Ok enough leg pulling on my part.
I went off and checked my research notes on the issue. I wanted to take a look at the font size of the actress you mentioned.
Your artist is correct that small writing will simply not last the test of time. The problem there is that the font with an 8 or 10 pt will simply blur after approx 10 years.
This is because when the pigment is entered into the skin via the stasis/carrier fluid it is locked into place by scar tissue. The tissue forms in pockets which are invisible to the naked eye and contain hundreds of holes for even a small tattoo letter.
Since you have a foreign body locked into the skin the scar tissue isolates the pigment from entering the blood stream but at the same time your white blood cells mainly granulocytes (like internal sandpaper) and the macrophages are trying to devour the pigment and ‘washes’ the pigment away over a period of 10-15 years. This is the cause of fading.
The membrane of scar tissue also wears thinner allowing the pigment to seep causing a blur effect as the pockets spread.
In order to minimise the risk you would have to go at least a size such as 12pt but most likely a 14pt (or higher is better.
Even at a 14 pt size font you will get some blurring with age it is unavoidable (you can reline and shade but it is a fact all tatts blur esp text ones).
To fit that size of text on to your bicep would mean a need for big arms as the artist may even want to go upto a size 20pt (depends on the style).
That many words is not going to fit well in such a cramped area and would prob require a chest or full arm to spread it out. The closer together the more the blur is noticable.
Kudos to your artist for not taking your money as some are unscrupulous and would say ‘hell yes you can’.
The truth is you can but if you want it to look good and keep it looking good another body location is prob required.
Take care
Matthew
