Tattoo aftercare guide.

The thing about tattoo care is that it begins even before you get your tattoo. If you really want to ensure that your tattoo remains as vibrant as it was when it first healed, you'll have to start looking after your skin from weeks before you get inked.

Before

So the first thing to do is to set up a consultation.

Do massive amounts of research before picking your artist. Check out reviews, their portfolio and their Instagram account. Be sure you're ready to spend some cash - please don't insult an artist and their work by bargaining with them. Be sure your artist's style is compatible with what you have in mind.

Once you've picked an artist you like, you meet them for a consultation (set this up in advance via email or phone) and talk about what you want to do. Make sure to be very clear and precise about what you want. Bring samples. Ask if you can bring a friend and if they have limits on groups (very important). When you're given a time, don't be late. Respect your artist's time. Enter your actual tattoo appointment into your planner with an alarm for the day before.

I usually have a little routine that begins about a week before my actual tattoo appointment. It consists of:

1. Drinking enough water so my skin remains hydrated.
2. Moisturising my skin constantly.
3. Applying sunblock so my skin doesn't burn.
4. Exfoliating the day before the appointment.

It's really basic skincare but do put in more effort than usual.

Plan for your first week of healing, keeping in mind the placement of your tattoo. Hip tattoo? Check if you have underwear that won't irritate the tattoo. If not, buy some. Thigh tattoo? Take a quick peek into your closet and check if you have at least a week's worth of loose pants or skirts/dresses. You get the idea.

Don't forget to buy the products you'll require for your aftercare!

• gentle and mild cleansing soap
• a non-scented moisturising lotion (Rosken Skin Repair for Sensitive Skin is good)
• something to wrap your tattoo in for emergency situations (like if you have a foot tattoo and you'll need to wear a sock or something)
• paper towels to dry your tattoo
• sunblock

Your tattoo will bleed ink for the first few nights so do sleep with black bedsheets and blankets (unless you don't mind the mess).

During

There's not much here to say because all you have to do is keep still, but here are some pointers:

1. Have a good meal before your session and pack a snack for the break if your tattoo is a large piece.
2. Don't hold your breath! That's tiring and it'll cause you to tense up unnecessarily. Find a good rhythm to your breathing and keep it going.
3. Bring a book or something to listen to. Some tattoo artists like to chat and others don't, and that's fine. If you need something to keep distracted, then bring something along.
4. Don't eat during the session. If you need a break, let your artist know, and ask if you can grab a quick bite somewhere not in the actual studio (studios are supposed to be kept clean so you won't be allowed to eat in them). Most times, in bigger studios, they'll have a separate pantry.
5. If you're in any pain or discomfort that you can't bear, please for the love of god, just let your artist know. It's not a matter of pride, but one of sensibility.
6. Keep a bottle of water on hand for when you're parched. 
7. If you feel like you need a comfort object (like a stuffed toy), just let your artist know and don't forget to bring it.
8. Seriously, use the loo before you start.
9. It'd be a good idea to tie and clip your hair up too. Sometimes you may get hot and sweaty with the light shining down brightly on your skin and keeping your hair up would help.
10. When you get a break, hop off the chair and move about. You may feel a little shaky and that's fine.

After

Congrats, you've got a great looking tattoo! Keep that bandage on till you get home (yeah, please don't open it up for any reason) and once you're home, be sure to gently later soap on your hands and then run your soaped up hands over your tattoo to clean it off ink and blood and ointment. Your newly tattooed skin will sting as it's an open would, so try not to go with hot water.

If the bandage is stuck to your skin, use your hands to pour warm water over it until it unsticks, and then peel it off gently.

Dry it with paper towels. Do not use your regular towel. The fibres of the towel may get stuck on your ink or rub it off. Not good. Likewise, don't use toilet roll paper. Those get stuck on wet tattoos easily and getting them out isn't worth the effort. PAPER TOWELS.

Apply a very thin layer of lotion all over your skin. You should be able to see a light sheen over the tattoo and not the actual lotion. Be sure to moisturise, but not to over- or under-moisturise. When your tattoo is under-moisturised the skin and feel tight and cracked and that's super uncomfortable. When it's over-moisturised, your skin peels off way too easily and that can affect the tattoo's lines. Either way, the skin scabs something terrible if you under- or over-moisturise so don't do that.

It's highly recommended to wash and moisturise about 2-3 times a day and not more.

Don't submerge your new ink in water so please avoid swimming and long baths. Showers are good for your tattoo, but keep them short and try not to use scalding hot water.

Your tattoo will enter the itchy stage as it heals. Don't scratch or pick at it, instead use light and gentle slaps if you really can't stand the itch.

Remember to dress according to the placement of your tattoo. Your clothes should not be restrictive and they should not rub against your tattoo as this will cause irritation and prolong the healing process. As mentioned above, plan your clothing in advance.

If you think your tattoo will, at any time, be exposed to sunlight, place sunblock on it. This is important because the UV rays in sunlight can break down the ink in your tattoo and cause it to look splotchy.

Try not to use A+D ointment as it contains petrolatum. Don't use anything with petrolatum in it, like petroleum jelly, as petrolatum causes ink to be drawn out from your skin and your tattoo may heal weird with ink missing or faded in some places.

Conclusion

Be smart. Plan ahead. Getting a tattoo done is an amazing experience, but be sure your tattoo is worth the money you paid by looking after it.