How To Protect New Tattoo?

How To Protect New Tattoo
Aftercare for Your Tattoo – So, how can you make sure that new tattoo is something you don’t end up regretting? Follow these steps while your new tattoo heals.

  1. Be sure your artist covers your new tattoo in a thin layer of petroleum jelly and a bandage.
  2. Remove the bandage after 24 hours. Gently wash the tattoo with antimicrobial soap and water  and be sure to pat dry.
  3. Apply a layer of antibacterial/Vaseline ointment twice a day, but don’t put on another bandage.
  4. Gently wash your tattoo area twice a day with soap and water and gently pat dry before reapplying the antibacterial/Vaseline ointment.
  5. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean it to keep it moist.

You should repeat this process for 2 to 4 weeks. Also try not to wear clothes that will stick to your tattoo, and avoid swimming and the sun for about 2 weeks. And take cool showers. Scalding hot water will not only hurt, but it can also fade the ink. Wear a physical blocker sunscreen  with at least 7% zinc oxide sunscreen during the daylight hours and/or cover it up (with clothing, a bandage).

Should you keep a new tattoo covered?

Your tattoo needs to breathe, so once you remove the original bandage — usually it’ll be bandaged in clear plastic or surgical wrap by the artist — it’s best not to cover it. Wrapping it may result in extra moisture and a lack of oxygen, which can cause scabbing and slow healing.

What should you not do after a tattoo?

How long should you keep a new tattoo covered?

You’ll need to keep your tattoo wrapped in cling film from one to three days. Depending on the size of your artwork this may be longer and your artist will let you know but a general rule of thumb is: Small line-work pieces – keep the cling film on for one to two days.

Do and don’ts after tattoo?

Should I wrap my new tattoo at night?

This info should guide you through the care of healing your tattoo, but if you have any other questions while it is healing, do not hesitate to contact your artist directly or call the shop for immediate reply. There are no stupid questions about healing.

  • – After your tattoo is completed, your artist will bandage your tattoo for your trip home;
  • Leave the bandage on for one to three hours;
  • When you take the bandage off, wash it with very warm water (as hot as is comfortable) and mild liquid hand soap (like Dr;

Bronner’s, Dial or Softsoap, just no perfumed or exfoliating body washes). Pat it dry gently with a paper towel, and let it air dry the rest of the way (never scrub the tattoo with a towel or sponge). Then you will apply a very small amount of Aquaphor Ointment or plain, unscented skin lotion (we recommend Aveeno, Lubriderm, Curel, or any of their generics) to the tattoo, just enough to lightly moisturize.

  • Your first night sleeping, your artist might recommend you re-wrap the tattoo with plastic wrap (like Saran Wrap) to sleep without the tattoo sticking to your sheets. This is generally for larger or solid-color tattoos. If your artist did not recommend re-wrapping, just let the tattoo stay exposed to air overnight.
  • Every day from then on, you will wash the tattoo in the morning and at night, and apply lotion 3 times a day or so, or whenever the tattoo feels dry or tight.
  • Always wash your hands before touching the tattoo.
  • DO NOT apply Vaseline, Neosporin, Bacitracin or any other medicated or perfumed product to your tattoo.
  • After a few days, the tattoo will form a thin scab over it, and in about a week the scab will begin to flake off in the shower. DO NOT pick or scratch at the scab, just keep it clean and moist and the scabs will all fall off by themselves in about two weeks. Picking any of the scabs off will cause faded color and damage to the skin.

During healing do NOT:

  • Wrap the tattoo after the first night (wearing breathable clothes over it is fine as long as they are not causing friction. (Keeping tattoos wrapped in plastic or bandages will stop air from getting to the tattoo, slow healing, and make gross stuff grow in there. )
  • Submerge the tattoo in water. This means baths, pools and oceans. Regular showering is fine.
  • Expose it to strong sunlight (Like outdoor activities or beach days. Walking to your car is fine)
  • Shave over the tattoo (ouch!)

When all the scabs fall off and the skin feels smooth again to the touch, it is all healed and you can shave over it again, and swim and everything else. Sometimes after the scab falls off there is a secondary shiny, raised or waxy coat over the tattoo. This is just another healing layer of skin. Continue to moisturize it and it will smooth out by itself over time. If you have any questions about your tattoo while its healing you are always welcome to come by the shop and have us check it out, or email the artist who did the tattoo with “AFTERCARE” in the subject line for an immediate response.

