With data revealing that as many as 1 in 3 adults aged 30-39 boasts at least one tattoo on their body, the team at a new skincare brand reveals how those planning some ink in the near future can best prep their skin – both in preparing for a tattoo and aftercare.
Despite such an increase in popularity of body art during recent years, many may still be in the dark on how the process of tattooing can lead to complications if the skin surrounding the tattooed area isn’t cared for properly.
With this in mind, Nada Ward, founder of soap bar brand Beauty Kin is back, and this time she is sharing some simple tips on how to up your skincare game while preparing for a tattoo, and what to do during the process of getting one.
RELATED: One Promising Way to Get Rid of Your Tattoo Regrets
Preparing for a Tattoo
· Do get a good night’s sleep
The worst thing you can do in your tattoo session is to come in totally exhausted. Not only do you need your mind to be fully alert during your session, but you will need your body to be awake for the potentially long periods of time that you are keeping it still for the needle.
· Find the right tattoo artist
Finding a tattoo artist who is right for you should be a key part of your process. As well as simply liking a tattooist’s artwork (or their prices), you should be sure to make the professional standards of your tattoo artist your main priority.
A good tattoo artist will make sure that you are comfortable throughout your session, as well as taking care to bandage your skin properly, using the appropriate products, and good quality wrap to bandage your new tattoo.
· Stay hydrated
Drinking a sufficient amount of water in the run-up to your tattoo will help to keep you stimulated during your session. Keeping hydrated will also help your brain to stay alert and provide you with hydrated skin at the same time.
Taking into account skincare, it is also important to use moisturizing products. Hydrated skin will make for a better-looking tattoo.
· Do dress for your session
Wearing comfortable and appropriate clothing will help your tattoo session run as smoothly as possible. Wearing loose-fitting clothing will help your artist to access the area of your skin that you want to be tattooed, whilst avoiding tight clothing will help you to feel more comfortable at the same time.
Whilst you are also in the process of preparing for a tattoo, it’s best to shave the area of your body that you would like to get tattooed since your tattoo artist will be able to give you a better tattoo when there is no hair getting in the way.
This Beauty Kin face and body shaving bar might be a good option to use as an alternative to gel or foam and is highly effective at soothing and hydrating skin during the shaving process. It contains squalane, a fantastic emollient, and lavender, which has anti-inflammatory powers.
SEE ALSO: 6 Reasons Why I Love Laser Hair Removal
· Don’t turn up intoxicated
While getting tattooed is certainly a lot of fun, it is important to remember that you are entering a professional environment with potentially dangerous equipment.
Turning up to your tattoo session intoxicated or hungover will only make your tattoo artist’s job harder, increasing the likelihood of something going wrong. So definitely avoid drinking the night before a tattoo, and especially don’t drink on the day of your session.
Not only could turning up drunk to a tattoo session make you look rude, but being intoxicated can also have an adverse effect on your body during the process. Alcohol can dehydrate your skin, causing your tattoo to showcase a cracked effect once healed.
· Don’t turn up on an empty stomach
Turning up for your tattoo session hungry can also cause problems, since your sense of hunger may make you feel distracted or make your body feel weaker, limiting your ability to hold still the part of your body that you are getting tattooed.
If you are in for quite a long session, it may even be a good idea to bring a few snacks along with you, particularly ones that will keep your blood sugar levels up.
Post-Tattoo Planning
· Do take care of your tattoo
There is a right way to look after your tattoo properly and all it takes is a little bit of extra skincare, love, and the right products.
After removing your bandaging, be sure to wash your tattoo gently with a small amount of lukewarm water and antimicrobial soap, before patting the tattoo dry.
Following this, apply a layer of a product that will hydrate your skin, such as vaseline or coconut oil, and be sure to find a product that has antibacterial properties too. Do this twice a day, but do not apply another bandage, as your new tattoo needs to breathe.
Even after the initial healing process has taken place, you will still want to keep the skin surrounding your new tattoo hydrated. To keep a tattoo as fresh and vibrant for as long as possible, this Hydrating Body Bar might be the perfect skincare option. Containing the emollient squalane to help hydrate skin, as well as tomato seed oil which assists in reducing redness, the bar can help keep skin moisturized and supple every day.
