I’m right there with you, I hate missing a day after a workout, I literally get destroyed by the feelings of guilt and laziness washing over me. Alright, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit…

The tattoo healing process is something that should be taken seriously and with that, entering an environment of dust, sweat, and testosterone may or may not have its place.

I’ll be honest with you…

I’ve normally gone into the gym and lifted the day following my tattoo but let me breakdown and explain the how and the why behind this.

I don’t go to the gym with a new tattoo the day I get it.

There is a simple reason for this, you definitely want to leave the bandaging that your artist applies to the tattoo for a few hours post session. Following this I believe it is a good idea to clean the tattoo thoroughly to remove bodily fluids and keep clean for the remainder of the day.

The tattoo will probably be sore, seeping bodily fluids, and at it’s most vulnerable for infection if not taken care of properly. The day of getting a tattoo is a no go in the gym for me.

Pro Tip: Just go before your session and get it out of the way!

Now, if you’re like me you’re itching to workout after a day. Sometimes I do go workout the next day depending on what you are working out.

If the  tattooed skin will be pulling, moving, or being rubbed against in the process of your workout I would highly reconsider going into the gym until the area has healed properly.

When I got my elbow tattooed it was the most difficult area to heal that I’ve experienced so far. Constantly moving the joint doesn’t give the skin any time to heal. With that being said, I wasn’t doing anything that involved the elbow joint for a couple of weeks after my workout.

However, I will have to go in for a future session to complete the tattoo and retain as much color as possible. With this next session coming around I will take about a week off from the gym to let the tattoo heal as best as possible.

Moving the tattooed area often can result in a poor healing process, lost color, and future touch ups may be required.

If you feel like you can workout, won’t irritate the tattooed area, and will be able to be effective in the gym, pull the trigger and get in the gym.

Just keep in mind that preparation is essential to keep the tattoo clean.

Here is what I do to prepare and keep the tattooed area clean in the gym:

• I wear baggy or open clothing to ensure that my clothing is not rubbing against the area.
• I clean and apply ointment or lotion to the area before going into the gym.
• I lay a towel down where I go and I spray down the equipment before and after use.
• I am consciously aware to not bump into or rub the tattooed area on anyone or anything.

What happens if I get the tattoo dirty or contaminated during my workout?

Simple, I’ll head to the locker rooms and wipe down the tattoo with lukewarm water, make sure its clean, finish up whatever is left in my workout and get home to shower and clean the area with anti-bacterial soap.

Here is my 4 week protocol to working out in the gym with a new tattoo.

Day 1: Getting the Tattoo 

I workout in the morning before the tattoo session, If I dont make it to the gym I don’t workout.

I leave bandaging on the tattoo for a few hours after getting it and once I remove the bandage the tattoo is still seeping bodily fluids. After cleaning the area thoroughly and applying ointment to the tattoo I leave it alone.

Day 2: The Day After Getting the Tattoo

Depending on what you want to workout and if it will impact the skin that was tattooed I may or may not workout. If I am working out legs and have a forearm tattoo I see no issues with getting in the gym.

However, if you have an upper back tattoo and you are going to back squat obviously that is not a good idea and avoiding exercises like that is something I would recommend from my own opinion to get the most out of the tattoo healing process.

Use your judgement, ask yourself if this will impact the tattoos recovery and make your decision from there. It’s important to ensure you are applying proper aftercare ointment before going into the gym.

Day 3-7: The Week of Getting the Tattoo

Same as day 2, you will need to consider if you should workout depending on where you received your tattoo. There is no issue with going into the gym as long as the tattooed area is not being irritated.

The reason it’s important to apply proper aftercare ointment before working (as recommended on day 2) is to ensure that you do not incur any infections on they newly tattooed area. Normally I will apply a thin layer of my preferred tattoo ointment onto my skin BEFORE going to the gym.

It’s also good hygiene and etiquette to spray and wipe down the bench you are using before and after use. It’s not unheard of to spread infections like MRSA (staph) in the gym when you are not following proper hygiene principles and your odds are much higher when you have a new tattoo which is technically an open wound. If you’re gym does not have that equipment pick up a few towels and keep them with you.

Day 7-28: The Second Week Healing the Tattoo

At this point, you should have a pretty good feel for how your tattoo is healing and how you should treat it when you are in the gym.