  • Do not slather a big, thick coat of product over it; just enough for it to stay moist and flexible;
  • If you are using Aquaphor, you can switch to a plain lotion after the first few days;
  • Lotion is generally fine for everyone, your artist will recommend if you would benefit from ointment;

If something doesn’t look perfect After your tattoo is finished healing, we’ll do our best to make it right. Sometimes with excessive scabbing, or other unpredictable reactions during healing, your skin can reject some ink, leaving a “light spot” that is closer to your skin color in the tattoo (or a line might get thinner or lighter in one spot).

This is common as its unlikely your body will accept every spot of pigment uniformly, so just contact your artist via email after your tattoo is finished healing with a photo to see if a small touch up is in order.

Unless you were negligent during the care of your tattoo, touch-ups are very minor and quick, and guaranteed by our artists if you contact them about it within 3 months of getting the tattoo. Because older tattoos that have settled in fully and aged require more work to make uniform, we suggest coming in as soon as possible when it’s healed, as touch ups are performed for a fee at the artist’s discretion after 3 months.

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Should I cover my tattoo when I sleep?

Can you sleep on a new tattoo? – In an ideal world, you would be able to sleep and not have to worry about the tattoo. Actually, tattoos are effectively open wounds. This means that you need to take some precautions. Going days without sleep isn’t an option.

  • People have different techniques;
  • If you can, you should try to avoid sleeping directly on the tattoo;
  • For instance, if you have a tattoo on your back, try to sleep on your front and let the tattoo breathe;

A lot of tattoo artists recommend sleeping with the wrap that was put on. Others recommend re-wrapping, or just applying healing ointment and keeping the tattoo clean. The important thing is avoiding infection.

Is it OK to wear clothes over a new tattoo?

So, What Kind Of Clothes Should I Wear Over a New Tattoo? – After getting a tattoo, and during the healing process, which can last between 2 weeks and a month in its initial and most important stage, you should be wearing loose-fitting clothes. That is of course if the tattoo is placed on your body apart from the neck, head, and feet.

For those areas, you need to pay special attention, especially in the case of feet tattoo (the issues of wearing socks and shoes). Loose clothes will cover the tattoo so much so that it stays protected. There is a lower chance the fabric will stick to the tattoo and introduce contaminants as well.

There will be minimal or rubbing of the fabrics against the tattoo, which will significantly minimize healing issues or the chance of an infection. Note: After getting a new tattoo, it will be wrapped and well protected. You can wear loose clothes over the wrap and not really worry about it.

How do I take care of my tattoo the first week?

Aftercare for Your Tattoo – So, how can you make sure that new tattoo is something you don’t end up regretting? Follow these steps while your new tattoo heals.

  1. Be sure your artist covers your new tattoo in a thin layer of petroleum jelly and a bandage.
  2. Remove the bandage after 24 hours. Gently wash the tattoo with antimicrobial soap and water  and be sure to pat dry.
  3. Apply a layer of antibacterial/Vaseline ointment twice a day, but don’t put on another bandage.
  4. Gently wash your tattoo area twice a day with soap and water and gently pat dry before reapplying the antibacterial/Vaseline ointment.
  5. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after you clean it to keep it moist.

You should repeat this process for 2 to 4 weeks. Also try not to wear clothes that will stick to your tattoo, and avoid swimming and the sun for about 2 weeks. And take cool showers. Scalding hot water will not only hurt, but it can also fade the ink. Wear a physical blocker sunscreen  with at least 7% zinc oxide sunscreen during the daylight hours and/or cover it up (with clothing, a bandage).

What cream is best for tattoo aftercare?

Best Overall: Aquaphor Healing Ointment Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment is of the most widely used tattoo aftercare treatments, and you’ll find a lot of artists quick to recommend the old stand-by.

Can I use Vaseline on my tattoo?

– Vaseline isn’t the best choice for tattoo aftercare. Petroleum jelly traps moisture and bacteria, which can lead to infections and scarring if your tattoo doesn’t get enough air while it’s healing. You may be able to use Vaseline on old tattoos if your skin is dry. aftercare ointments and lotions While your tattoo artist should give you the supplies you need for your immediate aftercare, you can also purchase extra ointment and lotion online:

  • A+D ointment
  • Eucerin
  • Lubriderm

How long should I keep my tattoo covered with cling film?

Can I keep my tattoo wrapped for three days in cling film? – My tattoo hurts when wrapped in cling film No. Cling film holds moisture to the skin for extended periods, which is not recommended because it can cause excess ink blurring (tattoo blowout) and premature fading. This usually happens after three days. It is advisable to keep your tattoo wrapped in cling film for two hours but not longer than 12-24 hours.

How often do you moisturize your tattoo?

