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A talented artist is only part of having
a great tattoo. The other half is all about how well the tattoo is
taken care of afterwards. Good aftercare is crucial to having a brilliant
tattoo, opposed to one that is dull and unattractive.
After you receive your tattoo, a bandage will be placed over it. A general time will be instructed by your artist to leave the bandage in place. Do not keep bandage on longer than the recommended time. Do not rebandage unless otherwise instructed. If the bandage sticks to the skin, run warm water over the entire bandage to remove. Keep moist with a recommended ointment every 2-6 hours, the goal being to avoid drying out as to prevent scabbing. It is imperative to never pick at a scab that might occur no matter how itchy or flaky it becomes. Premature scab loss is one reason for a dull tattoo. A thin layer of ointment applied more often is much better, opposed to a thick layer less often. Keep it clean. Use good common sense and avoid being in dirty places and exposing your fresh tattoo to dirt and pollutants. If you work in a dirty environment, do your best to cover your tattoo with clothing. Clothing is a better choice opposed to a bandage but more ointment will need to be applied as the fabric will slightly rub and absorb it. Ware breathable shoes if the tattoo is on the foot and avoid socks altogether. Obviously avoid trekking in the dust for all lower leg tattoos. Wash your hands each and every time you apply ointment to your tattoo. Your hands are loaded with bacteria even if they appear clean. Wash off the old ointment as much as possible before applying new ointment. When bathing, it is a good idea to gently wash your tattoo with soap, but avoid soaks in bathtubs and prolong showers, waterloging a fresh tattoo may cause any scabbing to peel off prematurely. Pat dry and immediately reapply ointment. Do not soak in swimming pools, hot tubs, etc. until completely healed. And lastly, always use sun block, 30 SPF or greater if out in the sun for 30 minutes or more. The sun is something your tattoo needs to avoid always. The sun washes colors out of everything especially a tattoo. That is the reason most tattoos fade and blur. And sure, one might think that they will have it touched up in a couple of years. But a tattoo should only be gone over a few times max because scar tissues can form and lines can blur. Not to mention the price tag and the hassle. This also includes tanning beds. Sun block is now readily sold in stick form so it can be neatly applied just to the tattooed area.
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