Your tattoo is a self-inflicted injury that you need to nurse back to health to ensure it looks just like the day you got it ( minus all the red irritated swelling). So how exactly do you care for your new tattoo?

If you have indeed picked a reputable artist, he will teach you how to care for your new piece of art work. During the process they will be cleaning the tattoo as well as applying an ointment to help in the healing process. Once the tattoo is completed, they will wipe it down once more, apply another layer of cream and bandage it up using gauze or tissue.

Once all that is completed, the artist should explain to you how to care for your new ink. Some will provide you with a checklist of the do and don’t for your new tattoo. If the artist you choose didn’t explain any of this to you I’m sure you are wondering “What Next”. Well, taking care of your new ink is quite easy as long as you follow the do and don’t of caring for your new tattoo.

When you arrive home from the shop you may be tempted to hop into the shower for a rinse off, Don’t! You should try and keep your new modification clean and dry for the first few days. If you have to rinse off make sure you have your tattoo sealed well under bandages or something of the sort. All you need is to have paid for and sat through the pain of the tattoo and ruin it by taking a shower right away. A vital part of ensuring your ink stays looking great and heals properly is to apply the cream regularly. Make sure you only do this with clean hands, you don’t want to infect your new tattoo.

If you weren’t provided a tube from the parlour head over to your local drugstore and pick up some antiseptic cream ( I used Polybiotic, it was provided by the shop.) You will be applying this every few hours for the first couple of days. Anytime the old application has dried, simply wipe it off ( Don’t rub, you will only end up aggravating the sensitive skin) and apply a new fresh layer. This will help in the healing process. After 5-6 days ( or longer if you take longer to heal) you can discontinue the lotion. Even though you are no longer using the cream be careful of what you do apply to the skin as it may still be tender and easily aggravated for a few weeks. Try using unscented lotion if you must apply a lotion to it.

If a scab appears, which they commonly do, try to be careful around it, don’t pick at it as this can injure you or ruin your nice new design. If need be apply some lotion to it to prevent the itching of the scab.

Your new tattoo can be a great piece of art work, if you care for it. Remember you went to the time and trouble of picking a design, artist and studio, continue the process is the caring of your new tattoo and it will be around for years to come.

Make sure you follow the artists guidelines after getting your art done. If you do not take correct care of your tattoo while it is healing it may look older then its age. Using a petroleum based lotion will sap the colour from your ink. Do not under any circumstance put petroleum based lotions on your tattoo while it heals. Do not pick your scabs and do your best to follow the guidelines you were given by the artist. This is their career, they know what they are talking about. Make sure you apply lotion if it begins peeling, you want to minimize colour loss.

Excessive amounts of sun are damaging to your skin in general, not to mention your body art. If you expose yourself to too much sun ( whether real or artificial) you risk the colourfastness of your tattoo and your future health. So cover up. This doesn’t necessarily mean with clothing either. So you wanna show off your ink, make sure you where a high spf sunblock to prevent fading. Sunburns can cause your tattoo to lose its colour and prematurely fade. After spending all the time and money getting it done you want to protect it and maximize its life.

Another thing to consider is that like all good things a tattoo needs maintenance. It is not a completely get and it is there forever operation. Every few years you may need a touch up or the lines to be redefined. Many artists will offer this service for free or at a reduced rate ( since the initial design is already there.)

No matter the precautions you take, eventually your tattoo will fade. As your skin ages, so will your ink. Over the years your body will literally try to absorb the tattoo, which is a partial cause of the fading colour and underlying reason for older tattoos to have that bluish tinge to them. All you can do to prolong its life in the end is take good care of yourself and your skin.