Should I apply lotion to my tattoo? What kind of tattoo care products do you recommend? – Yes! Moisturizing your tattoo regularly is extremely important. You should moisturize your clean tattoo 3 – 6 times per day, for roughly two weeks (though proper skincare is always important, and most tattoo enthusiasts moisturize their tattoos daily for life!). A white cream lotion or moisturizer, preferably unscented, should be used! We recommend these fragrance-free, white cream lotions:  Aveeno , Curel , and Eucerin . Be warned: your favorite fragranced lotion is not a good option for moisturizing your tattoo – this can cause an excruciating burning sensation when applied to the tattoo, which is essentially an open wound. The fewer chemicals in the product, the better! Pure cocoa butter or shea butter is also popular for darker skin tones and is a fine option. There are some manufacturers who design products specifically for tattoo aftercare that work well for long-term care (such as Tattoo Goo , H2Ocean , and Hustle Butter ). Do NOT use aloe vera gel to moisturize, and we don’t recommend A&D ointment either, as the oil in these products can extract some of the ink from your tattoo.

Should I keep my tattoo covered in cling film?

Why Should I Avoid Cling Film Tattoo Wrapping? – As many tattoo artists say, cling film is the last resort to tattoo wrapping and it should be avoided. Cling film is good for tattoo wrapping right after the tattoo is done; once you remove the cling film, in the following 2 to 4 hours, you should not use it to re-wrap the tattoo.

  1. Now, the reason for this lies in the fact that cling film is made from plastic;
  2. The plastic is not a breathable material, so it traps the air in the tattoo, preventing it from naturally drying out and healing;

Without drying out, the tattoo cannot close and seal. Not to mention that the plastic wrap created a tattoo vacuum, which can heat up the tattooed skin, promoting quicker bacteria and germ breeding and growth. There were also cases of tattoo blowout being caused by cling film and plastic tattoo wraps.

What happens if you leave a tattoo bandage on too long?

Fresh tattoos can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks to heal. During this healing phase, there are 7 things that can ruin your new tattoo before it has even healed. Bad art from a bad artist It’s possible to ruin your new tattoo by choosing an unskilled artist.

  • When speaking about skills, I’m not referring to their artistic skills;
  • This would be about the artists’ tattooing procedure and application skills;
  • Everyone’s skin is different skin;
  • Healthy, unhealthy, plump, loose, tight, oily, or dry;
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Our skin’s surface, thickness, and tightness are also different throughout our bodies. These differences can have a detrimental impact on how the ink lays into your skin. An inexperienced artist can further implicate this. Finding and choosing an experienced artist goes without question 2.

  • Keeping your fresh tattoo covered too long Fresh tattoos are open wounds, and after the tattoo session, the artist will cover your new tattoo;
  • Every artist has a different preference for what they use;
  • Some still use the old school plastic Saran Wrap crap made for sandwiches;

Try to avoid using this food cellophane wrap on new ink. Fresh tattoos should be wrapped with a sterile bandage. The best options are medical-grade adhesive bandages and protective tattoo films like Saniderm or Dermalize. Wrapping a fresh tattoo is essential to help the initial healing while providing protection from environmental contaminants like dirt, germs or anything else that should not go near an open wound.

After the wrap has been on for a few hours, you will start to see blood and plasma underneath. Once this happens, it’s time to remove the wrap, as this can block your skin pores from breathing. This can ruin your new tattoo before the first day is over.

And trust me, I’ve ruined two tattoos by leaving the wrap on too long as per the artist’s instructions. The bandage or wrap should stay on no longer than 6-8 hours max. If using products like Saniderm or Dermalize, you can always remove it, clean the tattoo and apply a new layer.

Tattoo Infections As discussed above, the post-procedure wrapping helps protect your skin from getting infected. Once unwrapped, keep your skin clean and follow proper tattoo aftercare instructions. This will ensure your new tattoo heals without getting infected.

During tattoo healing, avoid touching your ink unless washing or applying aftercare. It’s very easy to transfer dirt and germs onto your fresh tattoo (open wound) from dirty hands. Sleeping with a fresh tattoo Getting a goods night’s sleep can be awkward during the tattoo healing process.

Even more awkward is the size and location of your new tattoo. Try to avoid laying on the tattoo, and or having it covered under the sheets or blankets. Covering a fresh tattoo under blankets or sheets can cause a risk of infection.

The bed is a great place for hidden germs that you do not want to get into an open wound. The same as above, your skin needs to breathe, so not covering up under the sheets helps. Then there’s the issue of laying on the tattoo. You risk having the tattoo stick to the bed or pick up dirt and germs.

