Can Colored / multicolored Tattoos Be Removed? PicoWay Guide | Somerville
If your tattoo has a black outline but also contains red, green, blue, yellow or other colors, you may be wondering:
Can all of these colors actually be removed?
In many cases, multiple tattoo colors can be treated—but they don't necessarily respond in the same way or fade at the same rate.
That's because laser tattoo removal isn't simply about treating “a tattoo.” Each ink color is a different target.
At A-One Laser & Aesthetic Clinic in Somerville, MA, we use the Candela PicoWay® picosecond laser for tattoo removal. Its multiple wavelength options allow different tattoo pigments to be approached differently rather than treating every color with the same wavelength.
Here's what that means for a multicolored tattoo.
Why Does Tattoo Color Matter?
Laser tattoo removal works by delivering light energy at a wavelength that can be absorbed by tattoo pigment.
When the appropriate pigment absorbs that energy, PicoWay's ultra-short laser pulses create a strong photoacoustic effect that fragments the ink into much smaller particles.
Your body's natural processes then gradually clear portions of those fragmented particles over the following weeks.
But there's an important detail:
Different ink colors absorb different wavelengths of light.
A wavelength that works well for black pigment may not be the appropriate choice for red or yellow pigment.
That's why removing a multicolored tattoo may involve more than one wavelength and more than one treatment strategy.
How PicoWay® Treats Different Tattoo Colors
PicoWay delivers laser energy in picoseconds—trillionths of a second.
The PicoWay platform also offers multiple wavelengths designed to target different ranges of tattoo pigment.
Here's a simple way to understand PicoWay® Tattoo Removal by Ink Color
This guide shows how different tattoo ink colors may respond to PicoWay® laser tattoo removal. Dark pigments such as black, dark blue, dark green, and brown are often strong laser targets, while red, orange, yellow, blue, green, and turquoise may require different wavelengths and treatment approaches. White, flesh-toned, pastel, and certain cosmetic pigments require additional caution because some may darken or change color after laser exposure. Every tattoo responds differently based on ink composition, density, layering, skin type, tattoo age, and individual response.
PicoWay Tattoo Removal Ink Color Guide | A-One Laser Somerville
Black & Dark Pigments
Black is generally one of the more responsive tattoo colors because it absorbs laser energy across a broad range of wavelengths. PicoWay's 1064 nm wavelength is indicated for tattoo colors including:
Black • Brown • Blue • Green • Purple
For tattoo removal, PicoWay 1064 nm is indicated across Fitzpatrick Skin Types I–VI.
But color isn't the only factor.
A heavily saturated professional black tattoo may require substantially more treatment than a lightly applied black tattoo. Cover-ups and tattoos with multiple layers of pigment may also require additional time.
Dark doesn't necessarily mean easy—but it can be an efficient laser target.
Red, Orange & Yellow Ink
Warmer tattoo colors require a different approach.
PicoWay's 532 nm wavelength is indicated for:
Red • Orange • Yellow for appropriate skin types.
These colors can respond to laser treatment, but two tattoos that appear to contain the same red or yellow may not behave identically.
Why?
Tattoo inks aren't all made from exactly the same pigments.
The color you see on the surface doesn't tell us everything about the chemical composition, depth or density of the pigment underneath.
That's one reason we evaluate the actual tattoo rather than predicting treatment based only on its visible color.
Blue & Green Ink
You've probably heard that blue and green tattoos are difficult to remove.
Historically, these colors have presented challenges for tattoo-removal technology because they don't respond optimally to every wavelength.
PicoWay provides several wavelength options for selected blue and green pigments.
Depending on the PicoWay configuration, these include 1064 nm and dedicated 730 nm and 785 nm wavelength options.
That doesn't mean every blue or green tattoo will respond identically.
A deep navy tattoo, turquoise ink and pale green tattoo may contain very different pigment mixtures.
The important point is:
Blue and green do not automatically mean “untreatable.”
They simply need to be evaluated as their own pigment targets.
What About White, Flesh-Toned & Pastel Tattoos?
This is where tattoo removal becomes more complicated. White, flesh-toned and certain light cosmetic pigments may contain compounds that react differently when exposed to laser energy.
Instead of becoming lighter, some of these pigments can darken after laser treatment.
This phenomenon is sometimes called paradoxical darkening or pigment oxidation.
For that reason, tell your provider if your tattoo contains:
White highlights, Flesh or camouflage colors, Very light pastel pigment, Cosmetic tattoo pigment, Microblading or permanent makeup
—even if the light pigment is difficult to see now. These tattoos require careful evaluation before treatment.
Permanent Makeup Is Not Just Another Colored Tattoo
Eyebrow tattoos, microblading and other permanent makeup deserve their own assessment. Cosmetic pigments can contain combinations of colors that behave differently from conventional body tattoo ink. Some pigments can become darker after laser exposure.
