The Healing Process
Healing of a tattoo will be advised by any reputable tattoo artist as artists find certain methods best suited to there tattooing style. Most shops will give you a print out with a step by step guide to tattoo aftercare. Most guides follow this simple method.
After your tattoo is completed the artist will place a petroleum jelly substance such as Vaseline all over the tattoo and then cover it in a saran wrap (cling film). It is advised to keep this on for a minimum of two hours but no longer than five hours as the best healing comes in the form of air. Once you take the wrap off you should rinse your tattoo in lukewarm water and soap. Lukewarm water is best as the tattoo and surrounding area will be sensitive. When you have rinsed the tattoo you should pat dry with a towel.
Once dry you should place on some aftercare cream and one that comes highly recommended is baby's perpathemum. You should gentle rub this in and cover the entire tattoo in question. Do not cover the tattoo with any form of bandage as air needs to get to it to aid in healing but you must make sure the whole process is done with clean hands.
For the next up and coming week you should wash your tattoo 3-4 times daily and after each occasion you should apply some of the aftercare cream. It is best to keep your tattoo out of the sun but even more so in the first few weeks. Never rub the tattoo or submerge in water in the first few weeks as this will hinder the healing process.
After a few days your tattoo will begin to itch and peel like sunburn and it will scab in places but under no circumstance must you itch or pick the scabs as this will damage the art work done. If the itching comes unbearable then rinse using lukewarm water and a patting movement and then apply some aftercare cream.
This process will aid the tattooing process a lot quicker and will allow the tattoo to heal nicely. If at any point you are worried about what is happening to your tattoo the any good tattooist will be at hand to help or feel free to email the team here at bbtattoodesigns@hotmail.co.uk and will endeavour to respond within 24 hours.
After the healing process the most important factor is to enjoy your new found body art and you can enjoy all it full glory for the rest of your life. A helpful hint to keeping your tattoo as good as new is not to over expose it to sunlight and if you are going out in the sun then a nice factor 15 lotion on your tattoo will help maintain its colour and shading.