Don’t use anything abrasive on your ink (sorry, loofahs and gritty scrubs). You’ll want to keep the area clean with a gentle cleanser, says Dagger. Anything with fragrance could irritate your ink and keep it from healing properly.Īnd lotion isn’t the only product you should use on your tattoo. Both Raeman and Dagger recommend using an unscented lotion, like Lubriderm, on your tattoo. You want to start moisturizing your new ink from the moment you take the bandage off. When should you start using lotion on your new tattoo? And if you think you may be experiencing any form of infection, give your tattoo artist and/or your dermatologist a quick call. While infections are rare, they do happen, so don’t ignore your aftercare. You do want to freak out a bit if your new tattoo starts to get super red, inflamed, and veiny- that means it’s probably infected, says Raeman.
#HOLD THE LINE TATTOO SKIN#
And unless you get a tattoo on the side of your finger, where the skin is a bit more delicate and prone to friction, your ink is going to heal at the same rate, no matter where it lives.
“ With non-fine line tattoos, the healing process can take about two to three weeks,” says Dagger. According to Dagger, the fine-line tattoos you see all over your feed heal pretty quickly-up to around two weeks max, he says, since there’s less trauma to the skin. “In the first couple of days of healing, it’s normal to experience flaking, peeling, and a little bit of irritation,” says Raeman.
How do you know if your tattoo is healing properly?ĭon’t freak, but your tattoo is going to look pretty gross at first. After the three days, you can take it off and live your life. The type of covering you get depends on your tattoo artist's preference-Raeman uses regular saran wrap for her clients, and she recommends that you leave it on for around three hours.ĭagger opts for a covering called "second skin." It’s a clear sticker that stays on your tattoo for about three days and keeps everything (including water and sweat) off site. Right after the needle’s done buzzing, your artist will wrap a covering over your tattoo to protect it from bacteria and irritation. How long should I keep my tattoo covered? If you need some relief, you can tap it with your fingers, just like you would a mosquito bite.
Oh, and no intense sun exposure either, adds Dagger, since UV rays can break down your tattoo’s structure, causing it to fade.Īlso know that during the healing process, your tattoo might get itchy-like, really itchy-but Raeman warns against picking or scratching. That means that you’re going to have to hit pause on any outdoors-y activities and take a break from your at-home workouts. Heads up that all pore-opening activities should be skipped during those first few weeks, says Dagger. (Pro tip: If you can't quit your long showers during the healing process, Raeman says you can put a big glob of Aquaphor over your tat before hopping into the shower to create a barrier between the water and your tattoo. This makes it harder for your skin to hold on to the ink and it can eff with the healing process. When you’re standing in the shower, your pores are opening because of the heat and steam, says Raeman. “You want to make sure you keep your showers quick, and that you try and keep your new tattoo out of any direct stream of water for the first two weeks,” she says. According to Raeman, the number one thing you want to avoid during the healing process is soaking it in any way, shape, or form-even in the shower. So to help you avoid any pain (and/or a future laser-removal appointment), I spoke with Erin Raeman, co-owner of Supersweet Tattoos, and Johnny Dagger, LA-based tattoo artist, to get all of the ins and outs of tattoo aftercare. If you do, your cute tiny tat could end up blurred out or infected or your watercolor design could look flat and faded. That means you can't ignore the aftercare process during the healing stage (and, you know, all the years that follow). IDK if you've heard, but tattoos are 100 percent permanent. But before you run out and go get inked, you definitely need to know all of the do's and dont's that are a part of your tattoo's aftercare. You basically have complete control over the look, shape, and size of your design-something that couldn't really be said 20 or 30 years ago. The spike in popularity makes sense, too-more precise needles have made it even easier to get fine lines and super-detailed designs, and nowadays, tattoos are more customizable than ever before. It feels like tattoos have been everywhere these past couple of years (literally, everyone and their mother seems to have one).
0 kommentar(er)
