Generally, this is when people tend to stop getting new tattoos so they can enjoy the tattoo without having to worry about the potential issues that might come up from sun exposure or spending time in the lake or pool.

But if you’re like me, no season is off limits and that is why we have to break down the 8 tattoo healing tips for summer to help you heal your tattoos without sacrificing quality.

1. Be conscious of the sun

This is no joke. If you’re living in a location with 100+ degree weather that is consistent throughout the week you want to be aware of whether or not the sun is making contact with any part of a new tattoo. Even 15 minutes in the sun can cause damage. So, before even stepping out into the sun ensure that you have covered the tattoo with a form of sunscreen or clothing (both can’t hurt).

2. Ensure Proper Footwear

Obviously we don’t always want to be wearing socks with heavy shoes especially when the sun is out and you’re heading out to spend time with the friends or family. It’s pretty common to switch into some flip-flops or sandals – but be self aware.

If you recently got a tattoo done on your foot or around your feet (which I wouldn’t recommend near summer) you will want to make sure that the type of footwear you choose is not constricting your tattoo and at the same time isn’t going to expose your feet to the sun too much.

My preferred choice of shoe is something light and athletic that go really well with some light socks.

3. Keep Your Tattoo Moisturized

It’s hard enough to keep your tattoo moisturized in normal weather, but being in a hot environment can cause your tattoo’s to dry out quite quickly. This is why I recommend keeping some form of miniature tattoo lotion with you so that you can carry it with you whether it is in your car, bag, or purse you want to ensure you are not caught without it.

4. Avoid Contact With Water

This is probably one of the hardest things for people to deal with and mitigate. Your friends are going to want to go swimming, boating, or spending time at the lake or river and that is all fine. You should definitely enjoy your summer but I would highly stress that you not expose your tattoo to any form of water exposure.

Here is what I do: I’ve had tattoos numerous summers in a row and I’ve always been able to participate (with caution) in water related activities. I am always just aware of my surroundings and I don’t expose whatever body part has been tattooed to the water.

5. Invest In Products That Will Protect Your Tattoo

I always find it funny that most people are willing to spend a large amount of money getting something that means a lot to them tattooed onto their skin and they skimp on their tattoo aftercare products. In fact, many tend to disregard the overall tattoo healing process in total.

It makes sense to me to invest in what you are putting on your tattoo so that your ink recovers quickly and with the highest quality possible. Generally, if I am going to be out in the sun I enjoy having access to Tattoo Goo’s sun stick (I apply it whenever I am out in the sun) that comes in their aftercare kit that is very effective for all stages of the tattoo healing process.

6. Bug Beware

Depending on where you live you will want to protect yourself from getting mosquito bites on your new tattoo. There are a few things you can do when it comes to making sure you don’t run into this issue.

1. Don’t be outside or in areas you know where mosquitos are (Obvious, but you’d be surprised)
2. Cover your tattoo with clothing and ensure mosquitos cannot get to it.
3. Utilize a bug spray whenever you are outside.

I can only provide what I have used before. I wouldn’t recommend applying bug spray directly to your tattoo but by having it on your body you shouldn’t have issues with mosquitos and your new tattoo.

7. Have a Back Up Plan

Most likely you or someone you know will end up not heeding advice given and you might find yourself with water damage, a bad sun burn, or bug bites on your new tattoo. I always recommend having a back up plan and contact phone numbers so you can handle the problem before it gets bad.

If you did in fact do something to your tattoo I would start at the source and speak with your tattoo artist and gather whatever advice they can provide you.

If their advice cannot or will not help the situation and you believe it may be infected or have further issues I would consult with your doctor or a medical professional. The advice on this blog is purely for education purposes and is not to be considered medical advice. I can only offer you opinions based on my own personal experiences.

8. Enjoy Yourself

Just because you have a new tattoo does not mean that you need to stop everything you want to do to allow your tattoo to heal and it doesn’t mean you need to continue looking for tattoo healing tips. If you haven’t already I would ensure that you have the proper after care products and you have briefed yourself with our complete guide to tattoo aftercare.

From there, you should be well equipped and aware of the issues that can come up. So stay prepared and be aware but don’t forget to have fun and enjoy your summer.

