It had been on the schedule for some time, getting a new tattoo. The needle has done its job and before you know it, you are walking out the door satisfied with your new personal work of art. But that's not where it ends. If you want your tattoo to look good, it's up to you to take care of it as well as possible. But how do you actually do that?
Listen to the advice of your tattoo artist
The aftercare actually starts while you are still with your tattoo artist. He or she will explain how to take care of your tattoo. It may vary in size and location when you can shower again and when you can remove the foil from your tattoo. They are, of course, experts in tattoo care.
Also, always ask your tattoo artist about their preference in terms of tattoo care. Most swear by a certain cream for tattoo care. In some cases, you get a paper with instructions so you can't go wrong.
The first day
Taking care of your tattoo the first few days is the most important thing. And, of course, that starts with day one. Once you can remove the foil from your tattoo, it is very important to clean your tattoo properly. You wash your tattoo to remove ink residue, wound fluids and maybe blood. When you don't do this, you can get big scabs on your tattoo. The thicker the crust, the more ink it will suck up, the fainter your tattoo will become. So wash your tattoo at least twice a day in the beginning.
Washing your tattoo the right way
With a fresh tattoo, care is the most important thing. First wash your hands thoroughly with hand soap or disinfectant hand gel. Then wet your tattoo with lukewarm water. Absolutely do not use hot water! Your pores are open and the heat will get the ink out in no time. Your tattoo will fade if you use too hot water. If you want to wash your tattoo in the shower, it is also important not to put the jet directly on your tattoo. The pressure can also affect recovery quite a bit.
Get good antibacterial soap and whisk this in your hands until you have a lot of soap/foam. Apply this soap to your wet tattoo and massage it in with circular motions without pressure. Rinse your tattoo gently and be sure that no soap is left behind. Dry the area with a dry cloth that is clean and lint-free. Make sure you don't wipe, but dab gently. Of course, you can always choose to let your tattoo air dry.
Taking care of your tattoo
How to care for a tattoo is quite an operation. The washing is done. The ink residue, blood and wound fluid has been rinsed off your fresh tattoo and your tattoo has been quietly dried. After this subtle operation, however, it's not done yet. It is time to lubricate your tattoo. Do this with a good ointment recommended by your tattoo artist, don't fool around with Vaseline or leftover coconut fat you happen to find in your kitchen cupboard.
Apply a thin layer of the tattoo cream and gently massage it in. Do not use a thick layer. This is not only unnecessary, but also harmful. Your tattoo cannot breathe that way and thus cannot heal properly. This way you will get bumps or pimples and therefore your tattoo will become a lot fainter than usual.
The first weeks
The first excitement is gone. You are still alive and you haven't lost any limbs in battle. Your tattoo seems to be healing well so you don't need to lubricate anymore. True or false? FALSE! Don't be seduced by the good looks of your tattoo. It needs to be cared for longer than it looks.
Then, of course, the question arises "how long do you rub your tattoo?" When there are no more scabs visible, but there are still some skin cells, you have to keep rubbing. Your tattoo will otherwise dry out and fade. Therefore, keep applying a thin layer of cream to your tattoo at least daily until it is completely healed. Fully healed is when there is no more skin to spot. This is usually after about 4 weeks.
What should I avoid?
Quite a bit. When taking care of your new tattoo, you should leave certain fun things for a while. We'll just list a few for you.
- Sunlight
- Swimming (i.e. the pool, a sea, lake, river, etc.)
- Cuddling with your pets
- The sauna, Turkish bath, etc.
- The solarium
- Intensive sports
- Touching your tattoo with unwashed hands
- Letting others touch your tattoo
- Do not use any skin care products (such as make-up, body lotion, etc.) on your tattoo site.
When you will be kind to the artwork on your skin, it will also be kind to you. Because let's face it, you didn't put it on so that it can fade and look like a medieval disease in no time. Treat your tattoo as art and wear it with pride!
Treat yo self!
Your friends, The Alpha Men.