Towards the end of the four weeks is when I may start working out body parts that come into contact with the new tattoo. If I got an upper back tattoo and have been taking some time off from back squats for the past 4 weeks, the tattoo should be healing very nicely from this point.

I would be sure to have switched over to my preferred tattoo lotion around the end of the first week of having my tattoo and I would regularly be applying the lotion 2-3 times per day and ensuring that the tattoo is taken care of.

Pro Tip: It’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you’re unsure about putting pressure or external objects into contact with your tattoo then don’t. There is only a small window of time you have to heal a tattoo properly and you definitely don’t want to mess it up because you were to eager to get a workout in.

By the end of the month you’re tattoo should be finally healed up, or pretty close to it and your workouts should resume right back to normal! Keep working hard on your health and fitness goals.

Pro Tip: Maximize Your Workouts!

I’m always looking for premium fitness equipment and apparel to not only increase my performance but prevent any potential injury that might happen in the gym. Gymreapers is a phenomenal brand that provides quality fitness equipment and apparel at an affordable cost.

Not only is their apparel awesome but I’ve been using their equipment for quite some time now and it has completely changed my workouts. Gymreapers knee sleeves provide warmth and compression to your joints while doing any sort of leg exercises making your knees feel better. Better yet, with Amazon prime you can get them delivered to your door in 2 days!

It’s a badass brand with great quality products. Check them out here when you get the chance… if you’re interested use the code THP10 and get 10% off your entire order!

Till next time,

The post When Can You Go To The Gym After Getting A Tattoo? appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

This is particularly hard to do in the summer months when we want nothing more than to wear as little as possible. So what do you do when you have a new tattoo and what to care for it, and protect it from the sun?

• Put lotion on your fresh ink.

  No matter what kind of tattoo you have, you must moisturize the area to prevent it from drying out, peeling and cracking.

• Figure out the best kind of lotion there is for your tattoo.

  Look into tattoo specific creams and lotions. However, when you are choosing your lotion, make sure to make note on a very important detail. Make sure the lotion is not perfumed in any way, and non-scented. Trust me, you’ll thank us for this tip. Perfumed lotions can sting a new and fresh tattoo.

• Make sure you know the risks before taking your fresh tattoo outside into direct sunlight.

  If you don’t take proper care of your tattoo, it wont last you very long. Tattoos can fade in a fairly short period of time from direct sunlight (especially fresh ones), but can also raise the likelihood over other serious risks like skin cancer, diseases, infections, bumps and other damage like scarring. Also, it’s worth noting that lighter colours seem to fade a lot quicker, and blues will easily change to a green with their fading.

• It’s gonna fade

  Keep in mind that yes, your tattoo will fade anyways with healing and over time. However despite that fact, you should really take into consideration the other factors regarding direct sun on a fresh tattoo (liked those highlighted above). Also keep in mind that “time” fading will be nowhere near as damaging or significant as sun fading. Also fading over time wont change your colours, only mute them, where as direct sun will cause some colours to change.

• Avoid tanning beds.

  Indoor tanners are just as damaging as the sun, if not more so. The ultraviolet rays are much more concentrated and people tend stay in them a lot longer than they should or that is recommended. When your skin burns, it damages the layers of the epidermis which contain the ink and can cause lumps, scarring, and cause certain areas of the tattoo to become raised and itchy (and remain that way).

• Don’t use tanning lotions.

  Sunscreen is one thing, and is actually HIGHLY recommended for many many reasons, but tanning lotion is not the same thing. Where sunblock protects your skin for the UVA and UVB rays, tanning lotions invite those rays and provide them with the ideal surface to dry out and cook your skin. Not only are these not recommended for fresh tattoos, but they really should be avoided in general during every day life. Cancer is on the rise, and skin cancer is among the top, with the amount of time people spend outdoors, or even intentionally laying out in the sun looking to achieve that dram tan. The best course of action is to avoid it entirely.

Some other things to keep in mind at all times: The more you have direct sun, the more your tattoo will fade. Period, end of discussion.

While the health benefits of staying out of the sun are obviously more important, in regards to your tattoo you would be ruining a very expensive piece of artwork that you have a life long commitment to having and carrying around with you forever. One little sun exposure oversight that a lot of people don’t think of is daily life exposure. You aren’t always hitting the town in short shorts and tank tops, nor laying on the beach in a bathing suit catching the rays. A lot of sun exposure can come at times when you aren’t even thinking about it. Like through the open window in your office, or by doing something most drivers (and passengers) do. Resting your arm in the open car window, exposed to the sun (aka: Driver’s Tan).