The post 8 Summer Tattoo Healing Tips You Might Not Know appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

As you all know, the whole purpose of Tattoo Healing Pro is to help you find your way with real human experience straight from me. I’ve spent quite a bit of time compiling congruent advice into a short, all encompassing, easy to read guide for those of you having questions in terms of tattoo aftercare.

This short guide is a simple outline with real time images, advice, thoughts, and tips to share with you as you heal your own tattoo. Starting the moment you leave the shop with your fresh new ink, you will be provided insight in a play by play format as the days go by.

Whether you’re:

• Cleaning your tattoo
• Applying a product
• Wearing clothes with a new tattoo
• Navigating sleep with a new tattoo
• Out in the sun or in the water

This guide is built to help and serve you on your path to healing your tattoos correctly. If you are new you will get alot of benefit because this was built to get you up to speed and on the right track.

Note: I am not a doctor or tattoo artist and this is not medical advice. Neither is this an acceptable alternative for the opinion of a physician. This is merely my experience of getting tattoos and going through the tattoo healing process explained for informational purposes only… By viewing this e-book you are agreeing to the Medical Disclaimer on TattooHealingPro.com.

The Definitive Guide to Flawless Tattoo Aftercare

The post FREE RESOURCE: The Definitive Guide to Flawless Tattoo Aftercare appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

Let’s dive right in!

1. Pay attention and listen to what your tattoo artist tells you. If you’ve done your research on who you’re getting your tattoo from and they provide you with a care sheet or advise you one what you need to do follow it. They’ve done this many times over and they will know what you need to do.

2. Don’t itch! When you itch or scratch at your tattoo you interrupt the healing process and can damage the tattoo for the long term. Generally, itching occurs once the tattoo has begun the peeling stage. During this time it is incredibly important to leave the scabbing/peeling skin alone. If you do end up picking or removing these skin fragments you risk pulling the color from your tattoo.

Wondering why tattoos tend to peel during the healing process?

3. Be prepared with the best tattoo aftercare products. Most of the time you hear about people winging their healing process. They know they should take it seriously but they either don’t have the right product, aren’t consistent in using it, and are generally irresponsible when it comes to providing quality care to their new tattoo. When you are prepared with the high quality products I’ve found that tattoos heal better and you’re even more motivated to use and apply them to get the most out of them!

One of the most efficient and effective tattoo care kits that I’ve used numerous times is the H2Ocean Aftercare Kit that provides an effective 3 step solution that you can apply to healing your tattoos.

4. Research your tattoo artist before getting your tattoo. Here is one of the biggest mistakes new tattoo enthusiast make. They don’t do thorough due diligence on who they’re getting their tattoo from to ensure that they not only get a great tattoo but it is done in a clean environment and healing instructions are given correctly. What might some forms of due diligence be?

• Utilizing social media to determine great artists (Research).
• Check out reviews on Google, Yelp, and Facebook.

Found with a simple Yelp search

• Review artist portfolios and follow up with their clients
• Choose an artist that tattoos with your specific style.

Their are plenty of other ways to vet out a tattoo artist. But the advice still stands, the best way to take care of a new tattoo starts before you get it.

5. Use a thin layer of ointment when you are going through the tattoo healing process. There were many times in the earliest stages of getting tattoos when I would envelope my tattoo in a sludge of ointment thinking that I was doing the right thing. Boy was I wrong with that one! You absolutely want to use the thinnest amount of ointment possible and rub it into the tattoo so as to not leave a thick layer of ointment covering the skin.

You will know when you are using too much because you are suffocating the skin and small pimples or a rash may begin to form. Don’t freak out if this happens, just understand that you need to clean the area carefully and monitor your ointment usage.

6. Try coconut oil! Throughout the tattoo healing process, an ointment will need to be used during the earlier stages. Many tattoo artists have spoken on the topic of using coconut oil as an ointment for its great moisturizing and healing capabilities.

7. Play hard but keep it clean. You can’t put your life on hold when you have a new tattoo. You have a body to take care of, friends that want to go out and do things, and sometimes adventure awaits and the outdoors are calling to you. It is completely fine to go out and do those things but you have to be aware that your tattoo is not healed and is subject to infection if it is not taken care of.

