Friday, October 8, 2010

Tattoo Care

Ø      Always make sure you wash your hands (with liquid antibacterial soap and water) before touching your new tattoo!
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Remove bandage after 2 hours.  If bandage sticks, moisten with warm water to loosen.  Wash thoroughly with liquid antibacterial soap and the palm of your hand.  Do not use a washcloth, body sponge, or loofah on a fresh tattoo.  Let air dry for 15 minutes before applying ointment.
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Apply a small amount of ointment to tattoo 3 to 5 times a day and rub in like lotion.  Always apply ointment after washing.  Do not leave any ointment on the surface of your skin, blot off excess with tissue.
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After 5 days, switch to lotion like Lubriderm, Keri, or Vaseline Intensive Care.  Avoid fragranced and specialty lotions (like skin firming, bronzing, or age defying).
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Always wash after sweating or getting dirty. 

What to Avoid

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If you are on antibiotics, do not get tattooed!!  If you have to take antibiotics during the first month of getting a tattoo, it could possibly cause your tattoo to fade and you might require a touch up.
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Do not go swimming or soak in a hot tub for at least 2 weeks.
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Do not expose to sunlight at all for the first month.  After that, always apply SPF 30 or higher sunscreen before going outdoors.  A good sunscreen to use is the Water Babies stick…it is easy to apply and is waterproof.
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Do not pick at the tattoo when it peels.
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Do not scratch a healing tattoo.  If it itches, you can smack it to take the itch away.
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Do not use cosmetics, perfumes, or body sprays on or near the tattoo.
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Avoid applying deodorant around the tattoo.
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Try to wear loose, clean clothes over the tattoo.
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Do not shave over the tattoo for at least a month.
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Do not re-bandage your tattoo.  It needs air to heal. 

What to Expect

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Your tattoo might produce small amounts of blood and plasma for 24 to 48 hours especially on tattoos that have a lot of color or tribal.  Make sure to clean this off 3 or 4 times a day and apply ointment after washing.
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Wear old, but clean clothing over tattoo when going to bed to avoid leaking plasma on sheets.  This will also prevent your tattoo from becoming stuck to the sheets.  If your tattoo sticks to your clothes, dampen with warm water to loosen.  DO NOT yank it off!
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Your tattoo might peel in 4 to 5 days.  It will flake like a mild sunburn and there will be pigment in the skin that peels off.  
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You might have some soreness and swelling for anywhere from 3 to 5 days.
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When your tattoo is healed, you might notice a spot here or there that needs to be touched-up.  If so, let the tattoo heal completely, for at least a month, before scheduling a touch-up.
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Tattoos on the hands and feet might peel twice.  After the first time it peels, you will have a whitish film over the tattoo.  This will peel off in a few days.  Remember, we do not guarantee tattoos on hands and feet, so take care of them to lessen the chances of requiring a touch-up!
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After it is healed, dry skin will cause the tattoo to look dull. To brighten the colors up, use lotion daily.

46 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tips, actually want to get a tattoo very soon

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  2. im getting my first ink soon. thanks for tips man!

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  3. Excellent post! Very imformative.
    Im dying to get some ink, but want to get into better shape first :P want to get somethign huge over my shoulders and back/chest.

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  4. Sweet good info since i just got blasted

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  5. hoping to get a tattoo but dont want to fuck up my body, wheres the best spot that is cool but also won't show all the time?

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  6. Very informative, I'm hopeful that I'll be getting a tat soon

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  7. Good but very obvious advice, liked the post

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  8. got my ears pierced and got new earrings. they are clean as angels, boss

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  9. nice post, getting my tongue pierced soon

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  10. awesome! i plan on getting a tattoo ill refer back to this when i do!

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  11. Nice, was thinking about getting a tatoo in the next year or so. :D

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  12. Always thought about getting a tattoo but never really followed through with it, but ill keep this in mind for when I do!

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  13. This is basically what I did for mine and it still looks good today!

    Thanks for the info!

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  14. I'll keep this in mind for when I get my first tattoo.

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  15. If I plan on getting a tattoo I'll keep this in mind.

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  16. Useful for me, I'll get a tattoo soon

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  17. also, do not rub dog turds on your tattoo... i can't believe nobody warned me not to do that...

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  18. tattoos ftw. a good tattooist should tell you about this kind of stuff right of the bat.

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  19. Good advice. I always wanted to get one, just never really sure what to get.

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  20. I don't have any but great information.

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  21. That's why I don't want a tattoo, a dog, or anything that needs care.

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  22. good tips! thanks for these! =)

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  23. good job here! you just inspired more bubbles on Enhanced by MS Paint :)

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  24. this is a good follow up post to the previous one

    I have a new post on GTL Everyday too :)

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  25. My friend is an amateur tattooist, he inked me up good, but never gave me these tips!

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  26. Thanks for the comments on my blog :)

    I have new bubbles on Enhanced by MS Paint!

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  27. Planned on getting a tattoo soon, I knew my dad took care of his before but didn't know there was this much care into it. Thanks for the info =D

    http://quarterqwerty.blogspot.com/

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  28. lol i had to read it all the way through. good stuf!

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  29. When I got my first tattoo I didn't realize how much of a pain it was gonna be. I just assumed I'd walk out with a sweet tat and that'd be the end of it

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  30. i'm getting my first tattoo this week. i'm glad i ran into this post, it had some good things to keep in mind <3 check out my blog in a few days and i'll throw up some pics of my ink.

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  31. Getting my second tat in a few weeks :)
    I needed these

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  32. Great post as im planning to get my first tattoo next week :D :D thanks heaps! needs to be moar posts like thiiiis!

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