Think Twice Before Getting a Micro Tattoo: Jon Mesa | Tattoo Opinions

After spending over 15 years as a tattoo artist, Jon Mesa knows which tattoos are going to last and which ones are going to end up looking like an infected birthmark after a couple of years. Micro color realism is the latest trend in tattooing. Artists are trying to pack in tons of detail despite using only a tiny section of their client's body and it drives Mesa insane. We sat down with the veteran tattooer to discuss not only the micro tattoos that drive him nuts but also the science behind why he's convinced they will age poorly.
Tattoo Opinions is a new series where we bring in artists to share their very strong thoughts on certain aspects of the industry. Passions will rise and people are going to get angry. We provide the soapbox, the artist provides the opinion.
Jon Mesa: / jonmesatattoos
WEBSITE: www.inkedmag.com/
FACEBOOK: / inkedmag
TWITTER: / inkedmag
INSTAGRAM: / inkedmag

[@Viridoviperas]

These episodes would really benefit from some images showing the degradation over time with different pigments and techniques. I really like them though.

[@Thundergunvideos]

Great suggestion! The aging process is talked about all the time, but no actual photos.

[@maddybeimers6973]

they don't post aged photos because nobody takes them😂 the tattoos do not look good so they never post healed photos

[@maddybeimers6973]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eJO1YZagmLmmh7M

[@inked]

Thanks for the suggestion! There are a couple things that make it tough to find shots like that. First, artists don't usually share pictures of their work once it's degraded a bit. But secondly, and most importantly, these color micro tattoos have really only been happening for a couple of years. We don't definitely know what they are going to look like in 15 years because we've never seen a 15-year-old mico realism tattoo. But when we tackle a subject like this again we'll do our best to find some images showing the way colors age.

[@jacquijuarez4831]

@@inked *cough* Cara Delevingne *cough

[@ugoeze7360]

But on the other hand, you can’t go wrong if you get a micro tattoo of a blob 🤔

[@balazs7235]

The FBI is looking for you...

[@craneisthename]

Especially on your other hand

[@FooMantis]

I don't need another Rich Evans tattoo

[@littlebird7383]

Quick thinking bro

[@User-jt4zu]

Smart ass

[@ViJay-jw3nc]

Thank you. There's nothing wrong with wanting a micro tattoo (they fade quickly and are easy to laser/cover) but people need to be honest about the results. It is not ever lasting.

[@GriotDNB]

BangBang enters the chat...

[@VKBoi666]

Then why would you waste money on it if it fades or you know your going to get it removed?

[@ViJay-jw3nc]

@@VKBoi666 some people like that style and not any other 🤷 Not something I would ever get myself, but some people just want tattoos that look good in the moment and don't care about the healing process

[@jackystar5099]

Yes definitely a thing to consider before judging the person that decides to get these tattoos. Also saying it'll be a blob in less than a year is an exaggeration. I've seen tattoos like these look good in 5 years although later on is still a question.

[@ltlbuddha]

@@VKBoi666 Some people will do anything to get on the 'gram or wear ink from the hottest trend or celebrity tattooer. If people actually thought in the long term, there would be far fewer vids about dumb and short sighted decisions.

[@jasminebrett1360]

I feel like a lot of these artists are people who have a passion for art and a passion for tattoos, not a passion for tattoo artistry. What I mean is they can clearly draw and create these beautiful pieces, but they don't respect the medium of the skin. A lot of these would be amazing as prints or something, but since they're on the skin they have no chance.

[@Gingersnaps_the_pumpkin_kitty]

Exactly. It's not bad art but these aren't very good tattoos. If they were working with a better medium it would last a LOT longer.

[@Thornton019hockey]

I hate seeing new tattooers coming in and specializing in these micro tattoos or single needle scratchy aesthetics. They seem to not respect the history and fundamentals of tattooing imo. No black shading, no solid outlines... they can look muddy or like they just suck, not that they’re going for an aesthetic. And shops let them do this. I don’t get it at all. As an artist myself and a tattoo lover, I’m kinda sad about it

[@iStealKookis]

Well put

[@perhapssabrina]

I actually don’t think it’s a blatant disrespect. Most of these tattoos look like they’re done by Korean artists. The tattoo industry is very different there, and their ideas of art are also very different than, let’s say, America. I feel that Americans see tattoos as both an art and a commodity, that they’ll think it’s a waste of money if it doesn’t last long. But even paintings do not last forever. I just think Inked has a very American tattooist mindset, which is odd to me because tattoos do not originate from America. It has also changed very drastically.

[@iStealKookis]

@@perhapssabrina I would say that the actual disrespect comes from the lack of transparency with how these tattoos last. The examples in the video may be done by Korean tattoo artists, but in the US our pop culture does favor micro tattoos, primarily due to our celebrities. I mean, there's bangbangnyc who is arguably one of the most famous micro tattoo artists. I don't think the mindset is necessarily from being American, but I think it really just comes from the knowledge of how tattoos work on skin to begin with. It's not right to charge a customer thousands of dollars when they're under the impression that their tattoo will last forever.

[@EggGorlComics]

Honest tattooer here: Been at it with portraits since 2005, and I recently attempted a micro portrait (face was about an inch). Looked great right after! Most detail peeled right off and it healed like absolute shit. The clients healing process may have been a factor, but damn. Never again.