This is where the tattoo aftercare kits come into play, I don’t like carrying a bunch of stuff around when I am going to the gym or going camping, so I have a kit on hand in case I need to pack it for emergencies. They generally don’t take up that much space and it solves all your needs when it comes to tattoo aftercare.

8. Apparel and Shoe adjustments may need to be made. During the 1-4 weeks that your tattoo is healing you will need to ensure that you are not wearing tight clothing that may rub or constrict the tattoo on your skin.

A note on getting tattoos on your feet to best heal your tattoo. You will absolutely want to do everything you can to wear flip flops or go barefoot to allow the tattoo on your foot to heal. You may consider wrapping the tattoo in saran wrap to cover it and prevent irritation and from there put your sock and shoe on.

9. Use a high quality unscented lotion during the aftercare process. Once the tattoo has begun to peel and is on it’s way to its final stages of the healing process you will switch from utilizing a thin layer of tattoo ointment to a quality unscented lotion.

For a few recommendations on what has worked well for me in the past check out my article on the best lotions for tattoo aftercare. You will want to ensure you have a standard carrying size bottle of lotion so that you are able to bring it to work, school, and or any daily activity you may be doing to ensure that your tattoo does not dry out.

1o. Prepare for bed. When you get a fresh tattoo, it will weep bodily fluids the couple of days immediately after getting the tattoo. This is something you will want to be careful of when going to bed each night because your tattoo can stick to your bedsheets as you sleep. When you wake up it is easy to unconsciously pull the tattoo from the sheets, this is something you do not want to do.

Instead, prepare for sleep by:

• Laying a towel where your tattoo will be in bed so as to not get your sheets dirty
• Ensure that you clean the area thoroughly with antibacterial soap.
• From there apply a thin layer of ointment prior to going to bed, this should contain any bodily fluids that would have otherwise gotten all over the towel and sheets.

This is not an end all be all cure and it is likely that you will experience getting your sheets dirty from the blood and plasma that your body is producing to heal the tattoo. If you do happen to have your tattoo stick to the sheets/towel, take it to the bathroom without pulling and run luke warm water over the area until the sheet/towel loosens and falls away.

Use these 10 pointers to enhance and improve the way you get and heal your tattoo and let us know how you do!

Know something that can benefit the THP community? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 10 Of The Best Ways To Take Care Of a Tattoo appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

Do All Tattoos Peel?

When I got my first tattoo it was on my chest and it was a mixture of red, black, and grey. In fact, I liked the skin tear look and I got my birth countries flag imprinted underneath my skin to appear as though it had been torn.

I really didn’t know what to expect after getting my tattoo, I was ill-informed and ill-prepared for the act and in the midst of doing my tattoo aftercare my tattoo began to peel and I had no idea if this was normal or not! (Give me a break, I was 18 and new)

At the time I was taking an EMT basic course because I intended on pursuing a career as a paramedic, I remember sheepishly approaching an older guy who was covered in tattoos and asking him if the peeling that was going on on my chest was normal.

He didn’t blink an eye when he told me it was completely normal and that it was important to keep the area moisturized with a good unscented tattoo lotion.

He was right, it was completely normal and my tattoo did end up healing quite well for my first time and that was because I took the tattoo healing process seriously. But I always did wonder, do all tattoos peel?

And the answer was yes all tattoos do peel, some heal more drastically than others (when it comes to scabbing/flaking) but the biology behind the tattoo healing process is where a better understanding can come from. Here is a brief overview of what happens

• After getting a tattoo your body is leaking blood and plasma due to the needle piercing your skin many times over.
• Swelling will occur as your body responds to the trauma incurred as the tattoo was applied.
• Your body forms a mesh of platelets to prevent loss of bodily fluids from the tattoo being applied.
• For about a week or two the body will repair the skin that was tattooed.
• After about a week or two you will notice your tattoo beginning to peel and flake
  • Do Not – Pick, Itch, Scratch, or Bite the area as the tattoo is flaking/peeling.
• Once the tattoo has healed the scabs and flakes of skin will fall away revealing the healed finished product.

