Unpopular opinion: Finger tattoos are the best tattoos. Hear me out (and don’t let the before-and-after photos directly below scare you). Every time you look down to play with your phone, type on your laptop, or admire a new manicure, you’ll catch a glimpse of the little heart you inked on your knuckle or the constellation that sprawls from above your wrist to your cuticle. They’re like stickers that won’t fall off, and mine represent memories I want to be reminded of regularly. Good luck if you ask me to tell you what they mean: I’ll go on and on, even when they mean nothing at all.But here’s the thing: Finger tattoomaintenance sucks. Yes, aftercare for finger tattoos is similar to that of other tattoos. You’ll need to “let your skin breathe and keep it slightly moist with a cream recommended by your artist,” says Min, a tattoo artist at Atelier Eva in Brooklyn. However, as tattoo artist Hailey Kim wants you to know, it’s very likely you’ll need a touch-up. “It depends on the person, but in most cases, finger tattooswill need at least one or two touch-ups,” she says.
I’m one of those cases. Because I constantly wash and sanitize my hands, my finger tattoos tend to fade quickly. I’ve had to touch up a pair of stars on my middle finger three times, and have come to the conclusion that one of them will forever be a blob. A little less than a month ago, I decided to get the set of Roman numerals, and in just three weeks, despite regularly moisturizing and babying my newly inked skin, it faded to what you see. (I’ve since touched up the tattoo and have yet to experience new fading.)
There are a few things I wish I knew about finger tattoos before I got one: “Palm-side joints fade the quickest due to constant flexing and skin shedding,” says Teresa Song, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Marmur Medical in New York City (and that’s exactly what I’d gotten—oops). Mira Mariah, a New York City-based tattoo artist and creative director for Venue Ink, actually refuses requests for tattoos with this placement. “These tattoos often fade to nothing,” she says. She will, however, do tattoos on the tops of fingers, which Dr. Song says will better retain ink.
Secondly, fingers have a higher density of sweat glands. Dr. Song says that this added moisture can affect healing and ink retention. “New tattoos are open wounds on the skin, and sweat can promote bacterial growth in the area, disrupting the normal healing process,” she says. “This can lead to ink disintegration and blurring, ultimately affecting the longevity of the tattoo.”
Do my experiences mean that I wouldn’t recommend them? Nope. I regret nothing, and everyone’s skin is different: One of my good friends, who had coordinates tattooed on her finger, touched up her finger tattooonce seven years ago and hasn’t had to since. If finger tattoos bring you as much joy as they bring me, go forth! Scroll through the inspiration below and book an appointment with your local artist.
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