[@smarc1325]

Check it in 4Years... 🙄

[@Sage-qd6tf]

@@smarc1325 I doubt waiting 4 years is going to make it any better

[@smarc1325]

@@Sage-qd6tf well said... nothing makes it worth while....🙋‍♂️✌😄

[@baurdica]

well 3 inches portrait is still a micro tattoo, if that one doesn't stick, then u don't know how to do micro...is not the same tech as bng or traditional...is more like single niddle with a 3 or a 5 rl going a little deeper idk how to explain, take a seminar X))

[@EggGorlComics]

@@baurdica I’ll just never do them again 😂

[@BassMisteress101]

I'm so glad to hear someone in the industry calling out these tattoos and their lack of longevity accompanied by massive price tags (looking at you, Bang Bang). No one should spend $2000 on something that's going to require constant retouching every 6 months

[@MinaWeber]

The price of these bugs me sooo much! Generally this whole trend of tiny tattoos I've noticed in recent years. People paying 300€ to get two tiny numbers on their asscheek just seems soo wasteful and in some way disrespectful to the industry, artistry and history of tattooing to me. All my tattoos are on the bigger side and were between 200-400€. All beautiful black line and dot work from great artists I did my research on and the still look basically the same as on day one. Always annoys me when people spend the same amount on like a 10 minute session. Their money ofc but still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth..

[@kaikalino7349]

Shop minimum is maybe $500 when I inquired. I turned the other way.

[@Doctor_Yuri]

@Anid Alx This is the poorest sounding dude I've seen on YT lmao

[@robertsonbautista1084]

Funny he used to work at bangbang lmao

[@frappalina]

I have a small tattoo, it's 5 years old and the pigment faded a bit but it still looks beautiful. The tattoo artist comes from Polinesia and he did an amazing job putting a super thin black line around every element of the tattoo (small flowers and leaves).no ink has bled out, it still looks sharp and beautiful and the fading gave it a wonderful vintage flair that makes me still love it

[@camillesadventures]

Hi, do you have a picture of your tattoo on instagram or something ? I would love seeing how a small tattoo like this age (if you don't mind of course, I understand if you don't want to)

[@nikki.ragnvindr]

I'd like to see it, too, but if you're a private person, that's coolio as well. Congratulations on getting a not-fail with your delicate tat!

[@luluanthem]

This is exactly what I think when I see aged fine line tattoos, a "vintage flair".

[@Hopeskyesk]

There’s a difference between a small tattoo and a micro tattoo

[@margaesperanza]

I wish people upload what these tattoos look like after 7 months to a year. It near impossible to find them and I feel like most don't look good so they never do.

[@IronPunkVids]

Exactly lol

[@jaymzrektfield4503]

Most of the tattooers you follow have a lot of clients and their waiting lists are too long apart. So the chances are they are seeing the same client again or even get in touch with them is pretty low. Just sayin

[@jackystar5099]

I actually follow some artists that do these typea of tattoos who have posted some from 5 years ago. If the artist is good it'll last longer than a year. That is usually said as an exaggeration although many people believe it.

[@katinkaaa2951]

@@jackystar5099 That's not true, as this guy said there are limits when it comes to tattooing. There are certain rules you have to follow. No matter how good of an artist you are you can not prevent the ink from blending further into the skin and fading. The colors will eventually blend into each other and it will look like a mess. That's why you need to have space in between colors that will allow that to happen or use black outlines as black tends to hold up and will be able to prevent the colors from blending into each other to a certain extent. Doing these micro tattoos are immoral on every level as these clients aren't made aware that their tattoo won't be readable in 6 months to 2 years, and they most likely won't be able to get it touched up as these artist has long waiting lists because of Instagram and it's a rule in tattooing not to mess with other artists art. Even with getting it touched up, there are actually limits to how many times you can touch up a tattoo as your skin forms scar tissue amongst other things that are going to make it harder and may actually make the tattoo worse. These people doing the micro tattoos are incredibly talented, no doubt, but if they can't respect the rules of tattooing and get off their high horses then they should stick to painting/drawing as their medium instead. You have to be mindful of the canvas you are making your art on as an artist, and as a tattooer you are working with skin, you are always going to have certain limitations, being a good artist will NOT change that. If you are seeing healed micro tattoos as far as 5 years later they are guaranteed photoshopped.

[@Wendy-yu3hg]

There's a tattoo artist who I love and follow on instagram and she's always posting about how frustrated she gets that people will promise her healed photos and not send them 😅 not overly bashing the clients or anything, but she gets really happy when people actually do. I also don't understand why people wouldn't, it doesn't take very long to take/send a photo.

[@bludelight]

Yeah, I was looking at Instagram accounts last night and wishing I could 1) see a tattoo after the first week and 2) see what they looked like on Black people. Unfortunately, those are the photos that artists add to their portfolios. That first day is great, but these things age.

[@alexopal7830]

Same like I see why most tattoo artist only post their art on lighter skin, it shows more, you can see more detail but I would love to see atleast a couple pics of how their art looks on atleast a brown skin black person

[@bludelight]

@@alexopal7830 Yeah. I was on for hours last night and saw 1 BW portrait on a person close to my complexion. Even from Black artists, but I get it and it is what it is.

[@bludelight]

@@countessofmontecristo3849 I want a half sleeve with line work. I'm a big girl, so the canvas is large. lol But let me tell you, if it wasn't for the tattoos on me and my family, Instagram would have you think that artists don't tattoo Black people. I guess I'll keep watching for the art as well.