I think the biggest thing that this comes down to is understanding that you must take care of the peeling area by not touching it or interfering with how your body is healing the tattoo. Once again, when you do pick or itch at the area you put yourself at risk for damaging your new tattoo.

A personal observation – I have noticed when getting my tattoos is that the colored tattoos tend to go through a longer and more intense peeling stage than the black and gray tattoos.

Have you noticed anything similar? If so comment below and let me know what you think!

The post Do All Tattoos Peel? appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

Something I’ve noticed, when looking at most tattoo owner’s sleeves is that the design/flow of the sleeve avoids tattooing directly on the elbow.

I always wondered what it would be like to tattoo directly onto the elbow and aesthetically I didn’t like when elbows were avoided.  If it is done correctly it generally looks okay, but a lot of peoples tattoos tend to look forced and blotchy and I wanted mine to have a flow and congruence within it’s style.

My Sleeve In Progress

It didn’t take long for me to realize why most people tend avoid tattooing their elbows. It hurt more than any other body part I have had tattooed before. I like to think I have a high pain tolerance but there is a reason the photo above shows a half completed rose elbow tattoo. Yes, I do plan on finishing it but I must say that I was not expecting the difficulties that I encountered not only in getting the tattoo done but in the tattoo healing process after.

How Painful Is An Elbow Tattoo?

I think pain is different for everyone however when comparing body part pain across the board the elbow is the most painful of all stereotypical pain points I’ve had tattooed.

During the session your arm is straight to solidify a clean design and there is hardly any skin between the bone and the space being tattooed. Without having any tissue between the skin and bone you’re in for a painful experience. There is no way to relate it to something painful that you’ve experienced just take my word for it that it is quite uncomfortable.

Now there are a few things I learned throughout this process that I believe will provide you with quality information to take with you on your experience.

• Come mentally prepared – Hands down this was my first mistake, normally I’ll get excited and hyped up to add and develop my sleeve and my energy was just down and I wasn’t completely expecting to tattoo my elbow going into the session. Without the energy, my overall state was down and prone to negative thinking as the session went on and the pain got worse.
• Eat before your session – This goes hand in hand with preparation. You should always have had something to eat and drink prior to getting your tattoo. It’s quite easy to get light headed and dehydrated as the tattoo session goes on and the only thing worse than pain would be passing out and feeling nauseous. Remember to bring a bottle of water!
• Get comfortable – prior to your session make sure you are comfortable. Are you wearing the right clothes? Do you have headphones and a snack nearby? Making yourself comfortable and relaxed is the best thing you can do to get yourself mentally prepared.
• Breathe – When your tattoo session begins its pretty easy to forget about breathing and in fact start holding your breathe and tensing your body. Continue breathing! It’s free and it’ll do wonders for your state of mind and how you are feeling.
• Prepare for swelling – As the session went on the swelling continued. I have heard of people using ice to bring down some of the swelling experienced however I just held on and went without icing it.
• Take the tattoo healing process seriously – It’s not easy to stop movement of your arm for the few weeks after getting the tattoo. Be cautious and aware and do your best to provide the best aftercare possible.

How Do Your Elbows Look?

When I was going to get my rose tattoo on my elbow I had been advised by my tattoo artist that I needed to use lotion on them to ensure they weren’t dry. The reason your elbow can’t be dry is because it can interfere with the tattoo getting into the skin and appearing as intended.

What did I do?

It was fairly simple, my artist advised me to apply quality lotion to my elbow 2-3 times per day. Some days I would miss and some days I would over do it, the important thing was I was doing it mostly consistently over a period of about a month and half. By doing this my elbow was much softer and smoother. When it came time for the tattoo session I was good to go and the ink settled into the skin like any other body part I have had tattooed.

The tattoo aftercare for the rose tattoo on my elbow was more complicated that other areas I have had to heal. Because of the constant and habitual movement I do with my arms whether it’s taking a drink of water, picking something up, or driving my car the elbow never gets a chance to stop moving.

Consciously I was aware that I had to not bend my elbow as much as I normally do so I am sure that made a difference but there is no way to stop movement completely. I did my best to assist with the healing process and it turned out okay.

I did end my session early because I was feeling nauseous and didn’t feel like having my elbow drilled anymore. It’s not a big deal and we’ll pick it up next time.

