Tattoo touch up timing?

flutteringinfl

So I have a tattoo on my back that's going to be very visible with the dress I have. It's a few years old, though, and has faded a little. I'd like to get it touched up before the wedding so that it looks nice and crisp, but I'm not sure when I should arrange to have the touch-ups. My wedding is in late November, and I don't want it to be too soon that it'll still be healing, but not so far from the date either since it has some light colors and I don't want to worry about sun damage. Any advice? I've gotten tattoos before but haven't had any of them touched up.

novella1186

I'd do September or very early October. My biggest tattoos that were color and totally filled in took the longest to heal, and I think all the scabbiness and nastiness was totally gone within about 3 weeks. But you don't want to cut it too close. 

climbingsingle

I got an old tattoo touched up last year. I originally got it back in 1999. I had it touched up in July and my wedding was in September. 

Here's the tattoo right after I finished. 

rockin30ish

It usually takes 2-4 weeks for a tattoo to completely heal. I would say do it a month and a half to 2 months before the wedding. It will still look very fresh.

cupcait927

I would do a month to two months before your wedding. I know that my tattoos took a very long time to heal when I first got them. I've never done a touch up but I wouldn't want to risk any scabby nastiness on your wedding day.

mikenberger

I agree early October at the latest. Yay tattoos! 

jenna8984

I agree with everyone- shoot for about 2 months before the wedding. And then get in the habit of putting spf50 on it so it will last longer in the future. My first one that I got in high school looks like fucking shit because I never took care of it. I didn't want that to happen to my half sleeve so I load it in sunblock every hour if I'm going to be in sun, and I even wrap a bandana around it to sunbathe/ anyplace tropical with stronger sun. People probably look at me weird but I don't give care what they think- I didn't spend $3,000 and 20 hours for it to look like crap lol.