YOU’LL LIKE: All you Need to Know About Microblading
· Remove your bandage properly
Removing your bandage too soon can cause complications with your tattoo. The recommended amount of time to leave your bandage on is usually around 24 hours, but you should always check with your tattooist beforehand while preparing for a tattoo to see what they recommend for the particular area of the body your tattoo is located.
When the time comes to take your bandage off, be sure to do so carefully, since ripping the bandage off can rip some of your tattoo ink off with it, leaving you with a ruined tattoo.
Be wary around rebandaging or covering a new tattoo too, as you may end up locking too much moisture in or limiting the amount of oxygen getting to your tattoo. After 24 hours have passed your tattoo will need to breathe, and getting in the way of this could even lead to infections.
· Don’t get your tattoo wet
A new tattoo is essentially an open wound, and putting it under running water could increase the likelihood of infection, as well as the possibility of the ink running. This means avoiding showering as well as the taps in your sink, at least for the first 24 hours.
You should avoid soaking your tattoo too. If you are taking a bath, try to leave the tattooed area of your skin out of the water.
When it comes to washing your new tattoo, try to avoid overly hot water, as this will encourage your skin’s pores to open up, which will leave your tattoo susceptible to infection or ink leakage. Water at a lukewarm temperature is ideal when it comes to keeping your new tattoo clean.
· Don’t do any unnecessary activities
You should avoid any strenuous activities that can cause damage to your new tattoo. These can include things that could risk getting your tattoo wet, like swimming, or activities that can cause the ink pigment of your tattoo to fade such as sunbathing or tanning.
· Don’t pick your scabs
Besides the fact that it looks a little bit gross, picking scabs can be seriously bad for your skin and your tattoo, resulting in possible scarring or infection. Scabbing is actually a healthy part of your tattoo’s healing process, but picking at these scabs can delay this process and leave you with damaged skin too.
Side Effects of Tattoos
Whenever we get inked, our main concern tends to focus on how the tattoo is going to look, rather than on the potential side effects that could occur. However, there can naturally be a few side effects when getting a tattoo, and while some are completely normal there are others that can cause concern.
· Infections
Infections are always in with a chance of occurring, especially if you do not take care while preparing for a tattoo, as well as keeping your tattoo clean or getting it done in an unclean tattoo shop. While infections can be concerning, they are usually treatable if addressed quickly.
Infections from pets are another risk that people should be aware of while their skin is healing from a tattoo. It can only take a single hair, some dirt from their paw or even a lick getting into your tattoo to cause an infection. Keep any freshly-inked areas wrapped for the appropriate length of time, and keep them out of the way of any pets until the tattoo has completely healed.
· Allergic reactions
Allergic reactions to the ink can happen to some people, especially if they are getting a tattoo for the first time, or using a different ink than what they have used before. Allergic reactions can usually show through itchiness or swelling, and you should contact your doctor if you ever notice these symptoms on the skin around your tattoo.
· Skin reactions
Skin reactions and bumps can occur at any time after getting the tattoo, even years later. These can be a sign of sarcoidosis – an inflammatory disease that can occur in any organ, although most commonly occurs in the lungs. Fortunately, 60% of sufferers do recover without any treatment, although you should not hesitate to reach out to your doctor if you notice bumps on your skin like this.
· Feel-good kick
Endorphins in the brain may be released during the tattoo process. These feel-good chemicals can make the experience of getting a tattoo for some people a therapeutic one, boosting their general mood and confidence. However this confidence boost won’t last forever, so remember that if you do come to put something permanent on your skin, then you are doing it because you want it and not just for a feel-good kick.
DON’T MISS: 9 Home Remedies for a Glowing Skin this Summer
Are There Any Products That Can Help?
The best products to use both while preparing for a tattoo, and after getting a tattoo are ones that will keep your skin hydrated, such as the aforementioned Hydrating Body Bar. After being tattooed, it is important to keep the skin hydrated and lock in the right amount and right kinds of moisture, using natural ingredients.
The Hydrating Body Bar contains all-natural fragrances and smells fantastic. It contains cold-pressed tomato seed oil, which is loaded with antioxidants such as Vitamin E. Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals which can damage and age the skin. The star component of tomato seed oil is lycopene, which helps to soothe the skin and improve the appearance of dry skin.
About the Author
1 Comment
Pingback: آماده شدن برای خالکوبی: نکات اساسی - مجله خبری مد و استایل - مد و استایل