There are generally two ways to learn, through your mistakes or others. Hopefully this prepares you for those painful tattoo sessions that are waiting for you in your future!

The post Lessons Learned From My Rose Tattoo On My Elbow appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

Obviously, there is more than one way and Im always interested in learning about what other people are doing to heal their tattoos. Lately, I have been on a binge of shifting my lifestyle to an organic and healthier way of being. I read a book by Dr. Mark Hyman called The UltraMind Solution which goes into depth about living a healthier lifestyle, which will in turn cause your brain function to increase. His research has actually been shown to decrease depression, anxiety, and other debilitating psychological diseases that millions of people are affected by.

After reading this it made me wonder how big of an effect organic oils would have on the body when healing a tattoo. I got into doing some research and started to realize that there are alot of people out there that swear by using certain types of oil(specifically coconut) that will assist in retaining the color and healing tattoos faster than the other creams and lotions that are boasted amongst the tattoo community.

Well, I gave it a shot. You don’t need alot just a simple layer like the other ointments that are recommended.

Some perks of using organic coconut oil for the tattoo healing process include:

• Less itching
• Better at moisturizing the area
• Anti-Inflammatory benefit
• No chemicals added
• Cheaper than other tattoo aftercare products

Here are the best options I would recommend for you to use:

My favorite is the Kirkland Organic Coconut Oil because not only does it work great – it is genuinely organic and affordable

A couple other options you may enjoy are:

Nature’s Way Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil

Viva Labs Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

These are options that are organic coconut oils certified by the USDA. They are non GMO and would be ideal to use on your new tattoo to test out the healing your tattoo with coconut oil.

Have you ever thought of using coconut oil on your tattoo?

The post Does Coconut Oil Help with Tattoo Healing? appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

I enjoy putting out my experiences and processes that I go through for mere informational purposes. I wish someone would have done it for me when I was starting out and I think finding someone with level headed advice would be great to get an opinion from.

But over the past couple of years as I have been exposed to a list of different procedures, methods, ideals, and processes I’ve come to realize that there is no one way.

Everyone wants the one way to get big arms, or the one supplement to make them huge, or the best way to heal their tattoo. All the same question with different desired results attached.

My parents and various individuals around me were against me getting tattoos. I wanted to prove that not only would I get the best tattoos from the best artist, but I would heal them the best as well.

I remember spending easily 3-4 days going through the internet trying to fine the one solution to tattoo aftercare. I wanted to know the tattoo healing process inside and out.

Eventually, I decided to create this blog to share my ideas and personal experiences with those of you who are going through exactly what I went through and I would like to share a couple of truths with you today.

Truth #1

Everyone’s body is different

This goes for literally everything that occurs to our bodies, we heal differently, we react differently, we are all different. Just because one thing works for me does not mean it will work for you. So take everything with a grain of salt and act on what you believe would work best for you.

Truth #2

If you are having trouble healing your tattoo there are Do’s and Don’ts.

Don’t: Come to me, your friends, or the internet to solve a medical issue. This is for informational purposes only and is not to be considered medical advice.

Do: Go to either the shop that you got the tattoo from and if that person is not reliable seek out a medical professional for advice.

Truth #3

There is no one way to the tattoo healing process

Everyone has their own tips, tricks, and advice when it comes to who you should get your tattoo from, how they should tattoo you, and how you should take care of it. It’s up to you to use your judgment, knowledge, and intuition to take care of your own body. Seek out what you believe is right and do that.

In the end, there is no truth, everything is dependent on the situation and person in question. What you should get out of this is there are concrete resource you can.

If you can’t trust/use those sources, use what god gave you to figure out what the next best thing for you to do is.

Good Luck.

The post The 3 Truth’s About Tattoo Aftercare appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

This is normal; we all want to have perfect tattoos that are created just as we envision them in our minds.

Don’t think about getting your tattoo touched up while you are healing it. If you’re artist is any good they will not tattoo you with a fresh tattoo because the healing has not been completed and tattooing the area would be extremely painful.

Focus on completing the healing process as best as you can even if you mess up in some way and some color is lost or the design is messed up.

