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Tattooing is a thrilling, individual experience, but the work does not cease once you’ve exited the tattoo shop. Aftercare is vital in guaranteeing your new tattoo heals and maintaining its rich colors for many years.
A tattoo technically is an open wound, and what you do to it within the days and weeks after getting the tattoo will determine the shape and color that remains. You can prevent infections, scarring, and fading by doing the proper aftercare, and your tattoo will look as new as the day you got it. Here’s your ultimate tattoo aftercare guide!
1. Give Your Tattoo Room to Breathe: Keep the Bandage On
Immediately after your tattoo, your artist will bandage or wrap it in plastic film to safeguard it from bacteria, dirt, and friction. It is wise to leave it on for several hours since it prevents infection when it is new. Don’t take it off too early—let your tattoo breathe and naturally begin the healing process.
Follow your artist’s instructions regarding the bandage. It will depend on the size and type of tattoo. Keeping the ink clean and safe in the first few hours or days is the most important thing.
2. Wash Your Tattoo Like a Pro
Once you remove the bandage, rub your tattoo lightly. Clean your tattoo with mild, scentless soap and lukewarm water to remove obscuring blood, ink, or plasma from your skin. Don’t scrub; rubbing may cause irritation that will damage or lighten your tattoo. Massage the area of the tattoo gently with your hands—do not use cloths, sponges, rubbings, or abrasive materials.
Pay attention to deep skin cleaning, but it should not irritate. Washing your tattoo once or twice as it heals is ideal, but don’t overdo it, as excessive washing will remove your skin’s natural oil and upset the healing process.
3. Drying Your Tattoo the Right Way
Once you have dry-cleaned your tattoo, blot it to dry it properly. Rubbing a towel or a cloth over your tattoo is not advisable because doing so may cause the tattoo to be irritated, scab, or lose its ink. Instead, gently pat the tattoo with a clean, soft paper towel, eliminating excess moisture.
Skip any too abrasive products: your fresh tattoo will suffer from them, and your skin will be irritated. Be careful and kind; drying is a process to avoid trapping moisture and causing infections or heavy scabbing. Keeping it dry, particularly the first few days, is vital to healing correctly.
4. A Little Goes a Long Way of Healing Ointment
Wash and dry your tattoo, and then apply a thin layer of moisturizer. Don’t apply too much ointment; a little is needed. Spreading too much healing ointment will cause the skin not to breathe, and regeneration will slow down. Cover your skin with a non-smelling or branded tattoo ointment, like Aquaphor, to aid your repair process.
It helps moisturize the skin and inhibits cracks or peeling. Rub the ointment onto the skin carefully, avoiding contact with harsh chemicals, fragrances, or alcohol in any product you lay on your tattoo. Sharp chemicals, fragrances, or alcohol are easiest to get on whatever you are using, as they irritate the skin or cause allergies and may hurt your tattoo.
5. Moisturize for Smooth, Vibrant Ink
Proper hydration is essential for a smooth, healthy tattoo. After several days, switch to a moisturizing lotion, one without scent, or a moisturizer for tattoos. Dot a little moisturizer on the tattoo several times daily to aid in hydration and drying. If any of these steps are missed, your tattoo may start to peel, crack, or fade—that is why continuous moisturizing is essential to maintain the tattoo in your skin.
Don’t use products that contain strong perfumes, artificial colors, or alcohol, as they can irritate the tattoo and the surrounding skin. Incorporating a moisturizer into your tattoo will reinforce your healing and ensure your ink stays vivid and clear.
6. Fight the Impulse: Don’t Pick or Scratch
While recovering, your tattoo may itch or scab. Although some itching is healthy as the tattoo heals, avoid touching or picking at the area. Rubbing or picking at your tattoo during the healing process before scabs form typically may cause it to lose ink or make your tattoo form scars.
Letting germs come into contact with your tattoo presents bacteria that can cause infection.
If the itch cannot be borne, attempt to tap the area lightly or use a cold compress. Time your tattoo to heal naturally: scratching will not help, and might only worsen the condition.
7. Opt for Loose Clothing for Comfort
Tight-fitting clothing may lead to additional skin irritation and pressure on your tattoo, making the healing process less effective. Take two clothing items with enough room around your tattoo that don’t weigh heavily upon it. Clothes that fit too tightly can cause friction, leading to peeling, scabbing, or ink loss.
If your attire is limiting, it makes one more likely to develop bacterial issues with one’s tattoo through moisture buildup. To allow your tattoo enough time to heal, wear loose clothes that will not strain your tattoo itself. This choice benefits you because your tattoo will heal more comfortably and your risk of irritation will be low.
8. Protect Your Tattoo from Harmful UV Rays
Sun exposure can cause severe damage to your tattoo and speed up its fading process, making the final effect more challenging. Stay away from direct sunlight for at least 2-4 weeks after your tattoo. Exposure to the sun and getting sunburnt on your new tattoo can lead to blistering and scarring, affecting your ink’s appearance.
Once your tattoo is well healed, you need to wear broad-spectrum protection from harmful UV rays with an SPF of 30 or above. Good shading or protection of your tattoo within the first few weeks prevents damage and allows it to maintain bright colors.
9. Skip the Swim: Avoid Pools and Hot Tubs While Your Tattoo Heals
Though entering a pool, hot tub, or ocean might be tempting, try not to do so until your tattoo is healed. Diving into your tattoo with water will add bacteria, chlorine, salt, and other irritating chemicals, which can lead to infection or cause the color to change.
Resist the urge to swim for at least 2-3 weeks until your tattoo heals completely.
Even after healing, always cover your tattoo with sunscreen when swimming outside. If you get your tattoo wet by mistake, clean and dry it gently as you would to prevent any complications.
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