Let’s talk about the dreaded tattoo blowout. You’ve seen it. Maybe you’ve experienced it. Heck, maybe you’ve even been the culprit😱 But, with a little knowledge, some practice, and a lot of care, you can keep your ink sharp, your lines clean, and your clients happy. This blog lets you know what causes a blowout, along with 8 ways you can prevent them from happening. What is a Tattoo Blowout? A tattoo blowout happens when ink spreads under the skin beyond the lines you intended. Instead of crisp edges, you get that blurred, “smudgy” look that nobody wants. What Causes a Tattoo Blowout? Blowouts usually happen when your ink goes too deep into the skin. Either that, or your technique is uneven, inconsistent, and “off.” That said, there’s a lot more at play. Let’s break down the most common culprits and how to sidestep them. 1. Going Too Deep Of the three main layers of skin—the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue—the sweet spot for ink is the dermis. Too shallow (the epidermis), and the client’s ink will fade fast. But too deep (the subcutaneous tissue) and you’ll get a blowout. How to Prevent: Be mindful of your needle depth and machine speed (more on machine speed later). Professionals generally recommend keeping your needle depth between 0.5–1.5mm. But remember: this is a guideline, not a hard-and-fast rule. Thicker skin, different placements, and varying styles can all dictate your needle depth. Learning and understanding the layers of skin and practicing with silicone skins will get you on the right track for adjusting your needle depth and preventing blowouts. 2. Not Adjusting Your Stroke for Style If you’re not fine-tuning your stroke length for shading, color packing, or linework, you’re risking a blowout. How to Prevent: Know what stroke you’re using, and make sure you’re using the correct length for your work. Short strokes work with fine details and shading, while Medium strokes are versatile and typically used for a broad spectrum of techniques. Long strokes are for color packing and bold linework. Choosing a machine that has an adjustable stroke length lets you easily switch between all of the above. But some artists prefer having dedicated, fixed-stroke machines for each technique. Of course, these are general guidelines. The type of machine and overall stroke that works best for you across different techniques can vary. Different strokes for different folks (literally). Learn more about stroke length in our blog here. 3. Unbalanced Machine and Hand Speed Moving too slowly can not only create blowouts, but it also damages your client’s skin and prolongs their healing process. Not to mention creating an unevenly inked, spotty tattoo. How to Fix: Set your machine to the correct voltage for your hand speed: Moving slower: Lower your machine speed Moving faster: Crank up your machine speed Balancing your working speed and machine speed will not only prevent blowouts, but it’ll also help you create more solid pieces of art overall. 4. Using the Wrong Needle Not all tattoo needles are equal. And if you use a needle intended for deeper skin penetration for something shallower, you could end up with a blowout. The same can happen if your needles are damaged and you use them anyway. How to Fix: Learn which needle types work with what procedure, like long taper needles for detailed work versus short taper needles for bold linework. Get this straight, and you’ll greatly reduce your chances of creating a blowout. Learn more about different needle configurations and their uses here. 5. Bad Skin Stretching Technique Tattooing loose skin without stretching results in distorted lines and an unhappy client. How to Prevent: Stretch the skin nice and taut with one of these techniques: Two-Point Stretch: Using the thumb and index finger of the non-dominant hand and pulling in the tattoo line direction. Three-Point Stretch: Same as the two-point stretch, adding the palm (central underside of your machine-holding hand) as the third stretching point. Four-Point Stretch: Identical to the three-point stretch, adding the base of the palm of the same hand. Now the skin’s surface is flat and ready for your best linework. 6. Overworking the Skin Working for too long at too slow a pace in one spot results in tender, scabby, and bleeding tattoos. Plus, your client will have a harder road to healing, and possibly an awkward-looking tattoo when it's all said and done. Prevent This By: Learning your working speed and adjusting your machine voltage accordingly. Using the correct needle cartridge for what you're doing (linework, shading, or color packing). Avoid too many passes over already inked skin. Pump the brakes. See your client’s skin start to look shiny, red, and a little (or a lot) swollen? Set up a session later when your client’s skin calms down and try again. 💡Pro Tip: Taking a beat to practice your speed and pressure on a silicone tattoo skin will help you learn how to move with your machine. It’ll also help you get a better feel for needle depth in the skin. 7. Not Understanding Skin Types and Placement Learning different skin types and how tattoos thrive on them is just as important as learning how to tattoo. Skipping this will lead to more blowouts—not to mention inflamed, irritated skin for your client, and poor-quality tattoos. How to Prevent: Start with a consultation. Make sure you ask for important information, like: Their history (who knows? They might even volunteer it if they’re extra cautious) Medications they take (especially if it’s for skin conditions like Psoriasis or Eczema) Any allergies they have Keeping a record and preparing your station accordingly will put you ahead of the game and out of the way of tattoo blowouts. To learn more about tracking your client’s skin sensitivities and planning, take a look at our blog, Tattooing Clients with Sensitive Skin. You also want to consider skin thickness (or thinness) on certain body parts, like fingers, collarbones, or other bony areas. Thinner skin is to blowouts, so be extra careful with your technique when working those areas. 8. Low Quality Ink and Equipment Cheap ink will have you working harder, not smarter, and the same goes for your machines and needle cartridges. If you notice you’re fighting to get the ink to sit right, or your healed work looks dull instead of vibrant, your lackluster gear may have led you to a blowout. How to Prevent: Research the quality of supplies before buying. Make sure it’s: Hypoallergenic Free of heavy metals Free of harsh and unnecessary additives If you’re seeing too many negative reviews on the ink flow, pigment, or quality of the ink, it’s a hard pass (for more on ink quality, check out our blog about tattoo inks and allergies). Here are a few quality hypoallergenic ink brands professional artists trust to keep their work (and clients) safe: World Famous Ink Intenze Ink Eternal Ink Solid Ink Blowouts Are NOT a Rite of Passage Blowouts don’t have to happen. They’re avoidable with proper technique, the right tools, and a little patience. Practice on silicone skins, respect the skin layers, and always be mindful of your machine and stroke length.
