Tattoo aftercare is vitally important to the health of your new tattoo, and it must not be ignored. Many people believe that once the needlework is done, their tattoo is a lock, but that is far from reality. The fact is that unless you properly care for your new tattoo, it could easily fade, lose saturation, flake, scar, or you could wind up with an infected mess on your body.

But if you ask a dozen tattoo artists how to take care of a new tattoo, you’ll probably get a dozen different answers. The conclusion is that no one knows precisely what will work for everyone, so your best bet is to follow a conservative, consensus-driven aftercare procedure.

Before getting into any specifics, it’s important that you follow your tattoo artist’s directions precisely. If their guidance conflicts with this article, always refer to their instructions. But in the absence of directions, here’s what you need to know.

Tattoo Aftercare Do’s

Do use an approved aftercare moisturizer / healing cream Do leave your tattoo covered with the initial bandage for the recommended minimum time period (usually four hours or more), and do remove the bandage in no more than 12 hours Do prevent your tattoo from becoming wet Do keep your tattoo moisturized Do pat your skin dry when the tattooed area gets wet Tattoo Aftercare Don’ts

Don’t expose your tattoo to sunlight until fully healed Don’t submerse your tattoo in water, and especially avoid chlorinated water Don’t let your tattoo dry out Don’t over moisturize your tattoo Don’t pick your tattoo scabs Don’t cover your tattoo with a bandage once the initial bandage has been removed Don’t scratch your tattoo or allow it to bruise Tattoo Aftercare Procedure

1) Four to six hours after you leave the tattoo parlor, wash your hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap. You’ll want to ensure that your hands are free from dirt, germs, or anything infectious.

2) Carefully remove the bandage that was placed over your tattoo at the parlor. With a gentle antibacterial soap, carefully wash the tattooed area, removing any of the greasy covering, ink residue, blood, etc. You’ll know the area is clean when it just feels like wet skin. Be very gentle with your skin. Pat your skin dry — do not brush or rub dry.

3) Apply a thin layer of moisturizer / healing ointment. Popular brands recommended at parlors include A&D Ointment, Neosporin, and Bacitracin. There are also tattoo-specific products that are designed exclusively for aftercare, and they include Tattoo Goo, H2Ocean Aftercare, and Black Cat Tattoo Cream. If you have a large, expensive tattoo, or a tattoo with deep colors that you want to protect, they are probably worth the investment.

4) Three to four times per day, apply a small layer of anti-bacterial ointment to your tattoo. You will want to use enough to moisten the tattooed area, but not so much as to leave streaks or allow it to build up. Your goal is to moisturize the area only, so start with a small amount and work it in with your fingers.

The problem with over moisturizing the skin is that the inks can seep and fade from moisture, and that moisture includes more than just water. If you slather on a thick coating of Neosporin and keep it saturated throughout the day, your tattoo might heal in just over a week. Great news? Not so fast — it will also result in faded inks. If, however, you lightly coat the area three to four times per day, your tattoo might take two to three weeks to heal, but the colors will set properly. This is a tough lesson for many to learn. In some cases, letting the body heal at its own pace makes more sense to your tattoo.

5) Keep your tattoo covered, and out of exposure to sun, moisture, and other danages, but don’t cover it tightly. Ideally, a loose, breathable fabric can be worn. Don’t scratch or pick your tattoo! If you must, gently slap the skin or use rubbing alcohol to relieve any itching or irritation.

While there might seem to be quite a few steps to follow, they are quite simple. The bottom line is that you need to be mindful of your tattoo, and allow the body to heal itself as naturally as possible. You will do everything you can to assist that process, but you don’t want to rush nature. If you can do that, and stay diligent with your care for 2 to 3 weeks, you will be blessed with a deep tattoo that can be enjoyed for years to come.