Significantly, tattoos are such a form of art to express individualism and personal style. As they last permanently on the skin, taking care of them is vital to preserving their beauty.
However, it’s true that although tattoos are permanent, their fadings occur quickly after one year. In addition, depending on several factors such as temperature, sunlight, skincare routine, some tattoos are likely to fade rapidly than others.
For some who have just got a new tattoo, you definitely want to keep it looking fresh and vibrant. So you’ve come to the right place. Keep scrolling and grasp all the necessary information regarding how to keep tattoos from fading
5 Essential Tips To Keep Tattoos From Fading
1. Follow aftercare instructions
The first and foremost tip is to follow aftercare instructions given by your tattoo artist. Do not hesitate to ask them what aftercare products work best on your skin.
The aftercare process begins right after tattooing, and here are some basics to follow:
- After tattooing, your tattoo artist often applies a thin layer of antibacterial ointment and covers the area with a bandage or a plastic wrap. It helps to prevent your tattoo from dirt and bacteria from entering your body. Keep the covering for 2-3 hours or as the artist recommends before removing. Also, leaving the covering for too long won’t work as it prohibits your skin from breathing and increases infection risk.
- After a few hours, you’re ready to remove the covering. Wash your hand carefully, then gently wash the tattoo with lukewarm water and unscented antibacterial soap.
- Splashing water to your tattoo instead of soaking it to decrease the chance of scrubbing.
- Then, use a clean and soft cloth to dry the area. Just pad, don’t rub the tattoo so as not to irritate the skin.
- Once your tattoo is dry, apply a small amount of unscented antibacterial cream or ointment given by the artist to the tattoo and pad it gently.
2. Keep it clean
Keeping your new tattoo clean is critical, as an open wound is likely to cause infection and scarring.
- Continue to wash your tattoo with antibacterial soap and lukewarm water until it is fully healed.
- Avoid soaking your tattoo underwater for around 1 month or more, depending on the tattoo artist’s advice. In fact, exposing your tattoo to a lot of water can affect its appearance and cause it to fade undesirably.
- Do not touch or allow others to touch your tattoo when it is healing. Hands may carry dirt and bacteria that can increase the chance of infection.
- Never apply new ointment to the old layer. Instead, wash it gently with lukewarm water first, then put a light layer of ointment to allow your skin to breathe.
3. Be patient with healing time
Depending on the size and execution of the tattoos, healing time can vary, ranging from a week to a month. Noteworthy, colored-ink tattoos often take longer to heal than those non-colored, especially if they’re large and complex.
After a few days of tattooing, when your tattoo heals, you’ll notice some scabbing, which’s normal. As you feel itchy, you may want to speed up the process by attempting to scratch the area. However, it may cause your scabs to bleed or fall off too soon, negatively affecting your tattoo’s look. Therefore, always be patient and be kind to your skin to keep tattoos from fading.
4. Avoid direct sunlight
Excessive sun exposure will undoubtedly affect your tattoo’s longevity and vibrancy. Additionally, the harsh rays of sunlight also break down pigment particles in your new tattoo, thus putting it at risk of blistering and bleaching. Hence, you have to resist tanning at all costs when you’re in the healing process.
So the point is, to protect your tattoo from direct sunlight, always wear sun-protective clothing whenever you go outside. Another option is to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 35 to 50, even when you’re in a car or indoor, because sunlight can hit your body through windows.
5. Stay hydrated and moisturized daily
How to keep your tattoo fresh and healthy? The answer is to stay hydrated and moisturized all the time!
To do this, apply a thin layer of unscented lotion or moisturizing cream daily. This will ensure your tattoo remains vivid as your artist intended and is very effective for anti-aging. There are several products specifically designed for tattoo aftercare; however, natural and non-abrasive moisturizers are enough.
Bonus Reminders To Protect Your Tattoos
Until your tattoo is fully healed, here’s some advice you need to keep in top of mind:
- Try not to wear tight and restrictive clothes on the area of your tattoo. Tight clothing tends to rub on a new tattoo, which allows it to stick to leaked ink. Hence, it can cause any freshly formed scabs to rip off, making your tattoo fade faster. In this case, loose-fitting clothing is the best go-to choice.
- Ensure your tattoo heals before continuing to work out. Heavy physical activity often makes the skin crack and irritated, thus causing the healing process to prolong.
- It sounds weird that avoiding gaining sudden and extreme weight is a trick to keep tattoos from fading. The reason is that the ink pigment is likely to break down if your skin stretches, thus increasing the chance of damaging your tattoo.
FAQs
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Wrapping Up
Although fading is inevitable, there are several ways regarding how to keep your tattoos from fading. Hopefully, after reading this article, you’ll be able to take care of your tattoo and ensure its vibrancy and longevity with time. Also, remember to maintain this aftercare for as long as possible for the best result.
If you find this article helpful, don’t hesitate to share it with your friends or loved ones. Also, leave us your thoughts and how you take care of your tattoo.
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