That’s Inking with Your Head

It seems to be a family tradition for the children to come home and horrify Mom and Dad with a new tattoo following our eighteenth birthday. First there was my sister’s butterfly art, followed by my brother’s shrine to his childhood Chihuahua on his arm a month after the pup passed. (I’m not kidding here.)

While I’ve yet to follow suit, and am way past my eighteenth year, I still admire the beauty found in skin art. As I would hate to see any art go to waste due to improper tattoo care, below are some tips to keep your ink looking fresh long after you’ve left the parlor.

First, treat it right from the start. We know it’s gorgeous, but try to leave the bandage on for up to 24 hours, without taking peeksies or showing it off. This will help avoid infection from airborne bacteria. If your tattoo artist brings out the Glad Wrap, don’t fret: This is a common form of post-ink wrapping, along with the traditional ABD wound dressing. Note that if your artist chooses this type of dress, the plastic should be removed after two hours.

After the allotted time, remove your bandage, dazzle in your new inked-up skin’s glory, and then gently wash the tattoo and let it air dry. In the days following, continue to wash and apply ointment to the tattoo, taking care to only apply a thin layer. A typical tattoo takes four to six weeks to heal, so keep up the good work until then.

Things to avoid: After your tattoo has healed, you’ll still want to take some precautions to help keep it from fading. You’ve most likely paid good money for it, so think of these steps as due diligence to protect your investment — let’s try to avoid an appearance on “Tattoo Nightmares” as much as we can.

Just as you should have been doing even before you inked up, be sure to apply sunscreen before any lengthy activity in the sun. Sun is the leading cause of color-fading in tattoos, so pay special attention to your skin art when applying. Anything above SPF 50 will do.

Be sure to keep moisturizing the skin everyday to avoid flaking. This is especially important in Colorado, as dry air (and the cold) causes skin to crack and dry faster. You want a smooth and beautiful canvas to make your art stand out.

While a nice dip now and then can’t be avoided (especially in the dry climate I just mentioned above), chlorine is another element known to pull color from tattoos. Try to limit your time in the pool, and immediately shower afterwards. Best to avoid the water all together in the weeks following when your tattoo was done.

And there you have it! A few easy steps to ensure your ink doesn’t ever feel “not so fresh.” (Tell your Mom and Dad I’m sorry I was so encouraging.)