If you’re a tattoo person, you know how addictive it can be to spend your money on getting more and more.
Who stops at just one?
But what you may not know or want to forget, is that you need to take care of them to protect that investment. All tattoos fade and blur over time, but you can slow the process down, if you give them a little loving care.
Why do tattoos fade and blur?
The main culprit is our skin changes over time which we can’t help.
As discussed in a very informative blog by professional tattoo artist, Cherie Gerhardt, we have three layers, the epidermis (top layer), dermis (middle layer), and hypodermis (deepest layer). The middle is what we’re concerned with as that’s where the artist inserts the ink. What happens, is hair follicles, sweat, and sebaceous glands that live there spend years doing their job soaking up, breaking down, and absorbing that beautiful tattoo. But that doesn’t mean we have to sit back and let nature take its course. There are ways to slow the process.
It starts with taking care of your skin and avoiding sun exposure.
Obviously you want to avoid those rays even if you don’t have a tattoo, too much of it can age you and cause skin cancer, and you also want to keep your skin lubricated even if you have no body art; no one wants to be scaly like a crocodile. But, when it comes to tattoos, the sun and dry skin really wreak havoc speeding up the blurring and fading so it’s even more important to wear sunscreen and keep your skin hydrated.
SPF is easy, everyone has their favorites, and any will do, but creams and balms are more confusing because there’s so many on the market that are designed just for tattoos.
What works what doesn’t?
Below is a list of five recommended products that tattoo artists and experts swear by to keep your artwork looking great and lasting for years.
- Coconut Oil – My favorite, because it’s so cheap, lasts forever, it’s safe, natural, has anti-microbial properties, I love the smell, and it can be used for a host of other things as well. Just do a Google search and be astounded at the myriad of uses for coconut oil.
- Lubriderm Daily Moisture Hydrating Unscented Body Lotion – an old standby and the No.1 recommended brand by tattoo artists as reported on by Spy.com.
- Madrabbit – Madrabbit carries everything from sunscreen to soap that exfoliates the skin, to balms. Loads of “Best Aftercare” lists have something of Madrabbit’s on them – it’s a brand people trust.
- Inked Oil – Tattoo Brightener – Brighteners are specifically designed to keep old and new tattoos looking what else but bright.
- Afterinked Tattoo Moisturizer and Aftercare Lotion – Vegan, paraben free, and non-petroleum based this is an item that’s been featured on Paramount’s Ink Master and TLC’s New York Ink.
Main photo credit: iStock.com/LanaStock
Second phot credit: iStock.com/YuriS
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Alyssa Collins hails from Minnesota, where snowy days were the perfect excuse to stay warm inside and write. Over the years, she turned that joy into a career and has authored numerous articles for various publications (under pen names). Email Alyssa via alyssa@ynot.com.