The best and safest course of action when taking care of your new tattoo and going through the tattoo healing process, is following your artists after care instructions.

All reputable artists will provide you with a pamphlet with information and instructions on how to have a successful and trouble free healing with your new ink.

Tired of dealing with an itchy tattoo? Stay informed on the essentials of dealing with an itchy tattoo.

The post Your New Tattoo; What You Need To Know About Sun Exposure appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

The healing of your tattoo is the final step to completing your tattoo and therefore it should still be taken seriously. There was a kid I used to work with, and he got a brand new tattoo on his shoulder, he wasn’t well versed when it came to healing tattoos properly so he did not take the necessary measures to make sure his tattoo healed with the highest quality.

One day he spent a few hours in the sun and sunburned his arm along with his tattoo. I remember him sheepishly walking up to me with his bright red skin questioning if this was a bad thing to have happen when you get a new tattoo. I explained to him what happens throughout the process of having a tattoo heal and that any damage to the skin can affect the tattoo. I seem to remember it faded quite a bit when it was fully healed and he covers it up most of the time.

This is a small example of why it is important to know what to do after you get a tattoo. Let’s jump right in with the 8 essential things I believe will lead to you having a great tattoo!

1. Clean the tattoo thoroughly and properly when you first take the bandaging off of the tattoo.

There will be quite a bit of ink and bodily fluids mixed in when you first remove the bandage, it’s vitally important to clean the tattoo with luke warm water after removing the bandage and applying a thin layer of your preferred tattoo ointment.

If this process is not done correctly, you will make a mess of whatever comes into contact with the tattoo because the liquids will spread onto clothing, sheets, etc. You also leave the tattoo susceptible to infection without proper cleaning.

2. Have the proper aftercare products with you.

The aftercare products I make sure to have for the tattoo healing process would include an anti-bacterial soap, a good ointment, and a non-scented lotion.

I’ve found one of the simplest and most effective ways of ensuring your tattoo heals properly is to not only get the proper products but get the proper products from a reputable supplier. Here are a few recommendations that I’ve had success with:

H2Ocean Ultimate Tattoo Care Kit $$$$ By H2Ocean Three part system. Water based products. Noticed faster healing. Buy Now Tattoo Goo Aftercare Kit $$$ By Tattoo Goo Great for small pieces. Does not contain Petroleum or Lanolin Includes sunscreen protectant for tattoo Buy Now H2Ocean Extreme Tattoo Care Kit $$$$ By H2Ocean Really Effective Lotion. Three Part System. Larger Kit (9 Oz.) Buy Now

3. Wear loose clothing that won’t irritate the tattoo

The best offense is a great defense, right? You can ensure your tattoo heals great by not wearing constricting clothing that may rub or irritate the new tattoo. This is especially important when the tattoo starts to peel. When the tattoo begins to peel do not touch or pick at the skin, allow it to peel on its own to retain the most amount of color.

NOTE: By picking or itching at your tattoo you open yourself to having a patchy tattoo that loses color in certain spots that you may have picked at.

4. Clean and moisturize the tattoo as needed

There is no perfect schedule for cleaning your tattoo and keeping it moisturized especially because everyone’s body and lifestyle is different. I generally will clean my tattoo about two times per day. The best time for me to clean the tattoos is immediately upon waking up and showering – the human bed can be pretty gross and contains a lot of germs and bacteria. Cleaning the tattoo upon waking up is probably a pretty sure bet if your really not sure what to do after you get a tattoo.

The next time I go to wash my tattoo depends on what I am doing and what comes up during the day. Some instances that would cause me to wash it again may include:

• If it gets irritated as I go about the day (rubbing the tattooed area against something, have fluids contact it, or any other situation where something that isnt normal touches it)

• If I workout (Gyms are disgusting; wash immediately once you are out of there)

• If I am about to go to bed

Of these three scenarios I’ll generally clean the tattoo after one and that will be good for the day.

Obviously after cleaning it and letting the tattoo dry I apply my preferred ointment or lotion depending on the stage of healing that the tattoo is in.

