Two hours after the tattoo session is over remove the hygienic foil (gauze) from the tattoo and rinse the tattoo carefully, so that the extra color can be washed away. After you remove the bandage, you will want to wash your tattoo. Use lukewarm water and mild, liquid antibacterial or antimicrobial soap. Take a nice wash away any ointment, blood and/or plasma and to completely clean the area. Do not use a washcloth or anything abrasive. If your tattoo feels slimy and slippery, you have probably been oozing plasma. Try to gently remove as much of this as possible - when the plasma dries on the skin surface, it creates scabs.

Then pat (do not rub) the area firmly with a CLEAN towel or paper towel to get it completely dry. Follow with a very light application of your choice of ointment. Do not use Neosporin. This is a wonderful product for cuts and scrapes, but not for tattoos. Some can have an allergic reaction to the Neosporin, which causes little red bumps. When the bumps go away, so does the ink, and you end up with a polka-dotted tattoo. Unless you don’t use the ointment regularly and properly, a crust will appear on your tattoo, and it can also fade away faster and easier!

Specialty Products and Lotions
If you prefer, you can also use a specialty product such as Tattoo Goo or H2Ocean. It's not necessary, as many over the counter products work just fine, but it's your choice. Use the products as directed as continue for 3-5 days. After that, continue to keep it clean, but you can use lotion when needed instead of ointment, to keep the skin soft. Whatever lotion you use, it should be dye and fragrance free.

Bathing, Showering, Hot Tubs, and Swimming
Submerging your tattoo in a bath or hot tub can cause serious damage, so you'll want to avoid those for 2-3 weeks, but showering is perfectly fine and useful. If you get soap or shampoo on your tattoo, just remove it quickly with water. You should be avoiding Hot Tubs, and Swimming for at least 3 weeks.

Scabbing and Peeling
After a few days, you will notice some peeling and possibly a little scabbing. It's normal and there is no need to panic.
DO NOT itch your tattoo! That could make serious damages.
The advice here is, don't pick, and don't scratch! If the skin itches, slap it. If it is peeling, put lotion on it. And if it is scabbing, just leave it alone. Your tattoo is almost healed, and now is not the time to ruin it!

Protection from the sun
After your tattoo is healed, from now on, you will always want to protect it from the sun's ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a brilliant tattoo very fast. Before spending a lot of time in excessive heat, protect your tattoo with a minimum 30SPF sun block.

CHECK OUT:

How To Be a Better Ethical Tattoo Artist
Just remind yourself when you were asking for your first tattoo? Didn't know what to choose? Who will be the artist? What are the risks of getting a tattoo? Are there any possibilities for removal... Yes, all of this questions and so many more are in every tattoo enthusiast waiting to get the fist tattoo. It's strange how people react on this. Some artists thinks that their duty is only to tattoo and make some money in the end of the day.

Tattoos Vs Parents Advice
Prejudice is based on a lack of proper information. Your parents may be very surprised that tattoo and piercing studios, these days, are cleaner than your average doctor's office. They may not realize that most artists are trained extensively on safe handling and disposal of equipment, or that everything is meticulously sterilized. And they're probably never going to know these things without your help. Do research on the procedure you're wanting done.

Your Tattoo - Your Style
Tattoos has made their "Renaissance" in the last decade. People are tattooing their bodies at a growing rate, there are new wonderful tattoo supplies, new after care treatments... Even fashion can be proud with the tattoo clothing lines. Seems like everything is changed in a positive way. Tattoos are good way for self expression, that makes them super popular and even more respected. There are a lot of tattoo styles, designs, colors, shapes etc etc.

Tattoos & Prejudices
Today we're going to talk about something that really makes me angry and even amazed - that awkward moment when I see someone walking next to my tattooed body and just staring like a freak. I mean come on? Am I that weird to you? Or what? It's not something that is so offensive but It just doesn't feel good. Generally, I really don't give a damn what people thinks of me, especially how I look like. Come on, does the physical appearance makes a person a good person or what?

Tattoo Styles and Trends
Nowadays, people are getting tattooed every day. There are lots of tattoo designs, tattoo magazines where enthusiasts could choose their first tattoo, lots of Tv shows talking about tattoos etc etc. Seems like we are living in a modern society where unique body expression is not just a trend but it's also accepted as a personal sign. What Tattoo Style Do U Like?  

Tattoo Cover Up Advice
Hey guys! Today we are going to talk about tattoo cover ups. How was your first experience with tattoos? Do you like your tattoo? Have any of you guys tried to remove some old tattoos? Many people changes their minds after getting a tattoo. People change their minds about tattoos all the time. A change in taste, a change in relationship, a hasty trip to an untalented artist - all of these are examples of reasons people no longer want their tattoo. To cover or not? What would be the right design?

