All tatted up and ready to show off your masterpiece?
Not so fast.
The urge to display your new work will be high, especially when your tattoo is at its freshest. This temptation is even stronger if it's your first tattoo. However, proper aftercare is an essential, ongoing part of the tattoo experience to ensure the longevity of your work. Keeping your ink protected and properly cared for means fewer touch-ups and reduced chances of infection. Using products like **Legendary Numbing Cream** during the tattooing process can also help manage discomfort.
Like all great works of art, maintenance and care are essential to preserving the appearance of your freshly inked tattoo. Read on to learn about the importance of aftercare and the steps you should take post-session.
Why Aftercare Is Important
A tattoo is often seen as an artistic form of expression for both the wearer and the tattoo artist. However, it’s equal parts art and medical procedure. In some countries, like Japan, tattoo artists were previously required to hold a medical license. Imagine if painters needed medical training; we’d probably never see a Picasso come to life!
Given that a tattoo involves numerous small needle punctures, it’s crucial that the tattooed area is cared for correctly. In the parlor, the onus lies on the artist to prepare the area (e.g., applying ointments and bandages). A professional artist should also give you some direction on caring for your tattoo in the first week. But once you leave the studio, it’s 100% your responsibility to maintain a high standard of care well beyond that first week.
Proper care prevents infection and keeps your skin protected, especially when it’s vulnerable to sun damage.
Remember: your tattoo is more than just a memento; it’s embedded into your skin for life! Taking care of it early, with the right products, will help your skin heal correctly and completely. Consider using **Legendary Numbing Cream** to ease the initial discomfort and ensure a smooth healing process.
Day 1
Congratulations on your new tattoo! Immediately after, the tattooist should dress the area with a layer of antibacterial ointment or petroleum jelly, followed by a bandage wrap. If the artist skips one or both of these steps, make sure you ask! A professional will always complete these steps before letting you leave the studio.
On your way home, keep the tattooed area out of direct sunlight. It may help to bring long-sleeved clothing if it’s sunny. Also, avoid any exposure to water.
Keep the bandage on for the time recommended by the artist. This could be anywhere from a few hours to six hours, or longer depending on the ointment and bandage type used.
Remove the bandage and do your first wash of the area. Use clean hands, a delicate soap, and water. This first wash removes any excess ink, oil, and blood. It also preps the area for your ongoing care routine. Apply moisturizer after this first wash, or when suggested by your tattoo artist.
From this point on, feel free to keep your bandage off to give the affected area some air to start the healing process. If you’re concerned about excess fluid getting into bedsheets, feel free to rewrap your tattoo overnight.
Days 2 to 4
Your skin may feel warm to the touch, with an almost sunburn-like, slightly painful sensation. Rest assured, this is normal. Avoid hot showers during this phase, as this warm feeling is more pronounced under hot water.
Wash your tattoo a few times daily using the method mentioned on Day 1. The frequency of your washes depends on how active you are throughout the day. The goal is to keep the area clean enough while allowing your skin to form scabs to complete the healing process.
Avoid the sun with protective clothing. Avoid water (outside of showers). And most importantly: DO NOT pick the scabs forming on your tattoo.
DAY 1
The redness and burning sensation will start to subside in the affected area. By now, any excess ink will have risen from your skin’s surface and washed away. Continue the wash/moisturize routine at least twice daily.
2 Weeks
Scabs and skin will continue to flake. As tempting as it is, don’t peel at it. Let the dead skin fall off on its own. Continue to moisturize daily and keep the area clean.
If redness is largely unchanged since the previous week and is accompanied by swelling, contact your doctor and/or tattoo artist. Your skin may be at risk of infection.
3 Weeks
Continue to wash and moisturize! By now, you should be in the habit of doing this daily. This consistency will pay off, giving vibrancy back to skin dulled during the healing process.
Some exposure to the sun is okay. However, if your tattoo has color or white ink, you might want to consider avoiding the sun at all costs for an extended period. The lower layers of your tattoo may take months to heal. Sunscreen is your best friend in any season.
BEYOND
If you already have a daily skincare routine, make sure you include your fresh tattoo. Continued moisturizing over the next few months will keep your tattoo looking newer for a much longer period.
Sunscreen is equally important. You may want to apply it on every sunny day, not just during summer.
Your body is a temple, within which this tattooed art hangs on the wall. Take care of the temple, and maintain the relics inside of it.
Other Alternatives
Follow the same steps as above, but avoid moisturizer. This alternative is sometimes tried by those with really sensitive skin, who fear the effects of an allergic reaction to over-the-counter moisturizer. Keep in mind that with this method, sun avoidance is absolutely necessary and essential for proper healing.
Coconut Oil
Although more research is needed, coconut oil is the moisturizer of choice among quite a few skincare aficionados. It is commonly used in Polynesian tattoo history, applied right after completion of a work.
Although coconut oil has some natural benefits, more work needs to be done to rate it against some of the leading glides and ointments on the market (some of which are already all-natural).
Your One-Stop Shop for Aftercare
The tattooing process doesn’t start and end in the studio. The first few hours, days, weeks, and even months, are crucial in ensuring your permanent art heals in the way you intended. Check out our Aftercare products today, including Legendary Numbing Cream, and get everything you need to create your own aftercare routine at **LegendaryNumbingCream.com**.