[@bludelight]

@@danielmccarten4357 But it's not tho. Especially for these first week photos. I get the colors not being as vibrant and I personally wouldn't bother sitting through a full-color situation. Maybe it's a 'bruises on Black people' thing. I'm used to our skin tones, so I see the detail in our tattoos.

[@bludelight]

@@hailey2255 I have in the past, so I know they exist. I just have to look for clean lines. The wanting to see it on my complexion is just a preference that doesn't add much impact to their portfolio.

[@enegmatixerebro]

These tattoos look beautiful... As a sticker on my binder or my skateboard

[@cultusfetus]

lmaooo

[@carolyn6689]

Lol..totally agree.I love stickers😂👍

[@sadisticgirl_]

I'll give you the link to my shop when ill start selling stickers lmao

[@NoxiousNoodles]

I'm not sure this guy likes micro tattoos.

[@Borednstufff]

Haha

[@OoxB505]

I think he’s just trying to be honest.

[@ShellyGotRawr]

I get that vibe as well lol

[@zenosintherain]

MegaSkilla he did say he hated them multiple times

[@ich797]

@MegaSkilla IQ isn’t even a real thing. It’s made up by a bunch of nazi to justify racism

[@jotaped9791]

If I get a micro tattoo of a blob, will it turn into a very detailed little picture?

[@MadisonDerenburger]

Yes

[@dominiquebradley2448]

Yeah

[@justme7410]

now we’re asking the real questions

[@idil4657]

I think the laws of thermodynamics wouldn't let that :(

[@57somo]

just check an artist's healed work. glad I got my tattoos before seeing this video, been 2 years getting ink from Prairie Koo in Toronto, and all my pieces healed perfectly. The "rules of tattooing" come from a really toxic culture of hand-me-down practices that you need to adhere to to make it through a grueling apprenticeship. a lot of the time the things old school tattoo artists preach are just relics and not actual facts. there are new technologies, new inks, and new techniques emerging all the time.

[@anestashekelly9763]

My second tattoo, I've had for almost 12 years now and my tattooist actually convinced me to make it bigger because the details would wash out. I wanted it smaller because it would match the size of my first tattoo, but I listened to him, because he has the experience and I didn't want to waste my money on something that wouldn't last.

[@valval6468]

Same happened to me, I wanted a small windrose full of details. Now a have a wind rose full of details that covers half my back! :D 10 years have passed and details are still legible.

[@AlienChicken]

I asked for a micro tattoo word when I was 18 and I'm so glad he did the word in his oldschool cursive style instead because it looks as bold as it did 10 years ago, I love it dearly and it goes with my shoulder piece so well. Good on him for telling me the fad wasn't worth it.

[@Mizz.Person]

Well good on you for listening! ;)

[@Lynwood_Jackson]

I've got a big American traditional back piece that looks basically the exact same as it did a decade ago. Go big and bold and you won't have an ugly smudge later on.

[@namjoonie936]

how many sessions?

[@rebelwithacause666]

Exactly my thigh peice is dark and saturated and still looks awesome because of all the black and minimal color and will always be solid!

[@Lynwood_Jackson]

@@namjoonie936 Two long sessions. One for the outline, one for the color.

[@whatthelinds]

Bold will hold

[@namjoonie936]

@@Lynwood_Jackson 😭😭

[@Dumbfuckingfucck]

This is like a hit peice on that one tattoo studio in new york with actual facts and they shall not be named.

[@ViJay-jw3nc]

Bing Bing featuring Juliet Axe Body Spray

[@qwertyboo]

Have you seen the 'My $2100 single needle tattoo' by influencer Alana Arbucci? I think it's from that shop you're talking about. It was so bad.

[@iluvtacos1231]

It's ok, you can say Bang Bang

[@akashbhade9081]

Sooo fckin tru tho

[@davidbreuer6449]

@@qwertyboo That's an awesome video and a must-watch for anyone considering a micro-needle tattoo. Plus she's a good sport about it so it's an enjoyable watch

[@QueenAlia]

I love the look of micro tattoos, the detail is insane, and if they lasted I would get one. On the flip side, I also would pay the money to get a much bigger piece with the same detail! I don't always get the appeal of such small sizes

[@Gingersnaps_the_pumpkin_kitty]

Ig they think it leaves room for more tattoos..? Or that they can get them faster..?

[@QueenAlia]

@@Gingersnaps_the_pumpkin_kitty makes sense, and everyone has their own personal style for what they want on them!

[@l.a.d._vviolet4280]

I think most of them are popular in Asian countries where tattoos are still heavily stigmatized.

[@Denturess]

I think the appeal is the same with all miniature things. Like dollhouses and those mini cooking videos. Ppl just think it’s cuter/more artistic

[@QueenAlia]

@@Denturess I do love mini things

[@randomperson1943]

My artist always posts the tat the day of and then a follow up herald a few years later. Her work heals beautifully. I appreciate she does that

[@ShaniqueHyde]

May I ask who your tattoo artist is and what her IG is?

[@CeCe1066]

Would love to know her IG and see her work!

[@rainepanda]

It's honestly heart breaking to see such immaculate pieces of art that will be essentially destroyed in time yet still be a permanent fixture. It's a beautiful medium but misguided I feel

[@user-nw7fk1dj2m]

Bless up for sharing this. Micro tattoo artists never post any aged tattoos. Whenever they do it’s always a few weeks old at the most.

