You've had the design for your new tattoo in your head for a while. Finally, it's been done, and you're still walking around with foil over the spot where your new artwork is visible. But besides the fact that it's your personal artwork, it's also just a wound. A wound (and thus your artwork) that you have influence over how it heals. Your tattoo can be ruined if you don't take proper care of it. It's important to protect your tattoo as much as possible from bacteria and external influences. But how? We'll obviously tell you how.
How do you wash your new tattoo?
When washing your tattoo, besides removing all bacteria, you will also remove ink, wound fluid, and blood. If you don't do this, you'll get thick scabs on your tattoo. Makes sense, of course, because your wound fluid and blood will then dry up. When you wash your tattoo the right way, you'll prevent those thick scabs.
It's an art to wash your tattoo the right way, especially if you've gotten a tattoo for the first time. Always follow the following steps.
Step 1: Follow the advice of your tattoo artist
Your tattoo artist is the expert. Unless you got your tattoo done somewhere in a basement on the streets of Bangkok at night after having a few drinks. But let's not assume that now.
Your tattoo artist will always give you a paper with the aftercare steps. If this is not done, you should ask for it. Your tattoo artist will consider the location and size of your tattoo for aftercare and knows your specific tattoo best. Your tattoo artist will also indicate when your foil can be removed. Always ask for advice regarding aftercare and which tattoo aftercare products you need.
Step 2: Wash your Hands
Okay, this is the first step when you start washing your tattoo yourself. Always wash your tattoo with your Hands! So get rid of that sponge.
This step is certainly not one to skip, because you'll be surprised at how many bacteria float around on your Hands. To be sure you don't transfer them into your wound, it's very important to wash them off your Hands with a good soap.
Step 3: Wet your tattoo with lukewarm water
Check. The. Temperature. Of. The. Water. This is extremely important. If you use water that's too warm, you'll experience pain. And that's not all. Your pores are open, and if your water is too warm, you run the risk of your freshly done tattoo ink leaking. The result? Your tattoo fades in some places, and the lines become less sharp. Not recommended.
Be careful during showering not to place the stream directly on your tattoo. Showering can be quite tricky anyway, and we'll go into that a bit more in detail later.
Step 4: Wash your tattoo with a special soap
When you clean your new tattoo, you shouldn't just do it with lukewarm water. No, you should wash your tattoo well with a mild alcohol-free Hand Soap. Preferably one specifically made for tattoo care, such as Mr. Bear Family Tattoo Wash.
When you use a soap specifically aimed at washing Tattoos, you will also promote healing. This special Soaps for Tattoos contains ingredients that are particularly beneficial for recovery. And it also calms your tattoo immediately! Only advantages.
Step 5: The washing itself
Now the washing itself. You don't need to apply much pressure, scrub, or rub. You should gently lather soap in your own Hands until you have a generous amount. Then wash your tattoo (with the soap in your Hands) in circular motions. Don't apply too much pressure but make sure to gently massage the soap in. The circular motions will calmly and gently remove wound fluid, excess ink, and blood from your tattoo. This is the best way to prevent thick scabs.
Step 6: Rinse well!
We can be very simple about this: rinse your tattoo until all soap residues are gone and the water is clear. Then you can be sure that your tattoo is clean and that no soap residues are left behind.
Step 7: Dry your tattoo
You also need to learn a specific technique for this step. You don't dry your tattoo the same way you would the rest of your Body. Your tattoo is still an open wound and should be treated as such.
Dry your tattoo with a dry, clean cloth. So not a towel you just dried your Body with. Also, make sure this cloth doesn't lint! Lint will attach to your tattoo, and you definitely don't want that. Drying is done by dabbing, so you shouldn't wipe.
Do you find it too nerve-wracking to dry your new tattoo? It's always an option to let it air dry.
Step 8: Apply cream to your tattoo
Always care for your tattoo after washing with a thin layer of tattoo cream. Always use a cream specially made for caring for new Tattoos and don't mess around with petroleum jelly. Your tattoo artist will definitely share advice or their preferences with you!
How often to wash your tattoo?
This completely depends on the location where you just got your new tattoo. For example, if you have a tattoo on your Hands, it is recommended to wash it more frequently. Generally, you should wash your tattoo about 2 times a day and gradually decrease this over the days. Be sure to ask your tattoo artist.
Until when should you wash your tattoo?
This is where people often go wrong. Unfortunately, we haven't always done this step correctly either. But, what you've learned you can pass on! When your tattoo no longer feels like a wound, you tend to stop washing it. Trust us - just keep going a little longer.
As long as you apply your ointment or cream every day, it is important to keep washing well. Sometimes ointment no longer fully absorbs and will essentially remain on the surface. Then bumps and pimples can develop because the skin can no longer breathe. This obviously also affects the final look of your tattoo (and it won't look better because of it).
When to shower after getting a tattoo?
We can be very brief about this, as this is exactly when the foil can come off your tattoo! However, we must (yes, again) say: listen to your tattoo artist. They may also advise waiting about 4 hours after getting the tattoo. Sometimes special tattoo foil is used. It comes off after 3 to 5 days, and you can shower with it.
And an extra tip from us: pay attention to the spray of your shower. The spray can be too strong and this can be quite a shock to your tattoo. The temperature also matters, always choose lukewarm water. Additionally, you should always wash your Hands first, even when you're showering.
Do’s and don’ts
Do’s:
- Wash your Hands before washing your tattoo
- Lather special soap in your Hands and use it to wash your tattoo
- Always use lukewarm water
- Wipe away dirt from your tattoo in circular motions
- Always listen to your tattoo artists and their advice
- Pat your tattoo dry or let it air dry
Don’ts:
- Do not use a linty towel
- Do not use a dirty towel
- Do not use hot water
- Do not aim the shower spray directly on your tattoo
- Do not fail to wash your Hands properly beforehand
- Do not let too much cream build up on your skin
Take good care of your little masterpiece, and it will stay nice for you longer. No one pays money to end up with a black smudge. “Is that a tattoo of your dog? No, it’s a tattoo of my grandma.” You don’t want that. So wash away thoroughly!
Life’s too short to let your tattoo go to shit,
Your friends, The Alpha Men.