You had been with the design in your head for your new tattoo for a while. Finally, it is set and you are still walking with foil about where your new artwork can be seen. But besides the fact that it is your personal artwork, it is also just a wound. A wound (and therefore also your artwork) that you influence how it heals. Your tattoo can be ruined properly if you are not properly cared for. It is important to protect your tattoo as much as possible against bacteria and external influences. But how? We will of course tell you that.
How were you your new tattoo?
By washing your tattoo you will, in addition to removing all bacteria, also remove ink, wound fluid and blood. If you don't do this you will get thick crusts on your tattoo. Logical of course, because your wound fluid and blood then dry up. If you wash your tattoo in the right way, you will prevent those thick crusts.
It is an art to wash your tattoo in the right way, especially when you first had a tattoo put. Therefore always follow the following steps.
Step 1: Follow the advice of your tattoo artist
Your tattoo artist is the expert. Unless you have your tattoo put somewhere in a basement in the streets of Bangkok at night while you already have a few drinks. But let's not assume that now.
Your tattoo artist will always give you a paper with the steps for aftercare. If this is not done, you have to ask for it. Your tattoo artist will take the aftercare into account the place and size of your tattoo and also knows your specific tattoo as the best. Your tattoo artist will also indicate when your foil can be removed. Therefore always ask for advice regarding aftercare and which Tattoo aftercare Products you need.
Step 2: Wash your hands
Okay, this is the first step if you start washing your tattoo yourself. Always wash your tattoo with your hands! So get away with that sponge.
This step is certainly not one to skip, because it will surprise you how many bacteria are floating around on your hands. To make sure that you do not convey it to your wound, it is therefore very important to wash it off your hands with a good soap.
Step 3: Wet your tattoo with lukewarm water
Check. The. Temperature. By. It. Water. This is extremely important. When you use too hot water, you will suffer pain. And that's not the only thing. Your pores are open and if your water is too hot, you run the chance that you will leak just set tattoo ink. The result? Your tattoo fades in some places and the lines will immediately become less tight. So not recommended.
When showering, make sure that you do not put the jet directly on your tattoo. Showering can be rather tricky anyway, we will also go a bit more extensively.
Step 4: Wash your tattoo with a special soap
When you clean your new tattoo, you should not just do this with lukewarm water. No, you have to wash your tattoo well with a mild non -alcoholic hand soap. Preferably one that is specially made for tattoo care, such as Mr. Bear Family Tattoo Wash.
If you use a soap that is specifically aimed at washing tattoos, you will also promote recovery. These special soaps for tattoos contain ingredients that are extra conducive to recovery. And you also calm your tattoo right away! So only benefits.
Step 5: Washing itself
Now the washing itself. You don't have to put much pressure, scrub or scrub. You have to quiet soap in your own hands until you have a good amount. Then wash your tattoo (with the soap in your hands) in circular movements. Do not put too much pressure but make sure you massage the soap gently. Because of the rotating movements you will remove the wound fluid, excess ink and blood from your tattoo in a calm and soft way. This way, thick crusts are best prevented.
Step 6: Rinse well!
We can be very simple about this: rinse your tattoo until all soap residues have disappeared and the water is clear. Then you know for sure that your tattoo is clean and that no soap residues have sticked.
Step 7: Dry your tattoo
You also have to learn a certain technique for this step. You do not dry your tattoo as you will do with the rest of your body. Your tattoo is still an open wound and must also be treated like that.
Dry your tattoo with a dry, clean cloth. So not a towel that you have just dried with your body. Also make sure that this cloth does not fluff! Fluff will attach to your tattoo, and you certainly don't want that. You dry in a dabbling way, so you should definitely not sweep.
Do you find it too exciting to dry your new tattoo? It is of course always an option to let it dry in the air.
Step 8: Spread your tattoo
Always take care of your tattoo after washing with a thin layer of tattoo cream. Always use a cream that is specially made for taking care of new tattoos and do not mess with Vaseline. Your tattoo artist will be able to share advice or their preferences with you!
How often wash your tattoo?
This depends entirely on the place where you have just had your new tattoo put. For example, if you have a tattoo on your hands, it is recommended to wash it more often. In general you have to wash your tattoo about 2 times a day and reduce this over the days. Ask your tattoo artist especially.
Until when do you have to wash your tattoo?
People often go wrong here. Unfortunately we have not always done this step well. But what you have learned can be passed on again! If your tattoo no longer feels like a wound, you tend to stop washing. Believe us - just keep going.
As long as you spread your ointment or cream every day, it is important to keep washing well. Sometimes ointment no longer absorbs completely and then it will therefore remain on it. Then bumps and pimples can occur because the skin can no longer breathe. This naturally also influences the final look of your tattoo (and it will not get better).
When to take a shower after tattoo?
We can be very short in this, because this is the same when the foil can get rid of your tattoo! Here we have to say (yes, again): listen to your tattoo artist. For example, this can also advise to wait about 4 hours after putting. Sometimes special tattoo film is used. It goes off after 3 to 5 days and you can shower with that anyway.
And an extra tip from us: watch the radius of your shower. The ray can be too hard and this can give a blow to your tattoo. The heat also matters, always choose lukewarm water. In addition, you always have to wash your hands first, even when you take a shower.
Do's and don’ts
Do's:
- Wash your hands before you wash your tattoo
- Beat special soap in your hands and wash your tattoo with it
- Always use lukewarm water
- Wipe away the dirt from your tattoo in circular movements
- Always listen to your tattoo artists and their advice
- Dry your tattoo dry or let it dry in the air
Don’ts:
- Do not use dry cloth that fluff
- Do not use dirty cloth
- Do not use hot water
- Do not put the shower jet directly on your tattoo
- Not wash your hands well in advance
- Have too much cream built on your skin
Take good care of your artwork, then it will also stay kind to you for longer. Nobody pays money to then walk around with a black spot. "Is that a tattoo of your dog? No, this is a tattoo of my grandmother." Don't feel like it. So was a long way away!
Life’s Too Short To Let Your Tattoo Go to Shit,
Your friends, The Alpha Men.