[@orleanyrendon4760]

A few Korean micro tattoo artists post their works healed after 6 or 8 months and they look amazing

[@jg1514]

@@orleanyrendon4760 I wouldn't consider 6 or 8 months "aged." Look for ones a few years old at the least. Even if you search 커버업, you'll find a ton of microtattoos that faded to blobs

[@ladyrias5183]

@@orleanyrendon4760 it’s known that it can take up to 1 to 2 years for your tattoo to fully be healed and settled into your skin. The outer layer is healed sure by 8 months but the under is still healing. That’s why artists prefer 1 to 2 year healed photos.

[@iluvtacos1231]

Oh boy. There gonna be some salty comments.

[@inked]

Us reading the comments coming in like 👀👀

[@axolotllan]

Yeah but ride that wave in a lovely clipper ship and you'll be fine.

[@FauveIsNotFunnyM]

The moment they showed that Van Gogh painting tattoo, I knew it would be bad. Like, it's really well made but the biggest red flag and mistake is the placement: on a hand, and the size obviously....big and bold is the way to go if you don't want it to smudge...except if it's lettering. I'm no tattoo artist by the way, but some things are pretty obvious

[@ahumanaperson]

FauveIsNotFunny big and bold also smudge though, it’s just not as catastrophic long term. I’d rather have something small and smudged than big and smudged. Also, you only really notice it for the first 6months, then you forget it’s there, so why care that the detail fades?

[@maggiescarlet]

@@ahumanaperson if you only care about it looking how it's meant to for 6 months, why get tattooed at all?

[@ahumanaperson]

Maggie Scarlet if you’re only going to be in a cool and fulfilling relationship for 6months why bother at all? Actually I’d like a boyfriend for 6months.. also, most people literally forget about their tattoos after a while, it’s a nice thing to have when you remember it’s there but you don’t really think about it most of the time..

[@celinesayner9585]

@@ahumanaperson I disagree. You might forget your tattoo is there after 6 months, but other people will ask you about it for years to come. You want a tattoo that you can still be proud to show/talk about 5 years from now.

[@ahumanaperson]

@@celinesayner9585 I don’t care at all about being proud/ showing/ telling someone about my tattoos from five years ago, I got them for me. When someone asks what it is I tell them but I don’t delight in the experience, I’d rather they have not seen it/ commented on it at all. It’s like when someone asks you about your outfit ..it speaks for itself, interpret it how you like, it’s not my job to explain my choices to you. Sure if I’m really excited about eg. a pair of shoes I’ll explain, but people never actually care and then I just regret quelling their curiosity.

[@royxriza4ever]

But on one hand, there are people who want a tattoo that is pretty and don't exactly care if it lasts 10 years. Maybe even in 10 years, tattoo removal will be even more advanced. Especially here in Korea where this is a big trend and tattoos have typically been looked down upon, a lot of women don't want a dark or large tattoo.

[@DangerRavioli]

I get that getting a dark or large tattoo is not something everyone wants. However, there's a difference between getting a small tattoo with a design that will read well now, but also in a few years time, or getting a microtattoo that is conceptually too small to read well in a couple of years time. There are absolutely amazing small tattoos that can be dainty and elegant, they just have less detail and clear outlines. Which is exactly the point Jon Mesa is making with the cat tattoo for example. It's small, but it's not packed with detail and the design is very readable because of the clear outlines.

[@latinaloca1981]

I saw a video of a KZbinr who posted a video of her micro tattoo one year after and it was faded and you could not see the details anymore. She said that people told her it would be a bad idea and she didn't listen. She paid a lot of money and she knows better now. I had no idea about the longevity, let alone the cost of micro tattoos, but I'm glad i know now 👍🏽

[@balazs7235]

My girlfriend had this problem. Got an amazing cityscape on the side of her rib with a very detailed bridge, like you could see every brick. She lost weight since getting the tattoo and even still the bridge is now a black “blob” and barely any piece of brick is visible. So I advise people against getting a micro tattoo.

[@grindeyyyyy]

I’ve got fine work that’s blended

[@jackystar5099]

Did she lose a lot of weight? Honestly makes sense the skin would shrink and lose most if not all the detail.

[@balazs7235]

@@jackystar5099 Sorry about the VERY late reply but these notifications work whenever they feel like working. So, she hasn’t lost all too much in numbers, but she’s gotten skinnier and her proportions changed. Not much her -torso/rib area. You are probably right though, and it’s due to her weight loss. It’s just ridiculous because she’d need to get it touched up and it’s only been like 2 years tops.

[@realvibekiller]

good micro tattoo artists DO post photos of healed pieces. there are plenty of examples on ig of tattoos that still look great but you have to really research your artists and go to someone who knows what they're doing. it's not always someone who charges the most or is the most famous. but honestly i'm kind of tired of all the hate on this style when there ARE people out there doing it right and getting results.

[@effytraveler6155]

I went to the comment section of the tattoo I wanted to see healed. I messaged the canvas and asked if I could see it. The artist had healed tattoo images of the ones I didn’t want. I saw the healed tattoo. I heard good things about the artist. I made an appointment and put down a deposit.

[@thedestroyasystem]

It's such a shame. A lot of these tattoos look so beautiful, and would stay beautiful if only they were a little bigger.

[@paigew7921]

I always see people comment, "well I have 6 micro tattoos and a water color galaxy sleeve and they're better than the day they were done." But I never see healed, settled galaxy/watercolor/micro tattoos on insta, on r/tattoos, ANYWHERE. If it still looks great, post it.

