Do’s and Don’ts Tattoo After Care…..4 Things you should and should not do.

Here are a few do’s and don’ts after you get tattooed.  To maintain the life and vibrancy of a tattoo you have to ensure proper healing of your tattoo.



1.      KEEP IT CLEAN….. To ensure proper healing of a tattoo you must keep it clean. Rinse your tattoo several times a day with hot water and soap. The soap should not have any scents or additives in it. Really just think about a soap your grandpa may use and you should be fine. The high end fruity scented or antibacterial soaps can irritate the skin and even draw out some of the ink. It should go without saying however reframe from using a loofah or scrubbing your tattoo with a washcloth during the healing process.

 

2.     KEEP IT DRY…. After you rinse your tattoo use a paper towel to remove the excess water from your skin. Simply hold down the paper towel on your tattoo to absorb the water. Try not to use a towel since most of us often use fragranced detergents and softeners which are filled with additional ingredients and may irritate your newly tattooed skin.

3.      KEEP IT MOSITURIZED…. Simply apply a lotion or even my favorite, classic A&D Ointment to your tattoo. This should be applied sparingly, if you can see a coat of lotion or ointment on your skin you have applied too much. Remember it should be clean and dry not soaked in your aftercare option. The moisturizer you choose to use should not contain any additional fragrances or unneeded additives. You want to prevent your tattoo from getting too dry and irritated it doesn’t have smell like roses or have healing additives in it for it work properly. You may want to ask your tattoo artist what they use and recommend, remember your tattoo artist is the professional and can offer some great advice.

4.      DO NOT GO SWIMMING…. Our Tattoo Shop Rosebud Tattoo is located in Jacksonville, FL which as you can imagine gets pretty hot. Despite wanting to jump into a pool to cool off on 100+ degree day…..DON’T do it. The excessive moisture can cause the ink to not properly settle in and even cause your tattoo to not heal as it should. Just reframe from jumping into that pool until your tattoo heals. You may have to sweat it out for a couple days or even a week depending on the size of the tattoo but the end results will be worth it.

This list is a very simple overview of tattoo after care. The size and location of your tattoo may require additional measures to be aware of. Make sure to ask your tattoo artist for their advice. Your tattoo artist wants to ensure that their finished piece heals properly. You are a walking billboard for their artwork. There is no reason that your tattoo cannot be of the same quality a month down the road as it was when you left their shop.  The last nugget of advice is to enjoy your new tattoo and make sure to show it off to friends and family, your tattoo artist will appreciate it.

Tattoo shops can be intimidating....

Tattoos and tattoo shops can be intimidating. As a woman I can definitely attest to this. When I was 18 I decided to go and get that first tattoo. It was the 90's so some Chinese character was a very appropriate decision for the time period. When I walked into the tattoo shop I was immediately over whelmed with loud screamo music and dudes staring at me. Dude number one approaches....what can I help you with...ummm I'd like to get a tattoo said in my weakest nervous tone possible. After looking through some flash I finally decided on the butterfly character because supposedly my first name Vanessa means butterfly in a book of names.

I don't recall the name of the tattooist or what he may have even said to me however I left with an uncomfortable feeling. There wasn't anything wrong with the tattoo or that the tattooist was overtly rude. The feeling was more so of being out of my element. It was almost as if I walked into this secret club and they weren't accepting any new members. I've never been a tattooed Betty or a redneck rock star so I believe the feeling was mutual between the two parties.

Since the 90's I have acquired more tattoos and the intimidation factor has subsided. However they have all been done by husband Mark. Of course there is a different comfort ability factor having your husband tattoo you but it was more than just that. Ultimately it's because he's a down to earth person that doesn't take himself too seriously. When he opened up Rosebud Tattoo that experience among others has shaped the vision of being a tattoo shop for everyday people. Enjoy your tattoo experience wherever it may be and know that there are some amazing Jacksonville tattoo shops and tattooist out there. Whether you walk into Rosebud or go to another shop feel comfortable and get to know the artist.

Tattoo Stereotypes

Tattoos and people who have tattoos are often stereotyped as criminals or deviants. This association with the criminal underworld has helped and hindered tattooing. From the Yakuza to and an Outlaw Biker the first description to come to mind would be tattooed badass. However the cultural significance and association of a tattoo is quickly changing. You no longer have to drive a Harley or be an elite member of a Japanese gang to be adorned with art. From the Soccer Mom wanting a butterfly tattoo on her foot to a grandpa honoring a loved one lost, this mistaken identity is quickly diminishing. Don't get me wrong getting that first tattoo does evoke a rebellious sense of pride but isn't that really just because of the association we have with the art form. Hey, lets be real don't we all idealize at least one tattooed criminal icon. By human nature we want to explore, express, and share with the world who we are. Tattoos are a great way to express who we are or share a life experience, to hell with all the stereotypes.