After making all necessary considerations (where to go, what to get, where to put it, and so on), you take the plunge and get a tattoo. Certainly, your designer and artist are integral to the beauty of your piece, but so is taking good care of it. The first couple of weeks after getting your tattoo are the most important in ensuring that it remains bright and beautiful for years to come.
What follows is a basic outline of what happens to your tattoo and how to care for it:
Day 1: Your tattoo is freshly completed. It should be lightly coated with Vaseline, wrapped in plastic wrap, and sealed with surgical tape, in order to maintain the natural fluids of your body. Leave it as such for 24 hours after getting tattooed. Admire its beauty.
Day 2: Now you need to unwrap your tattoo and let it out into the world. When you take a shower on Day 2, make sure not to immerse your tattoo in the water. Instead, use a clean, hot washcloth and mild soap (Dove unscented or Palmolive - which is actually developed to be usable on open wounds - work well) to clean your tattoo.
Do not rub your tattoo at all, but wrap the cloth gently around it and let it soak briefly. After a few soaks of hot water, finish off with a cold soak to close the pores. At this point, you should clean your tattoo twice a day - in the morning and in the evening.
It is best not to moisturize your tattoo at all until it begins to peel.
Depending on how quickly your tattoo heals, it will begin to peel - somewhat like a sunburn - on Day 3, 4, or 5 (usually earlier than later). Once it begins to do so, you should start moisturizing it with unscented lotion two to three times a day, especially after cleaning it. As the sensitivity goes down, you may also start cleaning your tattoo in the shower and stop using the washcloth method. Again, make sure that you use a mild, unscented soap.
Day 3/4/5:
The point at which your tattoo begins to peel is also the point at which it tends to start itching, which is a natural part of the healing process. Do not scratch your new tattoo, or pick at the peeling skin. Doing so can result in the lifting of the ink, which will leave you with white patches or scars among the colour or shading of your tattoo.
The peeling process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the tattoo. One of the most important things to remember is that even after it has completed peeling and fully healed, you should moisturize your tattoo daily. This will keep the colour bold and bright, and will slow the aging process of your tattoo. Also, be sure to wear sunscreen - the UV rays of the sun destroy the ink particles in your skin, causing tattoos to "spread" and fade much more quickly.
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