Summer Dos & Don'ts
Your tattoos are a serious and beautiful investment that you want to look fresh for a lifetime. Summer can be the best time of year but it can be terrible for the health of your tattoos. By following some essential guidelines you can keep the artwork looking healthy and fresh.
If you are currently healing a tattoo in summer:
While your tattoo is healing you won’t want to be placing sunscreen on it; instead choose your clothing with your tattoo in mind, keeping it covered with breathable fabrics or covered shoes if it’s on your foot. This will help protect from the sun until you are healed enough to transition to sunscreen. Also, no tanning beds - ever!
While healing you want to avoid all bodies of water; bathtubs, hot tubs, swimming pools, lakes, rivers, puddles, etc. From chemicals to bacteria, still standing water harbors everything that can lead to serious infections or a terrible heal leaving your tattoo unrecognizable. Showers are recommended daily but keep it nice and short, no longer than 15 min.
Protect against bug bites on the new tattoo by covering up, avoiding known places with mosquitos, or use a natural bug spray. There are many essential oils that you can wear to help keep bugs away; such as Citronella, Lemon Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Sweet Basil, Catnip, Tea Tree, and Clary Sage. Here are some easy to make sprays and ointments.
Make sure you are using the proper aftercare products suggested by your artist, a non scented soap and lotion will help expedite your healing along by keeping it clean and moisturized.
Make sure to have a back up plan in the case that something happens, keep your artists number on hand, or come into the studio at the first sign of something amiss. Do not wait until it gets incredibly bad. If we are unable to help within the scope of our profession, we will suggest going to your Dr or a medical professional.
If your tattoo is healed in summer:
Sunscreen is one of the most important components to keep your tattoo looking new and fresh; most aged and fading tattoos are results of sun exposure without protection. Become familiar with the different SPF to ensure you are choosing the right type for your lifestyle. Make sure that you reapply throughout the day, it’s easy to get caught up in the outdoor fun and have the sunscreen wear or wash off to expose your tattoo.
Tanning beds are always advised against, as they are a concentrated form of UV light that have risks of cancer, accelerated aging, skin damage and infections; all of which will affect the life and look of your tattoo.
Moisturizing even post healing will help keep your skin's elasticity fresh and your tattoo looking bright and new for a long period of time.
Whether you are healed or healing:
Staying hydrated is of the utmost importance if you are healing or have a healed tattoo. Make sure to bring water with you while hiking, at the river, or even enjoying time in the backyard. Don’t wait for signs of dehydration to take action, there are many ways to get hydration safely for you and your tattoo outside of just water, though it s the best route. Try a non-caffeinated sports drink, fruits such as watermelon, cantaloupe, or strawberries, vegetables such as celery, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, bell peppers, or carrots. These foods also help fight UV damage from sun exposure as well as aide in hydration
