How to Take Care of Your New Tattoo

So you just got a new tattoo, congratulations! Maybe it's your first tattoo and you aren't sure what you are suppose to do to care for it. Maybe you have more than one but you can't remember how you took care of the first one. Well have no fear because I'm going to give you the information you need to have a healthy, happy tattoo for years to come.

1.) Your tattoo will likely be bandaged before you leave the tattoo studio. Leave the bandage on for no longer than 1 hour after leaving the studio.

2.) After removing your bandage, wash the tattoo with anti-bacterial soap(I use the orange Dial liquid soap). Pat dry but do not rub the tattoo.

3.) Cover the tattoo with a light coat of fragrance free lotion or A & D ointment. Do not use Vaseline.

4.) For the first 3-4 days you will need to wash your tattoo twice a day and keep it moist with the above described lotion or ointment. Do not let it dry out.

5.) The tattoo will peel and lose a little ink, but this is normal so don't freak out.

6.) KEEP IT CLEAN, KEEP IT MOIST, AND KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF.

7.) Enjoy your new ink! If you have any questions you should not hesitate to call your tattoo artist.

8.) At the first sign of an infection or allergic reaction, you should consult your health practitioner immediately.

9.) Once your tattoo has healed, the best way to keep it looking new and unfaded is to always apply a lotion with at least an SPF 15, if you will be outdoors.

Now I'm going to give you a couple of examples of what NOT to do after getting a new tattoo. These were provided by my tattoo artist, who has experienced them with customers who were not paying attention to her instructions.

*Do not leave your anti-bacterial soap on your tattoo, it is not an ointment, so rinse it off quickly.
*Do not jump in a hot tub or swimming pool for at least a week. The chlorine can take the color out of your tattoo and leave you with a mess.

If you follow these steps you will have a tattoo you can enjoy and show off ! Good luck!