Things happen, you unconsciously scratch at your tattoo, you bump into something and irritate the area, or you stay out in the sun too long. It’s important to stay the course and complete the healing process.

After about 3 weeks your tattoo should be finished healing, if you take longer to heal you should be just about there. I can tell this when the color has lost the shine that it originally had and there is no pain to the touch.

Most tattoo artists offer a touch up for the tattoos they give (no one wants ruined art walking around on the streets with their name on it). Use this session if you had any issues:

•  Loss of color from the sun
•  Too much water exposure
•  Excessive itching caused poor healing
•  Picking at scabs removed color
• The tattoo was in a difficult location to heal (joints)
•  Your artist left some spaces open that were missing color

Keep in mind that the tattoo healing process is your responsibility and you should not blame anyone for what happens to your tattoo if it happens to be damaged while it is healing.

My tattoo artist is a badass and takes a lot of pride in the tattoo’s he gives, so whenever there is an area that I happen to mess up or that is open we just go over it and get it fixed the next time available.

Remember that the tattoo is not going anywhere so there is no rush to getting your touch up, but you want to have it scheduled at some point in time. The longer you go without it the more it will drift off into the back of your mind and you will never get to enjoy the true beauty of the completed tattoo

The post Tattoo Touch Ups and the Healing Process appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

Getting a new tattoo is a fantastic feeling (as long as your artist didn’t mess up) and its important to realize that the tattoo healing process does not end when the needle stops, it ends when the tattoo is healed.

Unfortunately, when I was in high school my teachers never taught me how to care for any tattoos I would get… What a disappointment.

That leaves me with 8 things you must know before getting your first tattoo.

1. The tattoo is on you forever

This is actually common sense.

But, it’s extremely important to take the tattoo healing process seriously because it will affect how it the tattoo will look for the rest of your life.

I am always mind blown by the lack of care or concern people have for their tattoos. I take pride in what is on my body because its now a part of me. I would hope you too, would have the same care and consideration for what is on your body.

2. Sleep preparation is essential

I am always exhausted after my sessions and generally all I will want to do is eat and go to sleep to recover. The first time I did this, I learned the hard way that preparing your bed for sleeping with a new tattoo is essential. I woke up to sheets covered in tattoo stains from the fluids on the area.

• Don’t sleep with a bandage over the tattoo (unless instructed to).
• Place a towel on your bed where your tattoo will be as you sleep.
• If you’re tattoo is on the area where you normally sleep your gonna need to shift positions.

Ex: If you have a tattoo on your back you are going to need to sleep on your stomach for a couple days.

• If you wake up and the tattoo is stuck to your sheets/towel dont pull it off. Take the sheets/towel with you into the shower and run it under warm water and allow it to fall off.

3. Don’t Pick at Tattoo Scabs

Over the next couple of days as your tattoo is healing it will go through a couple of phases. At first it will look very shiny and as it transitions into the second phase it will begin to look more dull.

With this transition you will start to see scabbing, this is normal as the tattoo is completing the healing process.

Do Not Pick At Your Scabs

Ever.

I cant emphasize this enough, I know it is something that you want to do but understand that by picking at your scabs you are potentially removing color from your tattoo. Ask me how I know this…

There was a small spot on my arm that was being a real pain in my ass as it was healing. I was not as well versed with tattoo healing so I figured I would get rid of this scab that had been bothering me. The tattoo never really healed correctly in that spot and ended up having a loss in color in that spot.

This is 100% preventable.

Let the scab peel and heal on it’s own. Do not touch it and it will retain the color that was meant to be there.

Pro Tip:

Most tattoo artists offer one touch up for their clients because mistakes like this do happen. If you happen to scratch at a spot and remove a scab and the color is not as good as it could be use this session and get your artist to correct it.

4. The Tattoo Dress Code

What? A dress code??

Yeah… What you wear with a new tattoo matters.

Remember in the depths of your mind, that your tattoo needs to breath. This is how it progress through the healing stages.

This means that for the ladies:

• No tights or yoga pants with leg tattoos
• No shoes for foot tattoos (go shoeless)
• No sports bras for tattoos around your torso

For the guys:

• No skin tight under armor like clothing
• No clothing that could potentially rub on the tattoo (dress shirts)

This is just to name a few so you get the picture.

