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If you have made the decision to get a tattoo then you
should also be committed to taking care of your tattoo.
The fact is that taking care of your tattoo until it heals
and beyond will help to preserve your tattoo. You will want
the tattoo of your dreams to last so following the tips
below will help to make sure that your tattoo doesn't begin
to fade prematurely.
Your tattoo will typically take approximately a month to
fully heal. The tips below will help to make sure that the
tattooed area heals properly without damaging the tattoo.
- For the first 2 to 4 hours keep your tattoo covered with
a bandage.
- Do not touch the tattoo during the healing process
and if any scabs form, do not pick at
them.
- Wash the tattoo 2-3 times daily with an antibacterial
soap and dry it by patting it with a
soft towel
rather than rubbing the area.
- Use Bacitracin or Tattoo ointment after washing to keep the area
free of infection and moist.
- Use an ice pack if there is any redness or swelling.
- Avoid soaking the tattooed area in water until it has
healed.
- Keep the tattoo out of the direct sunlight until it
has healed.
Long term maintenance is also important to making sure your
tattoo lasts. It's okay to expose your tattoo to direct
sunlight after it has fully healed but you should always use a
sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30 on your tattooed skin.
The sunscreen will not only protect your skin from the damaging
rays of the sun but will also help to keep your tattoo from
fading. Your tattoo is a lifetime investment and proper care
while it is healing and in the long run will help you to enjoy
your tattoo for many many years!
Many people try and come in later and blame the
tattoo artist for their poor aftercare. Believe me - tattoo artist
can tell whether the tattoo has been taken care of or not. We can tell if
you have picked at the scabs, scratched it when it itched, exposed it to too
much sun, water, chlorine, etc. So don't think that you are fooling the tattoo
artist. And if you see someone with a tattoo that doesn't look all filled
in or the lines are light, just remember that the tattoo artist can't follow
people home and make them take care of the tattoo once it is done....So don't
always blame the artist for poor looking tattoos...9 times out of 10, it's the
clients poor aftercare that messes up the tattoo.
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