, ribs, and shoulders because these areas are not exposed to direct sunlight or tanning beds.

The estimated life span for pink tattoos is around 6 to 10 years. Pink is a mixture of red and white. The red part absorbs all the light energy and what remains is reflected by the white.

So, if you wish to keep your tattoo looking pink and vibrant for as long as possible, avoid direct exposure to sunlight or tanning beds altogether. Always apply sunscreen before going outdoors or use hydro-gel sunscreen for your tattoos when you go swimming or to the beach.

How Long Does Brown Colour Tattoo Ink Last?

The brown colour is a mixture of orange and blue. It is often associated with the earth and stability. Brown ink tattoos are usually done on the feet, hands, ribs, and shoulders because these areas are not exposed to direct sunlight or tanning beds.


The estimated life span for brown tattoos is around 4 to 8 years. Brown colour absorbs all the light energy and reflects very little of it back.

Do Coloured Ink Tattoos Fade Faster Than Black?

Yes, they do. Depending on the colour, tattoos fade faster than black. Coloured ink can be very vibrant but it fades away rather quickly in comparison to black colour.

This is because of its light-reflective properties. On the other hand, black colour absorbs almost all the light energy. This is why black tattoos fade much slower than coloured ones do.

How Do You Prevent A Tattoo From Fading?

a. Keep out of the sun

Sun is the tattoo’s biggest enemy. If you wish to keep your ink looking vibrant and colourful, avoid direct exposure to sunlight or tanning beds altogether.

Always apply sunscreen before going outdoors or use hydro-gel sunscreen for your tattoos when you go swimming or to the beach. The sun’s UV rays cause the ink to fade. Bright coloured ink has the shortest life span when exposed to sunlight because of its light-reflective properties.

When reflection is reduced so is the visibility of a tattoo. So, if you want your tattoo to last as long as possible, avoid direct exposure to sunlight or tanning beds altogether.

b. Use Tattoo Aftercare

Tattoo Aftercare is your number one ally when it comes to protecting your tattoos. Tattoo Aftercare will moisturize, replenish and protect the skin to make sure it does not dry out.

This gives your tattoo the best chance to heal properly and remain vivid for many years to come. Make sure you apply genuine Tattoo Aftercare lotion to your tattoo at least 3-5 times a day for the first couple of weeks.

You can also apply it to your fresh tattoos up to 4 times a day for 10 days.

c. Use Sunscreen

Tattoos are mostly done by professionals in parlours making them safe from sun exposure.

But if you have a tattoo, make sure to use sunscreen with at least 30 SPF whenever you go outdoors or when you plan on being exposed to the sun for long periods of time. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Sunscreen or hydro-gel sunscreen will not only keep your tattoos from fading, it will also protect them from heat and UV rays.

When using sunscreen, make sure it is water-resistant. Apply your sunscreen 20 minutes before going outdoors so that it can work its magic. Avoid going outdoors in the midday when the sun is at its strongest. Always remember less is more, a thin layer of sunscreen gives better protection than a thick one.

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