Why does my new tattoo look faded?

It is possible that your body didn't hold the ink well, and you would need a touch up (this is common), and then do excellent aftercare all over again.

It is possible that you didn't do your aftercare as good as you should have, and if so, get a touch up and have more ink pounded in.

It is also possible that you are expecting your healed tattoo to look like it did when you 1st got it done. This won't happen, because your body grows a protective layer of skin over your tattoo ink, and you view it through this layer. Depending on the color of your skin, your tattoo will look brighter or more subdued.

Also, it sounds like you have some line blow out. This could be the artists fault (wrong depth of needles) or it could be your fault (moving and stretching and pulling and twisting of the skin while healing), or it could partly be because of the area that is tattooed (some areas the skin is thinner, more wrinkly etc.)

And shaving over it when it was only 1 wk old, definitely did not do it any good.

I would check back with your tattoo artist, and have a touch up.

luck~

They all fade some, after they heal up. You just need a touch-up sitting. They're free, for the first couple of months. Don't scrutinize too closely. Remember, it's a work of art, not a body sticker. It'll have some imperfections, just like a piece of fine leather. Take care.