two things about tattoo aftercare
There is a lot of information available when it comes to choosing the right tattoo artist and picking the right design. But there is also a lot of misleading information about aftercare out there. In order to clear up any potential confusion, here are the two main rules you need to follow:
First rule of tattoo aftercare
There are many factors that play a role in the healing time of a tattoo. Naturally a small tattoo with little saturation can have a very short initial healing period and seem to heal faster than a larger, fully saturated color tattoo. The initial healing phase which means the skin closes and no more plasma is oozing out from the tattoo, is one of the most important stages in tattoo aftercare. It is crucial to avoid scabbing up on the tattoo as it can cause a prolonged healing time, scarring and color loss. Healing time will mostly depend on a combination of tattoo techniques, aftercare and the body's natural healing capability.
The first night being the crucial moment when the skin might push out a little ink or pus. Getting tattooed for three straight days by three different artists at the same time for a full leg sleeve usually takes a week or two for the skin to start feeling normal again. We’ve noticed that the healing process actually speeds up by a few days when wearing Tattoo Armour Aftercare Pads - which is another reason we feel comfortable recommending it. During this period when your skin is healing from an opened wound it is also at an increased risk for bacterial infections. Which leads us to the second rule of tattoo healing…
Ashley Byrd
Second rule of tattoo aftercare
Treat your fresh tattoo as a wound! It will only become the awesome art after when you’ve taken good enough care of it that it heals perfectly. You need to keep an eye on the tattoo, wash & clean it and you have to do it regularly. Use fragrance free soap and when drying - use fresh paper towels. Avoid using regular towels, as they may contain bacteria.
TIP - Remove jewelry that might scratch the surface of your tattoo.
We have purposefully designed the Tattoo Armour aftercare pads to be easily applicable. So you could properly keep the fresh wound safe from bacteria and UV-light whilst letting the wound breathe enough.
The most important days of aftercare are when your skin is open and pushing out liquids. After that it’s already much easier. Just keep applying ointment/balm whenever you feel the skin getting dry and don’t over moisturize, as the extra moisture may block the pores of the skin and keep it from breathing properly.
And of course - keep away from direct sunlight, saunas and swimming. Sports are okay usually after a week. When going back to sports, make sure to keep an eye on your tattoo, and in case of any setback, swelling, redness etc. wait a little longer.