PROPER TATTOO AFTERCARE:
There is a wide variety of opinions about what is the best aftercare regimen for ensuring the best results for your new Tattoo. Considerations include not only the speed and cleanliness in healing your new tattoo, but also the method that results in obtaining the best colour. Your Tattoo Artist undoubtedly will have something very definite to say about aftercare, and it is probably a good idea to listen to him/her. A Tattoo normally takes 7 to 10 days to heal. There is no "idiot proof" instructions for the care and healing for a Tattoo, but we think if you read -- and FOLLOW -- our suggestions below, that you'll have an excellent chance of making sure that your new Tattoo will be the best that it can be!
-Remove the bandage after one hour, two maximum.
-All wounds need air(oxygen) to heal.
-Wash the tattoo using your fingertips or hand only.
-Use a mild non scented soap (Dove or Ivory) and warm water.
-Take care to remove all traces of blood as this will cause scabbing.
-Do not scrub the tattoo with a washcloth during the two week healing period.
-Always gently pat the tattoo dry with paper towel or just let it air dry.
-After the 2nd day of only washing ,apply a thin coat of hand cream to the tattoo, (Just enough to make it shine, a little goes a long way...) Work it in well. Dab off all the excess with a paper towel. You should barely be able to tell that it's there... This is just enough to keep the tattoo moist and to keep it from scabbing. Your body heat will liquefy the cream and it may become glossy looking or runny. This means there's too much on there. Dab more off. Too much hand cream will only suffocate the tattoo and liquefy any scabs that may have formed causing the ink to fall out and look blotchy. There is no need to re-bandage the tattoo.
-Hand cream can be applied whenever the tattoo is feeling stiff or dry but beware of over-moisturizing. Your body will absorb what it needs where it needs it. Apply cream two to three times for a week. Lubriderm, Curel, all must be unscented. Apply moisturizer 2 times a day for the remainder of two weeks. Do not use lotions that contain colour or fragrance or sparkles until the healing is complete. (Usually anywhere from ten days to two weeks; Possibly longer for slower healers.)
-Your skin will form a protective layer no matter what you do. If you do not keep it moist or if you keep it too moist (it's a personal balance, different for each individual), it will form a thick, hard scab that may crack when you move. When you form this kind of a scab the ink sits within it and slowly heals into the skin. When the tattoo is kept moist it doesn't have a chance to form a scab but does form a thin membrane to protect the tattoo while it heals. This layer peels off very similar to a sunburn (do not pick at your tattoo, you will pull the ink out!) and it is perfectly normal to see small flakes of coloured skin falling off during this stage of healing.
-You must keep your tattoo clean, however, long showers or baths must be avoided for 2 weeks. Prolonged soaking can and will loosen scabs if any that have formed, or will soak through the soft tissue turning it into a soggy mess . This includes Swimming in the Ocean or a Pool, Hot Tubs, and Saunas. Short showers are best, under ten minutes if possible.
-Please refrain from scratching or picking at the tattoo. Scrubbing with a washcloth can be very harsh on a tattoo and will cause your colors to fade. Disrupting the tattoo while it's healing can also cause scar tissue. It is normal for the tattoo to become very itchy during the healing time.
-The tattoo is under your skin, and your tan will form above it. If you get too dark, some colors (white, yellow, pink, and orange) may not show up as brightly as they could. Over time, excessive exposure to sunlight will cause your tattoo to fade no matter what colors are used No but's about it, the sun is BAD for your tattoo, even if you've had it for a loooooong time. A sunburn on a new tattoo can cause a lot of problems. It will dry out your tattoo and cause it to form a horrendous scab much of the time causing the tattoo to fade before it is even healed. It will take much longer to heal completely. It promotes scarring in a new tattoo. Wait until it is fully healed to go back in the sun or a tanning bed and make sure you put on a high quality SUNBLOCK (not sun screen). But, do not apply sunblock while the tattoo is healing. The tattoo is under your skin, and your tan will form above it. If you get too dark, some colours (white, yellow, pink, and orange) may not show up as brightly as they could. Over time, excessive exposure to sunlight will cause your tattoo to fade no matter what colours are used.
-Remember that hands and feet reproduce skin cells much faster than other parts of the body. A tattoo in these areas will sometimes take an extra two weeks to heal. During this time refrain from washing dishes, wearing gloves, or wearing socks and shoes (sandals must not rub the tattoo). Any friction of this type WILL wear away the tattoo within a very short period of time. Tattoos in these areas are almost never guaranteed.
