Caring for your tattoo will help it stay beautiful. This article tells you how to speed healing, prevent infection and maintain your work of skin art.
Getting a tattoo is an important life decision. Once you have the image inked on your body, you can't easily change your mind. Aftercare of your tattoo is thus the key to preventing infection, speeding the healing process and keeping your tattoo looking as bright as the day you got it!
After the Tattoo:
When your masterpiece is finished, the tattoo artist will usually wrap your new work of skin art in a thin plastic film, taped at the edges. Some artists use gauze as an alternative. Keep this on for a few hours.Usually two is enough. Then take it off carefully. Some artists won't cover your tattoo at all. If that's the case, make sure that it doesn't stick to your clothes or sheets. After a few hours, wash the tattoo gently in unscented soap and warm water. Dove or Pears are good choices. Pat dry with a paper towel.
Helping the Healing:
Getting bacteria in a tattoo will cause infection. This will irritate the skin and dull the colours. Tattooists have different opinions about ointment. Some will tell you to let the tattoo air-dry and it will heal faster. Others suggest applying a thin coat of a healing gel on the tattoo several times a day.
Karen Hudson suggests “a specialty product such as Tattoo Goo or H2Ocean,” though many over-the-counter products also work. Don't use Polysporin or its derivatives, though. They are for healing infection, not preventing it! “Maintain moisture and allow oxygen” as Nicole Allard emphasizes. Keep moisturizing your tattoo “for 2-3 weeks." Att the beginning, according to Pat Fish, owner of the Santa Barbara tattoo shop, it's “not too much to put it on once an hour.”
Don't let the skin grow tight with dryness and don't let it suffocate under layers of clothing. Most importantly, expect that the tattoo will scab. Don't pick at it or scratch it. This will ruin the colour and increase the chance of infection. Allow it to heal naturally.
Keeping it Beautiful:
Never let water run directly on your tattoo until it is healed. Try not to soak too long in the tub. The main key to keeping your tattoo bold is to stay out of the sun. Tanning or burning will break down the colours and fade your work of art. Apply a sunscreen lotion of 30 SPF if you must be outside for prolonged periods of time.
Once your tattoo is completely healed, touchups are sometimes required to strengthen lines and darken shading. After this, it will heal again quickly, and you can enjoy the beauty of your tattoo's self expression for years.