[@IanCaine4728]

My dad got a traditional style army tattoo in 1963 and it looks remarkably good today for having no touch ups. Good outline, good sizing, and good pigments.

[@djooacha]

I have one tattoo like this, is the size of the painting (Van Gogh) it’s a landscape of my town and I wish I knew all this before. I love it but it’s true that whit the time the tattoo fade A LOT, and if you see it from far away only looks like a black square with some spaces so ): there’s that. If you wanna do it it’s ok, but you should now this first

[@jackystar5099]

Usually color in micro tattoos fade quicker than black and grey micro tattoos

[@priestrat]

There are lots of examples of micro tattoos who have lasted super well after 5+ years. Depends on the artists skill as well. Apart from that, art and technology evolve constantly. Things change and its okay.

[@happinessescape]

Mesa: man I hate this, these micro realism tattoos will not hold up Pony: 🙃

[@joshuawoolfolk8516]

I got a micro from pony a year and a half ago. Looks exactly the same as when I got it. We will see how faded it is in 10 years

[@graceraimo777]

To those saying “no tattoo lasts forever, we all die one day” like... yeah why would I care if the tattoo decays with me? I at least want it to look good while I’m living. If you don’t care that you’re walking around with blobby tattoos that’s fine, but this type of info is helpful to people who would care but don’t already know how tattoos age.

[@Dietwoke]

We’re here for a good time not a long time

[@jcba92]

Bang bang doesn’t like this video 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@adellekatona6657]

I was just going to make the same comment.

[@heatherhellion4902]

Lololololol

[@heatherhellion4902]

He’s def rich as fuck making money off this exact fad

[@natashia5837]

How many of these tattoos rely heavily on the white being used, and that‘s gonna be among the first to fade/change. And I‘m not a fan of tattooers editing their pics so the white/color/.. looks more vibrant or to make the tattoo look any better than it does in real life. And it‘s pretty obvious to me that several of these pics have been edited in such a way 😭😭

[@user-vr3ko2lc2n]

I personally think there’s a niche to the micros and that they’re on the right track to something cooler. Imagine getting a tattoo and having it fade to nothing within a few years. I feel like there’s an idea there. Longer then a temporary tattoo, but will eventually be gone in the future. Idk. All me crazy but that would be kind of cool.

[@Hayakoneko]

Actual tattoo artist here: it will NOT fade to nothing. It'll turn into a blob after like 2 years.

[@alecmier4524]

Hmm right, there is like water stamp on tattoos. Super niche and on the right track on that concept your thinking. lol

[@supmaidoods8753]

It wont turn into nothing it will be a ugly blob with no details

[@heisamushroom]

Thats how I feel!!! I love the idea of having one of this beautiful micro tattoos for about 5 to 10 years and then getting another tattoo on top of it as my life changes throughout that decade

[@StraightZzzStudent]

“The Instagram” lol he’s too cute

[@chaoswithfelix2376]

I don’t know why inked mag interviewed an artist on a style he DOESNT do ??? Especially since he entered the interview with an already negative opinion. Healing can depend on the technique and design flaw not just the size (though it may play a factor). There’s definitely huge tattoos that will stand the test of time worse than some micro tattoos :/ he made good points, but a lot of stuff he said is generalized, blatantly biased, and off of stuff he may not know (like tattoo artists not informing their clients)

[@thenevershow3795]

Just did a cover up of a butterfly micro tattoo. cause it was a black blob 4 years after she got it. the line work was so fine black shading ate all the other colors ^o.+^

[@Heritagepostfarms]

A lot of my tattoos are faded, have cuts and burns and generally look worn. I love it. They look weathered and tell a story

[@_mikeramirez]

The "bad" thing about these types of videos, is that the people who will see them will be mostly artists. I think that the audience should be clients, they pay for the tattoos, they deserve to know the truth of how their tattoos will look over the years.

[@poilaaliop]

The only time faded micro tattoos are acceptable is if the fading is intentional. I had a symbol tattooed on in a henna-like orange with the idea that it would fade in a couple of years. Eight years later, it's almost gone and I'm starting to think about what to put there next! It was a good experience, but I think I'd have been devastated if I wanted it to stick around and it faded like this.

[@shanna3148]

I have micro work on my knuckles and they've been going strong for nearly 7 years 🤷‍♀️

[@hayleyjones7227]

I have 3 micro black and grey tattoos and I can say I love them more after 3 years then when I was tattooed, I have several “traditional” styled tattooed and they’ve healed very well compared to my others. (Only speaking to black and grey)

[@nolancampbell4451]

That's funny this was exactly what I was looking for

[@dstrct3742]

I would call myself a ‚fine line tattoo artist‘ and I love working with single neeldes and 3RL‘s but I would never consider doing/creating most of these tattoos myself on other peoples skin. Just for the exact reasons mentioned in this video. People are getting more and more curious about the long jeverdy of small tattoos - for good reasons. but I believe that you can create small tattoos very well (also for the long turn) if you know and CARE about what you are doing. I mean there must be a reason why you have Pony Lawson on this channel so much, richt ? I‘vebeen waiting for so long for more details behind the tattoo culture of south korea( which is in my opinion for the most part the leading industry behind all these fancy micro-styled-tattoos in recent years) - but there is literally no information. and I think thats why this whole thing is so big over there. there are no enough ‚old heads‘ in south korea - teaching and telling the youngsters what works as a tattoo and what not. and since its still illegal over there I guess many people are getting a small, cute tattoo to showcase that you dont have to be a ‚badass‘ or criminal to get tattoed. - i dont really know anything about it. thats just some of the conclusions i came up with in the past couple years by just watching whats trending on instagram and so on.. i love your content Inked. keep it up

[@amazingabby25]

I got mine done by an amazing South Korean artist, it’s 1/4 of my back, and is am opium poppy, it’s 2 years old and still looks stunning!

