Your new tattoo is done and the job of the tattooist is complete.
- When
- 22 Dec 2015
- Where
- Cardiff South Wales.
Now it is your turn to take care of the tattoo. It is extremely important that you take good care of a healing tattoo.
How you care for the tattoo will affect how the tattoo looks for the rest of your life, we have some tips on how you should care for your new ink.
The first 48 hours are the most crucial in the healing of a tattoo. Here is what you should do:
Once completed, the tattooist will place cling film over the tattoo to protect it from dirt and other foreign objects.
It also keeps your clothes or anything else from rubbing against your sensitive tattoo. You will want to keep the cling film on for at least two to three hours.
In some cases tattooists may suggest that you keep the cling film on overnight so the tattoo won’t stick to your sheets or pajamas.
Some of the ink will seep out of your skin during the first 12 hours and stain whatever you are wearing or sleeping on.
If you shower before going to bed, wash the tattoo and then carefully tape a piece of plastic wrap over the tattoo.
cling film makes a great protective cover for tattoos. Tattoos on some parts of the body, such as a chest, can be hard to keep a cling film on, as it will fall off with your body movements. You can either re-tape the cling film on or just take it off and go to the next step.
Keep it clean. After the cling film has come off, you will need to clean your tattoo. There will be some tattoo colour slime that has oozed out of your skin along with a little blood/plasma, this is normal. Wash the tattoo gently with water and pat dry the area with kitchen roll, most of the time it is just easier to take a shower. as many tattoos are on body parts that can make washing in a sink very awkward.
What NOT to do!
- By Daryn.
- 22 Dec 2015
- Where
- Katdemon Ink Cardiff South Wales.
Don’t pick at it. Your tattoo will scab if you let it dry out. Do not pick the scabs. Your skin is still healing beneath the scabs. If you pick the scabs off, you can cause scarring and ruin your tattoo.
Don’t go swimming, if your tattoo becomes too moist, as in too much ointment or being submerged in water for too long, ink can come out of your skin. Chlorinated water found in pools will react badly with your tattoo. It can cause irritation and then create excess scabbing.
Don’t take it out in direct sunlight. If you work outdoors, wear something that will cover your new tattoo. The sun is a big no and will damage the tattoo. To be safe, you will want to keep a new tattoo out of the sun for three weeks to a month and after that you will want to put an SPF-45 sunblock on it.
Don’t scratch. As the tattoo is healing, it will begin to itch. If you scratch the tattoo while it is healing, you could rip a scab off prematurely and cause a hole in the tattoo. You could just tear the skin, as it is very thin and more delicate than normal while it is healing. You can gently pat the tattoo, which will cause some relief. The best way to avoid a very itchy tattoo is to moisturise it properly throughout the healing process.
Don’t work out. Larger tattoos that take up a lot of skin and are near a joint will take longer to heal if the joint gets too much movement while the tattoo is trying to heal. You will feel the irritation so it is best to avoid working out for a few days. If you are in some kind of self-defense class like MMA, boxing, karate, kung fu, or kickboxing, you may want to avoid getting hit near the area of the tattoo. You also may want to take it easy on the calisthenics.
Many construction workers and mechanics will get tattooed on a Friday evening so they have the whole weekend to heal. It’s best to take it easy for a few a days to let your tattoo heal properly.
Proper care of your new ink will ensure that the tattoo will have bright colours and dark blacks and no scarring.
Things To Know Before You Get A Tattoo
- When
- 22 November 2015
- Where
- Cardiff South Wales.
Give yourself some time to be sure you’re happy with your choices — design, placement, artist. Spontaneity is all well and good, but marking your body for life is a big decision. While it’s more than OK to choose something that isn’t the be all end all of your existence, make sure you are making your decision in the right mind and for the right reasons for yourself.