You can always lay down a clean towel on the bed if you need to. Another option for sleeping is applying a breathable medical wrap like Saniderm. Make sure to remove it as soon as you wake up so that there’s not too much blood and plasma accumulation.

Cleaning and excess water exposure Keeping a fresh tattoo clean goes without question. So never submerge a fresh tattoo underwater. Also, avoid excessive water exposure while showering. Our skin is like a sponge and it will absorb the water, which can damage the tattoo.

When it comes to cleaning your new tattoo, make sure you do this several times a day. You can read our 17 Best Tips To Heal New Tattoos here. Picking or scratching itchy or peeling skin During the tattoo healing stages, some people experience itchy and scabby skin.

The reason for this to happen is part of your skin’s healing process. But whatever you do, resist the urge to pick or peel your skin as this can damage the color and lines of your new tattoo. To avoid or end any itchy peeling skin during tattoo healing, always use a good aftercare product.

Keep your tattoo clean and moisturized several times throughout the day. Don’t let your tattoo get dry, and only apply a thin layer of tattoo aftercare after every cleaning. Now, in regards to peeling and itchy skin, I have never suffered from this.

I followed the above directions and none of my 21 tattoos have ever peeled or got itchy. Excessive sun exposure Excessive sun exposure is a fast way to ruin a new tattoo. Be aware of any direct sun exposure on your fresh ink. If you must be outside, always keep your tattoo covered, for at least the first 40 days.

Cover Up with clothing or try to stay out of the sun. Never apply any sunscreen on a fresh tattoo. Some of these products have ingredients that are not good for your fresh ink during healing. A list of nasty skincare ingredients will be for another blog.

After your new tattoo has healed, make sure to keep it protected with quality sunscreen product if going outside. Excessive direct UVA/UVB sun exposure  accelerates skin aging, which causes tattoo fading.

Does covering up a tattoo hurt more?

Once associated primarily with seamen and convicted criminals, the Western world’s relationship with tattoos has come a long way over the past century. While some negative stigma remains, we can’t imagine that’ll be the case for much longer: Tattoos are arguably more popular — and more trendy — than ever.

  1. Nevertheless, when it comes to body art, people have questions;
  2. How young is too young to get your first tattoo? Do they hurt? How do you decide what to get? How do you keep your ink from fading;
  3. and how do you protect it from the sun? I spoke to two of Berlin’s coolest female tattoo experts to get some answers to everyone’s most burning questions, once and for all;

Berlin-based photographer Nora Tabel has been getting tattooed for years. The stars on her face, as well as her hand tattoos, are instant conversation starters, but she has a variety of other pieces of ink, from colorful old-school tattoos to bright new creations.

Tabel also just started to cover up some of her older tattoos. If anyone knows what it’s like to walk through life as a work of art, it’s her. Fine artist-turned-tattooer Laura Lesser turned her passion into her profession.

She started off tattooing her friends for fun before landing her own studio last year. Lesser specializes in whimsical line drawings , usually in black. She’s got plenty of tattoos herself, too. Which tattoos are the most painful? Nora Tabel: “Let’s face it: Having ink punched in your skin always hurts, but there are spots that are more crappy than others.

  1. Finger tattoos , for example — they rank high in our ‘freaking painful chart’ and just feel extra awful;
  2. Another bad one is when a sharp-edged needle digs into the soft skin on your stomach;
  3. That’s not nice at all;

Outlines are always bad, too: The thicker the needle, the nastier the pain. Physically, it was challenging to get my chest tattoo covered up. I could hardly breathe, that’s how much pain I was in. So, you should think your decisions through very carefully and choose a motif that’s timeless and the right thing for you, because cover-ups hurt ten times more than a regular tattoo.

” What’s the perfect first tattoo? Tabel: “Your name in a heart. Love yourself, because nothing is more important than that. Nothing. ” Laura Lesser: “There are as many answers as people in the world. Some general tips: If you haven’t mastered the art of dealing with pain, I recommend starting with a small tattoo in a less sensitive place.

Long tattoo sessions can be a painful challenge. If you think you can handle it because you’ve been waxing your armpits like a warrior, endured the migraines, headaches, and back pains that come with a painful period, or survived giving birth to a child, you might be good to go for a bigger motif.

I tend to tell younger clients to stay away from geometric forms or photorealistic portraits because your body will go through hormonal changes, and shift in shape and size. This will be less obvious when it comes to organically designed tattoos and more obvious when the perfect circle is not so perfect anymore.

If you don’t want to get a tattoo that you’ll also see on every other person, just ask the tattoo artist for an honest opinion — they usually offer some great insight, and they know what’s trendy. I had many costumers coming to me wanting tattoos that were super fashionable and thus less unique and they didn’t even know.

