Here's how to keep your tattoo nourished, bright, and vibrant.
Key Takeaways. Protect your tattoo from the sun: Sun exposure is the main cause of fading. Always use a high-quality sunscreen and consider protective clothing and shade. Regular care keeps your ink bright: A simple routine of gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and occasional exfoliation helps maintain vibrant tattoos.
Is Your Tattoo Fading? Here's How You Can Fix It
A dermatologist once told me the best way to preserve the colour of your tattoos is to wear a sunscreen with a white cast. I like mineral sunscreen sticks because they're to convenient to use. The white cast helps protect the ink from fading.
Keep moisturizing your tattoo regularly for at least 2-3 weeks, or until it's fully healed. Even after it's healed, continuing to moisturize daily, as you would with the rest of your skin, will help keep the ink vibrant and your skin healthy. A good daily moisturizing routine is a great habit for overall skin health.
Since the canvas for your body art is skin, keeping your skin moisturized to prevent dryness and stop yourself from scratching is a must. You will need a tattoo balm like HYDRABALM from Reuzel. Look for products that have shea butter and papaya extracts to keep dry skin healthy and prevent stretching and blurring.
Apply a water-based lotion or cream to your tattoo to keep it moisturized — it's never a good idea to leave your fresh new ink susceptible to dryness. “Moisture will help the skin to heal faster and keep scabs from forming,” Dr. Sra says.
Why is my new tattoo fading after just a few days? It's not unusual for your new tattoo to appear to fade shortly after application. During the healing phase, the top layer of skin may dry out and flake, causing the tattoo to look dull or less vibrant. This is a normal reaction as your skin begins to heal.
Apply the Aquaphor or Bacitracin 2-3 times a day (Remember, keep it light!) for the first 5-7 days or until your tattoo starts to flake/peel like a sunburn. When the peeling begins, switch to a regular FRAGRANCE FREE lotion such as Lubriderm, or any other fragrance free brand for an additional 2 weeks.
You have a rash or bumpy skin around your tattoo
If you notice a rash or lumpy, bumpy skin around your new tattoo, this could be something to worry about. Any itching that seems extreme, or rashes and cracked skin, could indicate infection.
Tattoo placement can also impact fading. Some body parts are more exposed to sunlight; some experience increased friction due to tight clothing; others don't hold ink as well. These locations vary, but the most common trouble spots are feet, elbows, fingers, ears, and faces.
Gently Cleanse Daily
Good hygiene is the most important part of any tattoo aftercare routine and it is vital even long after your tattoo has healed. Use mild, antibacterial soap or body wash and clean the tattooed area gently. Avoid over-exfoliating and vigorous scrubbing.
The most important step is moisturizing. Keeping your skin hydrated with a quality lotion, cream, or oil prevents it from looking dry and flaky, which can dull the appearance of your ink. You can also gently exfoliate the area once or twice a week to slough off dead skin cells and reveal the brighter tattoo underneath.
Moisturize Regularly
Dry skin can cause your tattoo to look cracked, faded, and less vibrant. Keeping your skin hydrated helps maintain the integrity of your tattoo designs. Use a fragrance-free, gentle moisturizer daily, this keeps your skin soft and helps preserve the clarity of the ink.
The 2% Symbol
That number is hard but it also pushes me to do better. It's like saying, “I'm part of the 2%” if you wear this symbol or see it somewhere. This symbol really hits home for people who are getting over meth, alcohol or anything else.
Tattoo hourly rates typically range from $80 to over $300 per hour depending on location, artist reputation, specialization, and demand. In this context, $200 per hour sits comfortably in the mid-to-upper professional range rather than the extreme high end.
Here's a handful of bad habits that are top of the list of things tattoo artists hate.
Black ink and black and gray tattoos tend to last longer and require fewer touch-ups than most color tattoos. Color tattoos, specifically pastel ink colors or watercolor-style tattoos, tend to fade much faster than black tattoo ink and require more frequent touch-ups over the years.
Is a $50 tip for a $300 tattoo? $50 is about 17% of $300. If you had a great experience, consider rounding up to 20% for a $60 tip.
The Verdict: What happens if you don't moisturize your new tattoo? You are essentially guaranteeing a painful, difficult heal that will likely result in a faded and damaged piece of art.
Your tattoos will lighten up after they have fully healed. That's normal as the layers of skin are growing back over the ink and accepting it within your skin.
Over-moisturizing your tattoo can cause the ink color to fade. It can also cause the ink to spread, making the tattoo appear more blurred. These changes can make your tattoo look less vibrant and more sloppy. After you get a tattoo, your tattoo artist will likely provide you with clear aftercare instructions.
Bepanthen is one of the most highly recommended tattoo aftercare products and is the go-to ointment for many tattoo artists and studios. Typically used as a nappy rash ointment, Bepanthen has been around for a long time, and its gentle formula is used to treat babies with irritated skin.
Here's the key takeaway on using tattoo lotion during the healing phase: timing matters. Only use a lightweight hydrating gel to support your new ink in the first two weeks until the area is healed over with new skin.
How Do You Tell if a Tattoo Isn't Healing Properly?