Tattoos are one of the easiest forms of body art to maintain. There are no parts to switch out and clean, nothing will get snagged on clothing and tattoos will last a lot longer than a trendy piece of jewelry. However, to keep tattoos looking clean, fresh and sharp, there is a certain level of care that needs to be taken.
Taking Care of a New Tattoo
All tattoo parlors will give customers a list of instructions about how to care for a new tattoo after it is completed. The rules for new tattoo care are relatively simple, but should be followed.
- Leave the bandage on for as long as the artist gives instructions for – generally this is only for a few hours, although with a larger tattoo it may be slightly longer. A new tattoo is a wound, and exposing it to the open air also exposes it to the potential of infections.
- After the bandage comes off, the tattoo needs to be washed gently with warm water and a very mild antibacterial soap. This will clean away ointments, blood and any other products that may be left on the skin. Abrasive cleaners like washcloths should be avoided as they can irritate the skin.
- The tattoo should be dried thoroughly by patting it –never rub a new tattoo in order to dry it. After the area over the tattoo is dry, apply the ointment provided by the tattoo artist. Most tattoo artists will offer a specially formulated ointment that helps heal the area around the tattoo; things like Neosporin will occasionally have a bad reaction with tattoo ink and should be avoided. Ask a tattoo artist what the best option is for a tattoo ointment.
- Avoid submerging a new tattoo in water for at least two weeks. Showers won’t do any damage to new tattoo ink, but soaking a new tattoo in hot water will.
New tattoos will generally scab, and these scabs should be left alone. Picking at them will affect the ink underneath. Do not scratch a new tattoo. The tattooed area will be tender for some time, but the entire healing process usually only lasts a week or two.
Sunlight and Tattoos
Sunlight is one of the absolute worst things for a tattoo, both new and older. The light will cause the tattoo to fade quickly, resulting in a distortion of the colors and an ugly looking tattoo. If the tattoo cannot be kept out of direct sunlight by clothing, use a sunscreen with high SPF and reapply it frequently in order to protect the tattoo.
Touch-ups for Tattoos
No matter how well a tattoo is taken care of, it will eventually need a touch-up. New tattoos will sometimes require a touch-up within a few months of the procedure as the body adjusts to the ink, and older tattoos will tend to fade eventually. Colored tattoos in particular require more frequent maintenance, whereas a solid black tattoo may be able to go a bit longer before it needs retouched.
Some tattoo parlors offer discounted rates on touch-ups or will simply do them for free; most tattoos will need to have some amount of retouching done within a year or two of their creation.
Keeping a tattoo looking as good as the day it was done is not a complicated process; simply taking care to protect the tattoo when it’s new and keeping it out of direct sunlight as often as possible will help to ensure that the ink in the tattoo stays sharp and well-defined.
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