Free Tattoo Flash Design, Good Or Bad?
Good tattoos are not cheap...cheap tattoos are not good!  Flash tattoos are cheap, but still hugely popular among many people getting tattoos for the first time. They are most likely to be low-quality and poorly drawn. Nearly 90% of the people requiring cover-ups or touch-ups to their tattoos have flash tattoos usually done from some free flash design that has done the rounds of the internet or from some backstreet tattoo parlours. Free Tattoo Flash Design, Good Or Bad?

How To Know If You're Ready For The First Tattoo
Have You Ever Liked Anything Forever? This is the question! Think about it. Is it a person, a life statement, a memory, a pet? Whatever it is the tattoo design you want to tattoo must be meaningful to you, otherwise it doesn't make any sense. As time passes you might get bored of the tattoo and want to remove it.

Tattoo Fading
Unfortunately, many people will notice their tattoo has faded over time and the colors aren't nearly as vivid as they used to be. It's normal for tattoos to fade some over the years, especially on areas exposed to a lot of sun. But some people's tattoos will fade in just a matter of weeks or months. If the tattoo artist applied the ink correctly, your color should not fade too drastically.

Tattoos & Tanning
After your tattoo is healed, from now on, you will always want to protect it from the sun's ultraviolet rays. These can fade and damage a brilliant tattoo very fast. Tanning isn't really good for your skin anyway, but it's even harder on your tattoos. Ultraviolet rays, while adding a nice bronze tone to your skin, drain the life out of a tattoo. The more you tan, the more the ink fades.

Tattoo Scarring
Tattoo Scarring is possible and it happens when the tattooed area is not treated properly. The healing aftercare treatment requires proper advice from a professional artist. Following your artist advices is the only way to stay away from scars. Scars from burns, surgical procedures, accidents or other incidents may make you feel bad and frustrated. Some doctors claim that scars can be removed by laser treatments, surgeons...

Tattoo Scabbing
A new tattoo will flake and peel during the healing process and may even scab a little bit. To prevent a new tattoo from overly scabbing and thus possibly losing color and clarity, the first two weeks is the most critical time to carefully follow aftercare instructions. Whether you use an aftercare product suggested by the tattoo artist, an over-the-counter ointment or an unscented hand lotion or moisturizer, you must keep your tattoo moist. If it dries out and starts cracking, where it splits is where you are going to see scabbing.

Sweating & Tattoos
When it comes to a new and fresh tattoo there must be some proper care. Not just your aftercare creams, but in your daily routine.
Before you go to the gym, make sure that your tattoo is clean and wear some clean cotton clothes. Make sure that you've putted your aftercare cream property.

Itchy Raised Tattoos
It's funny when the tattoo will itch intensely and sometimes it's hard to avoid this. After 2 or 3 days, the tattooed area starts to peel and remove the first layer of the skin. Don't be panic - that's normal and it means that tattoo is healing. Itching could be dangerous and it could cause loosing the tattoo color.

Tattoos & Body Changes
It's well know that tattooing has evolved in terms of fashion, style, and self-expression. People are tattooing their bodies at a growing rate but there are still some risk factors that we should take care off. Do Tattoos Stretch With Muscle Growth? Unless you opt for laser removal at some point in the future, a tattoo is for life. The size and shape of your various muscles, however, is unlikely to stay the same throughout your lifetime.

Proper Tattoo Healing
After getting a tattoo it's very important to do your aftercare treatment. Your artist will give you some instructions about the healing process and some info about the possible risks and complications that might happen. It's very important to be patient and well informed. None of the body mods heals properly and easy without great care.

Signs Of Tattoo Allergy
It is important for anyone who is considering getting a tattoo to know what they are going to get. People with sensitive skin or allergies to some metals need to know what is in the tattoo inks the artist will be using. Anyone who has a history of severe allergic reactions to metals or any other ingredient that may be contained in tattoo ink should avoid getting a tattoo, or should find an artist who uses hypoallergenic pigments.

Showering with a New Tattoo/Leaking Plasma Issue
Caring for a new tattoo properly for the first several weeks is critical to maintaining the appearance and health of the artwork. Because of the way the ink is applied, a fresh tattoo is an open wound, and must be allowed to heal properly. Improper care can result in scarring or loss of pigment. Tattoo aftercare is a multiple-step process, but an important element in that process is learning how to take a shower with a new tattoo. Showering will help your tattoo heal quickly and maintain its appearance.

How to Choose a Design?
There are few ways to make it happen... The tattoo magazines often contain full-color photos of tattoo models, tattoos by respected and great artists in the buzz, flash sets etc. Look for designs in magazines, books, posters, stickers, and everything else you can come across. Another way is to visit tattoo studios in your area and look at the designs and photo displays on the wall, and their portfolios. It's nice to ask them for an advice about the placemen of the tattoo, the style, but don't get limited.