Some people tend to think that rebandaging their tattoo and wearing clothing that can rub on the tattoo is a good alternative to not wearing loose clothing. I don’t believe in this, I think that if the tattoo needs to breath you need to accept this and work with your recovering area to allow proper healing.

“I have no choice and have to cover the tattoo”

Okay, no worries. Everyone has their responsibilities that can interrupt a tattoos healing process. I would probably place a loose bandage over the area that needs to be covered. Keep it in your mind that you are healing and that you dont want to have alot of irritation on the area.

As soon as you are able to, I would remove the bandage and clean the area. From there I would change into something that is more loose fitting

5. Sun Care Matters

It matters a lot more than people realize, sun exposure is one of the biggest destroyers of new tattoos.

Exposing a new tattoo to the sun will cause all sorts of problems such as scaring, lightening of the art, and uneven healing.

If you work outside it is essential to listen to the tatttoo dress code and cover the area with loose clothing and you may consider applying a sterile non stick bandage to prevent irritation if your work is intensive.

What about Tanning Beds?

I’ve seen a couple people go into tanning beds with new tattoos. This isn’t the best idea.

Once your tattoo is completely healed, has lost the new “shine”, then you can go ahead and take a breather. But let’s take some preventative measures to ensure all the money you spent on a new tattoo isnt wasted by being in the sun.

Sun Care Pro Tips:

1. Avoid Tanning Beds/Sun exposure entirely until the tattoo has healed
2. If you are going to be out in the sun, wear loose clothing that covers the tattoo
3. If you’re going to be in the sun cover the tattoo in strong suncreen
4. Keep the sunscreen with you at all times as you are healing

6. Working Out with a New Tattoo

This is a topic I went back and forth on quite a bit when I first started getting tattoos. The thing is, the gym is a filthy place that is generally covered in sweat and germs. This is not good for a new tattoo because you don’t want anything that could potentially cause an infection getting on your tattoo.

But being a complete addict I honestly go out and get a lift in the following day. I would go the day of, but I will generally workout before and spend time after getting tattooed cleaning the area and resting due to the leaking bodily fluids.

The next day I go and lift and I have never had any problems, but I am very careful. A couple of precautions I take include:

• Cleaning the tattoo before going out and applying the ointment.
• Bringing a towel to the gym to lay down on to protect the tattoo.
• Cleaning the equipment before and after use.
• Not bumping into or rubbing against any machinery/people.

Once I get home I get in the shower and clean the tattoo with my preferred anti bacterial soap and reapply my ointment. I am not saying this will work for you but this is what I do to not have any problems.

7. Swimming, Showering and Water Exposure

You may or may not have heard but it’s quite common to hear people say “keep your tattoo out of the water!”

This is true but there are do’s and don’ts you need to know to keep the tattoo clean but not affected negatively.

Do:

• Run your tattoo under a water that is luke/warm whenever you need to clean it.
• Dab the wet area and let it air dry before applying your ointment

Don’t:

• Soak the tattoo for long periods of time while it is healing (pools, saunas, bath tubs)
• Use uncomfortable hot water on the tattoo
• Go swimming in oceans, lakes, or rivers

8. Infections and Your Tattoo

Although this is the last thing I will be covering I think it is the most important and most overlooked. I always laugh to myself when I see people going and getting tattoos from awful artists in their home or garage.

If you are going to put something onto your body for the rest of your life.

Why

Would 

You 

Ever 

Ever

Ever.

Get something shitty from your “bro” in his garage? 

By all means if thats what your into go for it. It makes those of us who go to shops that have artists with 10+ years experience have outstanding tattoos to compare to. Can you sense one of my pet peeves? I think this is a bad idea for a number of reasons but getting an infection is one of them.

Get your tattoo in a sterile environment. Walking into the shop you should immediately be able to tell if the shop is clean and professional.

If you artist does not do the following… Run:

• Spend 10-20 minutes setting up their work area
• Wears new gloves and changes them after touching something unsterile
• Wipes down the entire area with a sterile cloth
• Breaks open new supplies
• Pours new ink in new containers for your tattoo

To me these are signs of professionalism. If your artist is not experienced and aware of proper precautions you are increasing your chances to getting Hepatitis, HIV, MRSA, Staph Infections, and the list goes on…

If you are in the process of getting set up and don’t feel comfortable, just walk out. Seriously, don’t waste your time with amateurs. It’s your skin and your money you choose what you want to do with it.