That's why we don't automatically approach eyebrow PMU the same way we approach a black body tattoo. Depending on the pigment and history, a cautious approach—including consideration of a small test area when appropriate—may be recommended before treating a larger area.
Why Can One Color Disappear Faster Than Another?
Imagine a tattoo with: a black outline, red flowers, green leaves and yellow highlights.
After several treatments, the black outline might look dramatically lighter while another color remains more visible. That doesn't necessarily mean the treatment isn't working. Different areas of the same tattoo can respond on different timelines.
Several factors influence that response:
Ink color and pigment composition
Amount and density of ink
How deeply the pigment was placed
Professional versus amateur tattooing
Touch-ups and overlapping pigment
Previous cover-up tattoos
Age and location of the tattoo
Skin type
Previous laser treatment or scar tissue
Individual healing and immune response
Aftercare and sun exposure
That's why ink color alone cannot tell us exactly how many treatments you'll need.
Multicolored Tattoos & Cover-Ups
Not everyone wants every trace of a tattoo removed. Sometimes the goal is simply to make an existing tattoo light enough for an artist to create a better cover-up.
That's an important distinction.
Complete Removal
The objective is to progressively reduce as much visible tattoo pigment as possible.
Because different colors may respond at different rates, slower-responding pigments can influence the overall treatment timeline.
Fading for a Cover-Up
The goal may be much simpler. Your tattoo artist may only need certain dark or dense areas lightened enough to give them more freedom with the new design.
In that situation, complete removal may not be necessary at all.
Tell us your goal at the beginning. It can change how we approach the tattoo.
Will a Multicolored Tattoo Need More Treatments?
Possibly—but having multiple colors by itself doesn't determine the number of sessions. A dense professional tattoo with several colors, layers or a previous cover-up may take longer than a lightly applied tattoo.
One color may also reach the desired level of fading while another continues to need treatment.
At A-One, tattoo-removal appointments are generally spaced approximately 8–10 weeks apart, and sometimes longer depending on the tattoo, treatment response and healing. That waiting period matters.
The laser fragments the targeted pigment, but your body continues the clearing process between appointments while your skin has time to recover.
Want to understand what determines your treatment timeline? → Read: How Many Tattoo Removal Sessions Will I Need?
Can Every Tattoo Color Be Completely Removed?
No responsible provider should guarantee that. Many black and colored tattoo pigments can respond very well to modern laser technology, but complete clearance cannot be guaranteed.
Results can be affected by pigment composition, color, depth, density, layering, tattoo location, skin characteristics and individual response. Even two tattoos that look nearly identical can fade differently.
What Should We Look at During Your Consultation?
For a multicolored tattoo, we don't just measure its size. We look at:
Every visible ink color, Ink density, Tattoo depth and saturation, Whether it's a cover-up or has overlapping pigment,
White, flesh-toned or cosmetic pigment, Tattoo age and location, Your Skin Type.
Previous tattoo-removal treatments, Scarring or texture changes, Recent sun exposure, Your treatment goal.
Have a deeper skin tone? Learn more about our approach to Tattoo Removal for Deeper Skin Tones →
And one of the most important questions is:
Do you want complete removal—or enough fading for a cover-up?
Those are different goals and can require different treatment plans.
Multicolored Tattoo Removal: Quick Answers
Can PicoWay® treat colored tattoos?
Yes. PicoWay has multiple wavelength options indicated for different tattoo pigments, including black and selected red, orange, yellow, blue, green, brown and purple inks.
Are blue and green tattoos impossible to remove?
No. PicoWay includes wavelength options specifically indicated for selected blue and green tattoo pigments. Results still vary according to the individual tattoo and skin.
Is yellow tattoo ink removable?
PicoWay's 532 nm wavelength is indicated for yellow, red and orange tattoo pigments in appropriate skin types. Yellow can still be challenging depending on the pigment's composition and how strongly it absorbs the laser wavelength.
What if my tattoo contains white ink?
Tell us before treatment. White and some light or cosmetic pigments can darken after laser exposure and require additional caution.
Can you treat a multicolored tattoo with one laser?
The PicoWay platform provides multiple wavelengths for different pigment targets. The appropriate approach depends on the individual colors, skin type and the specific PicoWay applicators available for treatment.
Can you tell me exactly how many sessions I'll need?
Not accurately from color alone. We can assess your tattoo and give you realistic expectations, but exact treatment numbers and complete clearance cannot be guaranteed.
Have a Multicolored Tattoo? Let Us Look at the Actual Ink.
A photograph on the internet can tell you what is generally possible.
Your tattoo tells us what your treatment may actually require.
At A-One Laser & Aesthetic Clinic, we'll evaluate the colors, density, layering, skin type and your goal—whether that's complete removal or simply enough fading for a new tattoo.
A-One Laser & Aesthetic Clinic Somerville, Massachusetts
Serving Somerville, Cambridge, Medford, Arlington, Everett, Malden, Boston and surrounding Greater Boston communities.
Individual results vary. Multiple treatments are generally required.
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