[@rooftopdwelr]

Great observations...Well said.

[@Molagmal]

I really get annoyed by all the effects added to photos of the finished tattoo's. We're already looking at a tattoo that was finished minutes before the picture was taken, so that is the best that tattoo is ever going to look but then when the artist also adds all sorts of effects in post it really becomes impossible for a client to judge the quality of the work. 10 points to artists who also upload healed pictures!

[@rahulramasami2554]

love that he calls it “the instagram”

[@UnseenDanger101]

why you all trashing on a style of tattooing? people like what they like. I've seen fully down thick lined and super defined tattoos that turned to shit years later like its not just something that happens with fine line. It about the person and how well the tattoo heals.

[@sleeplessmax]

Thank you. As a visual artist and someone who loves getting tattoos and has 1000% respect for the art of tattooing, I try to explain why microtattoos and small/minimalist trendy tattoos are bad investments and? Makes it seem like you can go to any artist and demand anything. I just feel like it opens a can of worms in what people want to get vs what people can get, especially when I hear about artists who already get clientele who aren't too understanding and controlling. Anyways. Mad appreciate this video

[@RosyJeil]

really wondering how these tattoos will look like after a year. tried to find pictures of them but literally never found one🙂

[@lbjeffries]

The lack of healed pics for micros is extremely telling

[@realpkchronicles]

Jons just speaking facts!

[@sparky21737]

Mt first tattoo I wanted to get a micro tattoo on my ankle of a wolf (because I didn't know crap about how they heal etc.). The artist came out and said he tried a few designs but couldn't get detail in that would last. He showed my a slightly larger tattoo then what I originally wanted with a much simpler design which I went with. It has been about five years now and though a touch faded still looks fantastic. I have no trouble believing the tattoo I originally wanted would have been shit lol.

[@beccakate8592]

This video is just *chefs kiss* I’m so happy to see someone speaking up about the trend. No denying the talent and when they’re fresh, they look sick but I feel like you’re low-key scamming people when some of these artist charge upwards of £600 for something as small as palm sized at most, that will be unrecognisable in a year or so. It’s frustrating when they make out that they are getting ‘hate’ when it’s just straight facts that they won’t last. Some will claim to have a special technique ahem Romeo Lacoste but it’s just basic biology that they will fade and blur much faster

[@jatyk9325]

The more I watch those episodes, the more I kinda want to show them my tattoo to get their opinions on how it is going to age. I absolutely adore it from the esthetic point of view, but I know nothing about the aging and it gets me a bit...well, curious at least Also, this guy always seems really cool and professional, please show him more!

[@NovaBlueNova]

I feel like no matter how many times you teach people these lessons, they'll just keep getting these kinds of tattoos. Everyone goes "Yes, don't want tight small lines because they'll bleed" and then their first tattoo is 99% tightly packed thin lines that bleed in like a day. Everyone thinks their tattoo will be the exception...myself included sadly...

[@Sage-qd6tf]

F

[@redragna3648]

Not true. When I learned what happens to tattoos as they age I specifically went with a traditional tattoo that covers my entire thigh so it would last for years. It was a great choice since the tattoo looks pretty much like day 10 years later. Where as some of my friends' tattoos are just blobs of faded ink now.

[@NovaBlueNova]

@@redragna3648 You're proving my point. Most people get blobs.

[@sugarpack]

i feel like this would be even more interesting with someone who actually does microtattoos. i'm on board with jon's points but i'm just curious as to what they would say lol but also, do whatever the fkc you want with your skin!

[@inked]

You'll see that in the future, this is the first of our "Tattoo Opinions" series.

[@sugarpack]

@@inked niiiice! looking forward to it!

[@soovin6411]

there's a video called "so you want a micro tattoo" on this channel! It's pretty interesting to hear bang bang's views and compare it to this video

[@vurs15]

Pony Lawson speaks on micro tattoos

[@inked]

@@vurs15 One major difference is that Pony mostly works in black-and-grey, not color. The science behind it all is quite different.

[@S197GT]

Jon Mesa gave me a micro tattoo about 7 years ago. As soon as he was done, he said, "That shit's gonna stay forever!" He was right.

[@thedestroyasystem]

what is it of?

[@oopsallbugs]

Of what? Like, a micro tattoo of an intricate, pastel-colored nature scene or a micro tattoo of a black circle? Details matter

[@S197GT]

@@oopsallbugs a black and gray skull on my ring finger. About the size of a half dollar. Dope session. He freehanded it and stippled it.

[@maggiescarlet]

The van gogh one... You can see that they already have planets on their hand that probably used to be super tiny and detailed, why didn't they learn?? The planets look fine, but they should have seen how much the lines bled and NOT gotten a detailed painting done like that 😭

[@HotYoghurt1]

I saw a tattoo on instagram a few months ago that was an alligator and it looked amazing, like so so cool. But I couldn't help but comment on how nice it looked but also how in a matter of 1 to 2 years the thing would be illegible. It was quite small, used a lot of white and pale colours and even the scales were done with such a thin needle. Someone tried to argue that with proper care the tattoo would last, but tbh I knew they were talking out their arse. I agree with Mesa here and I'm glad you decided to make a video on it because skin is a completely different medium to paper and I think a lot of new tattoo artists are forgetting this. When putting together a portfolio of work for tattooing I always try and make the drawing simple and legible depending on its size.

