Well YOU FINALLY DID IT!!! You got a tattoo!!! Looks great HUH? Excited? Want to show it off? WE CAN'T BLAME YOU! But... (yeah there's always a "but" isn't there?) if you want that tattoo to always look good and if you want to show it off, there are a few guidelines to follow to insure it stays beautiful!
Now that you have left the tattoo parlor, it's ALL up to you now to insure that it stays beautiful and doesn't become infected. An awesome tattoo can become a mess if not properly cared for. OKAY, so what do you do?
First, If your artist covered it when it was done.. leave it covered for at least a couple of hours. THIS is to keep all the cooties out there out of it, I know but your friends can wait to see it!!! The exception to this, is if your artist used a saran wrap or plastic to cover it.. IT CAN'T Breath!!! Take the plastic off as soon as you get home, you're better off with NOTHING over it.
Second, When you get home or after you take that cover off, Wash it with Luke warm water and a good antibacterial soap. HEY, NO WASH CLOTHS!!! Your hand works the best for this! Gently wash off any ointment, blood or plasma that is over it but be gentle okay?
Third, dry it off, but again, be gentle, PAT it dry with a clean soft towel or paper towel and apply a thin....NOTE THE WORD THIN....coat of ointment. A good Bacitracin is good, but your choice. Your Artist might have even given you some. IT GOES A LONG WAY!!!
OKAY We're only going to tell you this once!!!! DO NOT, AGAIN DO NOT, (well okay we'll say it twice) use "Neosporin." Although a wonderful product, it's evil to tattoos!!
Fourth, Wash it everyday, twice a day and apply the ointment on it for the first 4-5 days. After that, stop the ointment and follow the washing with a good non scented lotion. You will get a slight scabbing over the tattoo, this is normal, rembember what your Mom told you, DON'T PICK AT IT!!!! Let the scabbing wash off normally with the washings.
Fifth, Keep it clean, but.. Don't soak it or go swimming until it's completly healed, usually about 2 weeks. YES, this means HOT TUBS TOO!!!
THAT'S it!! Congrat on the new INK you are officially one of US!!! Oh, One more thing, almost forgot, Now that you have that beautiful work of art, Keep it that way and when you go outside, use sun-screen. The sun can do miserable things to tattoos!!! Enjoy and we want to see it!!!
There are some wonderful specialty products on the market like "H2Ocean" "Tattoo Goo" and "Heaven and Hell," and you are free to explore and use them but they aren't necessary. Invest in them when you decide to get that full back tattoo or a complete sleeve.
