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Summertime & Tattoos
Summer has to be the WORST season in which to be tattooed, just to let you know now...
Ah yes, summer comes along and off goes everyones clothes. Suddenly it seems like everyone has a tattoo and those who don't have them want them. These are a few things you may want to think about before you go under the needle.
Sun and water can be harmful to a fresh tattoo. Please take care of your ink.
Avoid swimming or soaking in the pool, ocean or bathtub for at least 2 weeks after getting your tattoo. The ink needs time to heal into the skin. No matter what, that tattoo is going to form a protective layer while it's healing. It may not be in the form of heavy scabs, but soaking a tattoo will loosen that protective layer and you'll watch your art and $$ go down the drain.
Sun exposure should be kept to a minimum for at least 2 weeks. Sun can burn a fresh tattoo pretty quickly. The skin is open and exposed and most likely you'll have ointment on the tattoo which can actually help to 'fry' your tattoo. Not good. Keep it out of the sun. (Don't kill the bird before it even gets off the ground.)
Once the tattoo is healed you must use sunblock on the area if you're going to be in the sun. (Sunblock can do damage to a tattoo if it's applied before the tattoo is healed.) The lighter you keep your skin in this area, the brighter and bolder your colors (including black because it fades too) will stay. Tattoos sit below the pigment so the more you tan and the darker you get, the more it's like looking through a tinted window to see the tattoo. If you have colors in your tattoo such as white, yellow, pink and sometimes orange, over the summer you may not be able to see them. Over time, with repeated sun exposure, your tattoos will fade just like the posters in the window at Blockbuster. So SUNBLOCK forever and ever amen!
Most people worry about having a big white blotch around their tattoos because of using sunblock. (Better a blotch than no protection at all. This is a lifetime investment.) For smaller tattoos you can buy stickers with an interesting silhouette. Apply one over the tattoo each time you go tanning. It will keep the tattoo covered and make an interesting design from the tan around it.
For larger tattoos, trace the outline the tattoo with high spf chapstick and then fill in the rest of the area with a strong sunblock. I recommend "Water Babies" to my clients. It's made to protect the most sensitive tissue in the world. It will definitely work on adults. I've also heard very good things about Bullfrog and Coppertone Sport. Do not confuse sunblock with tanning lotion. One blocks harmful UV rays, the other makes you look like a well-roasted Thanksgiving turkey.
If you have sunburn, wait until it peels and goes away before you get tattooed in that area! It is usually more sensitive when going over sunburned spots. The skin is trying to heal from a burn, don't stick a needle in it! As a sunburn peels it can take off most of a fresh tattoo. It's a waste of time and money and can be very frustrating (to you and the artist).
There's a reason that we say tans and tattoos don't mix. You either have really kick ass tattoos, or you have tattoos that have been ruined by sun exposure. You can't have both. It just doesn't work.
Going on VACATION?
If you're planning on going on vacation get the tattoo far enough ahead of time to be healed before you go. Remember, no tanning or swimming for at least 2 weeks. This can ruin a vacation.
While I'm on the subject of vacation...
I know that a lot of people get tattooed while on vacation as a souvenir of a memorable time. There is nothing wrong with this provided that you can take adequate care of it while you're there. As previously mentioned, keep it out of sun and water while it's healing so get any swimming or tanning out of the way first and watch out for sunburn.
More importantly, thoroughly investigate the shop in which you'll be getting your tattoo and the artist who'll be doing the work! I cannot stress this enough. There are a lot of really good artists out there but for every shop that is in it for the art there is at least one that is in this field only for the money. I've spoken to a lot of people who've been tattooed on vacation only to return home and find that the tattoo turned out to be much less appealing than their expectations. Basically, there are some places out there that are tourist traps. They know they don't have to deal with touch ups for you if you're five states away or in another country. I know that sounds terrible, but unfortunately it's the truth. This is a permanent investment on your body for life. It's better to be safe than sorry.
With that said, remember to eat a good meal about an hour before you go in for your tattoo, wear comfortable clothing and remember to drink plenty of water. Dehydration isn't fun.

Think before you ink, and have a great summer. ;)

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