What You Need to Know About Your Tattoo: Before, During and After
If you're thinking about getting a tattoo, it's important that you have as much knowledge about this form of body art as possible. After all, the design you choose will be with you for a very long time, and removal can be both physically uncomfortable and expensive. The operative word to keep in mind when it comes to tattoos is care: care in choosing the perfect design, care in selecting the right shop and artist, and care in maintaining your tattoo throughout the healing process and beyond. Being aware and conscientious will go a long way toward insuring that you remain completely happy with your tattoo.
The decision to get a tattoo should not be an impetuous one, nor should it be done because of peer pressure. The design you choose will make a very visible and permanent statement about who you are and what is important to you. Therefore, it is vital that you take as much time as you need to select the shop and artist who can turn the picture in your mind into reality. Thanks to the Internet, most artists display their best work online, making it even easier for you to get a feel for their various styles and specialties. Eventually, however, you will need to visit in person. There is no substitute for face-to-face contact.
What should you look for when you go into a tattoo parlor? Cleanliness needs to be your highest priority. Make sure that all equipment, including grips, tools and needles, is sterilized in an autoclave. Needles, grips and tubes should be in sealed packages, only opened in front of you in preparation for your tattoo. Your artist must wear gloves at all times, removing them when he or she walks away or reaches to pick up non-disposable equipment. This reduces the chances of cross-contamination. In addition, the artist should pour all ink to be used for your tattoo into plastic ink cups. Your needles should be removed from their packaging just before your tattoo and disposed of when your tattoo is finished. Finally, inspect the general cleanliness of the area. Does it look dirty or dusty? If so, there is a good chance that cleanliness is not a priority and you should go elsewhere.
Once you have selected an artist and shop you feel comfortable with, it's time for the actual work to be done. If it makes you feel more relaxed, bring a friend along to hold your hand or distract you during the process. At any time, feel free to ask questions about any aspect, particularly about the after-care instructions. This is because even the most beautiful tattoo can be ruined if something goes wrong during the healing process. To minimize your chances of infection or other problems:
Leave the bandage on for at least two hours. You'll have a lifetime to show off your new body art.
Then gently hand-wash your tattoo with lukewarm water and anti-bacterial soap, being careful not to scrub.
Pat with a towel, making sure the area is completely dry.
Apply a thin layer of anti-bacterial ointment
Don't soak your tattoo in a bath or hot tub; showering is best.
When your healing tattoo begins to itch, don't scratch or rub it. Instead, sharply slap the area.
Continue to keep your tattoo clean and well-moisturized throughout the healing process.
After two or three weeks, your beautiful body ark should be totally healed. But that does not mean you should stop taking care of it. Maintaining your tattoo mostly involves keeping it from direct exposure to the sun's UV rays. You would be amazed at how quickly direct sunlight can fade your tattoo's bright colors. So be sure always to protect it with a sun block of at least 30 SPF. Finally, your tattoo will last longer if you take good care of your skin, making sure to always be well-hydrated and to keep your body well-moisturized. Over time, slight to moderate fading will be inevitable, and you may want to consider getting a retouch.
There is nothing like a tattoo to make a beautiful, visible statement of who you are. By taking the time to find the best artist and shop and to come up with a design that you'll be happy with for decades to come, you will have done all of the necessary ground work. Now enjoy your beautiful tattoo, knowing that you have the knowledge to keep it bright and attractive for a very long time.
Questions and Answers
Tattoo art has definitely found its way to our social culture, traditions and way of life. There is definitely a thrill to look at an art form which makes use of the body as a canvas. The success of having a good tattoo is not only on the design itself but with the artist or designer who have done an exceptional piece of artwork.
Tattooing is a much-forgotten art being revived as a fashion statement. Men and women of all ages and across genres get tattooed. Some prefer floral tattoos, some choose cartoon tattoos, and some choose Chinese dragon tattoos while some want name tattoos. Whatever be the choice, tattoos are a growing craze.
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