[@maenad1231]

I don’t have any tattoos but I honestly believe tattoo enthusiasts do get some enjoyment seeing their tattoos evolve overtime a little even if it doesn’t “objectively” look as good. Seeing some aging in a tattoo adds to the story and probably would help you reflect on that time of your life even easier. Hardcore enthusiasts who don’t like the way their ink ages will probably wouldn’t mind getting touch ups from an artist the trust. *Nothing* good lasts forever, so smile while you have it

[@daniellas8062]

“oN a knEeCAp !!”

[@jeremyguthrie6681]

Respect for the honesty from this guy.

[@YallahYah]

I glad my tattoos' artists recommended me to go for a bigger sizes. That's one factor I'm willing to compromise because they know their craft and I trust them in that regard, even if I'd like it just a lil bit smaller. 😊 Jon is great, I'd like to get some ink from him one day.

[@monopolizeme]

Thank you for calling it out! Micro tattoos are so pretty and I see these tiny one color tone tattoos on ig all the time. But they are NOT going to last. At all. And so many people are unaware.

[@EurydiceAllAlong]

I remember growing up, I wanted all these colorful pieces and micro tattoos. Now that I'm older and have watched a bunch of videos of artists talking about what stays, I'm sticking to pretty much black and gray for my upper body and American traditional for my legs. I love how those tattoos look, but if I'm spending the money I want it to last as much as I can.

[@Kakmanmartinez666]

I could never get a micro tattoo. I'm a "go big or go home" kinda person. Currently trying to save for my first 5 hour tattoo. It's Vegeta from Dragon ball Z 😃 then I'm gonna try and work on getting a sailor moon one

[@marcmontana2562]

Got mad love and respect for Jon Mesa. He is super talented and is outspoken about tattooing. His passion really shows through his words and actions.

[@kaycee8323]

"I'm not here to trash or bash" "oh god I immediately hate this tattoo"

[@davemonster2]

It's like all these new tattooist arnt paying attention to mistakes of the past. When I was getting my first tattoo all the old punks I hung out with taught me all the rules of tattooing. The main they pushed was go big. All the tiny stuff they had had bleed out over time. This stuff is known x'D

[@Mizz.Person]

Big egos don't listen to experience who knows.

[@monke2229]

I'd like to have an opinion on this by someone who actually does those kind of tattoos. I know you don't wanna talk bad about your own work, but a perspective that isnt already negatively opinionated to the tattoos would be cool

[@Caffeinatedali]

Inked primarily hosted that opinion though (Bang Bang guy), I'm impressed they've made this 😂

[@inked]

We want to hear that side of things as well, and you will see that in an upcoming video. This is the first of our "Tattoo Opinions" series where we're going to explore topics such as this.

[@tiffanybaby13]

The worst part of celebs that get trendy micro tattoos or watercolor tattoos is that they paid thousands of dollars and its not even going last, they’re just like oh tattoos are permanent

[@J9Gata]

When I got my tattoo I wanted it on my inner wrist, the artist took one look and said it will look better longer if we go a bit larger and move it up onto your inner forearm. So I did that and 2 years later I still love it and im glad he mentioned it to me 😁

[@parandroid997]

I’m just gonna pretend my tattoo artist didn’t come up at 5:02 😭

[@frankyskleinerengel]

Your tattoo is beautiful, don’t take his words to your heart he is just extremely biased.

[@parandroid997]

@@frankyskleinerengel oh it’s not my tattoo, I just recognized my tattoo artists style! It is a beautiful tattoo, I had been thinking of getting something like it pre-pandemic but now probably never 😅

[@evw5536]

@@frankyskleinerengel It isn’t biased it literally doesn’t last long

[@grace2]

who is it? i adore the art style and would love to follow on insta

[@laurakane7147]

Me with my 5 year old Micro tattoo that is still absolutely perfect

[@EvaluunaM]

Yeah I’ll believe it when I see it lol. ALL tattoos, big or small, change with time bc our skin changes & takes wear . So it’s almost impossible that it is still “perfect”

[@laurakane7147]

@@EvaluunaM calm down Jamal

[@raquelraul1294]

@@laurakane7147 i wanna see a pic care to share ?

[@paulini7015]

@@raquelraul1294 me too do you have an instagram account or sth? :)

[@hammylions2569]

@@raquelraul1294 of course she never shared- because even American/Japanese traditional tattoos don't look exactly the same several years later. It may look good in comparison to other similarly aged tattoos but there's no way it doesn't look aged. And with it being tiny there's no way there isn't blurring. To each their own and if you are happy to have a very blurred tattoo or to have lots of touch ups- cool. But people shouldn't pretend that isn't going to be the case.

[@NovaBlueNova]

Oh man that whale was a tragedy. Such an awesome picture that would've been so dope as like a full shoulder or chest piece...just massacred by tiny lines that will literally just turn into a black and blue turd. Such a cool piece just jpeged to shit

[@YoGranDaddyEvil]

Ya know, I remember when people would tell me my hyper realism tattoos will look like shit in a couple years only for them to look just as good today as when I got them. FFS, not everyone spends all summer in the sun and lives a party lifestyle. Usually the ones that hate on a particular style are the ones who suck at it. Also ever stop to think of the progress the inks made over the last 20-30 years???