5. Keep the tattoo out of the sun

Going back to my story about the guy I used to work with. When you are out in the sun for long periods of time you are opening yourself to having a faded tattoo. If you do get pretty bad sun burn on the skin you may also develop an open wound on the tattoo depending on if your skin blisters and how your body reacts in the sun. Educate yourself on sun exposure and new tattoo’s to ensure that you don’t end up with any horror stories!

Just a side note: Being out in the sun for long periods of time regardless of having a tattoo can be harmful over the long term. Take care of your skin, it’s a live organ just like your liver or kidney and skin cancer is on the rise due to careless sun exposure.

6. Don’t soak the tattoo in water

When it comes to water exposure and your new tattoo, you absolutely don’t want to leave the tattoo under water for long periods of time because it will affect the outcome of the tattoo. Taking a bath, swimming in a pool, or floating in a river are all pretty bad ideas when your tattoo is still in the healing process.

It goes without saying, but swimming the ocean or a chlorinated pool with a new tattoo is not a good idea because the salt water and chlorine will not mix and can potentially damage your tattoo.

7. Set up another appointment!

No, your tattoo artist isn’t paying me for this (maybe they should). There are a couple of reasons you may consider booking another appointment. If you liked your artist and like the work, set up another appointment to add on to what you have!

There is almost always something in the back of your mind that you want, sit down with your artist and talk it over with them. Figure out what you can get as your next tattoo and get ready to restart the tattoo healing process after that one.

You may also need to set up another appointment for a touch up or add on for the tattoo you have. Not all healing processes go as we want them. Sometimes, color doesn’t retain like we want it to or there is more we want to add. Cover this before setting the appointment with your artist and have an idea of what you want as an end result.

Knowing these details is all part of the tattoo healing process and knowing what to do after you get a tattoo is important to maintaining the highest quality work possible.

Good luck and happy healing!

The post 7 Top Tips You Have To Do After You Get a Tattoo appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

In this article, I will provide you with answers as to why your tattoo itches and how I stop a tattoo from itching.

Itching is a completely normal occurrence when going through the tattoo healing process.

As the tattoo begins healing, itching is a normal occurrence in most circumstances for people (some people never experience their tattoos itching).

I believe its inevitable for most people and regardless, the tattoo will begin to itch and in turn you will want to scratch at it to ease the irritation. It is important that you DONT scratch at the tattoo especially as it peels as this can very harmful to the tattoo and impact the turn out of your tattoo.

When you begin to scratch at your tattoo,  realize that they are still in the healing process and can therefore lose their color partially or completely if scratched or picked at. It is not uncommon to see bits or small segments of someone’s tattoo that appears patchy or is missing the depth of color/design that should be there. This is caused by someone picking/scratching the tattoo in the most delicate stages of the healing process.

I also take into consideration that it is an open wound and as it heals, is susceptible to infection. If you are scratching/rubbing it with your hands you can transmit dirt and germs from your hands to the open area. This comes back to the importance of washing your tattoo on a regular basis

The tattoo itching will go away however in the meantime there is a process I follow when my tattoos itch that I will leave you with to ensure that you maintain the highest quality of color with your tattoo aftercare.

Here is what I do when my tattoo’s itch in the healing process:

1. Whenever the sensation to pick, scratch or rub my tattoo arises due to itchiness I will gently pat/slap the tattoo as this does not affect the imprint however it does provide some relief.
2. I apply my preferred form of ointment or lotion depending on if my tattoo is peeling. Generally I will switch over to lotion once the peeling stage begins.
3. I take my mind off of my tattoo, normally it itches when I am lying still or sitting around. To avoid this from happening, I may go for a walk, make some food, or turn on something to listen to.

If you find yourself scratching your tattoo without realizing it

I would be sure to take precautionary measures just so you don’t ruin your tattoo. I have woken up to myself scratching a new tattoo (without realizing what was going on).

If you are experiencing an intense need to scratch your tattoo I would be sure to cut your finger nails and keep them short while your in the tattoo recovery stages. I would also be sure to keep a non scented lotion with you at all times to ensure your ability to apply some product that can provide some relief.

Having clean and itch free tattoos really makes the entire tattoo healing process more enjoyable -I always make sure to keep my tattoos clean with the best antibacterial soap.

What about you?