Does getting a tattoo hurt?
Some people claim to feel nothing but pressure or a slightly irritating feeling and nothing more. Some claim that it is "annoying". Others admit that it is quite painful but not totally unbearable. How it feels depends on the person. Each person, and how their body tolerates pain, is different. None will report the same exact sensation.
The feeling can range from cat scratch to burning to electricity or just the feeling of being written on very stiffly with a ballpoint pen. In the end, getting a tattoo feels like getting a tattoo. Try it and find out.
Ladies please take note: You may notice that the sensation of the tattoo may be amplified if you're getting work done a week before or during your menstrual cycle...
Do you numb the area before a tattoo?
People have been getting tattooed (and things much, much more painful) for thousands of years with no numbing needed. In fact, it was done to prove how much the body could endure. A rite of passage to prove your worth to the tribe.
If it was painless it would be all too easy, everyone would have tattoos and it would be a worthless commitment. If you want that tattoo bad enough you'll sit through it. You'll earn it. Even if you're not proving your strength to society or your peers... you're proving it to yourself.
Does one color hurt more than another?
Absolutely not. You'll hear some people saying that one color hurts more than another color. This makes no sense. It's not the color or ink that causes the sensation, it's the needles.
A lot of people claim that black ink hurts more. I've heard some claim that yellow and white ink (or very light colors) hurts more. Why? Black is normally the first color that hits the skin... and that can cause a bit of shock to the system. The skin hasn't been worked yet and the feeling is very new to your body. Once it goes on for a while you tend to adjust and get used to it.
White or other very light colors are often the last colors used. The skin has already been worked so it's a little tender by this point. Sometimes that last color can seem like the worst, especially since you're anticipating the end of the process and enjoying your new addition. This is what you've worked so hard for .
Can I have a few drinks to loosen me up before my tattoo?
Not if you expect me to tattoo you. It won't happen. Alcohol is a blood thinner so it will cause you to bleed more. The excess flow of blood can cause immediate fading. Being that I take great pride in my work, I can't see wasting my time and effort putting all my love and energy into a piece if the person on the receiving end doesn't care what their ink looks like when it heals. My work is my signature and my good name. If it looks bad so do I.
The bottom line is that I'm not drunk when I work on you... show me the same respect. If I smell alcohol on you, you will not be tattooed. No exceptions.
If a woman gets a tattoo on her stomach (abdomen) and then decides to have children, will the tattoo stretch out of shape? Will it ever go back to normal?
Sometimes the abdomen will stretch but remain smooth, unmarred by stretchmarks. Most likely the tattoo will go back to normal in this situation. However, if stretchmarks do occur, they will run over the weakest areas of skin. Areas prone to easiest stretching would be where the skin was perforated before... if a stretchmarks runs through your tattoo you have less than a 50% chance of it going back to normal, no matter what you do.
Stretchmarks from pregnancy have the potential to run anywhere from the tops of the thighs to just under the breasts and from hip to hip across.
Ladies, think very carefully about getting a tattoo in this area if you plan on having children and keeping your ink looking good. There's little to nothing you can do to completely prevent stretchmarks from occurring if it runs in your family. Even if it's skipped a generation..
Can stretchmarks and scars be covered by a tattoo?
They will still be noticeable, but most of the time they can be tattooed over and disguised. I advise finding an artist who is experienced with working on these types of tissue as it can require more care when being tattooed. The scars or stretchmarks must be healed thoroughly (sometimes a year or more to be sure) or you may wind up with a mess...
Why does my tattoo raise up from time to time?
Some scarring occurs with every tattoo. Most of the time it's not really noticeable. When the tattoo becomes irritated the scar will raise up for a bit. This can be caused by sun exposure or sunburn, slapping, scratching, rough clothing or even stress. Given time to calm down, the tattoo will lay flat again
The same reaction commonly occurs with stretchmarks. If you have them, I'm sure you've noticed.
My tattoo is raised all the time. Why?
If the tattoo is raised constantly, chances are it's permanently scarred. This can happen with sensitive skin or skin that's prone to keloiding. It can also happen if the artist goes too deep or overworks the area. There isn't really anything that can lessen the scar tissue