[@user-nw7fk1dj2m]

Except we already know micro tattoos age like shit

[@thedestroyasystem]

I think it depends on if the artist knows what they're doing. I mean, certain sizes/colors are gonna fade sooner, that's just facts. But a talented tattoo artist will do what it takes to make your tattoo last as long as possible. If someone knows what they're doing they'll do their best to avoid things that'll make it fade sooner, and even a difficult tattoo can last under the right circumstances. You can look it up, this dude (Jon Mesa) did a pretty small Ruth Bader with a crown on Pete Davidson. Even though it was super small, it looks good because the black was packed in there. Honestly I see this vid more as a critique of going micro without knowing what you're doing to make it last.

[@terminaldeity]

No tattoo ever looks as good as the day you get it. You don't need to lie.

[@YoGranDaddyEvil]

@@terminaldeity One swipe of baby oil and yes they do. If there is any scaring or fading, it is from poorly done work and mainly from bad aftercare.

[@GenerallyPwned]

Obviously everyone's entitled to their personal tastes, but so many of these tattoos just look like art prints slapped on to people's skin, like the Van Gogh one. It would be nice to see more of these tattoos made to actually fit the shape of the body part.

[@ThatGirlNoli]

Why are soooo many tattooists, negative haters?

[@majdakrizova4927]

"so kudos to this person" for a moment I forgot I'm on youtube and not on AO3

[@chloeiacovou907]

The people with micro tattoos watching this video... 😥😰

[@melophile_69]

Me who wants to get one🥺

[@adalovelace13127]

Artists on insta who consistently post micro/white line and pale art im like okay post this again when it's aged 5 years can we still see it??

[@codfishbricker]

>Pony Lawson has entered the chat

[@jaydubs6354]

Nothing I respect more than a proper tattoo artist that wants the absolute best for his clients. I get it fuckin bang bang and mr k made micro tats tumblr popular. There’s maybe a hand full or two of artists capable of giving that tattoo where it lasts. What he’s saying is you can’t go to your local tattoo artist and expect him to do the same level of work and longevity

[@pjnkblue]

7:24 “Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should do it” I didn’t know of this tattoo artist before, but I like him now.

[@TheE_Zee]

*Pony Lawson has left the chat*

[@Killsaurus]

THANK YOU JON YOU ARE A BRINGER OF TRUTH. It absolutely kills me how much money people are paying for these micro tattoos because they're 'trendy'

[@coraautumn1130]

Not wrong! I have so many friends who have micro tattoos and less than a year after getting it done they've all faded and blurred out, every single one of them!!!

[@erickt2665]

A part of me likes the idea of getting a micro script tattoo with the fading being intended

[@poilaaliop]

I did something like that! Got a symbol tattooed on in a henna-like orange with the idea that it would fade in a couple of years. Eight years later, it's almost gone and I'm starting to think about what to put there next! It was a good experience, but I think I'd have been devastated if I wanted it to stick around and it faded like this. People need to educate themselves more before going in.

[@thejobbernowl]

This was deeply informative. More videos with this guy, please.

[@ShyClam]

Yeah honestly I don't want a "yes sir" tattoo artist, I want one who is honest with me with the design, size and placement. I really wish we could see photos of different styles of aged tattoos (after 10 years), but I did myself some researches and it's hard finding old micro-tattoos (either because the style is recent or because people are hiding it for some reason).

[@jcbpstr6]

Whats the point of micro tattoos Once i get the money imma walk in a shop and be like lemme get a dragon sleeve, i want it readable for me in the mirror and for others , or a star wars tat under my arm pit or on my lower side of my abs , people gotta know what the tattoos are, micro tats seems like a product of my generations instagram clout mentality, doing stupid shit that isnt big or noticeable bc they can get the dope art that small just to look cool 😒 its also a cop out for people that want ink but dont WANT ink i feel . Its probably hard af so im not gonna bash the craft but just the idea of micro tats just seem stupid . Thats like if i started drawing on a 2x5 lineless note pad and framing my art just to see how small i can make my art

[@Kiba0Shino0Hinata]

i don't think you guys understand that the level of detail in micro tattoos doesn't disappear in a couple years, it only takes a couple WEEKS. when the fresh tattoo is done peeling, a lot of the detail peels off with it. go big and bold on tattoos or don't bother

[@ironhead9507]

My biggest gripe is most tattooer's don't show the healed tattoos

[@dr.zombiex]

Here’s the thing. Micro tats are fine, but you need to be realistic about it. Simple items can be micro tats. Throwing in details is just begging for trouble.

[@TheFrigidsnow]

Wow, this is very informative. I recognised tattoos of artists i wanted to have. Now I know better. Thank you

[@Hayakoneko]

Yes yes yes yes! As a tattoo artist myself I hate this instagram/pinterest shit. Are you getting a tattoo for a year? Or for life? A bunch if these artists may be amazing artists but they're bad tattooers. No respect for the craft.

[@christopherbiehl237]

so now i am going full blacked out bodysuit so nothings gonna fade 😂

[@thedestroyasystem]

oof, much pain. Hope it looks good on ya XD

[@inked]

Make sure they really saturate the black or it's going to be a problem... :)

[@_kumatz]

*Hoode has entered the chat*