  1. And let me tell you: They were quite thankful that I told them before I got the needle going;
  2. For a perfect ‘first tattoo experience,’ I recommend taking your time to look for the right tattoo artist;
  3. Ideally, you’ll find someone whose style suits your desired motif, who offers great counseling and patiently answers all your questions, someone who takes you and your wishes seriously and makes you feel like you’re in good hands;
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Man, I would have wanted that for my first tattoo. ” What are the best sunscreens for protecting tattoos? Tabel: “Organic and fair trade — without microplastics and carcinogenic substances. ” Lesser: “The stronger the sunblock, the longer saturated shades will last, because the sun bleaches tattoos out.

Sunscreen is necessary for tattoos, with one exception: Don’t put chemicals on your tattoo if it hasn’t healed yet. You should wear dark clothes and cover it up instead, and try to stay in the shade. ” Have you ever found your tattoos to cause difficulties in your everyday life? Tabel: “I had more issues in my rather stuffy hometown in the Rhineland than in colorful Berlin.

No one gives a shit in the ‘big B’ (as Berlin is called by locals). Diversity and different looks define the townscape just as much as the dog poop on the sidewalks. In my hometown, on the other hand, people looked at me weirdly — sometimes they even insulted me.

  • I mean, it’s really none of anyone else’s business how my body looks;
  • ” Have your tattoos ever been a problem when it comes to finding jobs? Tabel: “No;
  • I got every job that I wanted;
  • Be it as an employee or self-employed, my tattoos have never stood in my way;

On the contrary, they are often an icebreaker and the beginning of an exciting conversation. I should probably add that I never wanted to work for the police or a corporate financial institution. That probably would’ve been different. ” What’s the best age to get your first tattoo? Tabel: “I got my first tattoo at the age of 15, and I just had it covered up.

  1. Anyway, I’m just covering some of my old tattoos up because they don’t fit my new tattoos;
  2. I think right now is the best time to get a tattoo! Thanks to the internet, you can find great tattoo artists who make dreams come true with their needles and create art that will still be dope in twenty years;

Your age doesn’t really matter at that point. However, I’m still trying to forbid my son to get tattoos, but he doesn’t listen anyway. ” Lesser: “That can be 18 or even 80. The important thing is that it feels like the right age for you. If you hesitate, you might want to wait; if you feel like you’re ready at the age of 18, your 40-year-old self might have to buckle up and deal with the decisions of your younger self.

  • That’s just my attitude to life in general;
  • And that’s also something that tattoos can teach you: to embrace who you are, inside and out, without taking yourself too seriously;
  • ” When do you have to touch up your tattoo? Lesser: ” Getting a touchup is an option, but you can only do it so often;

It’s normal that a tattoo fades and ages. It takes four to six weeks until a tattoo is healed, and sometimes tattoo artists ask you to come in for a follow-up appointment to take a final look and prevent unwanted contingencies. Sometimes you’re not a hundred percent happy with how your tattoo turned out, because there are inconsistent lines or larger areas that are uneven.

Those would be good reasons to get a tattoo redone. Most tattoo artist do those corrections for free, unless we’re talking about finger or mouth tattoos, which are predestined for imperfection. In those cases you might be charged extra for corrections and follow-ups.

It’s really important to stick to the instructions your tattoo artist gives you on how to take care of your tattoo during the healing process. Different tattoos need different care, and the final look can be strongly impacted by the healing process. A professional tattoo artist will be able to tell if you followed the instructions for the aftercare and might not be open to redoing it if you didn’t.

” How much do tattoos cost? Lesser: “Usually, the tattoo artist estimates the price of your tattoo at an hourly rate and the estimated time they’ll spend with you. You can get tattoos in all price ranges: crazy expensive ones from a famous tattoo artist that makes you wait for an appointment for years, or a cheap one on a wild night out that could be covered up for a high price or loved for its imperfection and sentimental value.

(Though if you’re going for the latter, please make sure you keep everything sanitary. ) Between these two extremes, the starting price for tattoos varies by location and tattoo studio. Small tattoos may seem relatively expensive; however, a tattoo artist needs to provide the same perfectly sanitary station for a small dot as he would for a large back tattoo.

That costs a lot of time and material. So-called ‘customs,’ which are designed for the customer, usually cost more than flash tattoos, which are finished motifs that the tattoo artist has in the studio and wants to work on.

If you want to save money and do it right, you should check out the ‘Flash Days’ offered by many studios, when you can choose from a pool of discounted designs by great tattoo artists and get it done right away. ” This story was originally published on Refinery29 Germany and has been translated from German..