Does a colour tattoo have to have a black outline?
It is advisable to have the black outline for the tattoo to hold up well over time. The black ink is carbon based, and your body handles it well, colors are made of all kinds of stuff, some synthetic. Some colors fade easily and quickly. The outline ‘contains the colors and stops blurring over time. Also, if the ink fades, then you still have a clear image, not just a blob. If you want to keep it at a minimum, ask for fine line needles to be used in the outline. But I would advise it. It is trendy, not to have the outlines, and with new inks, they are looking good, but my artist (with 28 years experience) does not think that it is a good idea for the main images – some ‘atmosphere’ etc. .. yes, but he says that he has seen too many that look pretty bad after a couple of years, if they did not have the black outline.