The post Stop Tattoo Itching with These 3 Tips appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

Before we get into this, everyone needs to realize that people heal in different ways, although pouring bleach on a new tattoo would not benefit anyone just because dry healing may not work for me or you does not mean that someone else is in the wrong for doing it.

Dry Healing a tattoo is:

Not applying any ointment to the new tattoo

There’s really only two things to say about this topic, why someone would do it and why I don’t.

Why people choose to do it:

Some people have phenomenal results dry healing their tattoos, people say that their tattoos heal quicker and as long as they don’t itch the tattoo it is better than using any ointment or lotion.

I honestly think this is because people are not using the correct types of ointments/lotion to heal their tattoos.

If they were to look into different options that are provided, they would find a product that helps their tattoos heal far more efficiently than not using anything at all.

Why I will not dry heal my tattoos:

I have no reason to.

My tattoos turn out fantastic using the products I choose to use. This is both in part to my artist as well as the care I take in the tattoo healing process.

Remember that “getting a tattoo” does not end when the needle stops.

Let’s logically break this down. If you were to get an open wound on your body, you would most likely apply something to help it heal and prevent infection/scarring.

This is no different for a tattoo, you have technically self-inflicted an open wound on your body (while it is art) the body does not care what it is.

With that being said, I have let my tattoos go dry and I am able to observe a few things:

• Itching intensifies the drier the tattoo gets
• The skin elevates similar to a bump (this has only happened on color for me)
• Scabbing is more evident and the skin tightens
  •  As the skin tightens and you move around you are going to break open the scabs (this happened to my tattoo on the elbow joint).
• As the tattoo scab breaks open the healing process is extended.
• If you rub into something by accident its going to hurt.

I have been applying A & D ointment to my new tattoos to keep the area moisturized and clean. By applying this to the tattoo I noticed several things happen:

• The tattoo rarely itches
• The scabbing process goes by quickly
• The tattoo heals quickly (1-3 weeks)
• If you rub into something by accident… it still hurts.

I want to make it clear that some people 100% believe in dry healing tattoos. I hope this provides some insight into why I 100% believe in keeping the area clean and moisturized with the proper ointments.

What is your preferred healing method?

The post Can You Dry Heal a Tattoo appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.

Here’s the thing, being out in the sun after getting a new tattoo is a bad idea but its not the end of the world.

Upon receiving your tattoo you should have been informed of a few things if your artist was aware of the basics and cared to inform you.

Wherever you received the tattoo, you have an open wound. It’s important to keep the area clean, sanitized, and out of any form of irritation.

This means you will want to avoid long periods in the sun at all costs due to the irritation and burn that could result. This doesn’t mean you have to become a hermit for the next month while you are going through the tattoo healing process. It simply means you have to be aware of the aftercare that your tattoo requires.

I typically avoid long periods in the sun for 1-2 weeks as the tattoo recovers, peals, and sets into its place.

After the tattoo has healed and is in overall good shape I may spend more time outside than usual. However, I am always cautious about my behavior and time outside and I will always apply sunscreen to the area that may be affected by the sun.

I believe it is important to cover all of my tattoos old and new in a strong sunscreen.

From my experience, the primary effect that the sun will have on your tattoo is the fading of color and detail.

This way I am always protected and the pain, money, and time I spent on getting the art I enjoy printed on my body does not go to waste.

Sunburning a new tattoo

If you have sunburnt a new tattoo you are most likely experiencing a fair bit of pain, this is like heating an open (like a cut) on your body.

You may be experiencing a very dry tattoo that may form bubbles due to the burn occurred. While I am not a doctor and cannot give medical advise I speak from my own personal experience and thoughts and believe that applying an unscented lotion/ ointment to the affected area would be wise.

While applying the lotion to moisturize the area I would be sure to not pop, scratch, or irritate any blisters that may be forming. Any intense irritation could potentially affect the design of the tattoo depending on how bad the burn is.

Whenever I get a blister from the heat or irritation I like to get an ice pack or cold water and apply it to the affected area for relief, this may be something you choose to do as well.

If you are extremely concerned with what has resulted please realize that I am not a medical professional and that I speak from my experience. My advice for you would be to seek out a doctor, or go speak with your tattoo artist as both professions would have experience and guidance in the subject.

The post Will sunburn affect my new tattoo? appeared first on Tattoo Healing Pro.