Breaking Down Colour Barriers: How Advanced Lasers Tackle Difficult Tattoo Colours
Not all tattoos fade the same way. If yours includes shades of blue, green, or turquoise, you’ve probably heard they’re the hardest to remove. That used to be true — but thanks to major advances in laser technology, particularly picosecond lasers, even those stubborn colours are now within reach.
Why Some Tattoo Colours Are So Tough
Each ink colour absorbs light differently. Traditional tattoo-removal lasers (known as Q-switched or nanosecond lasers) deliver energy in billionths of a second. They’re great at breaking down black and dark pigments, but lighter or cooler tones like green and blue often reflect much of the laser energy instead of absorbing it.
In short: if the laser’s wavelength didn’t “match” the ink colour, very little pigment broke down — which is why older devices often struggled to clear those tricky hues.
The Picosecond Difference
Modern picosecond lasers fire pulses up to a thousand times faster — in trillionths of a second. This speed creates an intense photo-mechanical effect, shattering ink into ultra-tiny particles without generating as much heat.
The body’s natural processes then step in: the immune and lymphatic systems gradually clear away the broken pigment. Because the fragments are smaller, they’re easier to remove — which usually means fewer treatments and better results.
Clinical research backs this up.
A landmark JAMA Dermatology study showed that blue and green inks cleared by more than 75% after only one or two picosecond laser sessions, and some faded almost completely.
A PLoS ONE laboratory study confirmed that picosecond pulses caused less damage to surrounding skin while being significantly more effective at breaking down multi-coloured inks than traditional nanosecond pulses.
Further research found that using multiple wavelengths — typically 532 nm for reds/oranges, 755 nm for greens/blues, and 1064 nm for black — allows for truly customised treatments for every colour and skin type.
What This Means for You
If you’ve been told your colourful tattoo couldn’t be removed, there’s a good chance that’s no longer the case.
With today’s multi-wavelength picosecond lasers, we can finally treat pigments that older systems simply couldn’t touch.
Here’s what you can expect:
Better clearance of blue and green tones
Fewer total sessions needed for visible fading
Improved comfort, especially with cooling systems like the Zimmer Cryo 7
Lower risk of pigment changes or scarring
Supportive aftercare, including LED light therapy, to promote healing and calm inflammation
It’s important to remember that everyone’s tattoo and skin are unique. Factors like ink depth, colour mix, and immune response still play a role. Complete removal isn’t guaranteed — but with modern technology, even “impossible” colours are now realistic to fade or clear.
The Science in Simple Terms
Think of older lasers as swinging a hammer — effective but not very precise. Picosecond lasers work more like a finely tuned chisel, targeting each pigment with speed and precision. The result? Less trauma, faster healing, and better outcomes across all colours.
Breaking through the colour barrier is no longer wishful thinking. With picosecond technology, advanced wavelength combinations, and careful, evidence-based treatment, it’s finally possible to remove even the most vibrant tattoos safely and effectively.
References
Brauer J.A. et al. (2012). Successful and rapid treatment of blue and green tattoo pigment with a novel picosecond laser. Arch Dermatol, 148(7):820-823.
Choi M.S. et al. (2018). Effects of picosecond laser on multi-coloured tattoo removal. PLoS ONE, 13(9):e0203370.
Bennardo L. et al. (2021). Picosecond Q-Switched 1064/532 nm laser in tattoo removal. Applied Sciences, 11(20):9712.
Baleisis J. & Rudys R. (2023). Examination of tattoo removal using a 150 ps Nd:YAG laser in a porcine model. Scientific Reports, 13:13062.