Finally, never forget to search for a highly skilled and qualified tattoo artist, as he is the one who will execute the work, making sure you won’t regret it. Now scroll down below to find how some of the old tattoos look today—not all of them stood the test of time.
What Happens to Tattoos Over Time?
![](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/6596cc05ebe3b.jpg)
Image credits: Life-Of-Pix
When it comes to aging, the type of tattoo ink can make a big difference; for example, cheaper ink often fades much quicker than higher-quality alternatives.
The color of the ink makes a big difference, too, as the lighter the ink, the faster it fades (remember that next time you’re thinking about getting one of those white ink tattoos!). Another thing to consider is your tattoo’s placement, as this can also influence the speed of fading.
Tattoos on areas that see a lot of activity, such as your feet and fingers, are much more likely to fade than tattoos on your back or chest, for example. Also, the design comes into play—the smaller and more intricate the tattoo’s detailing is, the more likely it is to get blurred years later.
If body art fades with time, what do tattoos look like when you get old? Well, check out this tattoo aging time-lapse compiled by Bored Panda to see for yourself how aged tattoos look now.
#1
Aged Tattoo
![Fresh and faded tattoo of a face, showing how tattoos age over time. Fresh and faded tattoo of a face, showing how tattoos age over time.](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/tattoo-aging-before-after-100-590ae37f2ed11__605.jpg)
#2
Tattoo 3 Years Later
![Comparison of a tattoo's aging process over three years, showing color fading and detail changes on the back. Comparison of a tattoo's aging process over three years, showing color fading and detail changes on the back.](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/tattoo-aging-before-after-22-5909d22a67872__605.jpg)
Tattoo 4 Years Later
![Tattoo showing aging over 4 years, from vibrant to faded, featuring a wave design. Tattoo showing aging over 4 years, from vibrant to faded, featuring a wave design.](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/tattoo-aging-before-after-7-59097e461ba67__605.jpg)
Fresh And Aged Tattoo
![Tattoo aging over time: a fresh colorful music note tattoo versus its faded appearance years later. Tattoo aging over time: a fresh colorful music note tattoo versus its faded appearance years later.](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/tattoo-aging-before-after-3-590975ff69ac5__605.jpg)
Intricate Tattoo 10 Years Later
![Tattoo aging over 10 years, showing fading and blurring compared to the fresh ink on skin. Tattoo aging over 10 years, showing fading and blurring compared to the fresh ink on skin.](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/tattoo-aging-before-after-8-59097f49f094a__605.jpg)