Caring for Your Tattoo, Tattoo Aftercare
Congratulations on Your New Tattoo
If you are reading this I am assuming you either just got a tattoo, or are thinking about it. I myself have over 20 tattoos, and recently got both of my thighs tattooed.
In this article I will be sharing what to use while the tattoo is healing, and what to use after. I write from my very own experience as a heavily inked person. So, lets get started.
Tattoo Aftercare
Now that you just got inked and the excitement has turned into a bit of paranoia, hoping for no infection or fading, here are my recommendations.
First 3 Days
For your first 3 days after getting your ink, I recommend using either A&D ointment, or Bacitracin. I usually always use A&D ointment, but this time my tattoo artist recommended to use bacitracin for the first 3 days. It is a small tube that you can find at any drugstore where the band-aids are. It goes for about $2.00 to $4.00 which is a great price to avoid any kind of infection. What you do is wash your tattoo 3 times a day with Dial Anti-Bacterial soap, and after wards put a tiny amount of the ointment. Note how I say tiny. Don't overdo it, because it can clog your pores and you may end up with little bumps around your tattoo. Remember, it is very important to use this ointment, because you have to treat a tattoo like a wound for the first few days. Remember you just got poked over and over again with a lot of tiny needles, so you need to keep the area clean, and covered with a thin film of ointment.
Day 4 and after
So, its been 3 days and you have been using the ointment, so now its time to switch to cocoa butter. I like to use Palmers Pure Cocoa butter. You can also use Lubriderm, but Cocoa Butter is what I prefer. I still wash it with Dial anti bacterial soap, then I cover it with the butter. Remember at this stage, it will begin to peel, and itch, really bad, but whatever you do, don't mess with it, and definitely don't scratch it. If you must scratch it, only pat it with your hands, gently.
After the peeling process, your tattoo will go back to looking like it did when you first got it, it will be shiny and vibrant. It takes about 2 weeks for it to completely heal, but remember, keep using the cocoa butter, everyday, that way you increase the vibrancy of your tattoo. Hope this information helped, and Happy Inking!!