But hey, if not you probably saved a few bucks right?

How do I tell if my tattoo is infected?

I am not a doctor, this is merely my own knowledge that I am providing for informational purposes.

You can tell your tattoo is infected if:

• There is a red haze around the tattoo
• There is excessive scabbing on your tattoo
• There are indentations on your tattoo
• There is puss coming out of the tattoo
• The area is swollen and hot to the touch

If you are extremely concerned about your tattoo being infected contact a doctor immediately. Don’t wait on it and think it will fix itself. Your artist at this point cannot help you because you are responsible for healing your own body. Infections can turn ugly quickly so be prompt in your actions and get on some antibiotics or whatever your doctor recommends.

Take into consideration all 8 of these things and you will be set to go through the tattoo healing process like a pro!

PS: Make sure you have the best tattoo aftercare products – you can check out my recommendations here.

Till next time.

The post 8 Things You Must Know For The Tattoo Healing Process appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

This will determine the quality of the tattoo over time while it recovers. I’ve heard some ridiculous recommendations for what some people put on their tattoos.

From lathering your tattoo with Vaseline to letting it air out and not applying anything on it at all, there is a lot of information pertaining to the tattoo healing process that can be very confusing.

In this article I will cover what I believe is the best tattoo healing ointment taking into consideration my experience with the products.

Tattoo healing ointment is applied after taking off the plastic bandaging and washing the tattoo for the first time.

Here are the ointments I have used for my tattoos:

1.  A&D Ointment::

A&D ointment was what my tattoo artist recommended me and it is what he uses when bandaging my new tattoos. These products have been discussed in the same order I used them. A & D Ointment was one of the simplest and most effective products I have used because it is not as thick as Aquaphor and there is a good amount per tube that can be used over time. It is what I currently use for most of my tattoos.

2. Tattoo Goo Salve Aftercare Ointment:

This is a company that has geared their products towards being a premium product for tattoo aftercare. With that being said, the price is higher for the amount you get. But I really liked using this product and found it really produced a nice thin layer on the tattoo.

The majority of products contain petroleum or lanolin which can cause a clogging of the skin pores. With this product there was 0 clogging or breakouts from having excess product on the tattoo. The only thing I did not like, especially for my larger tattoos is that there is not a lot of product as it comes In a 0.33 oz. can and for the amount you get the cost can be in the higher range.

3. Aquaphor:

This is highly recommended by a lot of tattoo artists and enthusiasts. This is a thicker substance that I began using for most of my tattoos. It is important to use a thin layer of this to allow the tattoo to breathe. You will know you are using too much when you start getting a rash or small pimples start to show.

Pro Tip Common FAQ

How often should I apply tattoo ointment?

You will want to apply your tattoo ointment after you wash your tattoo, keep in mind after washing the tattoo it may be wet still. Be sure to dab (don’t rub) all the water off and let the area are dry. Only once it has air dried would I apply the tattoo ointment as a thin layer across the tattooed area.

If you apply the ointment while there is water on the skin It will make a slippery mess that will result in a thicker layer than what you would want.

I messed up and applied too much ointment!

You know you applied too much ointment when a small rash or a cluster of small pimples begin to form. This can result from the ointment you are using or the amount you are applying. Correct this by running the tattoo underwater and dabbing the ointment off with a luke warm towel.

From there what I would do is:

• Choose a different ointment that may have a thinner texture
• Use a smaller amount of product to not smother the tattoo.

But my buddy who has a couple tattoos said to use this?

To be honest, this all comes down to personal preference and what you have been exposed to. Every shop, artist, and person has their own philosophy on what is right or wrong. I speak from my experience because that is all I have to offer.

Most likely, if you are reading this right now it’s because you have doubts about the quality of information you received from your source. I know because I have been there. But I went through and tested a variety of different products and found what works very well. I hope that the information here provides you with a direction to go in while going through the tattoo healing process.

The post Best Tattoo Ointments Revealed appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.