Tattoo Removal & Skin Care
There are many reasons you may decide to remove a tattoo. Perhaps it was done out of impulse and you regret getting it. Or maybe you are dissatisfied with the way it turned out or are experiencing an allergic reaction to the ink. Although expensive and often painful, tattoo removal is possible. There are many procedures that can help completely remove the unwanted body art.

Tattoo removal - Side Effects
The process by which tattoos are removed via laser begins with a laser emitting highly concentrated light beams into the skin. The tattoo ink absorbs the light, which breaks the ink particles into smaller, more manageable chunks that are effectively removed by your body's immune system. In the process, occasionally the laser will affect the epidermis by lightening or darkening the color of the skin, according to Tattoo Health. This could leave you with noticeably light or dark patches on your skin, where the tattoo was, in the same general shape as the tattoo. This is a permanent condition.

Tattoo Ink Poisoning Symptoms
Today, tattooing is a very popular and trendy practice. Just the same, it remains a subject of controversy in terms of health hazards and tattoo ink poisoning. It seems that no matter how sophisticated tattoo technology becomes, there are still many who believe it to be a dangerous practice. There has been much controversy around the topic of tattoo ink poisoning and whether or not it is possible.

What is a Pro Tattoo Artist?
There are a lot of definitions about this. Nowadays, the tattoo industry has made a big progress, which is surprising, inspiring, as well as good for all those who wants to be part of the big tattoo family. But also it made so many confusing terms. There are a lot of meanings about the term "artist". Maybe it's the big challenge, maybe it's the unknown way to be an artist but however. Some of them are even self proclaimed "artists".

Why to Choose a Pro Artist?
As long as you aren't well informed about the risks, about the proper aftercare, about the hygiene (the most important thing in tattooing) you can make a bad choice. Home-made tattoo artists aren't protected by the law. This makes you unprotected as well. You can not sue them about the damage they could make you. You don't even know about their quality work, or their knowledge.

Preparing for a Tattoo Session?
So you're getting a tattoo? Make sure you're prepared before your appointment. "I believe any good idea can be represented in some way on skin in a manner that looks beautiful and fits the body well."

How to Choose my Tattoo Artist?
Before you choose what you want to decorate your body with, it is best to have the complete and right information first. Usually, when people get tattooed for the first time, they choose smaller tattoos and more hidden parts of the body. However, if they decide to have a second tattoo, it is then definitely the complete opposite from the first one. It is best and easiest to select a motif that is typical only for you and no one else! It could be something to which you are attached personally and emotionally, for example a memory, a person, an event... something that has a meaning only to you!

Inner Lip Tattoo - Care and Health Awareness
Inner lip tattoo is probably a new trend out there. People are getting their lips tattooed at growing rate. Funny, cool designs cand be seen, especially on the inside of the bottom lip and more rarely on the inside of the upper lip. In most cases, a lip tattoo is going to be one, short word or a few numbers, or a small image tattooed on the inside of the lip.

Tattoos and Pain - How Much Do They Really Hurt?
Probably the most popular question when it comes tattooing - Is it painful? Lots of people avoid getting tattooed because of the pain. Some are getting used to it, some are trying to find some anesthetics to prevent the pain, especially on long sitting sessions. But however, there is no a correct answer for this question.

Tattoos and Sun Expose
It's well know that most of the people love sunbathing. Some people can even sleep on the beach during the day. In the summer, people with tattoos need extra protection from UV rays so their skin doesn’t burn or camouflage skin cancer. The sun can cause tattoos to fade and, worse yet, the colors can be a hindrance to screening for cancer.

Covering A Stretch mark With A Tattoo
Stretch marks can appear on your stomach due to several causes, Weight gain, diseases (such as Cushing's) and pregnancy can all contribute to stretch marks on your torso. If you have stretch marks on your stomach and are not happy with your appearance, getting a tattoo may be the answer to cover up the stretch marks and boost your confidence in your self image.

Allergic Reaction from Tattoo - Prevention
Getting a tattoo is a popular method of self-expression, but it also comes with some health risks. Understanding the current concerns and risks about tattoo ink will help you make a better-informed decision about decorating your body.

The Benefits of Tattoo Apprenticeship
An apprenticeship is the basis for a great tattoo career. They are not easy to do, not easy to get, not easy to prepare for, not easy to pay for. But all of this is for a reason. If you're serious about it, you'll do it the right way. The wrong way is by buying a "shop in a box" kit and trying to teach yourself. The right way is through apprenticeship - learning from a skilled artist with experience.