Depending on your skin, during the healing, the tattoo may seem like it's fading away. ... This is because a new, thin layer of protective skin will have grown over the tattoo ink, meaning that it will always be slightly lighter than it looked the moment you walked out of the tattoo shop.

Do tattoos get darker when healing?

Most tattoos will darken again once healed, but some will remain lighter, and this is completely natural. ... If they aren't and you're still concerned about the quality of your tattoo, the best advice would be to speak to your tattoo artist.

Do tattoos get lighter or darker as they heal?

A tattoo is VERY bright when it is first completed but during the healing process, it starts to look discolored and dull. Don't worry, when the tattoo is finished healing, the color will come back.